Transit to Twilight

Chapters

1. Turn it Off and On Again
2. Too Many Secrets
3. Chasing the Sun
4. A Marvelous Night for a Moon Dance
5. Epilogue

1. Turn it Off and On Again

The quill moved over the parchment within the purple glow of magic, signing Princess Twilight Sparkle with a flourish. Floating both parchment and quill over to the waiting unicorn stallion, the reigning Princess of Equestria raised her head with a sigh. “There we are, Cover Page. One proclamation announcing our Royal congratulations to the Filly Guides troop who sold a record number of cookies this year.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “I still can’t believe how much I underestimated the number of decrees I would issue as reigning monarch, despite Celestia’s warnings. Do we have any more paperwork for today?”

Cover Page took the scroll in his own magic, rolling it briskly and tucking it into a stack on the portable desk beside him. “Of course, Your Majesty. As you’ve noted many times, a Princess’s work is never done.” He floated a pocket watch up and peered at its face. “However, the paperwork will have to wait. It’s just about time for sunset, Your Majesty.” He bowed his head, lifting the desk and its contents in his magic and floating them toward the side door to the throne room.

Twilight Sparkle rose from the throne, smiling. “Very well, Cover Page. You are done for the day. Please give my love to your family.” With that, her horn lit up and she teleported from the room.

High above the Throne Room, in the tallest tower of Canterlot Castle, the Princess reappeared within her private observatory. In the center of the room, atop an ornate pedestal, rested a beautiful amulet decorated with a sun and moon motif. Twilight smiled as she looked over the device once again in the light of the sun through the western window. Lighting her horn she gently floated it from its stand, activating the magical mechanism.

Outside the window, the sun slowly lowered itself toward the horizon, as it had every evening since Princess Twilight took responsibility for starting day and night.

Then it stopped.

Twilight was already lowering the amulet back to the pedestal when she noticed the change. Frowning, she looked back over her shoulder, seeing the moon already cresting the eastern horizon. The sun remained stubbornly at the edge of the sky, motionless. “That’s not right,” she said, floating the amulet over to her. The sun and moon icons, instead of cleanly trading the dominant position on its face, pushed up against each other with an ominous clicking noise.

She reached out with her magic, removing an ornate wrench from a drawer in the side of the pedestal. Fitting the tool to the back of the device she turned it carefully, just far enough to reset the mechanism within. Sure enough, the sun soon started lowering again and the night started, only a few moments behind schedule.

“That was strange. I’ve never had to reset the amulet since that first attempt to use it, years ago.” She floated both amulet and wrench to their proper places. “Maybe it was just a fluke.” With a last glance to ensure the moon was moving in the sky and the sun remained down, she teleported away to her private library.

Sunburst peered through a jeweler’s glass at the intricate mechanism, the yellow glow of his horn carefully cradling the open amulet. “I’m still not entirely sure what you think I can do that you or your court wizards can’t, Princess.” He closed the cover of the device, securing it in place. “Every piece of the amulet is working precisely as it was intended.” He floated it back to its pedestal.

Princess Twilight paced around the observatory while he worked, stopping when Sunburst gave his diagnosis. “Sunburst, you helped Princess Celestia and Princess Luna to design and build the amulet in the first place. If anypony could figure out why it’s suddenly not working correctly, it would be you.”

Sunburst tucked the jeweler’s glass under his cloak, producing a cloth and cleaning his glasses. A slight blush colored his cheeks at her words. “I’m flattered by that, Twilight, I really am. But it’s clear that whatever is happening to stop the sun and moon from moving isn’t something with the amulet.” He positioned his glasses on his nose again. “You say it’s happening more often?”

Twilight nodded, walking to the window to peer out at the midday sun. “Every dawn and dusk for the last three weeks either the sun or the moon has just stopped moving. This morning it was both of them! Resetting the amulet has worked each time, but it’s taking longer after the reset to get them moving again. That’s why I thought it might be a problem with the device.”

Sunburst shook his head slowly. “I think we can conclusively rule that out at this point. I’m assuming that nothing has changed with how you’re using the amulet, as well.”

Twilight looked back at him, her perpetually-flowing mane falling forward over her shoulder, and raised a brow.

He bowed his head slightly. “I’m sure you would agree, Princess, to determine the cause of this problem we have to consider all of the elements of the process, no matter how unlikely they are to be the issue.”

She sighed, nodding. “Of course, Sunburst. I’ve considered it myself, that I might be the cause of it.” Stepping back to the pedestal, she peered down at the amulet. “I’ve reviewed every step of the process, from start to finish. I’ve even had my personal physician check my horn to make sure my magic is flowing properly. Every aspect of the process is exactly as I’ve done it for years since my coronation.”

“In that case, we may need to look for external factors.” Sunburst produced a scroll of parchment from under his cloak. “When you contacted me, I took the liberty of drawing up a list of known magical phenomena that could possibly interfere with the process of raising the sun and the moon. It isn’t a long list, as you might imagine.” He floated the parchment over to the Princess.

Twilight took the parchment, reading over the list as she spoke. “I had the same thought, and my list looks very much like yours.” She lowered it out of her field of vision. “I’ve had teams of wizards checking on each of these options. Every report comes back negative.”

Sunburst peered up at the sun through the stained glass of the more decorative windows in the observatory. “I’m afraid that brings us one last possibility. Maybe there is a problem with the sun and the moon themselves. I’m just not sure how we could even check on that.”

She shook her head, stepping away from Sunburst. “How could that even happen? The sun and the moon are, well, the sun and the moon! They are unchanging and constant. It’s not scientifically possible.”

He smiled a little, adjusting his glasses with his magic. “Once you’ve eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable-”

“Must be the truth,” Twilight said, finishing the quote. “You’re right, Sunburst. We have to stay open to even the improbable as a potential cause. I just don’t know how we would even test that theory.”

“With respect, Twilight,” said Sunburst, “your knowledge far exceeds mine about celestial bodies. In fact, I can’t think of a wizard in Equestria with more experience in this area.” He looked back at the sun behind the stained glass. “I’d even say that, of all ponies, there are only two possessing more knowledge and experience with the sun and moon.” He raised a hoof to gesture to the large windows above them, depicting Princesses Celestia and Luna moving the sun and the moon, respectively.

Princess Twilight smiled, the answer staring her in the muzzle. “Thank you, Sunburst.” She stepped close and drew him into a gentle hug. “I’ll take it from here. Give Starlight my love when you get back to Ponyville.”

“Of course, Twilight.” He returned the hug, then stepped back and bowed a bit more formally. “I’m honored you asked for my aid.” With that he turned to the door, stepping through as a guard held it open.

Twilight looked between the windows once more, drawing a deep breath. “It looks like I have some old friends to visit.”

Author's Note

Many thanks to

Falkenlied

for pre-reading and helping to iron out this story.

2. Too Many Secrets

The mid-morning sun glistened on the waves rolling in along the picturesque seafront of Silver Shoals. At the edge of town, set just off from the beach, stood a simple house. It was a bit larger than most in town, but not obtrusively so. Its location, along with the trees between it and the road, clearly afforded some additional privacy, while being close enough for the occupants to enjoy the town when they wished.

It was here, right next to the mailbox marked with sun and moon symbols, that Twilight appeared in a flash of purple magic. She smiled, seeing that nopony was around to note her arrival, and quickly trotted to the front door. Her magic reached out to ring the doorbell before she even arrived at the step, and the chime was answered by a familiar voice calling out, “Just a moment!”

The door opened and Celestia stepped out. Her usually-flowing mane was drawn back into a loose bun, and a flour-speckled apron covered her neck and chest. On seeing who was ringing the bell, a smile replaced her distracted look. “Twilight! What a wonderful surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you for nearly a month.” She stepped forward, opening her wings for a hug, then wrinkled her brow. “Unless I got the date wrong. Our tea wasn't scheduled for today, was it?”

Twilight chuckled, stepping into the hug and embracing her mentor fondly. “No, Cover Page and Raven still have us scheduled for tea on the first of next month.” Pulling back from the hug she looked into Celestia’s eyes. “This is an unscheduled and informal visit.”

Celestia raised a brow, glancing out at the street. “I was wondering why I didn’t hear a pegasus chariot arriving.” She stepped back, gesturing for Twilight to enter. “And how long did it take you to convince your Guard Captain to not send along at least a couple guards?”

She sighed as she stepped into the house, shaking her head. “You would think my going to visit two of the most powerful ponies in Equestria would be enough for him. I don’t think I really appreciated how honest you were being when you told me how little freedom I would have to come and go once I ascended to the throne.” She giggled. “I, ah, eventually just teleported away. I expect there will be a guard platoon here before I leave. Sorry about that.”

Celestia laughed, closing the door behind her. “Do try to remember that he has the best of intentions, Twilight. It is his duty to keep you safe, after all.” She led the way back through the home toward the bright and sunny kitchen. “But also remember that, in the end, you are the monarch, and ultimately your decision is to be respected. It’s a fine balance.” She looked over into Twilight’s eyes. “But you already know that. You’ve become a fair and wise leader, and I’m still so proud of you.”

Twilight felt her cheeks reddening with a blush, stepping in to hug Celestia once more. “Thank you. I have a great mentor who showed me the way.”

They held the hug for several long moments before Celestia pulled away. She moved into the kitchen, floating the kettle over to the sink. “Please, make yourself at home, Twilight. I’ll have some tea ready shortly.” A teapot and cups floated out from a cabinet, and soon the kitchen was alive with ingredients and utensils dancing into position on the table by the large bay windows.

“You don’t need to go to any trouble,” Twilight said. She looked out the window at the sun climbing higher over the sea. “Is Luna home? I wanted to talk with her, as well.”

“It’s no trouble, and she’s still asleep,” Celestia said. A skillet and a mixing bowl joined the ballet of items floating through the kitchen in the aura of her magic, and soon a pancake was cooking on the stove next to the rapidly-heating kettle. “She still enjoys the nighttime and stays up until near dawn, then sleeps through the morning. I was just getting her breakfast ready when you rang. I can wake her if you want.”

“Oh, no, let her sleep.” Twilight smiled, watching a plate of cucumber sandwiches floating over to the table. “It’s important, but not urgent enough to get her out of bed. Besides, I’d like to talk with you alone for a while first.”

The kettle whistled, and moments later the fragrance of mint filled the kitchen. Celestia floated out the steaming teapot and cups, arranging them at the table. “I imagined it was something important when you arrived unannounced after ditching your protection detail.” She motioned to the chair with the best view through the window. “Have some tea and tell me about it. I think you’ll like this one, it’s a black tea with Abyssinian mint.”

Twilight sat at the table, glancing again to the sky before accepting an offered teacup with her magic. “It does smell delicious,” she admitted, taking a sip. “You’ve always had the best teas, even when I was a star-struck filly just starting under your instruction all those years ago. I remember the first time you had me for tea like it was yesterday. I can almost taste the–”

“Twilight?”

She stopped talking, looking to her host, “Yes, Celestia?”

“What do you want to ask me about the sun?”

Twilight stared at her, mouth agape. “How did you know?” she managed to ask after a moment of stunned silence.

Celestia smiled, taking a sip from her own cup. “You have a habit of rambling when something important is on your mind, and you haven’t taken your eyes off it since you came into the room.” She floated a sandwich to Twilight’s plate. “Add to that the fact there are very few topics where you don’t already know more than I do, and it’s easy to guess.”

She chuckled, nodding her head. After a sip of tea to settle her thoughts once again, she added, “I sincerely hope you can help with this. It has me stumped, along with Sunburst and every wizard in my court.”

Celestia bowed her head slightly, already floating a sandwich up for a bite. “I’ll do everything in my power to help, Twilight.”

Twilight took another look out the window, peering at the sun as it climbed toward its apex. “For over three weeks now, at every dawn and dusk, the sun or the moon have just stopped. Sometimes it’s just for a few moments, but this morning it took nearly fifteen minutes to get them moving again.” She looked back to Celestia. “I’ve had every possibility I can think of checked. My magic, the amulet, powerful magical phenomena— nothing appears to be out of sorts, they just stop.” She sighed, lowering her head. “I couldn’t think of anypony else who might have some insight into this problem. Could it be that something is wrong with the sun and moon themselves? How could we even check that?”

Celestia listened quietly as Twilight spoke, nodding in understanding. After a sip of her tea, she glanced out at the sun, a hint of a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. “I was afraid this might happen,” she said. “I just didn’t think it would happen for decades, maybe centuries, to come.”

Twilight’s eyes widened in surprise. “Then you know what’s happening? Wait, did you say you expected it to happen, and you didn’t say anything?”

Celestia shook her head. “I said I feared it might happen someday, not that I expected it. My hope was that the bit of Luna’s and my magic in the amulet would be enough, but it appears that’s not the case.”

Twilight stood, pacing along the windows as she listened. “Celestia, what did you fear would happen?”

She glanced out the window again, weighing her words. “I suppose there’s no other way to put it. The sun and moon are– bored.”

Twilight stared at her, mouth dropping open again. “They’re bored?”

“For lack of a better term, yes.”

She shook her head, trying to bring the concept into focus. “Wait, the sun can get bored?” A thought brought her head up sharply. “Are you saying the sun and moon are alive?”

Celestia laughed and shook her head. “No, Twilight. Not alive in the sense that ponies and other creatures are alive. I’m saying that the sun and moon each have a will of their own.”

“How is that different from being alive?”

“They are not discrete beings like you or I. They are primordial forces of nature that have existed longer than any living species in our world. They are like the weather of the frozen north or the wild heart of the Everfree Forest: left unchecked, they do as they will— sometimes to the detriment of ponykind.” Celestia tilted her head. “How much do you know about how the sun and moon were moved in the time before Luna and I took control of the process?”

Twilight raised a brow. “Ah, as much as anypony, really. The unicorns raised and lowered them and bartered that service for food from the earth ponies. The process was so strenuous that six of the unicorns involved would lose their magic.”

Celestia nodded. “That’s the official story, and it’s true, as far as it goes. But let me ask you a question that’s been quietly discouraged from being asked in our schools. How did the sun and the moon move before the unicorns started moving them?”

She frowned, thinking through the question. “I, um, I never really thought about that. I just sort of assumed there were always unicorns moving them.” She looked to Celestia again. “Why would you discourage ponies from exploring this? If it was known we would have a deeper understanding of the world around us.”

“We would, indeed,” Celestia said. “But this particular line of thought might lead to the true nature of the sun and the moon becoming common knowledge. That information could become dangerous if some creature with powerful magic learns the secrets of manipulating the sun and the moon. Can you imagine what might have happened if Tirek had such power? Or Chrysalis?” She sighed, lifting her teacup. “We created the restricted section of the archives for a reason. Not all dangers come from magical artifacts or adversaries. Sometimes the right thought reaching the wrong ear has the potential to topple everything we’ve built.”

Twilight pondered her words for a moment. With a sigh she sat back down at the table. “Alright, I can understand your reasoning, even if I don’t fully agree. That’s a discussion for another time, though. What was it you were saying about the time before the unicorns started controlling the sun?”

She nodded. “Before the unicorns learned how to manipulate the sun and moon with magic, the world was a much more chaotic place. And before you ask, no, it doesn’t appear to have been directly related to Discord’s influence. He simply reveled in the effects. This was before his attempt to take over Equestria, as it was long before the founding of Equestria.” Taking a deep breath, she continued. “As far as we could determine, since this was before my lifetime, or even Starswirl’s, the sun and moon moved as they wished, freely and erratically. Days and nights lasted for minutes, hours, or months by our reckoning, never the same duration twice. Tides were inconsistent and eclipses darkened the land.”

“But that’s not possible,” Twilight interrupted. “How could plants grow without consistent day and night cycles? How would any creature survive?”

“Many didn’t, and those that did never thrived. The only things that lived either cooperated successfully, like the early ponies did, or preyed upon anything they could catch. It was a terrible and violent time in our world.” She paused long enough to take a bite of her sandwich, gesturing for Twilight to do the same. “For all the struggles of that time, something good did come of it: ponies learned to tap into the power of magic in order to survive. Those who used magic to encourage the growth of crops became earth ponies. Those who first learned the secrets of flight and started discovering how to modify the weather became pegasi. But the ones who delved into the nature of magic itself became unicorns. It took them quite some time, but eventually they learned to control the sun and moon, and that is when true civilization became possible.”

Twilight listened intently, absently nibbling on her second sandwich. “Wait, you say they ‘became’ unicorns. What were they before they harnessed magic?”

Celestia looked her in the eye, the corners of her mouth curling in a soft smile. “Alicorns.”

For a long moment the only sound was the distant waves rolling over the shore.

Twilight calmly floated the remains of her sandwich to her plate, lifting a napkin and cleaning the corners of her mouth. Setting it down, she took a deep breath. “Excuse me, what was that you said?”

Celestia kept herself from laughing, nodding her head. “The early ponies who discovered magic were all alicorns, Twilight. The archeological records are in the prehistory room of the restricted archives. After you review it, I think even you will agree the evidence is quite conclusive.”

She shook her head, frowning. "That doesn't make sense! Alicorns are amalgams of all three pony types, who gain that state through some great feat of magic."

"It would be more accurate to say that the three types of pony are aspects of alicorn nature, Twilight.” She chuckled at the pained expression Twilight made in response. “But you are correct, that is the official stance on the matter, and I would suggest it remain so.”

Twilight raised her hooves to her forehead, rubbing her temples to soothe the growing headache. “But why would that be dangerous for ponies to know? It would expand our knowledge of our origins. It could even inspire ponies to know they are descended from alicorns!”

Celestia raised a brow. “And if they realize that all it takes to return to their ancestral form is a sufficiently large infusion of magic, rather than earning it through great and selfless work serving their fellow ponies as they believe now?” She sipped her tea. “We’ve already seen what happened when one unscrupulous filly achieved such a feat.”

“Cozy Glow.” Twilight sat back with a sigh. “Alright, I see why you decided to keep it a secret, but we are going to talk about it more later on. I need to know how to access the rest of the restricted section if nothing else.” She glanced up at the sky once more. “We have more urgent matters to discuss at the moment, though. You said it wasn’t until the early uni- the early alicorns learned to control the sun and moon that civilization started. How long ago was that?”

Celestia nodded. “Many thousands of years. The exact figure is lost to time, but we know numerous civilizations rose and fell over the millennia as the ponies grew more physically distinct from one another. Through it all, the ponies then called unicorns maintained guiding the sun and moon as their highest duty.” She paused. “Now Twilight, I have a question for you. If six unicorns lost their magic every time the sun was raised, could the unicorn population have really sustained such losses for so many centuries?”

Twilight frowned, running the numbers in her mind. “Of course not,” she murmured. “There would have had to have been astronomical numbers of unicorns with no magic wandering the land if that were the case, and trillions of unicorns in total over the years. Far more than our land could ever support.” She looked up to see Celestia nodding with a knowing smile on her lips. “So the unicorns losing their magic from raising the sun was a lie, too?”

“No, that actually happened toward the end, for a few months before Luna and I took control of the process. It just didn’t happen for long.” Celestia refilled her cup, and Twilight’s, as she spoke. “The oldest records Starswirl found of the process initially described only one sorcerer being needed to raise the sun. In later centuries a pair of sorcerers were described, then three, and four. For some reason that the sorcerers of the time didn’t understand, the process kept getting more difficult to complete, requiring more and more magical energy. The changes were gradual, and each generation just got used to how things were for them, to the point that they assumed that it was always that way.”

“I can’t believe nopony ever thought to investigate the matter.” Twilight took the cup Celestia floated to her, sipping from it. “If it was getting so bad, somepony should have written about it.”

“Oh, they did,” Celestia said. “But those who did were speaking against tradition at that point. Many ponies became invested in maintaining the world as it was, and those who threatened that stability were silenced. It wasn’t until Starswirl noticed the effort needed was increasing rapidly that anything was done, and even then he had to work in secret. He tried recruiting more sorcerers to help, but found it was too difficult to synchronize the magic of more than six other ponies with his own. It wasn’t until he recruited us into the effort that the reason for the difficulty was found.”

Twilight leaned in, eyes wide, as Celestia took a long sip from her tea. “What was it? What was the reason?”

Celestia took a deep breath, looking up at the sun. “They were doing it wrong.” She turned back to Twilight. “Over the years the methods of the original alicorns were forgotten, and the unicorns who followed turned to sheer magical force to make up the difference. That was why the cost to them became so great by the end.”

“I thought that was how it worked, as well, and you and Luna were just that much more powerful than a typical unicorn.” Twilight frowned. “Is that why I had so much trouble raising the sun when I had your power?”

Celestia nodded. “That was part of it, Twilight. With the magic of four alicorns you likely overwhelmed the sun’s will, which is why it moved so erratically. When you had trouble with the amulet the first time you used it, the sun and moon simply raised and lowered from their correct positions, if you recall.”

She blushed slightly at the memory. “I still feel a little guilty for interrupting your vacation.”

Celestia laughed. “Nonsense. As I told you then, Luna and I were pretty well done with our recreation when it happened. We truly overscheduled that trip.”

“So how did you gain control of the sun if not through magical force?”

She looked at the sun again. “When I first touched the sun with my magic, I felt its annoyance and frustration at the brute force of the unicorns. Those are the only terms that seemed right for the sensations even without a consciousness behind them. So I stopped Starswirl and the others then reached out to it again.”

“What was it like?”

“Cautious at first. It took some time to soothe it and gain its trust, but once I did it felt playful, even mischievous. So I played with it, I laughed with it, and soon it was happy to comply and start the day.”

“I found the moon to be more coy and changeable,” called a voice from the doorway. They both looked over and saw Luna leaning against the door, a dark blue robe wrapped around her shoulders. Her flowing, starry hair stuck out in all directions like a disheveled nebula. “Persuading it to cooperate felt more like a seduction than play.”

“Good morning, sister,” Celestia said with a smile. “There’s a stack of pancakes waiting for you by the stove.”

“Luna!” Twilight stood, starting toward her when Luna held up a hoof, gesturing for her to stay put. “I hope we didn’t wake you.”

“Not at all, Twilight Sparkle. This is close to the normal start of my day. I suspected I might find you here when I saw the squad of guards establishing a perimeter around the yard through my window.” Luna stepped into the kitchen, floating her breakfast to the counter closest to the pair. A moment later she claimed a teacup, filling it from their pot and bringing it to her. “I assume we have the recent hiccups in dawn and dusk to thank for your visit.”

Twilight nodded, taking her seat again. “I hope it’s not too much of an intrusion.”

“Not at all,” Luna said briskly before starting in on the pancakes.

“I was just filling Twilight in on some of the history we kept from general knowledge in relation to the sun and moon.” Celestia floated a bowl of strawberries over to Luna.

“Mmm, good,” Luna said around a mouthful before swallowing. “I slept through the boring part.” She took another bite while Celestia and Twilight stared at her incredulously. “What? I already know it, and I know you are far better at telling it, sister. There is nothing significant I could have added. Better for the two of you to cover it.”

Twilight and Celestia exchanged a look, laughing softly. “Alright, Luna,” Twilight said. “I assume your comment means we’re at the ‘good part’ now. I’d welcome any insight you have about how I can get the sun and moon to cooperate with the amulet.”

Luna raised a brow, slowly chewing a strawberry before replying. “That’s simple. You cannot get the sun and moon to cooperate with the amulet now that they have started to reject it.”

Twilight waited for more, but Luna simply took another bite of her breakfast. She looked to Celestia who nodded. “I’m afraid it’s true, Twilight. The amulet’s true purpose was to convince both sun and moon that my sister and I were still the ones directing them. As they are resisting the amulet’s magic, it’s clear they have sensed it is not us. The sun has always related to me better than any other, and Luna’s relationship to the moon is unique.”

“Unique?”

Luna nodded. “The sensation I’ve always had is that the moon sees me as a lover, as it were. Not in a physical sense, of course, but more of a romantic pursuit.”

“By contrast,” Celestia added, “I never experienced anything like that from the moon when I took care of both of them. The moon always seemed strangely acquiescent, almost eager to move compared to the sun. I’m afraid the experience is part of the reason I underestimated Luna’s nightly duties for so long.”

Luna chuckled, shaking her head. “Have you truly never figured out the reason why that was, sister?” Getting only a raised brow in response, she continued. “The moon was content when you were raising it because I was imprisoned inside the moon during my exile. She had her lover there with her the whole time. I’m surprised you had to guide her at all apart from reminding her to move.”

Celestia’s eyes grew wide. “I never considered that your exile was such an— intimate experience, Luna. Were you aware of the moon while you were imprisoned?”

She nodded. “While I was still dominated by the darkness of Nightmare Moon, I was focused on rage and vengeance. We’ve seen in Chrysalis how such feelings can affect one’s sanity when maintained over time. The moon’s presence was a soothing balm to my psyche, repairing what Nightmare Moon damaged. I’m not certain I could have survived the centuries without that respite and—” She glanced down at her teacup, a hint of blush coloring her cheek.

Twilight looked to Celestia, who tilted her head toward Luna. “And what else, Luna?”

Luna stepped around the counter, reaching up to rub the back over her neck. “And, um, without your lullabies.” She glanced up to Celestia, smiling.

Celestia gasped, tears welling up in her eyes. “I never imagined you heard me singing to you for all those centuries.”

Luna nodded, tears forming in her eyes now. “You sang them while connecting with the moon, and she made sure I heard them.”

Celestia stood quickly and pulled Luna into a close hug. “I love you, sister.”

Luna nuzzled into Celestia’s embrace. “I love you, too, sister.”

Twilight wiped a few tears from her own eyes, smiling warmly at the display.

After a few moments, Celestia pulled away, floating a napkin up to dry the tears from her cheeks. “We’ll have to talk more about this later. Right now Twilight needs our help.”

Luna wiped her eyes. She raised a brow and looked at Twilight. “Indeed. Although I thought her next course of action was already clear. Apart from advice and guidance, there is little more we can do to help.”

Twilight’s smile faded. She looked from Luna to Celestia. “I don’t understand. What do you mean my next actions are clear? What are you saying I should do?”

Celestia stepped closer to Twilight, nodding. “I must agree with Luna. We’re happy to help and guide you, but the next step is up to you. I know you’re ready for it, Twilight.”

Twilight stood, pacing in front of them. “Ready for what? You told me about ponies descending from alicorns and the sun and moon having wills of their own and the unicorns controlling them wrong and the sun being playful and the moon being a lover. What is it you think I need to do now?”

Celestia reached out to stop Twilight’s pacing, turning her to face them. She smiled.

“It’s time for you to raise the sun and moon without the amulet, Twilight.”

3. Chasing the Sun

Twilight paced around the pedestal in the center of her private observatory, shaking her head. “I really don’t know if I’m ready for this,” she said, looking longingly at the amulet she’d used for years to control the sun and the moon. “Are you certain putting more of your magic in the amulet won’t work?”

From the balcony, Celestia and Luna watched the sun approaching the horizon, seeing it slow as it drew close. “Absolutely certain, Twilight.” Celestia looked back into the room. “As we said before, they will not respond to the amulet as they once did, now that it’s begun to fail.”

“Besides,” added Luna, “more magic isn’t the answer. We told you how that line of thinking ended for the unicorn sorcerers who performed this task before us.” She gestured to the pedestal. “The amulet has kept you from realizing your true abilities, Twilight. We know you are ready for this.”

Twilight frowned, looking down at her hooves. “At least you two are confident about this.”

Celestia smiled. “You’ve earned that confidence a hundred times over, Your Majesty. But now the time is drawing near. You should prepare yourself, and make sure you are not interrupted for this first attempt.”

She sighed and raised her head. Looking over the guards discreetly standing around the room, she picked out their captain. “Gallus, clear the room, please. We are not to be disturbed for any reason, no matter how urgent, until I inform you otherwise.”

The griffon saluted neatly, giving the faintest nod of his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He turned to the other guards. “Clear the room and secure the entrances. No creature enters until further notice.” He watched as the pony guards saluted and hurried out the door in an orderly march, making sure he was the last one out. With another salute to the Princess, he closed the door.

Twilight closed her eyes and took a long, steadying breath, raising one hoof to her chest. Stretching her hoof out in front of her on the exhale, she opened her eyes again. “Alright,” she said, stepping out onto the balcony. “How do I begin?”

Celestia and Luna stepped to either side of her, guiding her to the balcony rail. “Center your mind, Twilight,” said Celestia. “You’ll want to lower the sun first, then raise the moon after. When you reach out with your magic, remember you are not trying to push or pull the sun, you are simply making contact.” She glanced at Luna, nodding.

Luna stepped close, speaking quietly. “Once you make contact your perception will alter. That’s normal. You may find yourself in another place, and your sense of time will be lost. You are contacting two of the most powerful primal forces in our world, and they will only accept you on their terms. You must submit to their sense of reality, but be careful to anchor yourself.”

“Anchor?” Twilight asked. “How do I do that?”

Celestia smiled. “While you interact with them, you must hold onto a clear image of your own self. They may try to get you to forget yourself, but if you hold true they will come to respect it. When that happens, your task will become much easier.”

“But be warned, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna added. “If you lose your sense of self while in contact with them, you may never find your way back.” At Twilight’s alarmed expression, she smiled. “We said we know you are ready for this task, not that it was without risk.”

Twilight sighed. “Nothing worth doing ever is, is it?”

Celestia nodded. “You’ve grown very wise, Twilight. That wisdom and your knowledge of friendship will serve you well in what you are about to experience. I have no doubt you will succeed in this task.” She glanced to the horizon. “The time has come, Twilight. Take a moment, focus, build up your image of yourself as honestly as you are able. When you are ready, reach out to the sun with your magic and make contact.”

Twilight nodded, closing her eyes and taking another calming breath, focusing her thoughts. She conjured an image in her mind of how she saw herself, then how her friends saw her, and how her subjects saw her. The images merged, and she brought in her flaws, her fears, everywhere she knew she could still grow. Weaving them into the larger image, she found herself looking into her own eyes, and drew the image deep into the core of her being.

Only then did she open her eyes, looking at the sun looming over the horizon, and reached out with her magic. It touched a powerful presence, almost overwhelming in its strength. Twilight felt a brief moment of resistance, then a curious hesitation. She didn’t press forward, didn’t try to draw it in, instead she simply maintained contact, waiting.

After a long moment, the presence pulled at her magic, drawing her within itself. The world around her stretched and faded, falling away, and she found herself flying into the brightest light.

Twilight blinked as her senses slowly returned. She found herself standing, or she assumed she was standing, in a featureless void. As she watched, stars winked into view in the darkness, and soon a vast sky surrounded her.

“Hello?” she called into the starry field.

Instantly a light snapped into existence, blindingly bright, directly in front of her. She covered her eyes with a hoof but it barely helped against such intensity. The source of the light moved closer, filling her vision with it.

Where is she?

The question poured into Twilight’s mind with the same searing intensity as the light before her. She staggered back a step. “I don’t understand,” she protested.

Where. Is. She?

Twilight planted her hooves, trying to hold against the power in front of her. “I don’t know who you mean. Who is she?”

The light lessened, just a bit, seeming to pull back from where Twilight stood. She watched as it took the vague shape of two eyes surrounded by fire.

You’ve been hiding her from me. I felt your magic behind the image of her. Where is she?

Twilight gasped, understanding rushing in. “‘The image of her’— you mean Celestia’s magic. You sensed the magic wasn’t coming directly from her.”

The eyes narrowed, glaring at Twilight.

Thought she was playing, hiding for me to find her, but she’s gone! Where is my Celestia?

She smiled gently, stepping toward the eyes. “She asked me to come here in her place. I’m Twilight Sparkle, and I’m happy to meet you.”

The starry void around them seemed to swirl. The intensity of the light ramped up again as the flames around the eyes flared.

I want my Celestia. She’s played with me for so long, longer than any before. I want her.

Wincing at the painful light before her, Twilight took another step forward. “Celestia was worried that you had gotten bored without her, so she sent me along. She thought you and I might have fun playing together. I think we will, if you give me a chance.”

The light diminished, pulling back again. The eyes seemed to squint.

Why didn’t she come? Why send you?

She drew herself up again. “We are— finite. We don’t exist forever, as you do. Celestia knows it’s time to allow another to take her place visiting you. I’m the lucky pony who gets to come and play instead.”

The eyes floated there silent for a moment.

Twilight took the chance that silence afforded, stepping even closer. “You must miss Celestia very much. I know I do when I can’t see her for a long time. When that happens I think of all the good times I’ve had with her, and it’s like I’m still there with her. Do you miss the ones who played with you before Celestia?”

The light dimmed once again, growing to comfortable levels. The eyes softened, growing wider.

Some of them, long ago. Then others played rough, and never returned when I did the same.

“Then all you have to do is remember Celestia fondly. I can play with you now, if you’ll have me.” Twilight smiled. “I’d really like it if we could.”

The eyes vanished, leaving her in the dark and starry void.

“Please!” Twilight called into the emptiness. “I’m here for you. I want to play with you!”

The stars swirled around her, faster and faster. Their light blurred together, surrounding Twilight and growing brighter, blocking out her senses.

When her vision cleared, Twilight found herself standing on a grassy hill with the sun high in the sky above. A warm breeze carried the scent of summer flowers to her. In the distance, she thought she could see buildings, small houses like those around Ponyville, and forests edging the horizon.

Behind her, Twilight heard a musical little giggle. She spun around and found a little dandelion-yellow alicorn filly standing there, grinning. She peered up with wide brown eyes beneath a flowing orange and red mane. “Then let’s play,” she said. She turned partially away, showing a cutie mark of a deep-yellow sun with a smiling face within. “Bet you can’t catch me!” With that the filly was off and running, wings outstretched, laughing joyously with every step.

Twilight grinned, memories of when Flurry Heart was young rushing back to her. “You can’t get away from me!” she called out, then galloped after the filly. Their laughter echoed over the hills as the pair ran and dodged. The filly’s laughs turned to excited squeals when she ran around a rock and Twilight teleported in front of her, shouting, “I’ve gotcha!”

The little filly responded by launching into the air over Twilight’s head, laughing as she took flight. Twilight spread her wings and followed, letting her playmate get a good lead. Soon they swooped around the clouds. Twilight spun around one of the fluffier ones, sending it spinning in front of the filly. She dodged it at the last moment, actually galloping over the spinning edge and shooting off toward the river.

Twilight closed the gap and laughed along with her. The filly looked back and grinned. “You play harder than Celestia does,” she commented. “I like it. Hope you don’t get tired.” She sped off again, forcing Twilight to keep up.They chased and swerved all over the hills, down into the valleys, even flying over the stream winding along between.

The filly swooped into the edge of town, laughing, and disappeared around the corner of a building. Twilight flew up a bit, looking for where she might be hiding. Seeing no trace, she descended to the yard behind the house she’d ducked behind. She touched down with her hooves crunching the snow beneath.

Twilight frowned, looking around and finding the entire town covered in a thick blanket of heavy snow. “It was just summer,” she muttered. She looked back over her body and found she was dressed for the cold in a winter saddle and scarf, with warm boots over her hooves. “When did I—”

She was cut off by the feel of a snowball splattering over her flank, followed by a gale of laughter. She turned just in time to duck another snowball, seeing the yellow filly, also bundled against the cold, ducking out around the wall of a snow fort to fire another volley.

Twilight grinned and took cover by a tree, using her magic to form a dozen snowballs. In moments, the two were engaged in a full-scale snowball war, the air full of projectiles and laughter. The filly flew up and over her barricade, launching three snowballs at once with her magic. Twilight yelped, falling backward as the snowballs pelted down on her flank. She rose again, laughing and waving her scarf. “I surrender! You win!”

The filly ran up and jumped on Twilight, giving her a big hug. “You are so much fun! I could play with you forever. Come on, let’s make a snow pony.” She jumped down, trotting quickly to the center of town.

Twilight blushed at the hug and the complement, rising to follow the filly. “You’re a lot of fun, too. Let’s get this snow pony going!” She ran after the filly, laughing, and threw a hoofful of snow her way before starting to roll the snow for the snow pony’s body.

They worked on the snow pony together, giggling and tossing snow at each other, letting the afternoon pass. The shape formed quickly, and the filly seemed to find just the right objects to make the eyes and mouth. Before Twilight knew it, they were standing side by side, looking up at their creation. Tall with wings spread wide and a long horn, it resembled Celestia more than a little. “It’s perfect,” she said.

The filly looked over into Twilight’s eyes, smiling. Without a word she threw herself backward into the snow, laughing. She started swishing her legs through the snow, making shapes. Twilight laughed and joined her, laying by her side and swinging legs and wings in big arcs. Their eyes met, and they both jumped up out of their creations. Twilight turned and looked at where they were.

Two nearly identical filly-sized shapes lay in front of her.

“I don’t understand,” said Twilight, turning to the filly. “Where’s my snow art?”

The filly laughed. “Don’t be silly, Twilight Sparkle. It’s right there next to mine. We made some great art, huh?”

“But they are both so small.”

“Aww, you’re not small, Twilight.” The filly put a hoof around her shoulders. “You’re just as big as I am. Now come on, let’s play some more. Maybe we can explore the forest!” She trotted away toward the edge of town.

Twilight looked down at her short legs and small wings, then reached up and touched the tiny nub of a horn on her forehead. She turned in a circle, trying to get a good look at all of her body, and confirmed she looked like an alicorn filly. “How did this happen?” she whispered.

As if in answer, Luna’s words echoed through her thoughts. I forgot my anchor, Twilight thought in a panicked rush. She looked around her frantically while her playmate got further away. She just started to trot after her when she stopped and shook her head. No, I can find it. I just need a moment.

“Wait!” she called out, turning to where the filly was heading. “We’ve been playing so hard. I think I need a rest.” She closed her eyes, not waiting for a response, pushing her thoughts back through all the fun and games they’d had. She dove deep into herself, looking for the image she’d constructed before she even started.

“Aww, you don’t need a rest!” she distantly heard the filly calling. “I’m not tired, so you can’t be tired.”

At long last, she found the image of herself she’d formed deep in the core of her mind. She embraced the image and opened her eyes. The snow was gone but the filly stood there, looking up at the fully-grown Twilight Sparkle.

“That’s no fun,” she said. “We could have played for so long, and you would have loved it.”

“Oh, I still want to play,” said Twilight. “I’ve just gotten worn out because we played so hard.” Stepping to the fountain in the center of town square, she sat down on the ground with it at her back. “I just thought that while I rested I could tell you a story.”

The filly drew closer, looking her over skeptically. “You can’t fool me. You’re just trying to get me to go to sleep.”

Twilight laughed. She smiled back at the filly. “Oh, don’t be ridiculous. You’re not tired, I am. I think telling you a story will help me to stay awake while I rest up for our next game.”

She raised an eyebrow, but stepped closer. “I suppose so. A story does sound like fun.” Twilight patted a spot in front of herself and the filly sat down, leaning up against Twilight’s barrel.

Twilight caressed the filly’s cheek. “All comfy? Good. Now let’s see, what story should I tell?” She tapped a hoof against her chin, as if pondering the question. After a moment she began. “Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there was a beautiful young alicorn who was as bright as the sun! There was nothing she loved more than to play all day from sunrise to sunset, never stopping or resting.”

“I don’t need to rest,” the filly interjected, snuggling in a little closer. “I have plenty of energy!”

Twilight grinned and lightly booped the filly’s nose. “Of course you have energy. I’m talking about the filly in my story, silly.” The filly grinned and Twilight continued. “Now this filly loved to play with her friends, but nopony could ever keep up with her. As the day wound by more and more of the other children would find comfy places to sleep, but not her. She kept running and dancing and playing games until she realized she was alone.”

“That’s sad,” said the filly. She stifled a little yawn. “I don’t like being alone.”

“Neither did the filly in our story. She ran back into town and found all her friends cuddled together having an afternoon nap. She shook them and shouted, ‘Wake up! Why don’t you want to play?’ Her friends woke up, still tired, and tried to tell her to let them sleep. ‘Come and join us,’ they said, making room in the middle of the group.”

The filly yawned louder, talking through it to say, “I’m not tired!”

Twilight smiled. “That’s just what our filly said. Her friends did look really comfortable, though, and they told her, ‘Sleep can be lots of fun. That’s where we dream and have even more adventures. You should try it.’ She thought about that, and said, ‘Alright, I’ll try it this once.’ She cuddled up in the middle of her friends, cozy and warm, and drifted off to sleep. And her friends were right! Her dreams were filled with adventures and play, and she woke up with even more energy to play with all her friends. From that day forward, she always joined her friends for a nap, and every pony had a fun time. The end.”

The filly smiled, her eyes closed, her breathing growing deep and regular. “That was a good story,” she murmured. Another yawn overtook her, and she rested her head on Twilight’s shoulder. “I hope you’ll come to play with me more tomorrow, Twilight Sparkle,” she said softly.

Twilight nuzzled her cheek, whispering, “I’ll play with you every day, for as long as I can. I promise. Sleep now, little one, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

The filly sighed contentedly, cuddling in, and drifted off to sleep.

Twilight activated her magic, conjuring a blanket and wrapping the sleeping filly snugly within it, settling her down on a soft patch of grass.

“Ahh, good, the kid is asleep.” The voice came from behind Twilight and she stood up quickly, turning to see a tall alicorn mare standing in the doorway of one of the houses. Her long silver and white mane flowed over her mottled gray coat. She looked at Twilight and smiled. “Now you and I can have some real fun.”

4. A Marvelous Night for a Moon Dance

“Don’t worry about her,” said the ethereal mare, nodding toward the sleeping filly. “She’ll sleep right through until morning. Come with me.” She smiled at Twilight, then turned slowly and stepped back in through the door with a flick of her tail.

Twilight glanced at her playmate, seeing her dozing peacefully. She trotted to the open door, peering into the dark interior. It seemed to be a long and dark hallway, with the soft glow of the mare’s mane and tail drifting away. “Wait, I’m coming.” She stepped through the doorway.

She found herself once again in a starry void, following the soft glow ahead of her. She trotted quickly, trying to close the gap, but the mare remained distant. “Who are you?” Twilight called.

The mare looked back over her shoulder, smiling behind the veil of her luminescent hair, and laughed. “Oh, come now, Twilight Sparkle. You are so much smarter than that. It’s one of the things I like about you. You know who I am. I’ve seen you watching me through your telescope on so many nights.”

Twilight’s eyes grew wide with the realization. “You’re the moon. But I don’t understand, how are you here? I haven't reached out to you yet.”

The mare sighed dramatically. “Yes, I know. You were taking so long getting that spoiled filly to go to sleep I nearly perished from boredom. So, I decided to come and watch how you handled her. Storytime was a nice touch.”

“Ah, thank you. I just remembered when my niece would insist she wasn’t tired. A story always did the trick then.” Twilight closed some of the distance, settling into a steady pace.

“Yes, of course, dear little Flurry Heart. She’s grown into a lovely young mare in her own right, though. You ponies grow up so quickly.” She walked on quietly for several moments. “You know, I should be cross with you, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight frowned, stopping in place for a moment. “With me? What did I do?” She hurried to catch up again.

The mare gave Twilight a sidelong glance, raising a brow. “Have you forgotten your role in ending the most blissful thousand years of my existence? How you and your friends took my beloved Luna from me?” She sighed. “Having her here with me, within me, for all that time— mmmh, it was such a delight. And it’s true she was in a bit of an angsty phase while she was here, but I still loved her all the same.”

“But we didn’t take her from you,” Twilight said. “All my friends and I did was free her from the darkness of Nightmare Moon.”

She tilted her head, thinking, then gave a small shrug. “Hmm, I suppose that’s right. It was the stars that helped her leave.” She smiled. “Perhaps I should thank you for helping her back to her lovely self again, after all. She really is better off without all that anger weighing down her spirit, and she kept coming back to visit me. Until you started trying to trick me, that is, with that silly amulet.”

The mare looked back at Twilight again, her countenance stern. It lasted for mere seconds, once she saw the expression on Twilight’s face. “Oh, sweetness, don’t worry. I was having some fun with you. I’d already decided I wasn’t angry about all that. You’ve helped my beloved so many times, I couldn’t be anything but grateful to you.”

Twilight finally smiled, letting go of the tension she’d felt building in her shoulders. “Of course. Luna is such a great friend. Anytime I can help her, I’m always happy to do so.” She saw something moving in the corner of her vision and turned toward the mare. The crescent moon of her cutie mark slowly waxed larger until a full moon gleamed from the dark patch on her flank.

“I’m surprised to hear you say that.” Her horn glowed with pale silver magic. “When you’ve come here to try and replace her.”

Twilight stepped back, her eyes growing wide. “What? I never meant to try and replace Luna. I just want to ask for your help.”

“Oh? Help in the form of rising into the sky at night or clearing the way for the sun at dawn?” She stepped forward, horn still alight. “Exactly what my beloved Luna would do, you mean. So you mean to replace her. You intend to rival her for my affection. Do you know what I have to say about that?”

Twilight shook her head, eyes fixed on the moon’s glowing horn. “No, what?”

The mare smiled and turned her head to the left, discharging her magic. The void twisted and shaped itself into a set of glass double-doors, etched with a crescent moon motif. They swung open silently into a dark space. “Come and show me what you’ve got,” she said with a wink, then strode through the doors.

Twilight stared after her, her jaw hanging open at that last comment. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. Seeing no other option, she followed the luminescent mare into the dark.

Once through the doors the darkness receded. She blinked as light returned, hearing the sounds of ponies talking over the background of a light, sultry jazz tune. Light hints of perfume and fragrant food drifted past her nose. Around her an intimate, softly-lit nightclub came into view, with her standing by the entryway. Small clusters of ponies in fashionable clothes chatted, shared drinks, or danced. On a stage near the front, a small band kept the music flowing, with a few couples dancing close by.

Twilight took a step into the club, feeling fabric tight around her flank. She looked back, finding herself in a form-fitting gown of deep purple silk, with gemstone stars placed where they would best catch the light, drawing attention to her every move. She turned in place, smiling at the fit of the dress, and a glance in the mirrored wall behind the bar showed her how good she looked in it. She certainly knows what she wants.

She made her way into the club, slowly circling the main room, and scanned the crowd for the luminescent mare. By the way the ponies parted to allow her own passage, Twilight was certain spotting her counterpart would be simplicity itself. Still, she saw no sign of her in the main room. She was passing by the entrance to the second bar when she heard a familiar lilt of laughter.

Twilight followed the sound into the quiet back bar, the music fading to a gentle backdrop to the soft conversations of couples at candle-lit tables. She saw a few appraising glances from the few single ponies enjoying the quieter space and found herself adding a little more swing to her step, feeling the energy of the place seeping into her. Another laugh turned her attention to the balcony that opened off the back wall.

Stepping through the archway onto the balcony she looked out at the dazzling moonlit skyline of Canterlot. Although she’d seen the view from the high castle towers countless times, from this angle the stars seemed to dance around the castle’s silhouette, the moonlight throwing them into sharp relief. She stood savoring the majestic view for a moment before turning to the rest of the balcony.

There she stood in the moonlight, her mane flowing out like a luminous halo. Her silver evening dress glistened with every subtle shift of her body as she held court, surrounded by a half-dozen ponies who hung on her every word. She spoke and laughter rose from the ponies around, joining her own at the turn of phrase, when she turned her head and spied Twilight. A smile curled her lips. With a word she excused herself from the group and walked closer, her eyes locked on Twilight’s.

The moon sees me as a lover... a romantic pursuit. Twilight heard Luna’s comments in her mind, the reality of those words fast approaching. Once she drew close enough to greet, Twilight turned her eyes back to the night sky. “Doesn’t the city look so beautiful in the moonlight?” she asked wistfully before her suitor could speak.

The mare raised a brow, her smile growing at the sudden deflection. “Everything looks better in the moonlight,” she said, stepping up close beside Twilight at the balcony rail. “Especially you. I can see the stars in your eyes in this light.”

Twilight smiled, glancing at her before demurely turning away, blushing. “Thank you. You look radiant in that dress.” She turned just enough to let the moonlight reflect from the amethyst stars on her flank. “It’s no wonder you have so many admirers.”

She laughed, glancing back at the ponies milling about on the balcony. “They are amusing for a while, but you interest me far more. Seeing you here in the moonlight is like seeing a guiding star over the horizon. Naturally, I set my course for you.” She stepped closer, lifting a hoof toward Twilight’s cheek.

Twilight giggled, shying away from the touch and twirling in a full circle as she stepped back. “Careful. You never know what could happen, touching a star like that. A star can only guide you from a distance, after all.” She grinned. “And you wouldn’t want to get burned.”

The mare matched her grin, stepping steadily closer. “The burn would be worth it, for the kiss of such a brilliant star.”

They approached the entry to the back bar, the music from the front growing louder. “So brave and bright to risk such a fate,” Twilight said, holding out a hoof. “Dance with me.”

She reached out, gently taking hold of Twilight’s hoof. “I thought you would never ask.” She led Twilight through the entrance of the back bar. Ponies made way for the two tall alicorns, whispers and envious eyes following them as they passed. By the time they emerged to the main dance floor over a dozen other ponies followed them, spreading out along the edge to get a good view.

Twilight slipped her hoof from the mare’s grip, winking at her and weaving her way past the few dancing couples to the center of the floor, her flanks swaying to the fast rhythm of the current song. She looked back, inviting her companion with every step she took.

The luminous mare caught the eye of the band leader, gesturing to where Twilight stood. The musician nodded and wrapped up the song, whispering to the other band members for a moment. When they started playing again the brass section grabbed everypony’s attention with a brief fanfare before quieting into support of the bass, slow and sensual, keeping a steady rhythm to dance to. She approached Twilight as other couples joined the dance floor, reaching out to join her in the center of everything.

They caught each other’s gaze, smiles growing on their lips. Twilight felt the rhythm washing through her and started to move. The two of them circled opposite each other. Twilight winked at her, then swooped in closer, taking the mare’s hoof and pulling her into a twirl. They both laughed, giddy from the close contact.

The mare grinned and pulled back, bringing them closer together through the chorus of the song. Twilight felt her breath hot on her cheek and nearly missed a step. Chills rippled through her as they danced close, urging her closer.

The brass section flared into the bridge of the song as she spun herself out and away, her dress sparkling in the soft lighting. Keeping eye contact, she turned herself around the mare, leading her to turn with her. She stretched out a wing, brushing the feathers over her partner’s cheek.

The mare stretched out her wing as well, slipping it behind Twilight’s and guiding her forward. The song crested and receded over and over like waves on the beach, rising higher with each peak. The two alicorns moved the same way, approaching and withdrawing, touching then letting go.

Through it all, neither could look away from the other. Twilight felt the desire growing between them, drawing them in ever closer. The song continued to build, the rhythm echoed the beating of her heart, and the luminous mare drew ever closer. She matched Twilight’s steps, then anticipated, leading her once more toward the song’s climax.

Twilight forgot the ponies watching, and the band, and the club around them. The world drew in close to only the patch of dance floor over which they moved, and those pale blue eyes. She could see herself in those eyes, elegant and eager, breathless as her lover drew near.

A thought broke through the haze. That doesn’t look like me. In her mind she saw a clear image of herself, regal and confident. She reached out to the image, embracing it once more. She blinked and the world returned to her senses. The band had hit the song’s climax and all eyes were on the two alicorns. Twilight found herself held close in a dip, her partner leaning in to kiss her waiting lips.

At the last moment, she turned her head, allowing only a demure kiss on her cheek. The mare’s eyes grew wide and she pulled back when Twilight laughed lightly. The last notes of the song faded, the band joining the astonished onlookers.

“You don’t expect the grand prize right at the start, do you?” Twilight asked with a mischievous grin.

The mare smiled, then reached down and raised Twilight’s hoof with her own. She kept looking deep into her eyes as she tenderly kissed her hoof. “I’ll see you at dawn, Twilight Sparkle. The chase continues.”

Their surroundings faded away until all Twilight could see were those beautiful, ice-blue eyes. Then they vanished, and any sense of place vanished with them.

Twilight opened her eyes, blinking quickly at the bright moonlight coloring the balcony in white and silver tones. She felt reality returning to her senses, taking a deep breath, and looked around at the smiling, satisfied expressions worn by Celestia and Luna.

“Welcome back, Twilight,” Celestia said. She stretched a wing over Twilight’s back, hugging her lightly. “I knew you could do it.”

“Indeed, well done, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna added. “You exceeded even my expectations.”

She shook her head, images of her experiences with both sun and moon mixing with this moment. “So it worked?”

Celestia stepped back and gestured to the west and the east. “See for yourself, Twilight. The sun is lowered, and the moon rises into the night sky.”

Luna nodded. “And they did so as smoothly as either of us can remember.”

Twilight looked to both horizons, confirming what they said. “But I took so long to do it. How far off from sunset was I? Will we need to update the clocks?” She looked from Celestia to Luna. “How long was I in there?”

The sisters laughed softly. “About thirty seconds,” Luna said.

Twilight stared at them, her mouth agape. “Thirty seconds? That can’t be. It felt like hours, even days.”

Celestia smiled. “Luna did mention that would happen while you were connected to them, if you recall.”

“Seconds can feel like weeks, if they want to draw out the experience, Twilight.” Luna gestured toward the interior of the tower. “Everything you experienced they drew from your mind. Your memories, your dreams, your fantasies, they sift through them and craft what they believe will draw you in.”

“It is to your credit that you maintained your anchor and successfully negotiated the experience, Twilight.” Celestia turned, guiding Twilight back into the observatory.

“I almost didn’t, both times,” Twilight said, thinking it through. “There was a point in each experience where I would have gladly stayed if I’d forgotten myself.” She stopped and looked at them both. “What would have happened if I’d stayed?”

Celestia and Luna exchanged a glance. “Then your mind and spirit, all that makes you, you, would be lost,” Luna said. “Your body would not survive long without them, and you would only exist within the will of the sun or moon.”

Twilight sighed. “I’m not certain if knowing that before I started would have helped me or hurt me.” She chuckled. “And you did this twice a day, every day, for over a thousand years?”

Celestia laughed. “You’ll find the process gets easier, and shorter, as you get used to it. The sun and moon will show you more respect now that you’ve shown your own strength of will. You may even come to enjoy it.”

“Think of it as a brief vacation at the start and end of your day,” Luna added.

Twilight considered the idea for a moment. “That— could be a promising idea.” She stepped ahead, turning back to them. “How can I thank you both?”

Luna chimed in quickly. “Let’s start with dinner tonight. I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m famished.”

Celestia chuckled. “And it doesn’t hurt that it’s your night to cook, does it, sister?” She winked at Luna, who smiled. “But it would be lovely to enjoy a good dinner with you, Twilight. That will give us a chance to talk more about all of this.”

Twilight bowed her head slightly, smiling. “As you wish.” She turned and led them to the door, calling out for Gallus to open the way for them.

Author's Note

As the chapter title suggests, I wrote this chapter with the song "Moondance" by Van Morrison as a frequent companion to set the mood. If you're of a mind to include it, the point where it should start will be obvious.
(I'm particularly fond of The Jazz Ambassadors' cover.)

5. Epilogue

The next day Celestia and Luna arrived home once more, thanking the guards flying their pegasus chariot before dismissing them back to their duties. “It was nice of Twilight to insist we stay the night, wasn’t it, sister?” Celestia asked as they re-entered their home.

“Indeed,” Luna said. She stifled a yawn. “I’m certain her desire to have us watch over her second attempt had little to do with it.”

“Now, Luna, you remember how it was for us in the beginning. She’s doing better than either of us did at first, I dare say.”

Luna shrugged. “She is much more confident than she used to be, that much is certain, and she took to our instruction well.” She looked up to see Celestia watching her with a critical expression, and smirked. “And yes, sister, it was fun to spend time with her again.”

Entering the kitchen, Celestia set about gathering ingredients for their lunch, floating it all onto the counters before starting to prepare sandwiches. Luna put the kettle on for tea.

“Celestia,” Luna said after a moment. “Out of curiosity, when you told Twilight about the secrets of the sun and moon we’d kept hidden, did you tell her about the others?”

Celestia shook her head, focusing on her food preparation. “No, I didn’t. I wanted to, but she’d had her understanding of the world turned upside down enough times for one day. Still, she is clever, and very good at discovering knowledge. With her full access to the restricted archives, now, she may piece together their existence from what I told her and the old records.” She glanced up. “Why do you ask?”

Luna laid out the teapot and cups as they spoke. “Mostly so I know if I need to watch my words around her still. It’s good to know what she knows so I won’t bring it up.” She added the tea leaves to the pot. After a minute she added. “I think we should check on them.”

Celestia raised a brow. “Luna, we haven’t heard a word from any of the others in over twelve hundred years. It’s not as if we’ve been hiding all that time. If they wanted to contact us, I think they would have by now.” She floated two plates to the table as the kettle started singing. Luna filled the teapot, flooding the room with the aroma. “It’s called banishment for a reason, little sister. As hard as it is to admit, I don’t think they want to see us.”

Luna frowned. “After all that time, we have no idea who is in charge or if they even care about all that. Perhaps they would be willing to forgive us and welcome us back, now that we’re retired from our royal duties.” She paused, looking down at her sandwich. Her voice was much softer when she spoke again. “I still miss them, Celestia. I want to know what’s become of them.”

Celestia nodded slowly, sitting back and looking out over the water through their window. “I miss them too, sister,” she admitted. She sighed, turning back to Luna. “Very well. It’s your turn to choose our next vacation destination, after all. When we’re ready, we will see if we can still find the village, and see what sort of reception they give us.”

Luna smiled. “Thank you, sister. It will be good to see home once more.”

The two settled in, eating their lunch and planning their trip under the midday sun.