To Chase The Shadows of Redemption

Celestia closed her eyes in the shower. It was time. Finally time.

"Too long..."

Memories flashed before her in a vivid cascade that also served as a vicious cycle. She tried to focus on the ones regarding Twilight, the young mare she had so desperately pinned her hopes on. The elements wouldn't fail this time. Luna would be willing to make amends. It was going to be okay.

She clenched her hooves together tightly and tried to forget her anxieties. For too long she had been living without true stakes, and now that it came flooding back she felt like it would overwhelm her. The ponies around her lived lives that would never be comparable, and the longer time went on the less she felt she could truly connect with them. The same couldn't be said of her sister, even after everything that had happened. She could not afford to mess this up.

"Luna..." she sighed, "please just be okay, I don't know what I would do if I lost you again."

Loneliness had such a way of creeping up onto you over time. Sure, she'd had ponies like Twilight who she had loved with all her heart many times now, and they were all cherished memories and connections, but none of them were peers, none of them were family. She had also fought to maintain the value in her heart for all her little ponies. It would've been easy to become bitter and distanced, but she had reminded herself that every life had its own journey, some longer than others, but all of them had value and left legacies across Equestria and beyond that mattered. She didn't want her own legacy to continue how it had been so far. Even if her ponies had forgotten Luna.

Celestia turned off the shower, dried up and briskly left the room. Back into her main bed chambers, she went over to her desk to examine the various scribbles and notes regarding how she should handle Nightmare Moon's return. It was such a painstaking thing to agonize over perfection when perfection was demanded. The volume of time in which she had cycled and scrapped new plans had become vague at some point. After much deliberation, she decided genuine simplicity was her best hope. She trusted in the character of Twilight. That didn't stop her anxiety from creeping up on her.

She thought back to just before Luna had left her, they had been fighting for days over various topics, and many hurtful things were said. So many of them had haunted her for far too long. Differences could be over come, and her relation mattered far more now then such silly topics to squawk over.

Ponyville. Tomorrow it would all be decided there.

Sleep did not take her easily that night.

"Hey Twilight! Pinkie Pie's starting "pin the tail on the pony"! Wanna play?"

"No! All the ponies in this town are crazy! Do you know what time it is?!"

"It's the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. Everypony has to stay up, or they'll miss the Princess raise the sun! You really should lighten up, Twilight. It's a party!"

"Ugh, here I thought I'd have time to learn about the Elements of Harmony but, silly me, all this ridiculous friend-making has kept me from it! "Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about everlasting night." I hope the Princess was right... I hope it really is just an old pony tale..."

"C'mon, Twilight, it's time to watch the sunrise!"

"Isn't this exciting? Are you excited, 'cause I'm excited, I've never been so excited— well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town and I went, she gasped, "but I mean really, who can top that?"

"Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!"

"In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria..."

"Ready?"

" ...Princess Celestia!"

"..." Celestia appeared. She looked normal, but there was clearly something slightly off about her expression and mannerism, and Twilight caught onto it immediately having known her for so long. Or at least she thought she did.

The celebration went exactly to plan, and Twilight was feeling super foalish.

"Ugh, I can't believe how much I stressed over such a silly tale, Celestia won't believe this.."

"Come on Twilight! Did you really want it being some disaster after all? Celestia's performance was brilliant like always."

"Well, I guess you're right Spike. I wonder if she already returned to Canterlot."

Before Spike could respond, a large burp ensued.

"A letter already! Oh gosh, what did I mess up Spike! This has all gone—"

"Relax Twilight, let's just read it first okay?"

"Alright..."

The scroll unfolded and Twilight started reading.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I require your presence back in Canterlot immediately, there is something I must speak with you about with haste.
Please, come immediately.

Princess Celestia