To Chase The Shadows of Redemption

As the sun rose into the sky, it cast an orange glow over the forest below, and a singular pony could be found. It was the middle of nowhere, no civilization to be seen or found in any direction for as far as the eye could see.

For a thousand year this pony had been trapped, and for centuries had been dreaming of this day.

A gentle breeze blew past the pony as she slowly wandered, experiencing everything the world had to offer again. Being stuck inside a mind that could summon realities which begged you to accept them as authentic had taken its toll over time. There had been a genuine fear that she would become so lost within the confines there that when it was time to escape and return, she wouldn't even be able to. The thought still ushered a drop of sweat down her back.

Luna was certain what she was experiencing now was the real deal. The nightmare had ended long ago, but the lucid dreaming ended now. Every sense tingled and it was overwhelming. Living, breathing, standing and existing was overwhelming. Her thoughts had long since calmed down, and most of the time she was content to think nothing at all. A complete blank slate of a mind was preferable. Not thinking meant a reverie from the prison.

Slowly, she started smiling and looked back to the sun rising.

It was everything she had dreamt of once and more.

No more drama, no more politics, no more torture, no more sister. Freedom.

Just then, she had the silliest thought. This place looked perfect, why not could it be her new home? Location didn't matter so much as it was back on Equus. She was back, but there was no need for anyone to know she was back.

For the first time since arriving a painful thought arose: what was sister going to do?

Nothing else would be better than remaining alone here, and that was a threat to her peace. Luna wouldn't hide like some tiny animal, but she wasn't going to go out of her way to reveal herself to the world either. There was also a distinct hope that Celestia had decided that their relationship was immeasurably broken and would not pursue her. She prayed for that.

For the second time in a millennia she lit her horn. This power had been sealed from her for so very long, it was like experiencing an entirely new sense for the first time again. A tree shattered, layers peeled off, and a plank was formed.

Celestia paced around her room, over and over again.

What the hell had happened? Clearly her sister had returned, the evidence of the moons appearance change being evident enough, but why had nothing happened yet? What had been the point of all that planning and mulling over when something like this could happen?

But that wasn't what bothered her the most. It was the fact that the uncertainty lingered, and while before Celestia had thought that resolution was at hand, it was now as far away as ever. Was it possible that Nightmare Moon wouldn't confront Celestia right away this time? Would that really happen? Had she doomed her kingdom because she banked on such a foalish plan? Was Nightmare Moon planning on evading the elements at all cost? It dawned on her that this could get incredibly ugly fast, in the worst kind of way and soon if her worst fears were confirmed.

The part that bothered her was how she had rushed to recall Twilight. What the hell was she thinking? She should've just kept her in Ponyville with the other elements just in case. Together.

There was another part of her that wanted to leave and search for her sister, damn the aristocracy and palace staffing. She wanted to go out and confront this. She wanted to know if her little sister was okay. She wanted to know if Luna would ever forgive her. It drove a stake into her heart, and she realized just how drained she was from years of fretting. Slumping. It was catching up to her fast.

Equestrian society relied on her to function. She could not leave for particularly long, especially when it wasn't planned.
But this was her sister. For a long time now she had been the arbiter at the forefront of any and all policy, but in the past she had relied on strong candidates whose merit lifted their stations into government and under her wing. They had performed admirably then, when she needed those times to recover, why couldn't they now? All she had to do was find them, just even if it was just one.

That would take time, she needed to find Luna now.

It bothered her that the thought would even occur to her, but it did. She had someone who could do the looking for her in her place, who she trusted. But how could she?

It was already night by the time Twilight had arrived.

A servant knocking on the door could be heard, and a warm voice responded in kind.

"Come in, come in! It's a pleasure to see you again so soon again Twilight."

The servant left as she entered the room.

"Princess Celestia! It's so good to see you again!"

Twilight quickly hugged her at the entrance of her personal chambers.

Peeling off, she couldn't help but allow a look of concern on her face. "Ehehe... I know that I wasted too much time instead of preparing lookingintoasillyfoalsstorypleaseforgiveme!"

"Easy Twilight, you have done no wrong. You organized everything perfectly. I'm proud of you."

"Really...? Then why did you..."

Celestia beget her to follow her deeper into the room, lighting her horn to close the door behind them as they approached a lit fireplace.

"Sit with me Twilight."

They both sat neatly before the fireplace, on the royal carpet, opulent threads brought together from Equestria's finest. It unfolded like a river of velvet and neatly ended before the fireplace. The room had only a few other sources of lighting elsewhere beyond the glow of the hearth, including large windows which bathed the room in the moons light.

"I never wanted this kind of a dilemma to take place, and I'm feeling mightily defeated these days my dear Twilight."

Shadows highlighted her face, flickering and revealing flashes of emotion that lasted just as long as they were revealed, and Twilight had never seen her so serious and determined before. But that wasn't all - there was a pervading sense of defeat and sadness there as well.

"Princess... whatever it is you need... I'm sure that we can..."

A sigh came out of Celestia immediately.

"If only it were so easy my little pony..."

She was on edge now, and the silence afterwards was painful. But Celestia wasn't finished.

"I suppose I should be honest with you and start from the beginning, shouldn't I?"

Now they had locked eyes. Twilight would see this through for Celestia no matter what it was. She nodded, and Celestia began once again.

"You see, that "foals tale" you mentioned, is no tale at all," Twilight gasped, "it is my reality".

Over the next thirty minutes Celestia elucidated and expanded on her plight up until this point, including the elements of harmony. Most of it was a shock to Twilight to actually have this information confirmed, but she didn't have time to process it lest she miss more of the continuing tale. Multiple times freaking out that Nightmare Moon was possibly on the loose.

"...and it is after all this information that we arrive at the forefront of my quandary Twilight. You."

"What...?"

"The only thing that I haven't mentioned so far is the most recent revelation, and it is the reason I'm even considering what I'm about to propose to you at all."

She once again nodded her head, giving affirmation to continue. To hear her fears of the past few days confirmed so easily with the casual manner they were being told was somewhat harrowing, but she was starting to come to terms with it. Especially since she was with Celestia here still, in the most comforting of environments deep in the heart of Canterlot.

"I felt her presence, Twilight, she has cast some powerful magic since coming back to Equus, once at the very least, and while I cannot say I'm completely sure... I believe that the magic felt pure, untainted from the curse of Nightmare moon. It was shocking to say the least, but also exciting. I believe the chances of it being Nightmare moon at this point are extremely low. It's also the reason you're here today."

It was finally Twilight's turn to speak.

"What would you have me do, princess?"

Celestia frowned, but continued nonetheless.

"I want to send you on a journey... west. That is where I sensed Luna, and I need somepony that I trust to go out and find her. You are one of the most talented young ponies I've ever met, I'm sure that you can handle such a journey." Celestia paused for effect to make sure she had her attention. "But I will not force this on you, Twilight, I want you to know that. Like I said you're young, and this kind of burden is quite unfair I understand. It pains me to say, but, being here in Canterlot is how I've always managed the kingdom, and while temporary leave has been fine for planned trips, I cannot simply abandon my post to go looking for Luna for god knows how long. If you go you will be thoroughly prepared for anything that could be thrown at you. I promise that."

Twilight absorbed the proposal and mulled over it immediately. The fire had started to die out, and the final sparks and embers waned, casting longer shadows over the room. The crackling, which had grown into a comfort, had also died down significantly. There was a new ember born among this dying company, and it existed in the eyes of Twilight's newfound determination.

"Princess Celestia, I accept your request. I will find Luna."