To Chase The Shadows of Redemption

It was an unremarkable night in Canterlot, when time had seemed to slow down to a dull flow, and the guards had taken to walking at half-pace, that there was a stirring at an undisclosed room which never saw activity at this time with any normalcy, there was the only break in it.

The door creaked open after being unlocked magically and twisted traditionally. Light poured into the room from the hallway, which spaced torches provided less and less as they got further away. Inside crept a single pony whose own purpose was unknown even to herself.

The few that knew of this room had treated this room as nothing more than an afterthought, she surmised, that she felt compelled to visit its sole inhabitant.

Going over and lighting the candles one-by-one, she grabbed the last as it came to incendiary purpose with her magic and dragged it with her over to the table besides the royal bed.

"I know that you've been awful lonely lately, Luna. I wanted to make sure more than just Rosebud has been checking up on you."

Complete silence - like always, answered her. It didn't slow her down any.

She set the candle down besides the bed on the night stand. It finally illuminated the resting mare who had been undisturbed by light till now. She sat on the side of the bed to take in the sight, even if it filled her with a frown the longer it went. She would not avert her gaze.

There lay, as she always did, the withering form of Luna. Luna had come to seem increasingly less recognizable as time went on, but her status as an alicorn was always obvious because of the wings and horn. Approaching the appearance of an ancient mummy more than a healthy and lively being, her entire body had become gray and sunken at this point. She was emaciated. Her breaths were shallow, too shallow as they were slow. You could practically call it the wheezing of a sickly pony fighting off a tough flu. You could even start to see her ribs starting to stick out. Twilight had thought all of this bad enough, several darkened lines, no, cracks had started to form in various places as though she was some piece of pottery that had been treated a little too harshly. To say that she looked like a shadow of her formal self would've been the understatement of the century.

How long had this mare been fighting to hold onto life now? There were limits that were never actually supposed to be tested, and they had been insulted to the point of wanting to actually show they were indeed limits. That was what Twilight saw.

"You have to stay strong Luna. Celestia will be back with the remedy soon enough. Nopony has ever fought as hard as you have, and we're all proud of you for holding on."

She bit her lip.

"So please... just keep going for a little while longer. You'll be feeling good as new in no time."

With no one to respond, a comfortable silence took over. Twilight had wanted to remain strong for the pony in front of her, but every second she increasingly uncomfortable. Yet she couldn't peal her eyes away.

It was after some ten-or-fifteen minutes something remarkable happened. So remarkable, in fact, that Twilight didn't notice it at first.

Luna's eyes had slowly started to drift open. The iris had been completely drained of all colour, leaving only the void to stare back. The term "staring into ones soul" felt aptly accurate for what Twilight saw, as the eyes reflected the lifeless future Twilight had come to despise. Her eyelids only made it to around just below half-open, and there was the tiniest twitch of life in her hooves and limbs.

"Where... where am I?" her voice had sounded dry, of course having not drank any water in ages. They couldn't force her to anymore without risking her choking. Alicorns could go without, but it wasn't desirable.

"You're safe and sound in Canterlot Luna! Luna! Can you hear me?!" said Twilight, who kept from yelling to scare the poor mare, but still had an intensity to her susurration. Luna showed absolutely no sign she had heard anything at all.

"So cold... I can't see anything. Is anypony there?"

Twilight closed her eyes harshly as she could barely bare to listen anymore. She forced herself to.

"All is dark... the void. Am I... still on the moon?"

Something broke in Twilight, and she did something she really shouldn't. Not with a pony this frail. She leaped onto the bed fully, and carefully lifted Luna until she could sit behind her. Throughout the process, there was still no sensory indication from Luna any of this has registered. Twilight hugged Luna from behind, her barrel against her back and head on her shoulder and across the side of her neck. Tears flowed freely as she held the pony as tight as she could without hurting her.

"Please... I'm so tired of just existing. Sister... I know you hate me... but I miss you so much. It hurts too much... sister." despite the weak and dull nature of her voice, it had still managed to bleed in true pain by the end. Each word spoken slowly as though it was its own sentence.

"I'm sorry... for being so worthless. For... for becoming a horrible pony."

There was nothing Twilight could say. She did all she could, continuing to hold the broken mare. Even if their touch could not be felt, the cry of her soul did everything it could to traverse the contours of space and time and pierce into the void that Luna found herself trapped in and let her know that somepony was still there for her.

She grit her teeth, eyes clenched further, and it was a truly wretched thing. Her body heaved with sorrow that came in strengthening waves.

"I just hope... somepony... anypony... will feel... I ever gave them happiness," the light that didn't exist in the first place died out, and her eyes started drifting closed by the time she finished speaking. They re-opened partially just a little after, as if she was resisting sleep after a long day.

"I love you... Celestia... please forgive... me."

The last words barely audible as they drifted off. But Twilight had heard them. She would've never missed it.

For hours that night Twilight stayed hugging Luna without moving, unable to handle the heartbreak. She felt if she let go, those words would become final. Afraid that letting go even for a second, the mare would lose the last final spark of life and pass away.

Somewhere, inside of those hours, without realizing it, Twilight had spoken with resolute and tired eyes staring forward into nothing. Memories flooded her mind of their brief time together out west, and even if they weren't the most harmonious she still felt them precious.

"We will save you Luna. No matter what. Hold on just a bit longer."