To Chase The Shadows of Redemption

Morning came with a lovely soft landing, the gentle lights cruising to the ground like leaves falling unconcerned with gravity. Two ponies faced one another, one leaving, and one remaining, both with altered senses of conviction post meeting.

"You know, there's a town not too far off from here just due north and slightly east. With your flight, visiting would be no problem. Even if you had to disguise yourself." Twilight sighed, "But whatever you do I hope you stay safe. I don't know if or when I'll be coming back, but I want you to think about the things I told you. Ponies have changed Luna, I truly believe that, and maybe I didn't stress it enough. Maybe one day you'll see that for yourself."

Melancholy crossed Luna's face, and she bowed her head, "It doesn't matter if ponies have changed, I have changed, and I don't think I'd do well to mix with them yet, if ever. Take care Twilight." She looked as though she wasn't sure if she should add something, "Tell my sister," she cringed, "that you couldn't find me, I think that would be best for the both of us."

Twilight had to hide her expression, but only partially succeeded. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep that promise, even if she never agreed to it.

"Well... goodbye Luna... I hope you stay well."

"Goodbye and same to you as well, Twilight"

A massive pit formed in Celestia's stomach. This was going far too strangely to how she thought this would be.

"What... in gods name did you do to Luna? How could you have done that? I can't even..."

"...!"

"Please.... please explain everything... Celestia... I need to understand..."

"Twilight, I need you to tell me everything that happened, you met Luna?! Was she okay? Why are you—"

"She was fairly normal, if not a bit cold. I did go to met her and I'll tell you why. I was surprised at how close she was to my final destination in Riftly. I figured that I could knock over two pegs at once, one an accurate layout from town to her, and two, see what kind of situation we were dealing with. I just didn't expect... expect her to be so fragile. There was something about her, like a trigger, that seemed to cause her entire personality to shift on a bit. I don't know the exact details about what you did to banish her, princess, but I really would like to know more."

A sigh. "I wish I knew as well Twilight. I really do. I apologize on me and my sisters behalf for having to put you through any of this. I'm glad she's okay," her features became soft and nostalgic, and it looked like some weight had been lifted off of her. "I've been certain about meeting my sister now since I knew she'd be coming back, I just never knew when. Thank you for providing me with this information. I have arranged for several nobility to look after the court in my absence. No pony will even have to know. Around a week from now is when I will be leaving, and I will have four days to travel to and from my sister and make amends. Is there anything else I need to know?"

"It pains me to say princess, but... I don't think you realize how difficult this is going to be. I don't know why, but her time on the moon seems to be a painful memory for her, and she seems to blame it all on you. In fact...," Twilight remembered how Luna had reacted to even hearing Celestia's name and cringed, "she seemed to have a warped sense for your relationship, even bringing you up with her was enough for her to react poorly."

"That's... a tough pill to swallow, Twilight." Her face was slightly wretched, "but I cannot let it get in the way of our meeting one way or the other. I have blamed myself for Luna's fate all my life, and this will be no different." She closed her eyes and dropped her head down, and looked on the verge of crying, "but I will not allow myself to wallow in self-pity while I could be fixing things with her, helping her get back on her hooves. I have to believe in that Twilight, if nothing else."

While Twilight was processing seeing a side of her mentor she had never seen before, Celestia raised her head back up to look at her. Twilight nodded slowly, "I... understand princess. I wish nothing more than for you two to make things right. I just wish I could be of more help..."

"You've done more than enough Twilight, and I thank you with all my heart. Simply hearing confirmation that she's okay made my entire year."

For a moment, Twilight remembered a comment from Luna about having trouble after her return, and it gave her a slight chill. Unsure whether to bring it up or not, Twilight's hesitancy lost her the opportunity.

"Well Twilight, I do believe you've earned a bit of a break don't you?" Her smile was delicate and soothing, just like old times. "I believe you'll find the library in Ponyville sorely missing its master and keeper. Go and be with your friends, I know you wanted to catch up and grow with them some more, even if you didn't admit it so much last time we spoke about it." She winked.

"Well, while I appreciate you coming in today, I must get back to my duties, please feel free to use any of the castle facilities if need be before you go, I hear the chef has cooked up the most wonderful lasagna that I haven't gotten to try yet, lucky you."

"Yes... thank you princess. I will be off now."

Luna could feel something slipping. It should've bothered her that the overgrowth of flora surrounding her home had started to encroach on her personal space, but she didn't mind having to trim them once in a while. The local area had started to stick out, with the local plants teaming with life, as though an oasis in the heart of the desert. The trees had grown to stick out among the rest of the forest that were near the cottage, climbing further than any tree normally made it to before having some unfortunate event cut it down back to earth.

The means of which was causing this was not lost on Luna, but much like her slowly faltering strength her spirit had also began to fade in resistance. It was such a silly thing after all, it was so ridiculous that every time the thought came back to her he started to laugh, bordering on maniacally. She had spent how long on the moon? Using every ounce of her will in the struggle to survive in the hope of one day seeing Equus again. But why had she wanted to come back anyway? There only lay painful memories here anyway. She hadn't minded the beautiful sights she supposed. Appreciating nature had become increasingly lost on the Luna of before her banishment, but now it felt like all the world would cradle her until the final moments.

She would need to go on a final flight, that was sure. See as much as possible.

On her way back to the cottage from her most recent walk in the local area, she couldn't help but stop and look at herself in the reflection of a small puddle. Her mane and tail had lost the starry ethereal nature that once was the hallmark and proof of her maturity as an alicorn. It had faded back into the lighter cyan of her youth, but the size of her body remained the same. Unable to look any longer, she continued on her trek.

While Luna hadn't feared death since her younger years, she had certainly fought hard to prevent it. She couldn't help but wonder how long she had left. Originally, her lifespan may as well have been for as long as she wanted. To take something so precious and perfect and condemn it to ruinous damnation such that an eternal light that was almost meant to shine glory upon the universe suddenly was snuffed out. Perhaps she had a century, a year, a month, she had no clue. She could only tell that something deep inside her was wrong, and her many efforts to repair it over the past few months had quite obviously been fruitless. A soul couldn't repair itself, no matter how special that soul originally was. In fact, any magic relating to the soul was extremely complicated and challenging. Luna doubted even with intense study would she have ever been able to do anything.

It was fine though, and she smiled on her final turn back to the cottage. This wasn't such a bad ending after all. Brief thoughts of Celestia finally being free and not having to worry about her ponies from the nightmare fluttered through her mind which had become a torrent, gone as soon as them came.