A Renewed Ending

Friday, January 7, 1008 A.L., Equestria

It was a bleary-eyed Twilight Sparkle who walked into hers and Mayor Mare’s temporary office inside the former Castle of Friendship. Ever since the entire town had moved into the only permanent structure with the ability to keep everypony warm, her duties as the administrator had only increased, and it showed on her face and in how she walked. If it wasn’t all of the duties keeping her down, the looks of resentment and anger she received from many ponies who blamed her and her former friends for their current situation beat her down even more. At the very least, Mayor Mare made an attempt to be polite, although whether that was due to guilt of her own or with some type of sympathy for them being in similar predicaments Twilight couldn’t really say.

“Good morning, Miss Twilight,” Mayor Mare greeted her politely. “Good news. We just got in some fresh coffee, and-”

Twilight rushed over to the coffee machine before the earth pony mare could finish, grabbing her mug and pouring herself a healthy portion of the life-giving liquid that she had grown quite fond of in the months since Ponyville’s destruction. In the past, Twilight wouldn’t have had any to drink because she despised the taste, but she had grown more and more reliant on the black liquid gold. She had grown quite cranky during the inevitable times when coffee reserves ran low.

After using a magic spell to gently lower the temperature to a tolerable level so she wouldn’t burn her tongue yet again, she carefully sipped on the Maker-blessed beverage, sighing in relief as she felt its effects immediately. “Aaah…that’s the stuff,” she muttered to herself before she recovered and placed two cubes of sugar along with a small portion of vanilla cream into her mug. She walked over to her desk and set the mug down on its proper coaster, letting the coffee warm her and wake her up. “So…how busy are we looking today?” she asked her companion.

“Not as busy as yesterday,” Mayor Mare said. “If we’re lucky, we may actually get out of here without any OT.”

Twilight snorted without mirth as she took another sip of the coffee before turning her attention to the matters at hoof on her desk. “Alright, well, it’s time to get started. First things first…”

Twilight allowed herself to get lost in the mundanity of the daily paperwork required to help run the former town. The rebuilding would begin in the spring right after Winter Wrap-Up, after all. Twilight had a slight inkling of an idea as to how much work it took Princess Celestia to run a nation, but after several months of helping to run Ponyville, Twilight had a new appreciation for all of the work the princess must endure. She also realized now why Celestia enjoyed coffee.

Getting lost in her work also helped mask the pain and guilt that plagued her still. She was holding together by a mere thread, still seeing Jason Wright in dark shadows and even in her dreams. Still, she was a powerful alicorn princess, at least for now. She could mentally handle it.

Several hours later she stopped her work to take her scheduled forty five minute lunch break. She walked down the hallway with the mayor by her side. For years, the castle had been empty, full of bedrooms that were not being used. Now, though, as winter was now in full swing, the bedrooms were now being used by the citizens who hadn’t yet up and moved away. She felt the eyes on her as she walked down to the commissary, but forced herself not to let the many gazes of hopelessness, anger, and derision get to her. Mayor Mare must have sensed this, because she moved closer. “Please don’t let them get to you,” she whispered, “they are simply reacting to a bad situation.”

“A situation that I caused five years ago,” Twilight replied.

Mayor Mare’s ears flattened at that. She was one of the ponies who Discord had afflicted, having turned Jason away rather cruelly from what she had told Twilight with shame a few months ago. “Yes,” Mayor Mare agreed, “it started with you, but it continued with us. We blindly followed not just you, but our own negative instincts. Discord’s influenced be damned.” She spoke those words loud enough that everypony nearby could hear. Their anger turned hotter, but they also looked away, or most of them did.

“I may not have been the worst, but I was the first,” Twilight argued, “and that makes what I did the worst actions anypony in town could have ever taken.”

She paused when she heard a familiar voice from around a bend. Pausing, she looked down and saw Spike walking down the hall next to Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon. She noted how the younger dragon looked at Sweetie Belle, a hint of affection in his eyes, one which Sweetie Belle returned. As if that wasn’t enough, he leaned in close and gave the now teenaged unicorn a kiss on the cheek, causing the young songstress to blush and earning the two teasing from the other fillies.

His smile faded when he turned back and saw Twilight. He simply nodded at her, and the other four fillies went silent as well, avoiding eye contact with Twilight as well. Twilight simply stood aside and lowered her head, too ashamed to look at the dragon. He had grow quite well since Dragon Lord Ember had assigned a dragon dietician to him to help him grow. As it turned out, a pony diet only stunted his growth, and while he could safely eat anything ponies could eat, they needed meat. Just like Jason did.

Ever since she had begun personally ordering supplies of meat through a black market from the Dragon Lands, Spike had begun to grow and had even molted, gaining him his wings. He was fast losing his baby fat which it seemed as if he wouldn’t lose for years, and was, at least in her opinion, a handsome young dragon teen. Clearly Sweetie Belle thought so if the two had begun dating.

Once Spike and his friends were gone, she turned and headed back down the corridor, not wanting anyone to see the tears in her eyes.

Twilight found herself sitting in a corner of the commissary several minutes later, two hayburgers and a plate of steaming hay fries on her plate while she drank some water, freshly melted and purified snow-melt from outside. Only Mayor Mare sat near her, eating a simple salad and an apple. Twilight ate her meal quietly, a part of her silently cursing her alicorn metabolism. She needed more food than she had when she was a unicorn. She missed those days. She missed just being a unicorn without all of this extra responsibility. Sure, she had wanted some responsibility, but she had never wanted to be a princess. That was something that was forced upon her without her permission, she now realized.

She also realized that even as a unicorn, she couldn’t have handled as much responsibility without using Spike and that hurt her even more. She relied too heavily on a mere baby dragon when he should have been just enjoying his youth. Of course, Twilight could only guess just how the ponies of town would react to Spike being out and about more.

No, she thought. That’s not a good enough excuse. We as a species need to learn how to treat other creatures better. We have lived in our own solitude for far too long. We need to change.

“Daily mail,” A new voice interrupted her thoughts. Looking up, Twilight looked into the unfocused eyes of Derpy Hooves who still worked with the postal service, only now their office was located in a room that had apparently been set up specifically for that purpose when the castle was grown. She placed the letters down, giving Twilight a friendly smile. As far as Twilight could tell, Derpy had not actively acted against Jason Wright. She had not even acted against him by proxy. Derpy didn’t even seem to know who Jason was even after Discord’s spell on the wall-eyed mare was lifted.

“Thanks, Derpy,” Twilight said softly as she reached out to pick up the mail.

Derpy flashed her a wider smile. “You’re welcome,” she replied before moving over to stand next to the alicorn and patting her on her back gently. “Everything will be alright,” she said with a reassuring tone.

Twilight felt grateful for Derpy’s kind words, even if she felt like she didn’t deserve to hear them. As Derpy walked away with some more mail to deliver, Twilight absent-mindedly looked over the letters. There were only two she’d gotten today, and one was from her parents. She read it and smiled at the reassuring words they relayed to her. She remembered that the monthly meeting with them would be coming soon. She would have to let them know just when they could expect her.

The second letter, however, was an official message from Canterlot. Frowning, she took it and opened it. Her eyes widened as she read the message inside.

To Princess Twilight Sparkle,

This letter has been written to you after much intense deliberation in the House of Lords. Your presence is requested in Canterlot immediately. It is the decision of the vast majority of the house that Princess Celestia Solaris and Princess Luna Nightingale have become increasingly unfit to rule the kingdom. As such, we will be engaging in the ancient tradition of Abducatio et Ascendio. As a monarch of the kingdom and third in line for the throne, you are hereby summoned to Canterlot to meet with the House of Lords.

Signed,

Prince Blueblood and Marchioness High Life of the House of Lords

Twilight’s eyes practically bulged out of their sockets as she read the letter. This couldn’t be happening. It just couldn’t. A coup by the nobles?! What could be their reasoning behind this?! Celestia has ruled Equestria for over a thousand years, and while Luna had been gone for a millennia, she had been around for hundreds of years before her banishment. What could have possibly led them to this decision?!

She stood quickly, her appetite gone. Mayor Mare looked up at the alicorn with alarm. “What’s wrong?” she asked quietly.

“I need to leave immediately,” Twilight said. “Something urgent has come up in Canterlot, and I need to be there.”

“O-Of course,” Mayor Mare said, stunned.

Twilight nodded apologetically at her, then spread her wings and flew out of the room, much to the surprise of the others in the room. No matter what, she would get to the bottom of this.

Octavia Melody was sitting in her and Vinyl’s room in the former Castle of Friendship, a cello in her hooves. She closed her eyes, visualizing her old home in her minds eye. It had been a small cottage split down the middle to accommodate both her and Vinyl Scratch’s tastes. Sadly, though, despite being on the edge of the town, the only thing remaining was the brown cobblestone pathway that led up to the house.

She opened her eyes, then continued to play her cello, trying to compose something to take her mind off of everything that had happened in the past few months, but all she could compose in her current state of mind was a melancholic melody. As she continued playing, her lips opened and she began to sing:

“From worlds unknown, a stranger appeared,
“a smile across his heart.
“But in Ponyville fair, he was shunned and feared,
“And his warm smile did depart.”

“In Everfree cruel was he forced to abide.
“Abandoned by harmony’s race.
“The years went past, and his gentleness died,
“and hatred he did chase.”

“One day in the fields of once fertile trees,
“the stranger did try to die,
“but fate stepped in, and from there he did flee,
“vengeance clear in his eyes.”

“Two years had passed, and once more he did meet
“all those who’d abandoned his calls.
“With all his revenge and destruction complete,
“the stranger left Canterlot’s halls.”

“Oh where, oh where, has that stranger now gone?
“Absconded to lands unsung?
“Will he return, or will he prolong
“his hatred against those now shunned?”

Octavia took a deep breath and exhaled shakily as she slowly put her cello in its stand. Ahead of her, out of the window, she could see snow falling again as was forecasted. What had once been thatched rooftops and a quaint idyllic township was now a sprawling wasteland full of nothing as the tents had been struck so that everypony could live in the castle to survive the winter. It might have been mistaken for uninhabited territory on the edge of the Everfree.

“That was a nice song,” a familiar voice said from behind her.

Octavia turned and saw her roommate standing in the doorway, a small smile on her face. She held some cheap looking tea set in her magic and she set it down on at a nearby table. Octavia smiled a bit as she stood to join her friend. “I’ve been writing it for a while…” she said as she took one of the cups in her hooves and sipped at the steaming beverage, one of the few luxuries still available. It wasn’t brewed in the way she was used to, but she wasn’t about to complain. Especially when Jason had nothing for three years.

“I’ve been writing one, too,” Vinyl admitted solemnly as she lifted the plain white cup to her lips. “Although I don’t have as good a singing voice as you.”

“Thank you.” Octavia smiled a bit. The two of them, along with Bon Bon and Lyra, had gotten together once or twice a week as friends for years, but for the past three months, they had not met up like this. Lyra and Bon Bon had left suddenly, from what Octavia heard, but she missed their company.

Octavia had been helping to teach the young foals so as to supplement Cheerilee’s own overworked schedule. Vinyl had been going through the country doing gigs and earning money which she would mostly donate to the Ponyville Restoration Fund, keeping enough for food and supplies for herself. It was rare nowadays for her to be in Ponyville. Octavia had heard that Bon Bon was volunteering in the castle kitchens, and Lyra was doing various odd jobs around the castle to help. Still, even Octavia could sense the varying moods in the castle. The town itself seemed to be divided on what to think about Jason. She knew a few ponies who were still in denial despite the evidence that they were responsible for what had happened to Jason.

“Good tea,” Octavia said as she put it down.

“I got it from Britmane when I was last there,” Vinyl said.

“You came back in today?” Octavia asked.

“Just about an hour ago,” Vinyl said as she walked over to the door and used her magic to lift up several large bags. “I brought snacks, too. Lots of Britmane stuff you’re sure to like!”

Octavia smiled ruefully. Despite having been born in Britmane, she had little memory of that place from her foalhood since her parents had moved to Ponyville when she was only five. She watched as Vinyl placed several bags full of sweets and pastries onto Octavia’s desk. “Thank you, dear,” she said.

“How’ve things been here?” Vinyl asked as she collapsed onto her bed.

“Not too bad, I guess,” Octavia said. “Same old, same old.”

“Cool, cool,” Vinyl, who had actually never met Jason Wright since every time he’d come into town she’d been either out of town or not in the same part of town, looked at the three other ponies. She frowned and removed her shades, revealing her reddish purple eyes. In her deeper but feminine voice, she said, “That was quite the song you were writing. You’re still really torn up about it, huh?”

Octavia looked at Vinyl sharply. “Of course I bloody well am,” she hissed. Then, her ears flattened and she looked away. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

Vinyl got out of bed, walked over, and sat on the couch next to Octavia. “Tavi, it’s been three months already.” She moved closer and put her foreleg around Octavia, pulling her close. “Come on…you’ve got to stop doing this to yourself…”

Octavia winced at the use of foul language, but she didn’t say anything. She had tried to move past it, but it felt just wrong to do so. She, too, had actively participated in the abuse of the human by throwing stones and refuse at him whenever she saw him coming into town from the Everfree. And that had resulted in him taking his revenge by destroying everything and anything she had ever owned.

“How can we forget this!?” she asked suddenly, looking up and glaring at the DJ.

“Whoa, I never said anything about forgetting this, so chill there, Tavi,” Vinyl said, holding her hooves up in a placating manner. “I just said move past this. Nopony should forget what happened and what we did.”

“Vinyl, you never participated in Jason’s cruel treatment,” Octavia said with some confusion. “Why are you saying ‘we’?”

Vinyl reached over and put a hoof on Octavia’s foreleg. “Because you’re my friend, Tavi,” she said. “Because I think that if I’d seen him I’d probably have done the same.”

“I sincerely doubt that,” Octavia said. “You’re one of the sweetest ponies I know. You’re always smiling, and you might not talk much to others, but you say more with your mannerisms than your words.”

“Tavi, even I have my prejudices,” Vinyl said as she took a sip of tea, which she’d added milk to. “I’ve had my head in my music for a long time. I never took off my headset. I’d have probably ignored him. I’m not as nice as you think.”

“Don’t say that,” Octavia said, looking at her best friend with a frown. “You’re a really nice pony.”

She sighed. “Thanks for saying so, but you’re wrong. But back to the topic at hoof.” She gestured out of the window towards the destroyed town. “We should address the elephant in the room. And not just with the two of us. I mean the entire town.”

Octavia looked at Vinyl with an arched eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Vinyl looked out of the window, eyes narrowed. “What I mean is that we need a town meeting and everypony needs to attend. And I mean everypony.” She turned back to Octavia, who shuddered. Her normally reddish purple eyes seemed now to be a dark blood red. “It’s long past time the town faced our sins.”

Friday, January 7, 1008 A.L., Gryphonia

Celestia sat once more in the Convocation’s meeting chamber, once the throne room of the Gryphonian Imperium. Luna was speaking now, making more offers to the Convocation. There were certain things that even Equestria could offer, and she was letting her sister take the lead on this because she wanted to think long and hard about all that she had talked about earlier with Gregory and Cadance. Not to mention the most intriguing game of chess she had played with Flurry, although that was more of a curiosity than the former.

The languages of apology, she mused as she kept enough attention on the proceedings in front of her to interject if she needed. After her chess game, she had spoken to Cadance about her conversation with Gregory. She had agreed wholeheartedly with what he had said about these languages, explaining that there were languages of love as well. Celestia had known this, of course, but it was a nice refresher. The meal they had shared did have some tension with it, but it was also a good way to begin repairing their relationship that was broken due to the invasion and the resulting revelation of Jason’s abuse. I wonder what my language of apology is? Gregory said that what I offered Jason was a bribe, and he is probably right. Still, I can’t be sure how best to apologize to him. He was so angry last time, but he also looked so tired.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a slight vibration that came from the satchel she had slung over the chair she was granted. It didn’t seem to be heard by anyone, but Luna’s ears twitched, indicating that she had, indeed, heard it. Celestia waited until Luna was finished speaking before she held up a hoof. “Would you please excuse me? I need to tend to something a bit private.”

“Washroom’s out the door and directly to your right,” Grandpa Gruff said, pointing back with his thumb.

Celestia kept her reaction in check. It was still embarrassing when she had to leave her throne room to ‘powder her nose’, but she nodded, stood, and left the room, subtly casting a teleportation spell which brought the vibrating object with her. She entered the private lavatory and locked the door before casting a spell over the room to keep anycreature from spying on her. She took out the object, a small clear crystal ball, and poured her magic into it. Soon, an image appeared inside the crystal. A hooded stallion stood on the other side, wearing a mask over his muzzle. “What is it?” she asked curiously. “Is this an emergency?”

“I would say so, your highness,” the distorted voice replied on the other end. “There has been an incident that requires your immediate attention. The nobles have made a move to force you and Princess Luna from the throne.”

Celestia’s heart stopped at that. She froze, unable to comprehend just what her informant had told her. “On what basis have they made this move?” she asked after she had recovered herself.

“According to what they brought forth to the House of Lords, you have grown mentally unfit to rule, and they have brought up some convincingly damning evidence against you and Luna,” he said.

“What kind of evidence?” Celestia asked.

“Your actions in regards to the recent crisis, for one,” the pony said. “Not to mention many incidents where you didn’t act and instead let six inexperienced young mares deal with various dangers. They mentioned the first Canterlot changeling invasion, Tirek, the sleeping dragon, and many other instances, including recent events, such as you taking many chests full of bits to Gryphonstone.”

“They performed an audit?!” Celestia was alarmed by this.

“The evidence brought against Luna was equally as damning,” the pony said. “They brought in medical testimony from a few doctors saying how her psyche has been affected not just by her thousand year banishment, but by her infecting herself with a tanatabus. They say this shows suicidal tendencies. Your highness, they have more evidence than this.”

Celestia nearly fell onto her rear in shock. She could hardly believe that this was happening. Of course, the more she thought about it, the more it began making sense. The nobles had become too influential. Especially with Marchioness High Life being a high ranking member of the House. She was a clever mare, no doubt about that, and came from a very famous and influential family in Canterlot. She could trace her family roots back to Unicornia before the unification of the tribes. Her nephew was also in on it, too, of that she had no doubt. Then, a thought occurred to her. “What about Twilight Sparkle? She is still a princess of Equestria? Have they brought anything against her?”

“Not as far as I know, but the House has invoked some ancient law or tradition called Abducatio et Ascendio and have summoned her to court. Does that ring a bell for you?”

Celestia’s blood ran cold. Abducatio et Ascendio was an ancient tradition that was leftover, once more, from Unicornia. It meant Abdication and Ascension. It was added into the laws of Equestria as a concession to the unicorn faction when the law for the nation were being made. They had no idea, of course, that two alicorn sisters would take up the mantle of monarchs for the kingdom. It was a legal gathering that the House of Lords could enact if sufficient reason was brought forward for a ruling monarch to be deposed and a new one put into power. “Abducatio et Ascendio…yes, I’ve heard of it.”

“They will be holding it the moment Princess Twilight, Princess Luna, and yourself all appear in the House of Lords,” the pony said.

“I see,” Celestia said somberly.

“Princess, what should we do?” the pony asked.

“This is clearly something long in the works,” Celestia said. “Sit tight. My sister and I will be coming home as soon as possible.”

“As you wish, your highness.” With that, the pony’s form vanished.

Celestia put the crystal down on the counter next to the sink. She looked into the mirror, examining herself. Despite the rest forced on her by the nor’wester, she looked exhausted. The events of the past few months since the invasion had taken a toll on her. She already had been chastised for taking too much on herself, but with recent events, she realized the massive mistake she had made in coming to Gryphonstone before dealing with internal affairs. She acted on impulse, something she hadn’t done in a long time.

She splashed some water on her face, dried it off with a towel, then headed back into the Convocation Hall. Geoffrey was speaking now. “Our supply of Atlantean Trees is not something we can readily get to,” he was saying. “Those trees are mostly in snow leopard territory, and the only two trees we have available are located in the Eyrie’s garden.”

Celestia saw Luna about to speak when she interrupted. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak to my sister in private.”

A couple looks of concern and confusion passed over the group. “Is everything okay?” Cadance asked.

“We have to cut our negotiations short, I’m afraid,” Celestia said apologetically. “We have urgent matters that have come up back in Equestria.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” Geoffrey said with sincerity. “Is there anything we can do?”

“No, but thank you for the offer,” Celestia said gratefully.

“Have a safe trip back,” Gregory said, and many in the room echoed that sentiment.

Before she left, however, she turned and faced the Convocation again. “This may be too much to ask, but would you be open to have the two ponies I sent her earlier stay in our room?”

The Convocation exchanged looks of confusion. “For what purpose?” Gwendolyn asked curiously.

“I’ve noted that the one called Lyra has been speaking often with Miss Silica here,” Celestia said, gesturing to the dragon with the same color scheme as Lyra.

Silica chuckled softly. “She is picking my brain about humans,” she explained, “and her friend has also shown some interest as well. Not as much as Miss Heartstrings, but still.”

Celestia nodded. “Miss Heartstrings seems like she would make a good ambassador, to be honest,” she said. “And Miss Drops is capable of protecting her. Until I return, I would like them to explore this city and learn about it. If that’s alright with you.”

Silica looked at Gregory, who steepled his fingers and looked contemplative. “Hmm…well, I guess that would be okay. What do the rest of you think?”

“To be clear, are they acting as ambassadors?” Geoffrey asked.

Celestia shook her head. “I simply want them to learn about gryphon society and help bridge the gap between our cultures. Perhaps Miss Drops can even help you with security, and Miss Heartstrings is a member in the Canterlot Philharmonic Orchestra, so perhaps she could entertain or teach music?”

The Convocation exchanged looks again, then Geoffrey turned to Celestia. “Tell them that they’re welcome to stay if they want,” he said.

“Thank you,” Celestia said. “I’ll let them know before I leave. Come on, Luna.”

The moment that the two left the room, Luna turned to her sister with an alarmed expression on her face. “Sister, what has transpired to necessitate the bed for us to depart?”

“Abducatio et Ascendio,” Celestia said as they began walking briskly down the stairs.

Luna paused, eyes wide in alarm. “Somepony wants to depose us?” Her voice trembled, but not in fear. Instead, she was full of rage. Celestia didn’t need to be a changeling to feel the anger radiating from her sister.

“The House of Lords has apparently brought evidence against us to show how unfit we are,” Celestia said. On their way back to their room, Celestia explained just what she had been told by the informant they had.

Luna’s expression changed to one of shock. “Those medical records were sealed,” she said in a whispered tone. “You told me that they couldn’t be seen.”

“Unfortunately, in the case of Abducatio et Ascendio, they can be accessed,” Celestia said ruefully. “Especially if it can be used to prove unworthiness for the throne.”

“Balderdash!” Luna shouted angrily. “You have kept Equestria alive for a thousand years! You have ruled well!”

“Some might say I’ve kept it on life support,” Celestia said somberly. “They may be right about that. Luna, our nation has many different issues that we-that I-have failed to address. I had always planned on retiring and leaving the throne to Twilight, or earlier I would have left it to Sunset had she not left…”

“You told me that,” Luna said, “and I vehemently disagreed.”

“Luna, I’m getting exhausted from everything,” Celestia said as they reached their room. “I’m not as young as I once was anymore. Don’t I deserve a break of my own?”

“I was not denying that fact,” Luna said, “but I was disagreeing with the fact that you wanted Twilight to rule. She is a fine mare, but she was never the right one for the job. From what you’ve told me about Sunset Shimmer, she would have been the far more superior ruler.”

Celestia pursed her lips. “Perhaps you’re right, but now we’ll never know.”

“Is that so?” a voice said from behind them.

Celestia turned sharply, heart in her throat. The guards stationed at the door were in a defensive posture, but the three mares who stood there didn’t make any moves. The one who caught Celestia’s attention stepped forward, her bright aquamarine eyes looked at Celestia calmly, her fiery mane brushed just as Celestia remembered it. She took a step forward. “S-Sunset Shimmer…but…but how…?”

Luna spoke next. “Guards, stand down. She is my sister’s former student.”

The guards nodded and stood at attention. Sunset Shimmer looked at Luna, nodded gratefully, then looked back at Celestia. “I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you,” she said.

Tears formed in Celestia’s eyes. “Oh, Sunset…where have you been all these years?”

“Wandering around the world,” Sunset said. “I eventually met up with two other ponies and became friends with them. Then Gregory saved us from nearly starving to death and we’ve been living in his house ever since.”

“You…you were there when we visited?” Celestia asked in a hoarse whisper.

Sunset nodded, and Celestia could see a hint of what looked like shame forming on her face. “I was too afraid to come see you before now,” she admitted, “but now I see it’s too late.”

Celestia shook her head fervently. “It may be too late to talk right now, but when I take care of the emergency back in Equestria, I will come back and we can talk then.”

Sunset took a deep breath. “I missed you…” she said, and one of the other mares, a bright azure mare, walked up and put a hoof on the back of Sunset. “Thanks, Trixie,” she whispered.

“I missed you too,” Celestia said, sniffing. “I…I’m really sorry for how things ended up between us all those years ago.”

Sunset nodded softly. “I was out of line back then.”

“Maybe so,” Celestia agreed, “but I was too harsh on you. I let my anger-” She stopped. The conversation with Gregory about the languages of apology came back to her instantly. She shook her head. “No, I don’t have an excuse for kicking you out. I wish I had the time to catch up with you, but an important issue has come up in Equestria that requires my immediate attention. I will come back and make things right between us, I promise.”

A ghost of a smile formed on Sunset’s face, and the other friend, who reminded Celestia of Twilight slightly based off of her lighter purple fur, gave Sunset a friendly rump bump. “I look forward to it,” Sunset said.

“Before I go, could you introduce me to these two?” Celestia asked, looking at the two other mares curiously.

“This is Beatrix Lulamoon, or the Great and Powerful Trixie,” Sunset said as she gestured to the bright azure mare, “and this is Starlight Glimmer,” she finished, gesturing to the light purple mare.

Celestia looked at them both. The names sounded familiar and she quickly remembered. “I’ve heard of you two,” she said before she inclined her head. “My little ponies, you two have been wronged by your fellow ponies. I know how you were kicked out of Ponyville, Miss Lulamoon, and I know how you were assaulted, Miss Glimmer. I assure you two that I will make sure things are made right.”

“My father gave me my cart,” Trixie said somberly, “and I haven’t seen him in so long.”

“What’s your father’s name, Miss Lulamoon?” Celestia asked.

“Jack Pot,” Trixie said. “He looks a lot like me. Last I heard, he lived in Las Pegasus.”

“I will have somepony tell her where you are and ask him to visit you,” Celestia said.

“Thank you,” Trixie said with a bow.

Starlight was silent, head lowered. “I’m too ashamed to see my old townsfolk again,” she muttered.

“What about your family? Or old friends?” Luna asked. “Surely there is somepony in Equestria who misses you?”

“The only other friend in Equestria I know is somepony I can’t face,” Starlight said, “and as for my family…I only have my dad, and I have a…complicated history with him.”

“Starlight, my brother is not the kind to hold grudges,” Sunset said with an empathetic tone. “Reach out to him. I’m sure he misses you.”

Starlight swallowed hard. “I’ll…think about it.”

“Is there anything I can do for you, Sunset?” Celestia asked.

“Just come back here when you can so we can talk,” Sunset said.

“I promise I will,” Celestia said. She walked up and opened one hoof. “May I?”

Sunset smiled slightly and walked up to hug her. Celestia hugged back. “Thank you for seeing me,” Sunset said. “I’ll see you later.”

Celestia smiled and nodded. “See you soon.” At least, I hope so, she thought as she and Luna returned to their room to pack up.