Sister... : The Lost Crown

The sun had risen hours ago, but I still hadn’t moved from my place by the window. The light streaming through the glass felt warmer today, its golden rays casting long shadows across the empty room. I used to love mornings like this. They had always brought a sense of peace and new beginnings. But now, all they did was remind me of the absence I couldn't escape.

My mother was gone.

I had heard that time would make things easier. That grief would soften, like a bruise fading with each passing day. It had been six months since Luna and I returned from our journey—six months since we had buried her. And yet, it still felt as though the weight of the world pressed against my chest every morning, making it hard to breathe.

I glanced at Luna. She was still asleep, her small body curled up under the blankets. She always slept in now, ever since… Well, I couldn't blame her. She had been so young when we left home, so full of hope. Now, she tossed and turned every night, murmuring in her sleep, sometimes crying softly when she thought I wasn’t listening.

I often wished I could comfort her the way I used to. But lately, the words never seemed right. My role as the older sister had always been to shield her from the worst of the world, to be strong when she couldn’t be. But how could I be strong when I, too, felt like I was crumbling from the inside?

A faint breeze stirred the curtains, and I sighed, tearing my gaze away from the window. There was work to be done. Even in mourning, there was always something. The land outside, once buried beneath snow and ice, was slowly coming back to life. Flowers pushed their way through the earth, and the trees were beginning to bloom. I took small comfort in that—the idea that life could go on, even when it felt like the world had stopped.

I moved quietly, not wanting to wake Luna. Her sleep was restless enough without me disturbing her. I padded across the stone floor, each hoofstep echoing in the quiet room. The house felt empty, not just because of our mother’s absence but because it was too large for just the two of us. SilverLeap was our home, yes, but without her, it felt hollow, like a shell of what it once was.

In the main hall, the fireplace crackled softly, offering a small warmth. I busied myself with the usual morning tasks, brewing tea and tidying up. Keeping my hooves occupied kept my mind from wandering too far. But as I set the table, I caught a glimpse of something new—a letter, sealed and waiting by the door.

The sight of it made my heart skip a beat. We hadn’t had many visitors since returning. The ponies of SilverLeap kept their distance, perhaps out of respect for our loss, or maybe because they didn’t know what to say to two grieving sisters. I couldn’t blame them for that, either.

Curiosity piqued, I used my magic to levitate the letter and broke the seal with a flick of my horn. The scroll unfurled slowly, revealing a familiar, flowing script. Clover.

Celestia, Luna,
I hope this letter finds you both in good health. I know it has been some time since we last spoke, and I can only imagine the pain you’ve endured these past months. But I must ask for your help once more.

Equestria is in trouble.
Queen Dormant Thunder has disappeared.

My heart skipped a beat as I read the words. Queen Dormant Thunder... that name carried weight, especially after what Luna and I had experienced on our last journey. The Queen had been a force of nature, as cold and unyielding as the storm that had plagued Equestria. But now, she was simply gone?

Her crown was found abandoned at her throne, and her whereabouts are unknown. The situation has caused unrest among the pegasi, and without a ruler to guide them, the tension between the tribes threatens to reignite.

I am asking you both to return to Equestria. Your wisdom and strength are needed once more.

I wish I could spare you this burden so soon after your loss, but there is no one else I trust with this. Please, come as quickly as you can.

Clover the Clever

The letter ended abruptly, as if Clover had written it in a hurry. I stared at it, my mind racing. Queen Dormant Thunder—gone? And Clover, of all ponies, asking us for help?

I felt a pang of guilt twisting in my chest. Equestria needed us, but how could I leave Luna? She was still so fragile, still mourning. Could I really ask her to embark on another journey so soon?

I folded the letter carefully, placing it on the table. I needed to think. Clover wouldn’t have sent that letter unless the situation was dire. Equestria had only just begun to heal, and another war between the tribes would be disastrous.

A soft rustling behind me made me turn. Luna stood in the doorway, her mane disheveled from sleep, her eyes still heavy with exhaustion. She gave me a weak smile.

“Morning, ‘Tia,” she said, her voice quiet.

“Morning,” I replied, offering her a seat at the table. I poured her some tea, watching as she cradled the cup between her hooves.

We sat in silence for a while, the only sound the crackling of the fire. I knew I couldn’t keep the letter from her. Luna had always been perceptive, and she would sense something was wrong before long.

“There’s a letter,” I said finally, breaking the quiet.

Luna’s ears perked up slightly. “From who?”

“Clover,” I answered, watching her closely. “He’s asking for our help. Queen Dormant Thunder has disappeared.”

The name seemed to jolt her awake. Luna blinked, her expression shifting from curiosity to concern. “Disappeared? But… how?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But Clover thinks it could lead to trouble between the tribes. He wants us to come back to Equestria.”

Luna set her cup down slowly, her eyes drifting to the letter on the table. For a long moment, she said nothing, her brow furrowed in thought.

“I’m not sure we’re ready,” I said softly, voicing my own hesitation. “We’ve only just started to… heal.”

Luna looked up at me, her eyes reflecting a sadness I had grown all too familiar with. But beneath the sorrow, there was something else—a flicker of determination.

“We have to go,” she said quietly but firmly. “If there’s trouble in Equestria, we can’t just stay here. We’re needed, ‘Tia.”

Her words struck a chord deep within me. Even after everything we had been through, Luna still had that unshakable sense of responsibility. She was right, of course. Equestria had become more than just a place for us. It was our home now, and its people were our people.

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the decision settling over me like a cloak. “We’ll leave tomorrow,” I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

Luna gave me a small, reassuring smile. “We’ll be okay, ‘Tia. We always are.”

I wished I could believe her.