I am fortunate to have Comet Tail on my side. With her help, we were able to bluff our way into the deepest dungeon. She kept watch while I went down and revisited Celestia’s cell.

I got a good look at her this time. She indeed wears a sun cutie mark, so it is obvious that day belonged to her. However long ago it was. It’s possible that without her, day cannot exist, but I cannot know for certain.

I asked her about everything: her sister, her day, what happened. Unfortunately, I do not know how long she has been down here. Her mind seems to be gone, and she acts delirious.

When asked about Princess Luna, she could only babble. In her mutterings, the word “Lulu” kept coming up. She spoke highly of her younger sister, but it ended with a bitter laugh. “Now she’s become the shadow instead of living in one,” she said. “Can’t live in one when everything is shadow.”

I got a similar response when asked about the day. “Oh? Day? It’s gone? I wouldn’t know.” Another bitter laugh. In hindsight, I should’ve realized her cell lacked any windows.

And as for what happened that day, when all turned to night… She didn’t say anything. She shuddered, fell to the ground, and covered her eyes and sobbed. She lay weeping a good few minutes before it died off.

I stood watching her and sighed. Whatever she knew, if she knew how to fix anything, I would not be able to get out of her. Her Majesty’s cruelty had managed to silence even another alicorn.

As I turned to leave, however, Celestia began muttering again. I leaned in to listen, and I shall try to jot down what I heard:

“The Elements… The Elements of Harmony… Even they failed you, Lulu… I failed you…”

This is another term I have never heard before, and have yet to uncover in the library. What are the Elements of Harmony? More research is required. Perhaps there is something we have overlooked.

Perhaps Celestia was helpful after all…

Author's Note

"I pray not another creature suffers in such a way."