For many years has Princess Celestia ruled peacefully over Equestria, whether it was with Luna at her side or sitting alone upon the throne. She ushered in a golden age for the land of the ponies, alone, but few know at what costs. Fewer still know of the burden she bears: The Immortal's Curse. The Alicorn's Burden.

Doomed to live forever, witnessing the rise and fall of dear friends and associates, knowing they, in time, will fall by the wayside and perish by the sword, illness or age.

A thousand years ago, Princess Celestia was forced to strike down a beast that would not listen to reason. Nightmare Moon wasn't her beloved Luna anymore, and so was banished to the Moon.

Now, on the Longest Day of the Thousandth Year, Nightmare Moon returns and, with the Elements of Harmony lost centuries ago and unable to stop the Lunar Alicorn, Celestia is cast into the unforgiving tides of time to relive her greatest failures as punishment for sealing her in the Moon.

Little did she know that Nightmare Moon was doing Princess Celestia both a cruelty and a kindness.

She was giving Celestia a second chance to get things right.

Note: This Alternate Universe is not consistent with the one of Herald of the Night, but is the second of four thematic stories I intend to write in Alternate Universes, centralized around the troubles of Alicorns.