Brand New Life, It's A Glorious Day

Luna wasn't exactly one hundred percent calm. Her muscles were tense. She could feel her breath had an ocassional quiver in it, but it was very faint. This wasn't the worst decision that she had made, that was certain...

But this wasn't certainly one that she could take easily. What she was getting herself into had no path for return... atleast, for Celestia knows how long. The idea itself was very daunting, but what managed to keep her calm was the reason why it was being done. She thought about what was going to happen afterwards, and it didn't fail to make her smile.

'Relax Luna... this is not a mistake at all. This is going to bring much, much happiness... to Celestia.' Luna told herself mentally. The quiver in her breath immediately vanished, and the tense feeling left as well. She could only imagine Celestia's true smile already. The smile that made many hearts shine, and uplifted many lives. The one that she hadn't seen... in over a millenia.

All what was heard, was the sound of both Celestia's and Luna's shoes clicking on the marble floor of the castle, as they walked through the final corridor of the highest floor. There were no windows. No swanky designs, no engravings. Simply, no nonsense. Just small white orbs of magical light that hovered above their placeholders on the wall, and the polished white marble floors. As they continued walking, the corridor seemed to never stop curving leftwards, until it finally stopped, and stretched straight forward for about thirty paces. At the end, there was a door. Nothing swanky either, it was simply a mere white iron door, with a round gilded door knob. Though, to the princesses... this wasn't just 'a' door.

It was 'the' door. The door that always led to ultimately life changing decisions. Not only for them, but for all of Equestria.

The same thought was going through the minds of both alicorns. This was going to be the third time that they ever had stepped into this room. Second time being when Luna declared her rebellion against her sister. First time being when... they were crowned as the royal princesses of Equestria. Celestia felt uneasy, mainly because of the last visit to this room. But it was a thing of the past, and all was well now. The negative thought left her mind as soon as it entered.

Both Luna and Celestia stopped a few feet away from the floor, their shoes simultaneously giving one last 'clack' which faintly echoed down the curvy corridor. They both stood there in front of the door for a few seemingly endless seconds, and felt the very same tension that was left since the last visit. It was incredible. Even after more than a thousand years, the tension that there was from that day... was still there, as if it was just the day before.

Luna was the first to get over it, and faced her sister.

"Now, dear sister... I know what you are feeling. I feel it too." She paused to swallow. "But it's of the past. You know very well that I am deeply-"

"Luna..." Celestia managed to cut her off, her own heart dropping as Luna spoke her words. "It hurts me... to see you still haven't forgave yourself-"

"And for that very reason, we are here, Celestia." Luna cut her back in midsentence, smiling as her eyes actually showed... true happiness.

Celestia hadn't seen it for so long, even when Luna had returned. Luna always smiled, but her eyes always gave it away. Although this time, it was the same smile she use to see many years before their feud. The one that she use to see when they were both truly happy.

Celestia's previous curiosity grew tenfold in a heartbeat, now knowing that Luna was behind this. Celestia wanted to smile. She hadn't seen that smile for so long. But she couldn't. The reason that they were about to step into this room for a third time in the total accumulated time of thousands of years didn't let her. Celestia had no idea at all why they were about to step into this room. Luna then held her hoof forward to the door, gesturing Celestia to open it.

"Go ahead, Celestia." Luna was still holding her same smile as Celestia stood there, her face clearly showing curiosity and confusion.

Too many questions were pounding Celestia's head, but she then began to slowly lift her hoof towards the door knob. Contact was made, and she could feel the cold metal giving a small chill up her arm. Celestia didn't know why she was holding back, so with the slight shake of her head, she closed her eyes, rotated the door knob, and pushed the door gently enough to just stop a few inches short from hitting the wall.

She knew what to expect, just like the last few times. The tradition behind these very rare meetings was that four different ponies would be there. There would always be one zebra, one earth pony, one unicorn, and one pegasus; but what mattered most was their wisdom and honesty. The four ponies would represent the eyes and the ears of the meeting for all of Equestria, and were expected to speak nothing but the truth of the meeting to those who were in their homeland.

She opened her eyes, and as expected, there they were. Of course, since many years have passed since the last meeting, the ponies were different. There was a fairly small round oak table, and six matching chairs that were no further from each other than two feet. On the oak chairs were a female zebra, a male earth pony, a male unicorn, and a female pegasus, sitting on four chairs; leaving two for the princesses.

Luna and Celestia took their seats, and everypony in the room exchanged looks. They all shared looks as Luna whispered to Celestia.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

Luna cleared her throat, and recited the traditional words.

"Before we begin, listen. Each of you have been chosen to be the ears and eyes for all of Equestria to keep the integrity of what is to happen here in this room strong and intact, reason being you all have been deemed wise and mature enough to do so. Understood?"

They all nodded. Celestia then continued the other portion of the age-less speech.

"You are all being trusted to speak the truth to others of what is going to be spoken in this meeting. This is anything but an ordinary meeting; life altering decisions may be and most likely will be made by us today, and you all are going to be responsible for the truth and only the truth to be spread among the land of Equestria. Please, state your names."

The group of ponies exchanged quick glances at each other, all of them now fully aware of the extremity of the situation. In the following order, the zebra, the earth pony, the unicorn, and the pegasus spoke.

"Zecora."

"Big Macintosh."

"Fancy Pants."

"Spitfire."

They were all wearing their casual attire. Fancy Pants in his favorite tuxedo, Zecora wearing her native apparel, Spitfire in her vintage pilot coat, and Big Mac wearing nothing but his working yoke.

"Welcome, to you all. This meeting has now begun." She cleared her throat once more, and started the first words for the meeting. "Now, I believe this meeting was brought together by my sister Luna. Is that correct?" Celestia looked at her; the curiosity from before beginning to creep back into her mind.

Luna nodded in reply. "Yes, it has."

Everypony in the room remained silent, waiting for Luna to continue. The four ponies alone were confused as it was, and now that Celestia appeared to not know of the situation either, the tension continued to build.

"I have brought us all together mainly for... one reason." Luna eyed each and every one of them carefully. "Before I make my statement, I must know something. You are all aware of my history from... the last millenia, correct?"

The four subjects nodded slowly.

"Very well then..." Luna readjusted her position on the chair, and formed a bridge with her hooves that she could lay her chin on. "Could you... imagine?" She simply stated. They all remained silent. Fancy Pants then decided to pry the conversation.

"Do you mean... the banishment, your highness?"

"Partially."

"If you would care to elaborate, princess?"

"Of course."

The tension was definitely felt in the air now. Although Celestia knew that Luna's intentions for this meeting were not negative, the curiosity was what was building Celestia's tension.

"Now mind you, I am not angry. Not one bit, actually. I know of the many rumors that float around Equestria, claiming that i'm still holding a grudge to this day for my sister's actions. I'd like to end all of those rumors by saying... it's actually completely contrary."

Fancy Pants gave a small smile, his good heart knowing all along that the princess of the night was surely better than what those rumors stated. Spitfire nodded in approval, knowing the same, along with Big Mac and Zecora.

"Yes... i'm not angry at my sister. In fact, I regret it. Everything. All that I have done, I regret with all my heart." Luna took a deep breath. "To rebel against my sister for such ridiculous, selfish reasons was horrible enough to start with..."

Silence.

"It was wrongful." Luna stated. She took a few seconds to regain her composure.

"So, as I asked... could you imagine?"

Zecora spoke up this time. "The guilt must have been eating you everyday. Day by day, getting worse to your dismay."

Luna replied with a nod.

"Now, I must ask, where is this all going?" Fancy Pants asked as he gave a genuine smile. He was very enlightened to see that all the rumors were dead wrong. The princess of the night truly had a heart.

Everypony felt the tension slowly dissipating. Fancy Pants and his attitude toward the situation definitely helped. However, Celestia still remained curious. She still wondered just where was she going with this. All she felt was that there was no need for 'justice', if that was where Luna was going. All she wanted was for Luna to simply forgive herself and be happy. That was one of the many reasons why Celestia never really felt happy with her sister. If Luna wasn't happy, then she wasn't happy.

"I should just tell you all what I have to say right now, so enough with the suspense." Luna clears her throat.

"-Pardon, princess." Spitfire, who was next to the princess of night, interjected as delicately as possible. Everypony gave their attention to her. "Uh... I know this isn't exactly a time for me to share something."

"No, it's quite fine. Please, tell us what you have in mind. It's not like we will be doing this tomorrow." Luna gave a slight chuckle at the end.

"Well... the truth is, i'm almost positive that I know what you're going to say." She stared at Luna to see if she would give a reaction. The only reaction she got was a slight cock of the eyebrow from the dark alicorn. It was a more of a look of curiosity. "The thing is, I had a similiar situation as yours when I was much younger. One that... ended with great with regret."

"At the end, I did make things right. But, what I did since then, has changed things. It changed me in a good way, but the damage I did was already permanent. My life completely turned around..." Spitfire held herself together pretty well, even though it seemed to be a very sensitive memory to talk about. "What I want to say is... you don't have to do what you think is right. I'm positive that your sister still loves you as much as she had before your mistake, and that she has forgiven you."

Luna nodded in agreement.

"I'm well aware of all that, Spitfire. I know that my sister loves me, and has forgiven me. Although, you forgot one thing." Luna gave a very subtle grin. It was a grin of admiration. She admired how Spitfire thought about how others felt but herself. There weren't ever many ponies like her, even from the start of her reign with her sister. Luna already liked this pony. In her heart, she knew they'd get along well. Ponies like her have always been much needed.

"Let me ask you something, Spitfire. Whatever your mistake was, even though you fixed it and made all well... have you ever looked upon yourself... and asked if you, fixed yourself?" Luna asked in a low voice, her facial expression being serious.

Spitfire was perplexed for a moment. She held her usual easy-stern look as Luna gave the pegasus time to think. Her patience then paid off. It didn't take long for Spitfire's eyes to become glazed. There were tears that wanted to escape her eyes, but she didn't let them go. She formed a bridge with her hooves to cover her mouth with, as she simply stared into the middle of the table with the same look she had earlier. Regardless, Luna could see right through her poker face .

'Spitfire... have you forgiven yourself?...' Luna asked mentally.

Then, as if Spitfire heard, she swallowed and closed her eyes as she shook her head. Luna gently placed her hoof on her shoulder, and smiled. She then lowered her head to the troubled mare.

"It's alright Spitifire, there is always a way to forgive yourself. You just need to think."

"How." Spitfire responded with a whisper.

"...Well." Luna made sure Spitfire was in a calm enough mood. "You already took care of the big step... You made things better, but, don't forget the small steps. Those are really important too, Spitfire."

The pegasus finally broke her stern look. Luna simply smiled. The princess of the night lifted her head up, and gave everyone a brief look.

"Now... as I was. Enough with the suspense, and onward to the reason why I brought us together." She gets up from her chair, and takes a deep breath.

"Celestia."

"Yes, Luna?" Celestia replied a bit too quickly.

"I hereby suspend your power over Equestria for a period of time which you deem suitable. You are now independent of your power and responsibility, as I will fill in as substitute; this includes being responsible for all of your duties, along with mine. Reason of suspension has been accepted by the counsel, and the terms have been made official. Beginning tomorrow, once Celestia raises the sun, I will be the only ruler of Equestria for a time given by Celestia. All four of you are to spread this to your homelands. That is all, the meeting is now over."

Luna then proceeded to the door, casually opening it, and after a few moments, disappeared around the curve of the corridor. Celestia, along with the others, remained seated. All but Spitfire held an expression of surprise. Eventually, they all looked at Celestia. The princess of the sun herself didn't know how to process what just happened.

"Princess?.." Zecora spoke gently.

"I must go speak with her, t-this is... she doesn't know what she's getting herself into. I for one know what she is getting herself into though, nopony should ever deal with such a burden. I never thought of all the things she would do... it would be this drastic."

With that, she got up and trotted quickly after her sister. Celestia may have been overreacting, but all she could think of was the massive stress through the millenia she had to deal with during her rule alone. Sleeping once a week, the duties being doubled as if it weren't enough, the constant sweat being shed in keeping all the lands together from falling apart, the list never ended. There never was an end. It was a tunnel that never had a light in the end until Luna returned from banishment and regained her position. It was the type of stress that couldn't be lifted until someone helped you. It was a type of stress that wasn't afraid of crushing you if you weren't strong enough.

Luna knew that though.