PANEL 1:
 
Celestia watched over Canterlot from her private balcony, her forelegs hooked over the railing. As was her wont, dawn was approaching, and her horn glowed lightly as she pulled the sun drowsily above the horizon. The alicorn took her sweet time because she knew ponies would still be resting. She was certainly weary, but she smiled contentedly as she recalled she’d be with friends at Fluttershy’s foal shower later that day. Luna decided to take Celestia’s shift for a few hours so she could attend, because she knew Celestia would want to congratulate Fluttershy and discuss this with Discord.
 
The draconequus had undergone astonishing changes throughout his eternity of life, and Celestia never dreamt of the day that she would be asking the Spirit of Chaos if he was ready for fatherhood. She felt a mixture of pride in Twilight’s friends’ accomplishments and a pang of something she couldn’t identify. Perhaps it was the surreal reality of it all. This was simply an outcome Celestia never expected when she chose Fluttershy to help Discord see the value of friendship. But now he was having a son…the Spirit of Chaos and the Element of Kindness united in the crushing, eternal tides of parenthood. There must be a poem about that somewhere.
 
Celestia flicked her ears back as she heard her balcony door open behind her and she turned to see Luna. Judging by her unkempt mane, she had just woken up.
 
“Ah, good morning, moonshine!” Celestia greeted her cheerfully. Luna smiled and sat next to her sister. “Come to see your big sister expertly raise the sun?”
 
“Ha, yes, well I should hope you do it expertly by now. It’s only been your job for thousands of years.” Luna’s smile faded, “Hey…um, I need to tell you about something.”
 
Celestia gazed at her sister warmly, welcoming her to speak her mind. Luna loved that motherly look Celestia seemed to have always possessed. Made it a lot easier to give her bad news.
 
“I’ve been having that dream again. Except this time…I saw someone.” Luna turned her eyes down to look at Canterlot.
 
Celestia blinked, puzzled by Luna’s pause. “Well, who did you see?”
 
“Caelus’ statue…”
 
The magic around Celestia’s horn popped, and the sun froze in its position. She unhooked her legs from the railing and stared at Luna with poorly hidden concern, and perhaps hope? However, she kept her smile, “Then…that’s good news right? I mean, now we know that these dreams aren’t visions.”
 
Luna narrowed her eyes, “I-I’m not so sure.” She let the moment hang a moment longer, “I think I need to investigate this and travel to Luna Bay. That’s where we left him, remember?”
 
“Yes, but as a crystal statue…it’s simply impossible he could be communicating with you…an-and even if he was, why now? After millennia of silence? I mean…crystallization is not usually something you come back from.” She put her hoof on Luna’s shoulder, “I just don’t want you to make a long trip that will only end up disappointing you.”
 
Luna remained silent, trying to hold back any emotion. “Still…someone is communicating with me, for a reason. I think it is my duty to see what this is about.”
 
Celestia was still unsure, “Luna, dear, we both miss him but…it’s just impossible.”
 
Luna glanced at her, breathing out shakily. Memories of their childhood, the three of them together on Tempest Mountain tried to flood her mind. But she pushed it down. She had a job to do.
 
Celestia sighed, and smiled, “At least take Twilight with you if she is free. Give me two days to prepare for your departure.”
 
Luna flashed a look of surprise at Celestia, and the elder princess glanced at her with that pained, knowing smile. Luna smiled in return, relieved, and she hugged Celestia.
 
“Thanks, Tia…I promise I’ll be back before you know it.”
 

 
PANEL 2:
 
The two princesses and their guard-pony Nightingale had departed two days ago and were still on the wing, gliding toward Luna Bay.
 
Princess Twilight’s mane was itching with tremendous curiosity. Celestia had only asked Twilight to be there for Luna when the time came, whatever that meant. She was near to bursting with questions, but her faith for Celestia and respect for Luna’s privacy kept her quiet. At least for the time being. She wondered about how the girls were doing back at the School with Starlight acting as headmare. Hopefully Discord wouldn’t decide to mess things up for her again. Twilight turned back to look at Princess Luna. She looked so melancholic and contemplative, so the young princess fell in next to her.
 
“Princess Luna…are you alright? Should we take a break?” She asked as she searched the landscape for somewhere to land.
 
Luna blinked, as if breaking out of a stupor, “I’m okay. Let’s keep going.” Then she gave Twilight a wry smile, “Unless you want to take a break. You must be hungry.”
 
Twilight waved her hooves, “Oh no! I can keep going for hours! I’m fine!”
 
Thanks to the comedic timing of the cosmos, Twilight’s stomach growled. Luna chuckled as Twilight clutched her belly in embarrassment. Twilight sighed and smiled in defeat, “Okay, so maybe I would appreciate a break.”
 

 
The three of them made camp in a solitary cove. Nightingale caught a flock of fireflies in a jar to light their camp, and he took his post at the edge of the campsite, facing the dark woods that bordered the cove. They had unpacked some of their provisions, including three mess kits, a jar of oats, a small saucepan, and a flask of honey. Nightingale had even been so gracious as to share some of the mint tea he had made before the trip.
 
Luna watched the waves brush rhythmically against the sand, responding to the gravitational pull of the moon as she moved it through the sky. Gulls called quietly above her as they prepared for roost. She lifted a spoonful of oats to her mouth, and continued to raise the moon. It was full tonight, and its beauty made her heart ache. Luna had always loved the moon. Ever since she was a foal, she had been trying to grasp it wit her magic. Like a foal picking up a river rock. Once she finally held it, she understood the moon was something much greater than a mere shiny rock in the sky.
 
“How do you do that?” Princess Twilight’s voice cut through Luna’s train of thought. “You’re literally raising the moon while eating a bowl of cereal.”
 
Luna smiled, “Just takes practice I guess.”
 
“Pfft, I could never multitask that way. Even with alicorn magic.” Twilight scowled as she spooned oats into her mouth.
 
“Imagine it’s like patting your head and rubbing your belly simultaneously. After a while, it becomes muscle memory. Same goes for magic.”
 
Twilight attempted this and ending up only messing up her mane as her head pats changed into spastic circular rubs. She sat with a huff, her mane covering her eyes. “Well this is embarrassing.” They both laughed as Luna smoothed Twilight’s mane back into place.
 
“Haha, it is a good look for you though! Very gothic!”
 
Nightingale listened to whatever sounds he could pick up; crickets, an owl screech, birds shuffling in their nests, rabbits chewing grass in a nearby meadow, Luna laughing…
 
“Can I ask you something?” Twilight took another bite of cereal.
 
Luna nodded. “I suppose I owe you some answers.”
 
“Where are we going? What’s in Luna Bay? And why bring me along? Not that I want to go home…I just have a feeling it’s something very important.”
 
“It is…perhaps the gravest importance. Do you know where the alicorns came from?” Luna looked at Twilight, knowing she would have the answers.
 
“Not exactly…I read a passing excerpt that they may have come from the moon?” Twilight tilted her head.
 
“Well, that’s the belief. Nopony knows the details, but I do know that alicorns used to live at the top of Tempest Mountain.” Luna said as she made circles with her hoof in the sand.
 
“But…Tempest Mountain is a crater.”
 
“And that is the very reason there are only two alicorns left.” Luna paused, seeing Twilight staring at her expectantly. “But I’m getting ahead of myself. Celestia and I grew up on Tempest Mountain before it was destroyed, and we quickly learned that our respective talents were raising the moon and the sun. We were destined to become the next rulers of the alicorn tribe. However, there was a third alicorn slated to rule by our side. A colt named Caelus.”
 
Twilghit blinked, absorbing every word that followed.
 
Luna continued, “While Celestia and I could control the sun and moon, Caelus could control space.”
 
Twilight tilted her head once more, puzzled, “What do you mean by space?”
 
Nightingale cleared his throat to interrupt them. Twilight coughed on her oats. “Mind what you say…I think we’re being watched.”