[i]Morning. She was supposed to be my morning...[/i]

Princess Celestia stepped onto the royal terrace. Thousands of ponies held their breath in anticipation. Today's Summer Sun Celebration marked ten years since the defeat of Nightmare Moon, a monuments occasion for all of Equestria. Ponies all across the land had gathered in Canterlot to witness the event and treasure the memory for posterity.

The Princess gave the matte little thought. With a regal smile, she lowered her horn, then raised it back up, bringing the sun along with it.

[i]Twenty seven. She would have been twenty seven today.[/i]

Cheers erupted. Ponies through the city, and everywhere across Equestria, rejoiced. A new year had begun, full of hope and happiness. Never had the joy of thousands felt so painful.

"Sister?" Luna asked as the Sun Princess passed by her. "Is something bothering you?"

"I'll be in the west tower," Celestia said not providing a reply. "Please, take care of things while—" She stopped. [i]Sorry, Lulu. Some things even you can't know.[/i] "Take care of the celebration for me."

Luna tilted her head slightly. Her mouth opened to form a question, or maybe make a remark. Before the a sound managed to leave her lips Celestia shook her head. [i]Don't ask. Please don't ask.[/i]

"Okay, Sis." Luna nodded. "I'll deal with it."

There was no thank you, no words of encouragement. Celestia trotted through the corridor, leaving her sister and the crowd's cheers behind her. Palace guards saluted as she went. Pair by pair, their wings touched the side of their helmets again and again, until she reached a section that was empty. No ponies stood on guard there, no servants came or went, just as Celestia had decreed two decades ago.

[i]It was on this day that she cast her first teleportation. She was only seven. Even at that age she so much wanted to impress me. For every time she failed she make ten new attempts, until one day she popped right Obote the cake at the breakfast table.[/i]

A smile appeared on Celestia's face. A tear followed.

[i]I hated cake. I've hated it for centuries, but it's the only thing that reminds me of who you were... so innocent and happy, so confused why you were covered in cake...[/i]

Celestia made her well up the stairwell. Tapestries covered the walls, yet not a single torch to illuminate them. Celestia had had them removed. She couldn't bare to look upon the scenes they depicted.

[i]She wanted on joining my school for gifted unicorns. There was no need, but she insisted. Did she honestly think I favoured them over her? She was my Morning, my flesh, my souls. She was the greatest joy I had in this realm.[/i]

Celestia reached the top of the tower. A massive door of solid gold loomed before her, the image of a setting sun etched into it. Once the door had been made of wood, once the etching had been different.

"Your Majesty," an old unicorn guard approached, the only pony allowed to visit the western tower.

"Goldenmane." Celestia avoided his glance. It brought back too painful memories. Maybe in time, she would be able to, but by then he would be no more.

"I've prepared the room for you." His voice was void of emotion. "Let me know once you've finished."

"Thank you." Celestia hesitated. "Do you want to join me?" she offered. "She was yours as well."

"I've already been there, Majesty." He trotted past her. "I'll be waiting downstairs."

[i]You still haven't forgiven me for what I did. Worry not, my faithful pony, I haven't forgiven myself either. She was supposed to be the answer to Equestria's prayers, all our hopes and dreams. And instead I kept her a secret and forced you to do the same. Little wonder I'd lose her.[/i]

The room was spartan. A single bed, a few dolls, and endless shelves of books. Focusing her magic, Celestia cast a spell—a spell she had shown but to one pony. In an instant the walls began to shimmer in the colours of sunset, flooding the room with warm light.

[i]You called that spell your own.[/i] Celestia sat on the bed.

"I miss you so much, my daughter," Celestia whispered, tears running down her face. "If I could turn back time I'd have never kept you a secret, I'd never have banished you awayIf." Another wave of cheers echoed from outside. "Please, come back to me, my child. Please, my Sunset Shimmer."