I know!
I can't believe it either!
The map has never called me before.
I'm sure that's not why she looks like that.
Actually it is.
Well, it's that and the fact that you're being called
to the royal palace!
I mean, what in Equestria could be going on there?
Do you want me to come with you? No. I shouldn't.
The map just called you for a reason, right?
Though maybe it's a mistake.
Not because of you!
Because it's never called just one of us before.
I also wasn't nervous before, but now...
Don't worry.
For all we know, it's something small!
Like maybe the cooks are fighting over
who has the best butternut squash soup.
Or the royal hairdressers are fighting over a comb!
Or ya know, maybe the royal sisters
aren't seeing eye-to-eye on something.
No!
That's just crazy!
Luna and Celestia would never fight... again.
So, the map sent you to solve a friendship problem?
Yes, Princess.
Well, there's nothing wrong here.
Right, sister?
No, everything's perfect as usual, sister.
Agh!
Psst. Psst!
Twilight...? Is that you?
How are you here?
I'm not, I'm still home. It's an easy spell.
I'll show you later.
Anyway, enough about me!
I had to check on you.
Not in a meddling kind of way,
in a friendly how's-it-going way.
Sooo, how's it going?
Not great.
I think the problem might be between Celestia and Luna!
Oh, no! That's terrible!
I mean...
What makes you say that?
You know how someponies say nothing's wrong
but you can tell something's definitely wrong?
Noooo.
That's basically what the princesses did
when I said there was a friendship problem.
Only they did it more, you know, regally.
I wish I could help you, but I can't.
Both for map reasons and because I have no idea.
This is big!
Like really big!
But I'm here if you ever need to talk.
Or listen to music!
♪♪
Heh. Comforting, right?
Thank you so much for breakfast, Princess.
I can't believe you cook it yourself!
Of course, Starlight.
I really enjoy doing it.
It's a small way to say "I care."
Good morning, sister!
Join us?
Too tired.
Please excuse me.
Wow. Last night must have been really hard on her.
Perhaps, but she is like this every morning.
So I think Luna may be hurting her sister's feelings
without even realizing it.
Poor Celestia.
That's so sweet that she makes her sister pancakes
every morning.
She's your mentor.
I think you might be biased.
Fair enough.
So what are you going to do?
Nothing. Yet.
I have to get all the facts.
I asked Luna if I could spend some time with her this evening.
Princess Luna is waiting for you, Miss.
Good luck, Starlight!
Wow, Princess Luna.
You do this every night?
Lavender's calming scent is known to aid dreamers
in achieving a restorative sleep.
That's so thoughtful!
I try my best to make sure the ponies in this castle
sleep peacefully.
(old woman voice) So then I said, "touring?
More like boring!"
Ha ha hah!
You really are a card!
But as always, my sister's too busy having fun
with dignitary ponies to acknowledge anything I do.
Humph!
So both princesses are hurting each other without realizing it
and instead of talking about it,
they're just getting colder and more distant.
And they're Celestia and Luna,
so it's not like you can just confront them.
Actually, that's exactly what I was gonna do.
WHAT!?
Are you CRAZY!?
I mean, you do whatever you think is best.
This is your mission.
Gee, thanks for believing in me, Twilight.
I do!
But... the last time the princesses fought,
Luna turned into Nightmare Moon and Princess Celestia
had to banish her for a thousand years!
That can't happen again.
Well, I can't do nothing!
The princesses aren't the best at communicating
with each other.
Sorry.
It's just you said "princesses"
and "aren't the the best" in the same sentence
and it's making me nervous!
I'm not much help, am I?
No!
Wow, I almost feel bad eating this.
It's adorable!
Like I said, I enjoy this part.
Hi.
Princess Luna! Wait.
As you both know, the map sent me here for a reason
and I think I've found out what it is.
Really? Oh, that is wonderful, Starlight.
What is it?
You two.
I beg your pardon? Excuse me?
I think you're accidentally hurting each other's feelings
..without realizing it.
Princess Celestia, does it bother you that Luna never
notices the wonderful breakfasts that you prepare for her?
Uh...yes. It does.
Princess Luna, tell Celestia how you feel about the fact
that she never acknowledges the work
you put into lining the hallway
with lavender every night.
I...Well, it's not the best feeling.
I'm sorry I never noticed that you make fruit faces on pancakes.
But nights are long for me!
You might be a morning pony, but I am half asleep!
You think I don't get tired?
I'm exhausted!
Oh, I apologize for not noticing flowers in a wall sconce,
but by the time I get to retire for the night,
I can barely see straight.
Even so, I still make an effort to smile.
Like smiling is so hard!
I'm sure that's not what Princess Luna meant to say.
Is that what "exhausts" you?
Smiling and being adored by everypony?
And you have it so much worse, do you?
You spend your evenings flitting around
giving ponies lovely dreams!
Oh, it sounds just awful.
O....K.
I feel like we should step back, take a deep breath...
Don't presume to know what it is like to govern the dream realm!
And yet you know exactly what it's like to be me?
Oh, please!
Enough!
There!
Now you'll know exactly what it's like to be each other!
What have you done?
I went with my gut?
Switch our cutie marks back this instant!
My apologies, Your Majesties.
But I can't, even if I wanted to.
This spell lasts twenty-four hours.
It may have been extreme, but...
I think it's still a good idea?
What?
You said it yourselves.
Neither of you believes your sister knows
how hard it is to be you.
So this is your chance to prove it.
Well, I could use an easy day
followed by a good night's sleep.
You can try.
I haven't had an easy day in well, ever.
But now, I get to sleep and tonight will be a breeze.
All right, Starlight Glimmer.
We will do this.
Good choice.
Not that you had one.
I'm gonna stop talking now.
You switched their cutie marks!?
The actual princesses' CUTIE MARKS!?
Uh.. I thought we moved past this!
It was the right call... I hope.
Are you OK in there?
I'm good!
Just uh ...
reading an exciting book!
He's going to think I'm nuts!
He's not the only one.
As you can see, Celestia and I are switching places today.
Huh?
I assure you, I am more than capable of handling
all of Celestia's "duties." Dismissed!
So what is first on my dear sister's 'to do' list?
It says you have a few public appearances.
Store openings, judging the Royal Rose contest, you know,
that sort of thing.
Oh, I knew today would be easy
but I didn't think it would be that easy.
"Princess Luna Unhappy With Student Fund-raiser?"
But I wasn't unhappy.
Um, you are scowling.
I didn't mean to.
I'd been smiling all day.
My cheeks hurt; I stopped for one second
and that's when he took the picture!
Guess smiling all day isn't as easy as you thought?
It says here that because of me,
the school didn't raise enough funds to go on their field trip.
I-I-I didn't mean for that to happen!
I know.
But you can't dwell on that now.
According to the list, some delegates are about to arrive
for a luncheon.
You need to dispel rumors of Timberwolves
in the White Tail Woods.
The nearby towns have been in a state of panic for weeks.
B-B-But I have to fix this!
You can't.
You need to put on a brave face and help these ponies.
It's what Celestia would do.
HELLO! GREAT NEWS!
THERE ARE NO TIMBERWOLVES!
There are definitely timberwolves!
I'm sorry, but I couldn't stop thinking
about those poor students!
Normally, I have all the time and solitude I need
to work through my problems at my own pace.
Well, your sister doesn't get that luxury.
Ready for the town hall?
Glad that's settled.
That only took three hours.
That got heated didn't it?
Still on for golf?
Oh, absolutely!
You made it to the end of the day!
Yay?
Hmm? Oh, yes I'm just going to turn in then.
Goodlight, Starnight.
Oh, hello, Starlight!
I don't know about you, but I feel very well-rested!
Where's Luna?
Um.. she already turned in for the night.
Did she now?
It seems my duties were harder than my sister expected.
Moon raised.
It's even easier than raising the sun!
What's next?
Of course.
Everypony's asleep at night.
Luna works alone.
Oh, but it's nothing I can't handle!
All I have to do is watch over Equestria,
visit the dream realm and protect ponies
in their nightmares.
My list was three times as long!
All right.
Everypony's asleep.
You're talking to yourself, Celestia.
But there's nopony else to talk to!
Yet.
I can talk to ponies in their dreams!
Now to save some ponies from their nightmares,
which aren't real so it shouldn't be too hard, right?
Right. Good call, Celestia!
And I'm talking to myself again.
I care.
I Care.
No!
This is big!
Like really big!
Wah!
Starlight, I'm here now.
Tell me what's wrong.
Going with my gut was the wrong call!
I was supposed to bring you two closer together,
but I've only driven you apart!
If you two can't see why you need each other, then...
Then I am back!
Don't worry, Starlight.
I know how to handle Nightmare Moon.
Yes, but can you handle.... me?
This can't be!
If Luna can turn into Nightmare Moon,
you can absolutely turn into me, Daybreaker!
The better, prettier and more powerful version of you.
No. I'll never turn into you!
Deep inside you know how powerful you are.
You don't need Luna.
That's not true.
Even when we were apart, I knew I needed her.
Oh, please!
You don't need anypony.
You can do whatever you want and all you have to do
is get rid of anypony who stands in your way.
I never should have banished you to the moon.
I should have destroyed you!
No! You can't do that!
Day, night, sun, moon - Equestria needs both of you.
Without balance, there's no harmony!
Who needs balance when you can have it all?
You can't get rid of me so easily, sister.
Unless you plan on smiling me to smithereens!
Enough!
I told you I was more powerful than you.
Ugh. So much black.
We get it, you're sad!
You could really use some.. SUN!
This is all my fault!
I never should have gone on this mission.
Now Equestria is doomed!
♪ That smile's too wide. ♪
♪ It's obviously not real. ♪
Why don't you want us to go on our field trip?
I don't--
I mean, I do!
♪ That smile's too wide. ♪
♪ It's obviously not real. ♪
Celestia!
I'm so glad you're...
I've seen a lot,
but I haven't seen this before.
It's Starlight Glimmer's.
She's afraid this is what would happen if we continue to fight!
What was I thinking?
I'm never going with my gut again!
If you don't fix this soon, it could have a grave consequence
on Starlight's psyche.
But my magic isn't powerful enough.
I thought if we work together--
I have your magic, remember?
It doesn't work in the dream realm.
It has to be you.
Oh, Luna, I can't do this!
I was wrong. Your job is so incredibly hard.
You have to battle nightmares and work in the darkness
and do it all alone!
It takes such a brave, strong pony to do what you do!
--and that pony is you.
I walked a day in your shoes.
I thought all you had to do was smile and be adored
all the time, but I was wrong.
There is so much more to it than that.
Don't do this to each other!
In order to defeat Daybreaker,
you need only to trust in your strength, as I do.
You can't destroy me!
I'm everything you want to be!
No, you're not!
You are not real and you will never exist again!
You did it!
Only because you were here.
I don't know how you do this alone.
So um...
did you talk to yourself?
Um... a little.
Is this really happening?
Or is this still a dream?
Welcome back, sister!
I know you had a long night so.. I made you some pancakes.
Oh!
How... nice.
Ahem.
They are ...delicious.
Thank you.
I know that face; they're not.
I know you have to be perfect for everypony else
and you do an amazing job but you don't have to do it for me.
In that case... they are terrible!
I know!
But it means a lot that you tried.
I love you, sister.
I love you too.
So... this was real!
Or was it not real and this just happened now
and not in my dream?
I'm so confused.
It's all real.
It was the right call, going with your gut.
The map was wise to send you, Starlight.
Nopony else would have been so bold as to do what you did.
That's a nice way of saying I came dangerously close
to messing everything up.
It was just what we needed.
The experience has made us closer than ever.
Wait...
I'm not doing this!
♪♪
I believe that one means your mission is complete.
Wow. I can't wait to tell Twilight!
I already know!
I mean I don't know everything.
I just got here to bring you your toothbrush.
So this is just a friendly visit,
not interfering because I was worried! I wasn't.
I knew you could do it and I'm so so so so proud of you!
Tell me everything! Start from after I hyperventilated
and don't leave out any details!
Oh, uh, by the way, there's a field trip
you need to make happen
and a.. timberwolf issue you need to address.
What!?
Oh! Look there's the sun! Time for me to turn in!