Chapters Celestia sighed in relief, her pupil was now in the final stage of taking over leadership of Equestria in her place. The young mare was taller now, almost as tall as Luna, her mane was longer, and having a less tendency to get frazzled. She had matured in so many ways Celestia couldn't count them all. She was growing up.
There was a fact about alicorns, only Celestia and Luna knew this sacred secret. Alicorns weren't immortal. Nobody knew.. But the era of Celestias rule was coming to an end, millennia after millennia had taken a toll on the alicorn, not a physical effect, but an effect on the soul.
The Princess flashed back to the hallway of moments twilight had spent with her friends, she was truly ready for the responsibility of Princess. Making her precious student an alicorn began the process of Celestia dying, the beginning process of her soul slowly dissolving away, half of her soul moving into twilight, the rest moving into her celestial body, the sun, of course. Where she could watch over her country for millennia after millennia to come.
The Princess was Dying, and nothing could stop the process of death, even the spirit of death itself.
A single tear fell from Celestia's eyes, onto the old wooden desk she had chosen out herself all those years ago.
Wiping the growing tears in her eyes away, the alicorn stood up, turning around, only to meet eyes with her sister, a thousand years younger than her, the nightmare had paused her age and growth rate all together. " Tia? Are you alright? " the pain struck Celestia in the heart, the fact that she would be going before her sister, another thousand years without the dark blue mare she had come to know. " Lu Lu... We.. We need to talk. " Luna's expression darkened, you could see her bracing for the pain of the certain talk they had put past so long.
Together they walked to the balcony, sitting down beside each other, overlooking the great country they had ruled for last 9 years. " Sister... You are aware of an alicorn's life span.."
The princess of the night seemed to shrink, a mix of emotions flowed through her mind all at once, all she could do was sit there and murmur, " 6000 years... Earlier if.." Referring to Twilight's case. Celestia responded with pain in her voice, " Lu Lu.. I know your thinking about the thousand years we spent apart...how much we time we lost-" Luna suddenly broke.. Crying into the Sun Princesses' shoulder. " Oh Luna.. Please don't cry..I will always be there-" " But you won't Tia... I was the one that agreed with your decision to make Twilight your successor.. I'm the reason why you won't be here..." The moon princess began to sob, explaining her fears and blaming herself at heart, only to be silenced by a comforting hoof to her lips and a quiet shush. Celestia got off the tall bench and sat on the ground to where she was at eye level with her sister, putting aside all their worries with a priceless hug.
No words could explain the pain that they shared, it was something they shared down to the bone.
They sat there, just hugging, willing it to continue. Like all good things, it had to end, surprisingly.. Luna broke the silence, her voice raised more than a murmur. " I know your d..dying Tia..." Celestia closed her eyes, eyes flashing open. " But you know what? " Her voice barley a whisper, but with confidence. "What?"
" I will always be with you Luna, always, right here " Placing a hoof onto the smaller ponies heart. Both princesses smiled lightly, embracing another hug, tears falling freely, not of sadness, but of joy.
Both unaware of the lavender alicorn, sitting on the underneath balcony, weeping , now aware of her fate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luna had trotted off to Night Court as soon as she finished her dinner, leaving Celestia alone at the table. Surprisingly Twilight had not come to dinner, but that wasn't uncommon. That mare could read books day after day surviving on nothing but Twinkies and water.
Sighing, Celestia got up, nodded thanks to the cook, and slowly walked her way to the newest Princess's chambers. Once again she was reminded of how large the castle was and how empty it had always been. The coronation of Twilight 4 years ago gave new life to the castle for a week, giving Celestia flashbacks to the first days of the Two sisters rule. The pristine marble had lasted so many years, it was difficult to tell if they had actually put it in 1000 years ago, and not just replaced it. Before the alicorn could get to deep in a walk down memory lane, she had reached her destination.
Opening the ornately carved mahogany door, it revealed the candle-lit room, shelf after shelf of books lined the walls, the ceiling far above my head, revealing a very large portion of Luna's constellations. If I was correct she was planning on adding a glimpse of the Milky way tonight. Twilight should be here, the astronomy lover wouldn't have missed this. But in place of the lavender alicorn was a single scroll.
Dear Princess Celestia,
By the time you read this its probably after dinner, your wondering why I'm not at my quarters admiring the stars. I needed to take a walk... I overheard Luna and yourself this afternoon.
The world started spinning in my head... shock.
I just wanted to ask you something...
Why?
Why didn't you tell me?
Do you really trust me with the leadership of Equestria?
Your faithful student/colleague,
Princess Twilight Sparkle
P.S.
If you need to speak to me in private, I'm currently at the small forest outside the castle, skipping stones. Philomena is keeping me company.
Ch2
Twilight flew down the small decline, landing safely beside the pond. The water reflected Celestia's sunset, it shone through the thick layer of branches and foliage above. Picking up some one of the flat stones, Twilight spent the last few minutes of daylight simply enjoying herself in skipping stones, getting away from the world. Philomena on her shoulder, a silent chirp every now and then as words of encouragement or congrats. The sun had set far below the horizon once Twilight had begun to fly back to castle, the crisp night air chilling her feathers.
Landing on the Lower balcony, the lavender alicorn took a moment to admire the vast strip of universe Luna had revealed that evening. It suddenly made her feel very small, like a molecule taking part in a bigger plan. She had often felt this way before, sometimes she felt scared, overwhelmed, maybe even broken a few times around. Sighing, Twilight turned, leading herself by muscle memory to her bed. Possibly bumping into a guard or two along the way. Wrapping the blankets around her, she curled up, closing her eyes, ready for another day. But was disturbed at the familiar sound of hoofsteps across the marble floor. Not turning around, for she knew pain would overwhelm her, just sitting still, in fear of the emotions about to run ramped inside her head.
Celestia saw the lavender tail of Twilight Sparkle swoosh through the door into her room. Waiting a moment, Celestia slowly opened the door, a purple lump resided on the bed, one of her wing tips sticking out under the covers. Smiling, she walked over, pretending not to notice her student wasn't asleep. Laying down next to Twilight, putting a wing over the other mare in a protective manner. Celestia took a moment to look inside her students mind, not too intrusive, but just enough too see if the one she cared about most was ok.
What she saw was overwhelming, the mix of emotions crashing through her students head. Fear and curiosity combined together. Anxiety and a feeling of betrayal swooshed overhead,and a dozen others fought like cobras. With a simple calming spell, it was over.
Sighing, Celestia recollected her thoughts, reminding herself, even though it was painful, it was normal. Roaming back into her students mind, she meandered silently through thoughts the thoughts. A certain vision caught her eye, examining it more carefully, it was a barren wasteland, Twilight was looking around, everything was flattened, no signs of life, looking down, the image showed a certain gravestone, simple, though finely crafted.
Princess Celestia
A leader, Teacher, Mentor,
let her sun shine upon every pony for an eternity to come.
The vision changed to the Canterlot palace up in flames, rioting had taken place in the courtyard, hundreds upon thousands of ponies yelled the same thing:
"Unfit to rule! "
"Unfit to rule! "
"Unfit to rule! "
Celestia was taken aghast at the future world Twilight had built inside her head, was this the fears her student felt within her head? Not to intrude anymore than she had, the great princess left her students mind and hugged her close. You could feel Twilight's breathing slow into a state sleep, now temporarily relieved from her current emotions.
Taking her time not to wake Twilight, Celestia stood up, and silently walked out of the room, face a mixture of grief and thoughtfulness, questioning herself why she never took Twilight's worries so seriously.
Luna paced across the balcony, her mind clouded with thoughts. The cold nights air revealing her breath. No one except Celestia and her knew why there is only so many Alicorns.
There was a time when Alicorns where feared, excluded from pony kind in fear of the unknown and immortal beings. This fear turned to outrage when her own mother, Galaxia, reached her 6000 year life span. But instead of a peaceful death, she transformed into something that would scare the devil itself, her power rivaling a million supernovas at once. It took all of the Alicorns to tire out and kill her. Every Alicorn at the age of 5999 took a never ending trip across the galaxy's until they'd found a desolate celestial body to store themselves in.
Celestia's 6000 was 1 week away, the reason she hadn't left yet was because she a Luna where hybrid Alicorns, a production of her mother and a Pegasus. The fellow Alicorns had told them that they wouldn't have a similar gorey demise, but Luna was skeptical.She had experienced her own monster when she transformed into the Nightmare. But compared to the regal alicorns of millennia past. She had only scratched the surface.
Twilight awoke with a feeling of dread,
The weight of a country strapped to her shoulders. Grief-stricken emotions and stress filled her head. She was a mess.
After an hour of calming actives and a hairbrush later, she was ready for the morning. She was assigned for day court today. Setting a brisk pace, Twilight set off for the kitchen to eat a quick breakfast.
Luna stepped out of her room, her mane bedraggled, with bags under her eyes she shuffled her sore whooves to the kichten. Her hoof regalia was worn down to paper thickness from the 24- hour session of pacing and mental power. The guards that she passed broke the uniform mask to take a double-take of the usually regal princess. She didn't care, her head moderately low, she looked at the floor, lost in thought. Her thoughts shattered as she toppled over a familiar lavender alicorn that seemed like a mirror image.
Luna slowly groaned, getting off her sister, " I can see you slept as well as me. " she spoke as Twilight balanced herself with a grim expression. "No kidding." With as much grace as possible, the two made it to the table, Celestia nowhere in sight. Silently ordering their breakfast in an awkward tone.
"Twilight, we know you know about the current future of the sun..." Luna began quietly. Twilight looked away through one of the three story windows, her eyes showing a dulled fear. Luna is sighed but continued on. "Yes.. We know.. But there is something that you must know." Twilight whipped around " Haven't I learned enough?! "
The rest of breakfast was eaten in silence.
Celestia's mind felt like whirring thunderstorm in a blender. Old memories and regrets stuck into her mind like lightning. For the first time in a millennia,
Celestia was scared.
Getting out of her bead, she delicately pushed the doors to her study open with her magic. The guards to her left and right both bowed in unison.
"Is there anything you would like your highness?" Began Shield Point.
"Yes, please summon my advisor to my office, I wish to speak with her. " with a salute Shield Point set a brisk pace down the hall, leaving Celestia alone with other her guard in an eerie silence. He broke it.
"Permission to speak freely, Princess?" His tone was flat and dreary.
"Why of course, Gleaming Sword." She looked down at him with a fake smile.
His expression was washed over by concern, "With all do respect, Princess Luna and Princess Twilight seemed excessively tired and stressed this morning, and you seem to fit the same description...May I ask why?" With a sigh Celestia took her time to answer.
"Excuse me for answering a question, with a question, but... Do you have a secret that only you know about, something that you will take to the grave? Her voice was quiet, though silently begging for an answer. The guard thought for a moment, but his eyes soon opened wide as of to remember something.
"Yes..."his head held low ashamed.
"There is nothing embarrassing about keeping something private my little pony, but you must be asking why this has to do with 3 sleepless princesses." Gleaming Sword in response. An expression of bewilderment and slight curiosity shone in his eyes.
The faint glow of golden magic formed around her horn, it drifted in between them, making an eatheral egg on top of a small sandcastle.
"As many ponies can assume, an elder like me has many secrets, " she sighed as she gestured towards the egg, her troubled expression becoming even more intense. " and when a secret is revealed-" she smashed the egg with her magic, the impact crushing the sandcastle, the eggs contents pouring onto the sandcastle rubble. " effect the others around us."
Gleaming Sword was left speechless as he realized what the princess was intending. He looked up at the monarch, who seemed even taller. " The reason for our lack of sleep, Gleaming Shield, was a secret. " Princess Celestia looked away, ashamed by the tone of bitterness she has spoken in.
"Thank you, Princess, for the explanation. I hope your...predicament, will cleared soon, and you sleep soundly." His tone shifted into the rigid and structure-like tone as before.
"Thank you Gleaming Sword, I wish you good tidings as-well." And with that, she turned back into her room.
A second later Shield point trotted down the hallway, the royal advisor in tow. Gleaming Sheild held his breath as he tapped her shoulder with a hoof. She turned slithery started by the usually stoic-faced guard. He began to whisper in her ear.
"Notebook, Celestia seemed a bit.. off today... Worse than the long days, see if you can get her to smile. I know she enjoys those jokes of yours." Notebook was taken aback, realizing the serious tone of the guards concerns. With determination she nodded and walked into the office.
"You wanted to see me Princess Celestia?"
"Yes, I have one request. " her tone was cold and bitter.
"Your wish is my command!" She giggled awkwardly.
"Clear my schedule for the next two weeks."
".. Excuse me... Celestia? "
"I said close them, now please get out, I need to think. "
"Yes ma'am."
Storms.
They where her eternal.
The icing on the cake to her life,
A world of her own,
A place to disconnect from time itself,
Where rain and thunder clash to bang the drums,
Beautiful, dangerous, harmony,
A get-away from the burning heat of summer days and chaotic dark nights.
Luna felt the rain pour onto her wings, her thoughts drifting away. She busted through a storm cloud, the cold condensation seeping into her mane. Settling on one of the cold and wet clouds, she looked above as the lightning began, static and electricity hummed in the air as each lightning bolt struck like a viper. It snapped in and out of the sky,beautiful.
Nothing stopped her mind from wandering and her body along with it. The bliss of the rain pouring through her mane as the storm reached it's peak. Thunder boomed like the drums of a battle lost. Rain chimed and hummed like a metal xylophone. And the lightning, oh the lighting,
It struck with the essence of power and passion, you could almost taste it.
But it was different this time.
Twilight shifted in her seat, Luna never missed a meal, and Celestia has been eating alone for the past month. Just as she spoke, the night guards began to file in for the next shift, without their commander and chief
"Captain, can you tell me something?"
"Yes my liege?"
"Where, exactly, is your princess?"
"Well.." He looked at the floor.
"Send 4 of your soldiers to scour the castle and it's grounds, I have a feeling she isn't just sleeping.."
Philomena took to the sky the second she heard of Luna's disappearance. She might have been Celestia's pet, but that didn't mean she couldn't help a friend. The cold nights rain pattered against her fiery wings as she looked back a forth for the dark blue alicorn. As she went on the wind got worse, the lightning struck repeatedly across Canterlot, and the rain began to pour. She began to get scared, Luna wouldn't fly in a storm like this. The thought struck her mid-flight, and she stopped, landing on the muddy grass. Luna was smarter than that... She wouldn't do something that stupid. But philomena had a feeling in the back of her gizzard, Luna was in trouble, and she knew it.
Within seconds she shot in the air, releasing a shrieking call that all Equestria could hear.
Celestia woke with a start, her heart thumped out of its chest as she heard the shattering screech. Launching herself out of the room, she turned to her guards.
"Can someone tell me why my pheonix is screeching, let alone flying, outside in a lightning storm?!" The mask cracked.
"Princess, your sister, she didn't show up to dinner... At first we thought she was just sleeping..
But we can't find her anywhere." Sheild point answered warily.
"Luna..." Celestia took off without a second to spare, leaving Shield Point and Gleaming Sword in the dust. Gleaming sword looked frantically towards Shield Point.
"Grab Notebook, meet me at the Lunar Barracks."
"Wha..?"
"Just do it!" And he took off.
Notebook was off work for the next 2 weeks. Though her mind wasn't off work at all. That afternoon had been the worst she had seen Celestia in the 10 years she had been here. The careful concentration of thoughts and ideas was shattered by a loud knock at the door. She opened the door immediately with her magic. Who stood there surpassed her assumptions, Shield Point, a panting Shield Point, who usually never missed a beat.
"Notebook...*cough* Celestia! *hack* Lun-*hack* I'll... Just.. Explain on-the-way. *cough* Now gimme a...sec."
Notebook was astonished, this whole situation was impossible! She watched on as Shield Point practically passed out in front of her, and then get back up, brush off, and start running again. Frozen for a moment, her mind kicked into gear as she galloped to his side.
"So, tell me what happened..?"
"Princess Luna went missing, Princess Celestia and Princess Twilight went after her themselves after Philomena sent out a warning call." His armor-clad hooves thundered against the stone as they bashed through the front gates and into the
"Shouldn't we be heading to the fields?!" She shouted above the rain and the clap of thunder in the atmosphere. "Just follow me!" They skidded around the corner to the lunar barracks; the gates were unguarded and hanging open. Gleaming Swords commanding and deep voice shouting could be heard from outside the 2 foot thick stone walls. When they came crashing through the door they where met by a horde of angry slitted eyes in their face. Notebook dived behind Shield point from the most terrifying creatures she had ever seen.
The night guard was not a force to be reckoned with. This was confirmed as Shield Point lead the way through the rain, the thunder of hooves and the flap leather wings overpowering the storm itself.
The fields weren't even fields, Celestia looked on as limbs broke from trees and covered the ground. You couldn't tell what was degree or something that was originally there. Frantic to find her sister, she set off, jumping over branches and slamming through brush. Another screech was let loose by philomena in the distance. You could spot the fiery bird a mile away, the speck that she was became clearer as she sped towards Celestia.
Landing on shoulder, philomena squawked frantically at Celestia, not caring how loud. Suddenly she sped off , whipping Celestia's main into disarray. With haste Celestia followed Polimena through the obstacle course of wreckage.
What awaited her was worse than a nightmare.
What stood below her was a crater. She didn't have to guess what made the impact. Celestia leaped over the rubble, into the dusty crater. Her stomach dropped lower and lower by the second. With a hesitated move, she lifted the large tree covering 3/4 of the whole. What lay there was a broken and battered Luna. She was branded with lightning burns that branched from her horn down to her cutiemark. Celestia was aghast.
"Luna!" Her voice cracked as she dove deeper into the crater, pressing her ear to her sisters chest. The sound of a heartbeat felt like a blessing from the gods. Celestia examined her sister further, the damage was worse than she thought. Luna's horn was bleeding, severely. Cracks and burns ran along the twisted curves like weeds, they leaked red with blood. Tears burst from Celestias eyes as she wailed for her sister to wake.
"Lunaaaa! Please! Please wake up...."
The heavens opening up above her had no meaning, the pheonix crying on her shoulder didn't matter, it was all drowned out by the alicorn before her. All she could do was hug the younger alicorn, her heartbeat was slow a steady,
Celestia recognized that heartbeat,
It was her sisters,
The sister she would do anything for,
The one that was almost always their..
Almost,
She wouldn't lose her again,
She'd die trying.
Celestia readied a teleportation spell. Power and emotion surged through her body, adrenaline rocketed through her veins. Her concentration shattered like glass against stone as thundering of hooves of the guard rampaged over the debris. They surrounded the alicorns within a matter of seconds. Celestia didn't have time to think as the hundreds upon hundreds of lunar guard stood at attention, her secretary and a solar palace guard leading the charge. One by one, row after row, they bowed. Their muzzles nearly hitting the slick and muddy dirt.
And with that, Notebook stepped forward.
"We are at your service, my liege."
--------–----------------------------
Princess Sparkle sat there for a moment, the salad dressing slowly gathering at the bottom of her plate. Her thoughts silently blurred as she pondered what to do. She was at a loss for a meaning or a plan. It was all one big rush of overwhelming adrenaline, smudging like a hoof to wet ink.
After an minute or an oblivion, something in her head finally made sense. A quote. Something she had passed over, though never really made sense of it.
"When facing the rush of life, it would be wise to run ahead of it, than barricade they self against the storm."
She didn't know who said it, but whoever had said those philosophical words was bloody brilliant.
Twilight bashed through the palace doors, leaving the desperate overtime palace day guards behind. Her mane lashing back behind her, she took to the sky. rocketing around to the back of the castleThe garden gates where busted open, lock smashed in and all. Gaining speed over the field of the sticks and stones, her heart began to pull at itself. Desperation overflowed her brain and train of thought. She rocketed towards the center of the field. Not caring what she flew into. What stopped her dead in her tracks was not the giant tree branch she was in front of , but the whole bat-pony brigade locking eyes with her.
And with that,
The rush of life hit like a bucking train.
Notebook face-hoofed as the bloody princess of friendship fainted in front of her friends. Ridiculous? No. Common? No. Probable ? Yes. She looked back and forth from the now-stuck-in-tree-princess to the real emergency at hand. The real emergency happened to have disappeared. With a sigh she turned around and motioned the bat guards to retrieve the now-falling-out-of-tree-princess. Leaving the single palace guard and night brigade in the dust, she galloped along the path and back to the castle, the infirmary in sight.
What had she gotten herself into?
The pathway towards the infirmary was blocked by six palace guards. No in, no out. With another sigh she sat on her haunches, the fatigue of adrenaline catching up to her. A frustrated grunt escaped her lips as she staggered up, no change in the guards expressions. No guard in their right mind would understand her predicament. In defeat she walked away, no looking back. But she knew one thing. Times were going to be tough for now on.
Her depressing thoughts where broken by the slamming of the infirmary door and a exasperated sob. Looking behind her, there stood the solar monarch, she was a mess. Mane ragged and dark lines of tears imprinted her fur. With one fluid movement she collapsed onto her haunches, and continued onto the floor. Tears began to fall for her eyes, splashing silently onto the floor. The six guards shuffled slightly, exchanging glances, not knowing how to handle the situation.
Slowly notebook turned around, her face became concerned. Hesitantly she walked towards Celestia. Bending down slowly she attempted to hug the fallen princess. Immediately Celestia came back to reality, nearly throwing notebook off her. With a frantic expression she dashed away, tears beginning to form in her eyes again. Notebook cried out desperately for The solar monarch and began to rush towards her, but the looks of the guards made her hesitate. She shouldn't have messed with this.
And with that,
She stopped, dropped, and cried.
Celestia was embarrassed. She cried in front of her subjects, she had shown she was weak. The temporary emotional barrier she had built crashed down the second she found her bed. What a mess she had become. She was tired, hurt, and.. Alone. When would she be able to show the world she was a pony too, with feeling!? It hurt so much to feel this pain of loss. Luna would was almost dead, what would she do without her?
Complicated and rushed feelings tore at her heart and head. Equally taking advantage of her fatigue and utter soreness. No words could describe it.
Her emotional and mental breakdown was paused as there was a soft knock on the door. Celestia didn't hesitate to ignore it. Before the minute was over the knock came again, a bit firmer.
"Who is this and what do you want?" The alicorn asked with scraggly yell.
"Princess, it's me, Notebook. Listen-"
"Go away, please Notebook, I don't need to see anything right now."
"Prin-"
"Please, go away."
"Celestia! I'm royal secretary AND advisor. And if you would listen to me, I would ADVISE you to do so."
"...."
"I saw you back there, crying, and I just wanted to say something." She entered the room slowly. Inching the large doors open.
"Crying does not mean your weak."
Celestia looked at her quizzically, tears still escaping her eyes.
"And why is that?" Notebook continued.
"Crying does not mean your weak, crying means you've been strong for far too long." She said boldly spoke. A whisper of a sigh escaping her lips as she finished. Celestia looked at Notebook, jaw agape.
"Notebook I-"
"Celestia as your advisor and secretary it's my job to take care of your job. But, as a friend , it's my honor to take care of you." Celestia merely got up, her hooves shaking from fatigue. With a partially graceful poise, she sat on her haunches. And hugged her friend . Notebook hugged back with all she could give, hoping she got it through.
"Your not alone Celestia, you have friends. And I'm only one of them, and we can't put into words how much we care." Celestia began to bawl, her emotions spilling out at once as notebook held her there.
"Your not alone."
