Empire of the Equestrians

It had been over an hour since the three ponies had arrived at the court of Princess Celestia, the ruler all of them admired and supported. Nonetheless they came with intentions to force her to either accept their demands or face the consequences that would inevitably follow if she didn't.

Sunny Smile, the orange-coated mare with the yellow, spiky mane that stood the middle of the three was obviously the one in charge. In contrary to her name her expression was stern and even the royal guards kept at a healthy distance to not disturb her in any way. Beside her stood two stallions. Both were wearing red coats and it was impossible to tell them apart if they would change their places. The only thing that one could see was that both of them were unicorns.

Sunny's Patience was about to reach it's limit when the humongous doors to the throne room were finally opened. Barely noticed by Sunny six young mares walked past them. Well, five of them were walking. Even sunny couldn't ignore the fact that one of them was hopping around the others. How could she be so fast in front of the others and then in the back again?

She had no time to further think about the young mares as she approached the authoritative alicorn that was sitting in one of the two thrones while the second was empty. 'Good' Sunny thought. It would be easier to propose her demands when the one that the demands were about was absent.

The warm smile of Princess Celestia was welcoming and took away many of the fears that Sunny could have had. But one fear was too strong. Fear that had been installed into every pony by stories and nightmares alike. Fear that could not be suppressed by the one that was also part of this worrisome affair.

"I am sorry to have you wait for such a long time but it had been a while since I last saw my student and her friends and the many stories this six told me took longer than I anticipated." the mighty alicorn said in a calm tone. "But now I wish to listen to what you wanted to ask me. The guards told me that it was a matter of great importance but even they couldn't tell me what exactly it was. So please enlighten me about your problems."

Sunny cleared her throat before she began her speech. "Dear Princess, you of all ponies should know best what our worries are. We three are part of a movement that loves the sunny days that you gift us with. Therefore it is only natural that we fear the one that the stories tell us about." Sunny could see the expression in Princess Celestia's face change. The warm smile faded slowly as she continued.

"Yes, we fear Nightmare Moon. We fear that one day she would again threaten your benevolent rule and that this time, she would succeed. And rumours has it that the one called Nightmare Moon has indeed returned. Only does she not call herself Nightmare Moon anymore." The expression in Princess Celestia's face had became icy and hard. No love was apparent anymore. But Sunny continued even though sweat was dripping down her forehead. She had prepared for this a long time ago. "She now calls herself Princess Luna. Is it correct to assume that Princess Luna are one and the same?"

Princess Celestia kept quiet for a moment before she gave an icy and monotonous answer. "It is indeed correct that Princess Luna, my sister, and Nightmare Moon were one and the same at one point. But this is a matter of the past. A past long gone. I comprehend that you're worried but I can't see what you wish me to do about it except to assure you that Nightmare Moon is gone for good."

"We have reliable sources that Nightmare Moon still houses inside of Princess Luna." Sunny answered with a sly smirk. "She was seen transforming. Only small details to be honest but who can tell that this wasn't only the beginning of a bigger transformation back into Nightmare Moon?"

The princess was not shocked by the bold statement of the mare in front of her. She already knew about the smaller transformations from Princess Luna herself and she also worried about the further development that could follow if neither of the two princesses would attend to this matter carefully. What worried the princess more was the fact that somepony else knew about it. This was proof enough that their intelligence network was better than just a small sects one. This group of ponies would be a dangerous enemy if angered. And that they would not become allies as long as their demands were not met was also obvious.

The princess, her cold gaze on the mare in front of her, answered slowly and authoritative. "I am well aware of these changes. But this doesn't explain what you want from me. Explain yourself now or be gone."

Sunny shivered slightly as she looked in the now expressionless face of the princess she adored since she was young. Seeing the normally benevolent ruler angered by the suggestive statement was frightfully unexpected and Sunny could not imagine what would happen to her and her entourage if she would press further. But she had to or else all the waiting and planing would have gone to waste.

"What we want is simple. We either want Nightmare Moon imprisoned again" Sunny said and noticed Celestia's face being distorted by anger as she continued "or Princess Luna under strict surveillance in the castle, never to leave your side so that she could be banished if the need arises. We understand that you miss your sister, especially after being apart for much longer than anypony could imagine. But she is a threat to all ponykind and cannot be left unattended. You have to understand this. You alone are aware of the dark powers of Nightmare Moon."

Celestia sighed. She didn't expect to lose the joy of talking to her student in a matter of a few minutes, but the mare in front of her had achieved just that. She took a deep breath to calm herself before she answered.

"I understand that you are frightened. But you also have to understand that I cannot imprison my sister again, be it on the moon or in my own presence. She leads her own life and has other duties except those for Equestria, which she fulfils without any complaints from anyone. I am sorry but I will not follow your demands."

Sunny looked left, then right. Both stallions looked back and nodded before they prepared a spell. "Princess, I am sorry to tell you this but you will regret what you just said. We wanted to cooperate with you as long as you would follow this one request we had. Now we have to take the matter in our own hooves."

She raised her left hoof and slammed it back on the ground. A single moment later a bright light lit and the three had vanished in thin air. Princess Celestia was the only one that could see what exactly happened. The three of them had left a sign before they had left through teleportation magic. But she wasn't able to see what sign they left because the teleportation magic had summoned a strange cloud that blocked her view. She raised her wings and flapped them once with enough force to gust the cloud away.

The symbol that was burned into the marble ground, a feat that only magic could achieve. It was a sun wrapped around a moon. Inside the moon was a square with three lines vertically from one side to another. A simple picture of a cage but it showed the intentions of the group that had just left perfectly. They wanted to imprison Princess Luna again. To do this they would need the elements of harmony. But Twilight wouldn't just help anyone to imprison her sister again. Not as long as there isn't any reason to.

Engulfed with the princesses magic a scroll, a feather and a small ink pot began to float in front of her. The feather put itself into the pot and began to scribble something on the floating scroll. Celestia barely noticed it's movement as she was staring outside towards the darkening sky where the sun began to sink below the horizon and the moon raise to take it's place. About five minutes later the feather and the ink pot floated back on the table while the scroll rolled itself up. The scroll neared the table and received the royal seal before it floated towards the nearest guard.

"Take it to my sister's room and throw it into the blue fire over the stone goblet. And hurry, it is an important message that needs to reach my sister as soon as somehow possible. In the meanwhile, I will enter the library and I do not want to be disturbed. You may only let somepony through if they have an answer from my sister. Understood?" the princess commanded with a stern yet warm voice.

"UNDERSTOOD" was the unison answer of the present guards as they saluted pridefully towards the princess, eager to fulfil their duties. The guard with the message left as soon as he had regained his posture from saluting. Another one ran back to the barracks to inform the guard officer which set two guards to watch over the library doors as long as the princess was inside. The remaining guards returned to their posts.

While Princess Celestia was researching in the library, her sister was watching over the daily business of Plenaris. She was about to sign a contract when the pregnant priestess of Westbrucke, Moonprayer, entered her office and brought her a scroll. Princess Luna curiously looked at the seal with which the scroll was closed up. It was the royal seal.