Conflict of Interests

''Surrender now Red, you cannot win this''

Celestia's voice resonated within the walls of the throne room. She had trouble hiding her exhaustion and pain through her callings.

''It's not even a question of winning at this point, you know it.''

Her voice was twisted, pleading with the tone of an order, it did not work. Her sister Luna was much closer to Red, she had him cornered, he was bleeding badly and would probably collapse soon. Celestia did not want it to end like this, too many lives were lost, if she could only save this one...

''He won't listen Tia... Let's just finish this''

Luna was enraged, she was not thinking straight. Then again, no one was thinking straight anymore. Every last thought was tainted by blood tears and sweat. Luna made a step forward, her crescent blades hovered around her, almost alive ; enraged, ready to strike.

''Luna wait'' Celestia pleaded,

''Wait for what ?''

Celestia wasn't even sure, the pain was letting her emotions take the best of her. She just wanted to buy time.

''Why don't you let go Celestia ? He's not your husband anymore, he is responsible of thousands of death, there is only one way to end this''

Both of the sisters' voices were broken. Red grinned, he liked the irony.

''He deserves bette-

''And you don't think the people who died in this useless war deserved better too ?''

Luna's rage had her dropping focus for an instant, she only glanced at her sister. Red saw the opening. He lunged forward, his own blade clenched between his teeth. Luna noticed the movement just in time to sidestep barely dodging Red's sword which traced a deep wound on her right flank. The pain clouded her vision and reflexes took over in an instant, she directed her blades to strike.

It was over.

Celestia watched through what seemed like a blurry veil, her brain did not register the information. She wanted to shout. For an instant she thought she would, but she collapsed instead. She did not even cry. She just stood there, on her flank, trying to make sense of what happened, of how they got to this point, of why. Why ? Why did he do that ? Why him ?

Luna released the magical grasp she had on her blades. They fell on the ground with a sound that seemed to echo much longer than it should have. She clenched her flank, trying to gauge the wound. She would certainly live, but right now the pain had her sit down and refrain a tear.

The whole scene was surreal.

Celestia finally found the strength to stand up and walk to her sister. She quickly glanced at her flank and nodded her horn, white light emanated from the now quickly healing wound.

''Thank you'' Luna said absently.

Celestia nodded silently, her sister was still lying down. She seemed in peace. But how could she ? Celestia tough. Luna lifted her head toward her sister.

''you know I had no choice''

Celestia silence meant agreement. She was looking in the distance, blatantly ignoring the body of her former husband. She too seemed in peace. But Luna knew better. Celestia has always been the kind type – maybe too kind – So even if her once white coat was now barren by the scars of war, its her soul which bore the deepest wounds. These could not magically heal. These were here to stay.

Luna took a look at her flank, the wound had closed itself completely. She would still feel pain for a few day, but nothing she never endured.

''Now what ?''

Luna's question remained unanswered. Celestia was not there anymore. She was thinking.

''How did we end up there, sister?'' Celestia asked, while still looking in the distance through a gap in the wall. The view was magnificent...

''We did everything right Tia, it's all his fault'' She nodded toward Red

Celestia wouldn't take that as an answer.

''No, we didn't do everything right, we overlooked something''

''Greed, lust for power, discord'' Luna calmly stated, she continued.

''Those were always issues, you cannot prevent those sister, you cannot change the nature of what we are''

Celestia's response was almost instantaneous.

''And what if we could ?''

For the first time she broke her lost gaze to look at her sister. Her eyes cried not tears but pain, suffering, guilt.

Her words made no sense to Luna. It was obviously the emotions talking, not her sister. Still, the simple idea resonated through her own mind.

''What if we could'' She repeated, in a neutral tone.

''What if we could....''