Conflict of Interests

''Tia ?''

Luna's voice seemed tense.

''Sister are you in there ?''

Celestia heard the knock on the door following her sister's voice. It had been two days now she had herself locked in the library, surely she could grant her own sister some time. She stood up from her books and went to unlock the door.

''There you are''

Luna's voice was genuinely relieved.

''The east camps are able to recover most of the injured, but they could use your help''

Her voice was softer than usual, she could see the pain in her sister's eyes. Now was not the time to be harsh.

''You know healing spells too Luna, I've got many things to prepare'' She sternly remarked.

Luna grew impatient.

''This again sister ? We should be helping rebuild, not doing research''

Celestia was oblivious to her sister's words.  She opened the door all the way through and sidestepped, nodding at Luna to step in. The black mare rolled her eyes and followed her sister's lead, stepping inside of the dimly lit room. There were dozens of books scattered around on the floor, some open, some torn apart. The only real sources of light were the candles arranged in the center of the room to provide reading light and the moon filtering through the small tainted glass of a single window. She looked worryingly at her sister.

''What exactly have you been up too Tia ?''

Celestia did not answer, instead, she showed the assortment of scrolls and books spread around the candles. It was pages upon pages of magically printed documents. Luna recognized her sister's work. She was frankly about to just surrender and leave her sister to her crazy ideas, but her curiosity got the best of her. She sat down and started reading the headlines of the many pages scattered around.

''This... Its... Its planning for...''

She couldn't really say. It looked like political documents, but the themes extended to a whole society. They seemed to state policies and methods for a dozen of different subjects, going from individual liberties and ethics to... genetic modifications. The whole mess was very drafty but is was somewhat comprehensible. One key word was repeated throughout ; Harmony.

Luna raised her head to look at her sister. She was now standing in silence at the open window, looking at the scorched fields below the castle. She wanted to speak but instead returned to her reading. It started to make sense ;

These were plans for a whole new model of society. One that would completely rid its future citizens of any harmful thoughts and habits, thus of crimes altogether It was like some sort of global brainwash, but one that would start from the very birth of a society, the perfect, idyllic society, based around harmony. Luna was horrified and impressed at the same time. Her sister wanted to erase this war from the memories so badly ? Still, as sugarcoated and ridiculous as all of this looked, it still made some kind of twisted sense.

''You.. You really think this could work ?'' Luna asked nervously.

''Not here, this land is scarred, and so are its inhabitants'' Celestia replied calmly.

''This is why we need to start again elsewhere''

Luna finally understood. This was not just some crazy theories. Her sister was actually serious. She really wanted to start everything again, far from Cydonia.

Far from the memories of war.

Luna stood up. She was trying to find arguments against such an insane plan, but there was the catch ; It was not insane at all. It all made sense, and as stubborn as she was, Luna was intelligent enough to recognize that if this all worked, her sister may have found a way to rid this planet of wars. Forever.

Or at least a part of it.

Celestia turned around, facing her sister.

''We'll need a very large vessel. flying of naval, whichever is most reliable for a long trip. According to my calculations, there is fertile land about 40 days of walking distance west of Steelmare, but across the ocean.''

Luna stood still.

''We'll take the orphan foals from the nurseries in Cantessia and a couple of  volunteers from the minor cities that were not directly touched by the fighting. We need clean slates for this to work''

The dark alicorn was almost disgusted by her sister's logic which lacked any kind of empathy. But again, it made sense.

''Clean minds''

''how many ?'' Luna asked.

''At least a hundred of each species, including the foals''

Luna stood up. Feeling as much resignation as determination in carrying this plan trough. It would be for the better in the end. But everything still seemed off, it seemed right, but not at the same time. She wanted to be sure about it all. Luna looked Celestia directly in the eyes and carefully voiced her next question.

''So we are leaving this land just like this ? Leaving them all to keep ripping eachother's throats ?''

Celestia looked away in shame, refraining her emotions.

''We failed Luna'' She said, her voice breaking.

''Its hundred of years of decisions that brought us here, we cannot undo those, we cannot rewrite history on this land. Not with the memories that will scar those ponies for generations to come !'' She almost yelled. Her hoof hit the floor as she spoke.

''We don't know yet how long alicorns can live, I won't risk quitting this world leaving only this''

She waved at the fields below.

''But is is exactly what you are about to do Tia''