Static World

Chapters

2: The Celebration of Harmony: Part I
3: The Celebration of Harmony: Part II
4: Lullabies
5: Canterlot Morning
6: Journeys
7: Nightmare Moon
8: Helia and the Sundial
9: Cloaks
11: Chambers
12: False Start
13: Lessons
14: A Day to Ourselves
15: Portrait of a Unicorn
16: The Courtyard: Ambition
17: The Courtyard: Desire
18: Statues
19: Theory of Concatenation
20: The Sun Hath Forsaken Thee
21: Inevitability: Slumber
22: Inevitability: Awakening
24: Succession
25: Role Reversal
26: Nightmare Twilight
27: Timelines: The Omen
28: Timelines: Gratis
29: Timelines: Heaven's Fall
30: Timelines: Town Life
31: Timelines: Universal Laws
32: Timelines: Static World
33: Loopholes
34: Fear of Falling
35: Sunrise
36: Discord’s Wonderful World of Chaos!
37: Discord’s Perfect Plan B!
38: Discord Makes Toast!
39: Labyrinthine Heart: Part I
40: Labryinthine Heart: Part II
41: Looming Horizons: Night
42: Looming Horizons: Dawn
23: Inevitability: The Accord
1: Discorded Dreams
10: Truth

2: The Celebration of Harmony: Part I

Trumpets sounded in a grand fanfare. The brass section gave way to the upbeat waltz of the string section in the Canterlot Symphony Orchestra. Pinkie Pie’s smile could not be wider as she stared in wonder. Princess Celestia had spared no expense in making this party as grand as possible, which came as no surprise. The Changeling incident had put the Canterlot citizens on edge and Celestia was eager to give them an excuse to forget their fears. There was no better way to do so than to throw a party for national heroes even if their actual participation in the resolution of the last crisis was minimal. The public did not need to know the exact details. Twilight reflected on all this as she pushed her way through the crowded ball room. The room was list by a soft golden glow that reminded her of the sun, and it came as no surprise that Celestia herself was using her magic to light the party. Outside in the gardens and streets, fireworks were raining down providing entertainment to those who could not make the guest list proper. Celestia had been clear that she wanted the party to be open to all citizens of Equestria, unlike the Gala, however the ball room could only hold so much. Judging by how much shoving Twilight had to do to move just a few feet, it was obvious that perhaps the inclusion of an official guest list would have been a good idea.

Several guests approached Twilight as she and her friends tried to make their way through the sea of ponies just to get a chance at the refreshment table. Each guest would express their appreciation for the incidents involving Nightmare Moon and Discord. A few even thanked Twilight her help in resolving the Changeling incident. While Twilight was aware Celestia had been careful with precise information regarding the resolution of the incident, Twilight was not about to take credit for her brother and sister-in-law. She would politely correct them on the true set of heroes behind the Changeling mishaps, not that this would get her any less praise. They would simply comment on either how her whole family was a gift to all of ponydom or praise her modesty. Frankly, Twilight was getting annoyed with the attention.

After the third blue Unicorn to thank her (she had been counting), she noticed that she had lost track of her friends. She saw Rarity trot off to meet someone she recognized, some fancy trouser-ed fellow or something. Pinkie Pie had dispersed into the crowd, but was easily spotted jumping high above everypony’s heads. Fluttershy had sequestered herself off in one of the corners of the room, whimpering under one of the tables. Applejack had found Blue Bazaar, one of the influential ponies in the Canterlot fruit marketplace. She was trying to convince him to leverage more Apple family products in the market. Rainbow Dash stood at Applejack’s side and sighed out of boredom. The cyan Pegasus had considered zipping around the room, flying dangerously close to the chandeliers, but the guard at the front door had informed her it was not that kind of party. Until then she would just wait for Applejack to finish her business conversation so she could have a moment alone with the orange Earth pony, and perhaps, if she was lucky, a dance. As for poor little Spike, he was probably getting trampled on in the crowd. Still Twilight had to admit, it had been the most fun she had had in weeks. The lavender pony dipped her cup into the punch bowl, opting to not partake in the cider.

“Enjoying yourself, my dear student?” A melodious voice caught Twilight’s attention. The Unicorn spun around to see the regal form of the elder Alicorn sister. Twilight did a slight bow in the princess’s presence. Not that she needed to with how familiar she was, but it was a little joke between the two ponies. Celestia chuckled and gave Twilight a warm smile. Celestia levitated a glass of punch to her lips, “I think the punch was the right choice. Not that I mean any ill will to Applejack and her family, but I think getting inebriated on cider isn’t the way to enjoy such a fine party.”

“I think pretty soon though there won’t be a choice, the cider’s going fast.” Twilight smiled. It had been quite some time since she and the princess had just talked about little nothings. They really had not had the chance for such small talk since she moved to Ponyville. “Still though, this is shaping up to be a much better party than the Gala.”

“That was the intention. Without all the, shall we say, selectively minded guests filling the attendance roster, I was able to plan a more comfortable soiree. One I might actually enjoy myself for a change.”

“Didn’t you plan the Grand Galloping Gala, as well?”

“A very long time ago, but my tastes have changed since then. Unlike my sister, I prefer to keep up with the times.” Celestia chuckled, “Tradition-minded aristocrats however do not.”

“No they do not.” Twilight refilled her glass. “How is everything at the castle? Are things all cleaned up now that the wedding is over? The castle looks better than ever!”

“Repairs have gone ahead of schedule. Which, I’ll admit was a surprise; I left Luna in charge of overseeing them. Not that she can’t handle the work; it’s just that she’s always so distant. Even worse than usual lately I’m afraid.”

“Where is Princess Luna? It's late enough for her to be up, right? Is she attending tonight?”

“No,” Celestia sighed, “She opted to work on some overdue paperwork instead. This is fine, I suppose. It’s good to see her start to take a passion back in ruling the kingdom. But enough about my sister, how are you Twilight? Are you receiving enough funds for the library and personal expenses?”

“You don’t have to buy my friendship, Princess; I will always be your faithful student.” Twilight said a bit nervously. True she indulged in Celestia’s generosity more than once, but she was always afraid she would overstep her bounds one day. Celestia had practically financed all of Twilight’s life since the day Spike was born and the only thing Twilight had done to repay her was do some silly research on friendship. Well that and use said research to save her sister from eternal despair. Well then there was the time she returned the kingdom from the clutches of a mad god. Perhaps she should not feel so guilty. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m doing just fine in Ponyville and the library is well stocked.”

“Just checking, dear. Your letters as of late have been a bit curt.”

“Oh, that. I’ve just been having some trouble sleeping lately. Nothing major.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow, “Have you tried Wizen Darkmagic’s charm for curing insomnia? That was one of the first spells I taught you.”

“Oh it’s not insomnia. I’ve just been having some nightmares recently.” Twilight waved her hoof in the air in an attempt to dismiss the topic.

Celestia looked pensive for a moment, “Interesting, what kind of dreams, Twilight?”

“Oh, Discord’s just been on my mind lately,” Twilight laughed uneasily, “Sometimes I think I can hear his chortle every now and then when I get sleepy. But it’s nothing.” Celestia looked worried for a brief second. Twilight knew that Celestia’s love for her was about as close to unconditional as possible, but still she did not like to be seen so weak in her mentor’s presence.

After an unnaturally long pause in the conversation Celestia finally spoke, “Well, do let me know if things get worse. I’m sure the two of us can figure out something to do about it. If you’ll excuse me, I have some business to attend to and the regular meet and great that’s expected of me at the party. We’ll talk again after the toast. Have fun my little pony!” Celestia’s goodbye was a bit less cheerful than normal, and Twilight could tell that the Alicorn had something on her mind. Meanwhile she went back to staring at the punch bowl.

While it was true that ever since the Nightmare Moon event she had become quite a bit more social, she still never knew what to do at large parties. Dancing was always an option she enjoyed, however the current song was a waltz and she for the life of her not keep time with anything based off of three beats. Odd, as her books had always touted the standard waltz as the easiest dance to learn. She yawned absentmindedly as she took another sip of her punch. She glanced back down at the punch bowl and watch the pretty lights of the chandeliers dance in the reflection of the ruby red liquid sloshing around in the bowl. “Are you going to just stare into my eyes all night, Twilight?” Twilight blinked several times, confused as to why the punch bowl was talking to her. “Seriously, this is a p-a-r-t-y. Go do something fun.” The face of a draconequus faded into the reflection.

“Oh, it’s you. What do you want, Discord?” She said, with less surprise than before. She was beginning to get used to these little daydreams.

“I don’t want anything. I’m swimming in punch! Honestly, how much more could anypony ask for? You, however, might want to check on the pair of eyes that are staring at you from the balcony.” With that statement, the image faded as Twilight was bumped rudely by a slightly inebriated stallion.

I guess Celestia was right about the cider. She thought. Even awaken from her little impromptu nap, the draconequus’s words echoed in her mind. She glanced up at the balcony that wrapped around the two story high ball room. It was an over look for those who wanted to watch the ball from above, but it had been closed off for tonight’s celebration. Perched in the darkness of the second story was a silhouette of a tall pony. Upon noticing that Twilight had spotted her, the shadowy form seemed to startle and disappeared from the balcony. Twilight hummed pensively to herself before deciding to discard her punch glass and make her way up to the second level.

All around the room the party was in full swing and Pinkie Pie was having the time of her life. The only way this party could have been possibly more fantastical was if she had thrown it herself. “I’m having the time of my life!” She screamed, “The only way this party could possibly more fantastical is if I had thrown it myself! Whoa, I just had the weirdest sense of déjà vu.” Pinkie Pie looked around to see if she could spot her friends, after all a party was all about friends. Her leg twitched slightly. Not a back and forth twitch, but a more of a wiggly up and sideways twitch. That could only mean one thing, “Somepony isn’t having fun!” It did not take her long to find the source of the twitch. Fluttershy was nervously trying to get back under the table after her brave adventure three feet away from the table. The pale yellow pony was trembling trying to figure out how to politely ask the ponies standing in front of the table to move so she could resume her hiding. Pinkie popped up next to Fluttershy and placed her leg around Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Somepony needs to loosen up and have a good time. I mean this is a party! You’ve gotta dance! You’ve gotta mingle! You’ve gotta stand on your head and balance pastries on your back hooves!”

“Oh, that sounds nice Pinkie Pie. But I don’t think I’m the kind of pony that does those kinds of things…”

“Well even I can’t make you the kind of pony that acts like it. But I know of a certain kind of drink that that can help! To the cider bar!”

“Oh, Pinkie, I’m not one for drinking… oh my!” Pinkie Pie pushed Fluttershy across the floor over to the drink table. Fluttershy tried to dig her hooves into the floor, but the dance floor did not leave much to grab on. She tried for distraction instead, “Oh look, there’s Rarity over there.” Pinkie ignored the shy pony’s plea and continued on her quest to liven up the poor mare.

Rarity waved gracefully at Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie as they past her. She would have said something to them but she was currently in a riveting conversation with Fancypants and his wife, Fleur de Lis. He was nodding in approval with what Rarity was saying. “I still would like to apologize for not recognizing you when we first met, fair Rarity.”

“Oh, Fancypants, you needn’t apologize so profusely. Actually go ahead.”

“I just feel positively foolish not knowing who I was talking to. As I was telling Fleur, I knew I had seen your face before. I wish you had simply told me you were the Rarity from Ponyville.”

Meanwhile, Applejack was attempting to get Blue Bazaar to taste a sample of the cider she had supplied for the party. Rainbow Dash sighed to herself, board out of her mind. “That’s very nice Miss Apple, but I really must be going now.” Blue Bazaar said as he tried to escape the orange pony.

“Now wait just a hog tyin’ moment! I haven’t told ya about our special spice blend!” Applejack said as she moved closer to Blue Bazaar.

“Actually, why don’t you let the poor pony go, Applejack. I would like a word with you.”

“Princess Celestia!” Rainbow Dash announced.

“Hello, my little ponies. I have a request for you.”

“Well, what can we do for ya, Princess?”

“I have a small request for the elements of honesty and loyalty. I regret to ask this of you during the party, but I assure you it will only take a few moments of your time.”

Twilight found herself in a dark hallway. This area of the castle was unlit and vacant. It was obvious that pretty much everypony was at the party, which was precisely why Twilight was so interested in who the shadow figure’s indent was. She glanced around the hallway. From the balcony where the figure had been standing, there was a pretty good view of the party. The pony who had been spying on her before, however, had long since left the area. Twilight let a noise that could best be described as a cross between a sighed and yawn. She glanced around; her eyes caught the outline of a head peeking at her from behind a pillar on the other side of the hall. Just like earlier the figure was startled by Twilight catching her eye and retreated behind the pillar. “Wait!” Twilight called out. She galloped after the pony, rounding the corner and following the shadow into one of the many rooms. Actually Twilight knew which room it was, it was the west conservatory. A miniature library and reading room she had often visited during the time she had lived at the castle. “Alright, now who’s been spying on me?” As Twilight entered the conservatory she used her horn to light one of the candles. “Oh….”

“It is I, Twilight Sparkle. Forgive me. I have a penchant for lurking in the dark.”

“Princess Luna, your sister said you were buried in paperwork.”

“She lied for me. I decided against attending the party. I… haven’t been feeling well lately.”

“I know what you mean,” Twilight sighed. Luna looked intrigued, so Twilight continued even thought she had not planned on elaborating. “I’ve just had some nightmares lately. Lack of sleep.”

“I noticed.” Luna said as she sat down on one of the many cushions, “Would you like some help with that?” Twilight looked at Luna sleepily. She shook her head at the princess.

“I don’t understand.” She said. Luna stood up and walked over to Twilight. Her horn glowed a dark blue, she leaned down and tapped Twilight's snout with the tip of her horn. Twilight did her best to conceal her blush. There was a small tingling sensation that flowed through Twilight. Suddenly she fell completely awake. Not jittery as if she had just drank a large amount of caffeine, but well rested and alert. “What was that?”

“A rejuvenation spell. It makes your body act as though it has just slept for nine hours in the most comfortable way possible. It’s a bit complex to perform but it takes only a small amount of magic. It can be performed repeatedly to effectively avoid ever sleeping again.”

“I’ve never seen a spell like that.”

“Because it’s illegal.”

“What!? Oh my gosh! I’m going to be in so much trouble! Why did you do that!?”

Luna chuckled, “Relax, it’s alright if I was the one to perform the spell.” Luna placed her hoof on her chin, “Well I think so. Celestia doesn’t really approve of me using in on myself. But I’d have a hard time being the princess of the night if I couldn’t cheat sleep once and a while.”

“I’ve never done forbidden magic before; Celestia is going to be so mad at me. I can hear her voice now! ‘Oh, Twilight, I am so disappointed in you. Guards! Take her to the magical dungeon!’” Luna laughed. “What’s so funny?" Twilight was breathing heavily.

“I’m sorry. But your impression of my sister is quiet accurate.” Luna chuckled. “I assure you that I will vouch for you and take the fall if Celestia questions the use of the spell, Twilight Sparkle.” Luna placed a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight looked up at Luna and smiled.

“So, Princess…”

“You may call me Luna, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Um. That’s a bit informal. Are you sure? Celestia still prefers I call her Princess and we’ve known each other for a really long time.”

“No offence, Twilight Sparkle, but you know nothing of ‘long times.’”

“I didn’t mean any disrespect, Princess Luna. Um, I’ll call you Luna if you just call me Twilight.”

“Those terms are acceptable.” Luna smiled. It had been a while since she had seen Twilight, and while she hated to admit it, Twilight was just about her only friend.

“So, Luna, why aren’t you at the party?”

“You know me and crowds. Ponies find me too… forceful. It’s better for everypony if I just stay up here.”

“By yourself?”

“I am… accustomed to being alone. I’ve had over a thousand years of practice.” Luna said mournfully. “More importantly, why are you away from the party? Are you not the guest of honor? You should get back down there.” Luna turned to face the window to stare at the moon.

“I could stay here with you for a bit if you want. There are so many ponies at the party no pony will notice if I’m gone.”

“That would be pleasant.”

Shining Armor levitated a torch as he led Applejack and Rainbow Dash down the labyrinth of dark hallways underneath Canterlot Castle. He smiled at the two mares to try and ease the tension, but all three ponies disliked being in such an eerie place. As they walked down the corridors the passed by empty jail cells, all that remained of the once great dungeon of Canterlot Castle. “This place doesn’t get much use anymore. I’m told it was heavily used back when Canterlot Castle was first built. Shortly after Nightmare Moon’s destruction of the old capital, this dungeon was the first thing built in Canterlot. It was needed to house all of Nightmare Moon’s supporters. Nowadays though Celestia doesn’t use imprisonment anymore, she finds the punishment too barbaric. Most crimes are punished with civic service or banishment if it’s severe.”

“Well, just like apple bucking runs in mah family, it’s not hard to see what runs in your family.” Applejack smiled. Rainbow Dash yawned. In the distance there was somepony humming a song.

Shining Armor lit a second torch for extra light, “Sorry, just trying to keep our attention off the creepy hallway. I always hate coming down here.”

“Do you guys hear that?” Rainbow Dash asked. The humming became louder as they ventured further into the dungeon.

“Oh, that. Yeah. You’ll see that in a bit.” Shining Armor chuckled uneasily. “Here she is, just keep walking.”

From behind the bars of one of the cells a voice rang out, “Wait, you can’t just leave me here! There’s been a mistake!” A pony with a bright yellow coat and green mane reached out a hoof between the bars. “Help me!”

“Oh here we go again.” Shining Armor sighed. He gestured for Applejack and Rainbow Dash to continue walking.

“Please listen to me; I’m not supposed to be here! I’m Garnet Reader! Tell my father that the guards have placed me in here by mistake!”

Rainbow Dash glanced back at Shining Armor, “Is she telling the truth? She can’t be right? She’s supposed to be here, right?”

Shining Armor chuckled, “Look at the sign above the cell.” The stallion moved the torch so it better lit the placard above the cell. Rainbow read it then spit on the ground at Garnet’s hooves. The yellow pony hissed and was engulfed in shadows. She grew in size gained wings and a horn. Her coat turned a sickly black while her eyes turned to that of a monster. Shining Armor smiled, “Don’t mind us your highness, we’re just passing though.”

“You know, we could have made a great couple.” Queen Chrysalis hissed, “It’s not too late. Just let me out of here, Shining Armor.”

“How’d you end up in here?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“The Princess sent practically all of the guards on a crusade to find where my shield spell had flung her. When she was located, Celestia herself had a rematch. Without my love for Cadence to fuel her magics, the queen here fell rather ungracefully I’m told. Would have like to have seen it. But me and the misses were uh, indisposed at the time….” Shining Armor coughed loudly. “Anyway it’s just a bit further down this way.” Shining Armor led the two mares down the tunnel further, Rainbow Dash did take a moment to stick her tongue out at the Queen before leaving.

Eventually they came to the end of the tunnel. What sat before them was, for lack of a better description, a bottomless abyss of nothing. Shining Armor levitated a torch into a sconce. He tapped his hoof nervously. They were standing on a small metal platform. There was a large lever off to the side, Shining Armor gestured to it, “Well you pull that there and this elevator will take you straight down to where he is. Just push it back up when you want to come back.”

“Uh, beg pardon, but aren’t you coming with?” Applejack asked.

“No. I don’t go anywhere near him.”

“Some big tough Captain of the Guard you are!” Rainbow teased.

“I’ll fight a whole Changeling army for my nation. I’ll personally hoof wrestle Nightmare Moon, if I had the chance. But I don’t mess with gods. I was by Celestia’s side when he only snapped his fingers and she was pressed against the floor unable to move. I’ve never seen Celestia so distraught. She was stuttering in her words, and seething with hatred. Anything that can get the Princess that mad is a force. Chrysalis and everything else out there can be beaten with enough force and skill. That thing down there can only be beaten one way. I’m not going near it. I’m not a bearer of an element. That’s where you fillies and my sister come in. You just do what you need to do and get back here. I don’t like being so close.”

“I understand, SA.” Applejack said, tipping her hat to the captain.

“Nothing personal, I just have a family of my own now. My life isn’t completely my own anymore. Though I have to say I like that SA bit.” He chuckled. Rainbow pretended to gag at the mushy sentiment. She reached her hoof up and pulled on the lever. There was a sudden jolt and the platform began to lower at a steady pace. Rainbow looked over to Applejack.

“So, once we get down there, AJ, what do we do?”

“I reckon we do just what the Princess said we do, RD. We test the seal.” The elevator rumbled at bit, getting caught on some uneven section of its track.

“Yeah but how do we do that?”

“She said that we’ll just know, either way.” As the elevator came to a sudden stop a large blinding light seemed to ignite from the floor with a sizzling sound. There in the center of the pit was Discord in statue form, a look of terror on his face. The same look he had taken when he realized far too late that his plan had failed. The statue towered over them as the two ponies approached it. It had not really hit them before, but Discord was tall. Far taller than most creatures they had interacted with before save maybe a dragon. Then again Discord could probably change himself into anything, so height was probably not an issue. Even in his petrified state, the draconequus had a terrifying presence locked away in the pit.

Rainbow stared up at the statue, “Well… there he is. What a nasty piece of work he was, really. Like a proper wacko. Think the seal is holding?”

“Well he’s still here, isn’t he?”

“What do you feel?”

“I don’t know. Celestia said we’d feel somethin’ if somethin’ was wrong. I don’t feel anything in particular.”

“Then we came all the way down here for nothing?”

“Well not nothing. We can tell Celestia she’s got her apples mashed up all for nothin’. So what now, sugarcube?” Applejack smiled.

Rainbow Dash returned the smile, “Wanna make out?”

“Let’s just get back to the party, sugarcube.” Applejack stepped back on the lift and pulled the lever.

“Aw come on, why do you keep shooting me down?” Rainbow Dash flew back up to the lift, sounding a bit hurt in her voice.

“You wanna start a ruckus in front of Discord? You think that’s a good idea?”

3: The Celebration of Harmony: Part II

Luna giggled, “No, I make no jest. Starswirl the Bearded was not in fact a Unicorn. He was an Earth pony that just had an unnatural gift for understanding the principals of magic.” Luna levitated one of her chess pieces to a spot on the glass board. It had been a while since Twilight had played chess, even longer for Luna. She was pretty sure she had not played a game since her before time on the moon. Back then the game had fewer pieces. Twilight used to play chess with Celestia on a weekly basis but that had stopped once she moved to Ponyville. Out of all her friends, only two of them knew the rules of the game and none of the others would even bother to so much as look at a game piece. Applejack and Fluttershy were the only ponies she ever played chess with now. Applejack was a smart aggressive player that occasionally could give Twilight a challenge in the endgame, however her knowledge on any actual positions was extremely lacking if not nonexistent, often leaving her disadvantaged during the early game. Fluttershy knew a surprisingly large number of openings and famous games, but once she reached the endgame she would lose almost instantly. Consequently, Twilight won every game against both her friends. Now Luna was a real challenging opponent. She clearly did not remember any of the rules, but she was perhaps just as challenging an opponent as Celestia. Twilight cringed slightly. She knew it was not fair to Luna to keep comparing her to her sister. Twilight moved her night princess piece. When she thought about it, it was odd that she was playing against the very being that the piece was named after, not that she had not had the same thoughts when playing against Celestia. She sighed to herself, it was impossible to not compare Luna to Celestia. It was a thought that sobered her slightly.

“So, how did history get Starswirl’s tribe wrong?” Twilight waited for Luna to move her Pegasus piece to the edge of the board. She gave Twilight a warm smile. If she was being honest, and she usually was when it came to her feelings, the past hour she had spent with Twilight was the best time she had had since, well, before Nightmare Moon.

“History gets many things wrong.”

“They get anything wrong about you?”

“They have gotten many things wrong, including many things about the race of Alicorns in general.” Luna said as her smile vanished. “It’s not always a detriment.”

“I’ve often wondered about Alicorns in general. Celestia doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“Nor do I.” Luna said. Twilight glanced back down at the board. Luna sighed to herself, she did not particularly like discussing this, even with her own sister, but here was a chance for Luna to provide Twilight with something Celestia would not give. “One question. You can ask one question. Tia would banish me if I answered more.”

“How many of you are there? You’re a very rare breed. Did something happen long ago? Did there used to be more Alicorns?”

“That’s more than one question. I’ll answer the first. There are only two Alicorns, my sister and I.”

“But that doesn’t make sense. Cadence is…”

“Cadence is a Unicorn Pegasus. Not an Alicorn. She’s a unique and rare genetic quirk. Alicorns are an equal blend of the three tribes: Earth, Pegasus, and Unicorn ponies. Cadence lacks the Earth part. This shouldn’t be a surprise to you, she foal-sat you. You saw her age. Alicorns don’t age. Not to say that Princess Cadence isn’t a very interesting pony. She posses a type of magic no other Unicorn can harness. I suspect that is why Tia adopted her as a niece.”

“But she’s a princess, so she must be related to…”

“None of my sister and I’s ‘relatives’ are linked by blood. It’s a common misconception we don’t take the time to correct, much the same as the idea that there is an actual royal line of succession.”

“No blood relatives mean that there are no other Alicorns. If you or Celestia had children would they be Alicorns?”

“I think we’re up to three questions now. This is the last one. Celestia has forbidden us from having foals.”

“Forbidden? That’s a bit harsh don’t you think?”

“It’s one of the few things my sister and I agree with wholeheartedly. Consider the incident with… well, Nightmare Moon. Alicorns are too powerful to exist in even small numbers. More of us would hurt the world, even if it would absolve some loneliness.”

“So if Alicorns are born just like any other pony, what happened to all the other Alicorns? There had to be more before the two of you.”

“No more questions. I was generous enough as it is.”

“But there’s so much more I was never told!”

“WE WILL ABIDE NO MORE OF THY QUERIES!” The Royal Canterlot Voice echoed through the castle. Twilight was blown across the room. The chess set was scattered. Luna frowned and looked down at the now empty chess board. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget…” Luna levitated the chess pieces back on the board and looked pensively as she tried to replace them back in the correct positions. Twilight sat back up and timidly crawled back to her cushion.

“I understand. Celestia always said there are things about her past she didn’t want to discuss. Why shouldn’t you have the same right?”

“When you live as long as us, Twilight, you gather a great deal of skeletons for your closet. But, perhaps we should share more with you. You are an element bearer after all.”

“So…”

“Come now, Twilight, if I told you everything right now, you wouldn’t have any reason to come back and chat!” Luna said with a cheery smile.

Twilight looked up at her sadly, “You don’t really think that do you?”

Luna looked down, “The past has not given me much reason to be trusting.” Twilight could not help but think there was quite a bit more story behind that last statement, but she decided not to press the subject further. Twilight stared down at the glass chess board in contemplation. Truth be told, there was much she wanted to ask Luna. Celestia, while a great teacher, was always very secretive with her past. Luna seemed much more open, at least to Twilight. She glanced up to notice Luna was staring at her. Twilight looked back down at the board, choosing to view her reflection on the checkered glass instead. For some reason Luna’s stare made her nervous. She searched for a reason to feel so uncomfortable but it was not something she could quiet put her hoof on. She decided to focus her attention back to the chess game. She was losing badly and at least wished to put up a fight for the princess rather than become Luna’s Fluttershy when it came to chess opponents. She studied the board looking for anything that might lead to an advantage, but she found it difficult with her thoughts still focused on the look Luna had just given her. Those deep blue eyes…. Focus, Twilight, you want to show her that you’re smart right? Twilight blinked a few times. Where did that come from?

“With all the shouting, it’s no wonder you can’t think of a move. Or is something else on your mind?” Twilight was startled by the voice. It was not Luna’s voice. She glanced at the glass chess board. Her reflection was missing and there was another form in its place. “Your head is in the clouds more than Rainbow Dash,” the draconequus said. “Unicorn to B4 is checkmate, in case you were wondering.” Twilight focused her magic on the Unicorn piece and used it to wipe the area of the board where Discord’s face was. She furiously dragged the piece back and forth as if it were an eraser. The image of Discord vanished but only after Luna spoke up.

“Is something wrong, Twilight? You’re not mad at me for yelling at you are you?” Luna said with a bit of nervousness.

“N-no, just cleaning a smudge on the board.” Twilight was silent for a moment as she looked at the board. “Unicorn to B4, checkmate?” Twilight said with a tad uncertainty.

Luna’s eyes widened, “Oh, I suppose that is. Well that is what happens when one hasn’t played in over a thousand years.” Both mares chuckled as Luna began resetting the board. Their laughter was cut short by a knock on the door to the conservatory.

“Princess Luna? I heard shouting. It’s made some of the guards nervous. Are you in there, your highness?” The voice was deep and gruff, probably belonging to one of the stallion guards.

“Oh no, it’s Storm Dancer.” Luna had a slight panic in her voice.

Downstairs, the Celebration of Harmony was in still going strong. Rarity was still gabbing Fancypants’s ears off. She was talking about her fashion plans. She was talking about the latest set of arts to pass through Canterlot. She was talking about the lives of models and other designers. She was even talking about talking. Yet Fancypants did not seem to mind in the least. He listened patiently and added his own input on a topic when Rarity stopped to take a breath. Normally this was not how the very rich stallion held a conversation, but he did agree that it was nice to be on the other side for a moment, if not to gather perspective. However he did have a proposition he wanted to voice. “Rarity, my dear, I have a unique opportunity I would like to extend to you if possible. Have you heard of Daring Doo?”

“My friend, Rainbow Dash, you know the dear, the element of loyalty? She is a fan of the series.”

“Well I have just entered a business venture with the author of said books. We’re planning on putting on a production and we could use someone to design the costumes.”

“Oh the theater! How I do love the velvet curtain!” Rarity

“Actually, this will be a new medium. Tell me, have you ever heard of moving pictures?” Fancypants started to explain the novel concept when he found his flank grabbed quite forcefully by the hooves of another pony “I say!” He shouted. The surprise caused the Unicorn to spill his cider all over Rarity’s dress.

“Hey there, fella, you’re cute.” Fluttershy said with a slight slur to her words. Fleur de Lis shot the yellow Pegasus a scowl for touching her husband. Pinkie Pie grabbed Fluttershy and pushed her out of the way.

Rarity started bawling. “My dress! My beautiful dress! Out of all the worst possible things to happen…. This! Is! The! Worst possible thing!”

“Sorry about that, everypony. She’s had just a bit too much cider. It's like the time I had too much candy, except it isn't because you can never have too much candy.” Pinkie pushed Fluttershy halfway across the room until they scooted past the entrance to the ball room where Applejack and Rainbow Dash were returning from their trip to the dungeon. Princess Celestia stood waiting eagerly to hear from the orange and cyan ponies. Rainbow Dash simply scowled at Applejack, still harboring anger and the feeling of rejection from earlier. Applejack did a quick bow to the princess and began speaking.

“Seal seems mighty fine, Princess. I reckon you’ve got nothing to worry about.” Applejack gave the princess a smile.

“That’s good to hear. I must say I am relieved. The Elements of Harmony are powerful artifacts. But prior to their use on Nightmare Moon they had been in a dormant state for many years. I’m glad to see their power has not waned. I suppose I can chalk Twilight’s dreams up to stress.”

“Beg your pardon, Twilight’s dreams?”

“Like you said, my little ponies, nothing to worry about. Rainbow Dash you’ve hardly said a word. Are you alright?” Celestia lowered her head down to Dash’s level and looked at her caringly.

“Don’t mind her, Princess. RD’s just a bit upset that she struck out.”

“I see. I’m afraid I cannot help you there, Rainbow Dash. Matters of the heart should best be addressed to Princess Cadence. Now that you’re back from my little errand, I am going to start the toast.” As the princess walked away Rainbow Dash blew a raspberry at Applejack.

“Real mature, sugarcube.”

Twilight found herself wrapped in the warmth of Luna’s magic. She was being levitated over to one of the corners of the room. Twilight went to protest, but Luna placed her hoof over Twilight mouth and whispered back to her, “I apologize, Twilight. You must hide for a brief moment. Stay still and don’t say anything.” Luna cast a quick charm on Twilight. The lavender pony watched as she turned transparent. She had read of invisibility spells, but they were complex to keeping going for more than a few seconds. Luna turned to the conservatory door, “Storm Dancer, I am inside. Do come in.” Twilight watch as the door opened and a silver-colored Pegasus with a green mane entered the room.

“Princess Luna. Your shouting was heard throughout all the halls. It’s making the guests of the party nervous. I was sent to ask you to stop.”

“Tell my sister I apologize. It will not happen again.” Storm Dancer nodded and glanced around the room. He could have sworn he had heard another voice in this room.

“I will inform Princess Celestia of your apology. Is there anything you need Princess while I am here?”

“No. I am quiet alright.” Luna said. “And self-sufficient,” she added in a hushed tone.

“Very well, I will take your leave then.” Storm Dancer left the room and closed the door behind him. Luna held up her hoof for Twilight to stay still for a moment. After a few minutes she sensed that the Pegasus had left to report to Celestia. Twilight faded back into view as Luna removed the spell she had cast.

“He seems….”

“Like a jerk?”

“I was going to say stern.”

“I hate him!”

“Luna!” Twilight was not used to seeing ponies be so forceful in their dislike of others. But then again this was Luna. She seemed to feel more drastically than other ponies. When she was happy she was joyous. When she was sad she was abysmal, and when she was mad she was fuming.

“I’m an ancient being. I’m entitled to a bit of wrath now and then. Storm Dancer does nothing but fawn over my sister.” Luna crossed her hooves over her chest.

“I thought you were past all that jealousy?”

“That’s not what I meant. He simply thinks my sister is the only true princess and I am just a sleeping Nightmare Moon waiting to awaken at any time. Worse yet, my sister condones his behavior. She made him my Chancellor. He constantly watches me and reports any suspicious behavior to Celestia. That is precisely why I didn’t want him to see you, Twilight. I’m not sure how my sister would react to me stealing you away from the party.”

Twilight had a hard time believe that someone as trusting as Celestia would have a hard time having faith in her own sister, “I don’t think she would care.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about my sister, Twilight. When it comes to me, she’s… different.” Luna noticed Twilight was giving her an odd look. “Not that I’m trying to come between you and my sister. Perhaps you should return to the party now. It’s been almost three hours. Celestia will probably be giving the toast soon.”

“I can stay here. The toast isn’t important. Maybe you can show me how to do that invisibility spell?” Luna nodded.

“Are you sure? It might take all night to practice. It’s not an easy charm.”

“It’s a good thing I’ve just had nine hours of magical sleep then.”

Downstairs a Pegasus was talking to the elder Alicorn, “I have located the source of the noise, Princess Celestia, it was indeed your sister. She was very eager for me to leave her be, but I do not think it uncommon. She despises me so. Perhaps she simply was regretting her choice not to attend tonight’s festivities.”

Princess Celestia “Thank you, Storm Dancer, I wouldn’t worry too much about Lulu right now, she has been using that rejuvenation spell to avoid sleep again. It makes her a bit on edge. I’m sure she’s just suffering from a bit of cabin fever. She’s not been taking her ‘grounding’ well.”

“You made the right choice in confining her to the castle, my princess. Princess Luna’s actions in Appleloosa were quiet out of line for someone of the royal family.”

“I do not need your approval for my rulings, Storm Dancer; you are dismissed. I have a speech to give.” Princess Celestia nodded to a few guards that were standing next to her. They took wing to the air and tossed streamers across the room. The Canterlot Symphony Orchestra bellowed a triumphant fanfare as the crowd quieted almost instantly. Celestia stood on an ivory marble pedestal. She spread her wings and prepared to magically amplify her volume to speak to the masses. She always found addressing her loving subjects was her favorite part of being the princess. She inhaled deeply before saying her first words:

“Fellow Equestrians! Earth, Pegasus, and Unicorn ponies from all cities. Donkeys, zebras, and mules from beyond the southern borders. Members of the mystical races, the dragons and griffons. Just as the Sun which I raise and the Moon which my sister sets are not just for Equestria alone, neither is this speech. I stand here today addressing all those who will hear my voice. For tonight we mark the first annual celebration of the return of harmony. Not just to Equestria, but to all nations that share its borders on the Known World. For the threat that was banished here just one year ago was not just a threat to the pony way of life, but to all races. I speak of course of the spirit of chaos and disharmony, the terrifying and deceitful draconequus, Discord. It was here on Equestrian soil that once again the Elements of Harmony where used by their bearers to imprison Discord in a sense of irony. For a creature that thrives on chaos and dynamic change to be encased in the static world that is stone, it is only a fitting punishment.”

“Yes, many eons ago, my sister and I wielded the Elements of Harmony and broke the Known World free of the strings of Discord. We harnessed the power of the Alicorns and the Elements to narrowly win a long and arduous battle to wretch free from his grasp our world. I regret that we became complacent and overconfident in his banishment. But just look at what we have accomplished now! When the seal broke new heroes rose up from all kinds of births. The bond of friendship they shared was strong enough to transcend the need for magic and to banish the mad god once again, even when others could not provide aid! What a glorious world we must live in now! A world where harmony and friendship have grown so commonplace that the gods of old are powerless to threaten our way of life!”

“We have come far in unity and in building our utopia. But we must not rest. I encourage each and every pony to follow the examples set forth by the bearers of the elements. I introduce to you now our guests of honor, the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. From the prolific Apple family that feeds so much of our population, the element of honesty, Applejack.” Applejack climbed up on to the stage to a burst of stomping from the crown. She tipped her hat and blushed slightly.

Celestia continued, “From the great fliers of Cloudsdale, the element of loyalty, Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow Dash soared through the air to land on the stage, but when she landed she stuck her tongue out at Applejack. The crowd murmured something about her rude behavior.

Celestia shot a disapproving glance to Rainbow but continued with the introductions, “Braving the outskirts of the Everfree Forrest to tend for the animals as if she were born of Earth, the element of kindness, Fluttershy.” Celestia waited for a moment as she watched Pinkie Pie push Fluttershy up onto the stage. Seeing that Pinkie was apparently coming up as well, she continued with the next part of the speech, swapping Rarity’s introduction for Pinkie’s. “From the out of the rock farms of Trottingham, the element of laughter, Pinkie Pie.” Pinkie waved to all the ponies in the audience trying to get them to cheer, but they were focused on the fact that Fluttershy was staggering around the stage, clearly inebriated.

Celestia sighed and continued, “From the humble town of Ponyville, the element of generosity, Rarity.” Rarity trotted quickly up to the stage, her dress still covered in cider stains and she was lightly sobbing. By this point the crowd was no longer stomping, they were just murmuring to themselves. Celestia clenched her jaw tightly before concluding, “And finally, my faithful personal pupil, the element of magic, Twilight Sparkle…. Twilight? Twilight, are you there?” The crowd glanced around looking amongst itself for the lavender pony. Celestia frowned, only for a moment. It was at this point that Fluttershy vomited on the stage. Celestia ignored the gasps of the crowd, “Mares and gentlecolts, please join me in honoring our beloved heroes this evening.” Around the room the ponies sat silent save for a few hiccup and groans from Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie who was laughing hysterically with a almost pained look on her face. Pinkie’s laughter gave way to an apologetic smile. Celestia glanced at the guests of honor, and gave a soul piercing stare at them. The power behind the stare, which may have been magic or mundane, but it certainly had an effect. After a few seconds Celestia turned back to the crowd. She narrowed her eyes at the crowd. The citizens of Equestria, at least none in this generation had ever seen Celestia annoyed before, and the outright glare of disappointment she gave shot chills down their backs. A few ponies began to stomp. One by one they proceeded to applaud until the crowd was all mindlessly applauding.

“They may not be perfect, but you owe them your lives twice over.” Celestia stepped down from the podium and walked regally to end of the stage. She made no attempt to avoid Fluttershy’s mess and it seemed to dissolve away as she approached. The princess sent one last glare of disapproval at the element bearers before disappearing behind the curtain of the stage. She passed by Captain of the Guards as she left. She barely glanced over her shoulder when she uttered a command with a stern tone, “Shining Armor, go find your sister. Tell her I want a word.”

4: Lullabies

“This is fun!” Twilight practically squealed. She and Luna were tip-hoofing around the halls of the castle, completely unseen as they passed by several ponies. They had been practicing the invisibility spell for the past two hours. Luna had to admit, it was blatantly obvious why Twilight was Celestia’s favorite mortal pony of this generation. Twilight possessed a skill with magic that was unheard of for ponies three times her age. She was exceptionally gifted at learning new spells on the fly and it was clear that she had magical reserves aplenty. The more Luna thought about it the more she was convinced that if a fake pair of wings was slapped on her sides, Twilight could have easily passed for a filly Alicorn. Luna was still amazed at how quickly she had learned a spell which Luna herself had taken weeks to learn. Though to be fair, she did have to invent it first. Luna suddenly bumped into something that let out a small, “Oof.”

“Warn me next time you’re going to stop.” Luna said. Sneaking around the castle with another invisible pony was not an activity that she had thought through completely. She neglected to consider the fact that she would not be able to see the other pony. Still though, Luna was glad that Twilight was enjoying herself so much. The young Unicorn had become ecstatic when she learned that even Celestia could not turn invisible and had been in fact unable to learn Luna’s spell in the past. The idea of being able to perform a spell her mentor could not made Twilight feel almost sinful that she could claim more power than one of the Alicorns.

“Look,” Twilight said in a hushed tone. Princess Celestia was coming down the hallway in the opposite direction. She wore a scowl on her face the likes of which Twilight had never seen. Twilight had seen Celestia somber and irritated before, but this look was clearly angry. Twilight could only wonder what was upsetting her mentor so. With each step Celestia took, the floor vibrated slightly with a chilling echo. The floor was made of marble, no pony could have stomped their hooves with enough force to cause tremors, but Celestia was not just anypony. The princess of the sun strutted down the hallway with determination. Luna outstretched her hoof and pushed Twilight up against the wall so they were not in Celestia’s path. Celestia walked right past the invisible pair seeming not to notice them, at least that is what Twilight assumed until the Alicorn came to a stop a few feet away from them. Celestia turned around to glance at the hallway. She let out an unladylike snort.

Don’t move. Luna’s voice echoed inside Twilight’s head. The only possible explanation was telepathy; another spell Twilight did not know how to perform. That was two spells she had seen in one night she could not do! She looks upset. Twilight felt Luna was stating the obvious there. Celestia turned to face the space just a foot away from Luna and the glared at the spot.

“Lulu? Are you hiding around here?” Celestia looked around the hallway and a brief glow emanated from her horn. “Lulu? Not here…” Celestia sighed. “Perfect. I seemed to be losing my ability to sense presence as well. First the toast, now this. Just spectacular.” Celestia stormed away at a brisk pace. Twilight let out the breath of air she had been holding.

Twilight sighed, “Is she ok? I’ve never seen her like this before.”

“She likes you a lot; she tends to hide her unpleasant emotions around you. Come on, we can keep practicing invisibility over this way.” Luna said as she took a step in the opposite direction of Celestia. She stopped walking when she realized Twilight was not following her. “Twilight?”

“She mentioned the toast. I missed the toast. Was it really that big of a deal that I was there for the toast? She seems so angry. I need to go apologize!” Twilight had a hint of panic in her voice.

Luna rolled her eyes sighed, “She’s upset right now and it’s nighttime. If you want to apologize talk to her in the morning after she raises the sun. She’ll be much happier then and in less of a banishing-to-the-moon mood.”

“Luna, I’m going to apologize.” Twilight said as she trotted invisibly after Celestia. Luna sighed once more and contemplated just letting Twilight take the blame herself but something was nagging at her. With a deep breath, Luna raced after Twilight. They caught up with Celestia in a vastly large chamber filled with several stained-glass windows. Much like the chamber that housed the Elements of Harmony, these windows seemed to depict several great conflicts in Equestrian history. “The Hall of Stories,” Twilight whispered. Celestia walked to the end of the oval shaped room and sat down on the floor facing the central window in the room. The image on the window was a detailed outline of a map of Equestria with the emblem of a sun rising over the mountain ranges. In one corner a stylistic version of Luna sat, her back turned to the land and neck arched up looking at the sky. The opposite corner showed Celestia looking towards the ocean that bordered the east of the land. A depiction of Discord as a statue rested in the lower left corner near the symbol for the Elements of Harmony. Celestia studied the image intently. Twilight took a quiet step forward.

Don’t. I can’t stress this enough. Luna’s words echoed once more in Twilight mind. Don’t bother Tia when she’s in the Hall of Stories. She only comes here when she’s very upset. Looking at the windows calms her. Twilight fought back a sob. Had she really upset her mentor so greatly? I’ll talk to her tomorrow. If she’s upset about you missing the toast, I’ll just tell her I ordered you to keep me company. Celestia bowed her head and closed her eyes. She opened her mouth slightly and pursed her lips. She began to sing in a mellow key. Luna placed her hoof over Twilight’s mouth to prevent her from saying anything, but it was unneeded. Twilight was awestruck by the princess’s voice. She had never heard her mentor sing before. Luna guided Twilight out of the Hall of Stories. Celestia’s song rang out and echoed through the castle with striking clarity. Luna’s wing extended and gave Twilight a push. Luna began to lead the lavender Unicorn through the halls of the castle farther and farther away from the Hall of Stories. No matter how far they were from the song’s source it still floated to their ears with ease. They passed a few royal guards who were also awestruck by the melody. They stood still looking towards the ceiling, listening intently. As they neared one of the western towers Twilight finally spoke up.

“Her voice is beautiful, why doesn’t she sing more?”

Luna sighed, “She only sings when she’s very upset and in the Hall of Stories or the old hall at the old castle. I haven’t heard her sing since… well… Nightmare Moon…. It’s always the same song too.”

“It’s beautiful and the melody’s familiar, but I can’t understand the words….”

“The national anthem was based on it, only in a major key. You can’t understand it because it’s in the language of the ancients.”

“Can you translate it for me?”

“No. I don’t remember how to speak it. It was the language spoken around Discord’s time. I’m not even sure Celestia could speak it fluently anymore.”

“Do you know what it’s called? The song?”

“I don’t know if it has a name. I just call it her sorrow song. The important part is, do not disturb her while she’s singing. It’s her way of coping with things that upset her. I think our mother or somepony important used to sing it to her. I’ve only ever heard her sing it though.”

Twilight sobbed, “I upset her so much she’s crying through song!?”

“No, no, Twilight,” Luna said as she nuzzled her neck around the Unicorn. “The toast… was probably just the tipping point. She’s been upset since the Changeling incident. I think she’s worried she’s getting weaker in her old age.”

“Does that happen to Alicorns?”

“No. She’s just overreacting. Here, you can stay here for the night. The guards won’t find you here, and we can talk to Tia in the morning.” Twilight had not noticed it because she was upset, but they had climbed to the top of the west tower and were presently standing in front of an incredibly large deep blue stone door, large enough probably to fit half a dragon inside. It was decorated with ornate carvings of stars and the phases of the moon. Luna’s horn glowed with magic and the carvings on the door came to life. The stars slid out of the way and the door creaked open. Twilight was fairly certain this was Luna’s private chamber. The chambers of the Alicorn princesses were never seen by outsiders, even Twilight who had a close connection with them. She had to admit, while she worried and upset over Celestia, her curiosity was piqued with the prospect of seeing something no other pony would get to see. This was a once in a lifetime chance. Luna beckoned for Twilight to enter and Twilight eagerly did so. Once they were inside the doors slammed shut far too quickly for their size.
Luna chuckled, “The doors to our bedchambers can only be opened by Alicorns. Even if the guards suspected you were in here, they couldn’t get in to retrieve you.” Twilight barely heard a word of what Luna had said, she was enthralled by the bedroom. If one could call it a bedroom, its size almost made it a ballroom. The ceiling was a large dome shaped covered in depictions of the constellations. After a closer look, it was a glass ceiling that overlaid the actual stars with the lines of the constellations. Several brass spheres, planets she assumed, hung in a large geared device, perhaps a mockup of the solar system. The rear of the room housed a telescope, the size of which Twilight could not even imagine. The room’s grandeur was palpable. “Like it? Celestia built and designed it herself, I’m told. A welcome back present, I guess. It certainly is pretty, but largely empty space. I don’t spend much time here, except to sleep. It’s too… vast. It makes me feel lonely.”

“It’s very impressive. Seeing the sky when you look up, I…” Twilight let out a loud yawn. “Oh my, I’m suddenly very tired.”

“It’s the rejuvenation spell, it wore off. That’s why it’s banned. You use it too much and it wears the body out after it wears off.” Twilight spotted a few reading pillows and trotted over to them.

“Can I sleep here?”

“You can use the bed if you want. I’m going to read for a bit.”

“I couldn’t possibly…” Twilight started to protest but was cut off by Luna levitating her to the bed and draping the covers over her.

“Nonsense, sleep tight. You’ll need to be well rested if you’re going to face Celestia tomorrow. I know I’m not looking forward to it.”

“Goodnight, Luna.”

“Goodnight, Twilight.” Luna smiled warmly. Twilight fell into a deep sleep almost immediately, with Celestia’s song acting as a lullaby for the entire castle. The melody echoed throughout the Sundancer suites where Twilight’s friends were attempting to close their eyes as well. It flowed through out the hallways where the guards were scrambling about looking for the lavender Unicorn at Shining Armor’s request. Lastly, the notes even found their way down to the dungeon underneath Canterlot Castle. The sweet and sad melody wavered around Queen Chrysalis. While the Changeling could not understand the words, she knew the heart of the song. After all, this type of song, no matter how ancient was something of a specialty to the Changelings. Changelings always recognize a love song.

Twilight awoke to a soft pink sky. It was perhaps around sunrise. Pretty clouds drifted softly by as she realized she must have been lying on her back looking up. The Unicorn rolled to her side as the grass she was laying on tickled her. She slowly stood up and stretched out her forehooves. A few birds chipped as they passed her. She smiled back at the little animals and gave her haunches a stretch for good measure. She had to admit, it had been a good night’s sleep. Luna’s bed was very comfortable and…. Actually, she was outside, in a field, with the castle nowhere in sight. Had she slept on the grass? From the looks of a pony shaped impression, it seems likely. For some reason, however, even though this made no sense, it seemed to make perfect sense. And not at the same time, as if her mind was not sure what to believe. She gave a quick shrug and decided that was future Twilight’s problem to figure out. Glancing around she noticed there was a hill, perfect for viewing the sunrise just a little bit away from her with a figure sitting on top of it. She tilted her head to the side and thought for a moment. After deciding that there was no possible way to brush her teeth in the middle of a field she decided she would go watch the sunrise from the hill.

She trotted as a lazy pace, passing trees and shrubs as she went. She noticed one particularly large tree as she neared the base of the hill. Up high on a branch a bird was flying back and forth. It was building a nest. Wait, that can’t be right. She thought. Birds don’t build nests. Ponies build nests for birds. She squinted her eyes at this odd behavior. A bird that takes care of itself, such a thing only happens in the Everfree Forest. She glanced around; this area was far too open to even be a forest, let alone Everfree. She gave the bird a suspicious scowl and began to climb the hill. When she reached the top she had a good chance to look at the figure sitting there. To say she was surprised was an understatement. “Discord!”

However, the draconequus was silent and still. If not for a subtle movement of breathing, Twilight could have mistaken him for a statue. The draconequus stared at the sun as it peeked over the horizon. The moon was still visible in the sky, another thing that never happened. Celestia, or rather Luna now, would always lower the moon before sunrise. Twilight was not sure they both could actually exist in the sky at the same time. It made the moon look odd against the lit sky; it had a softer tone to it. Discord sighed, “Sit, watch.”

“Why are you here?”

“Why? Why, to give you a taste of your future...a preview of things to come. Not this though. This certainly isn’t the future anymore. Tell me, Miss Sparkle, what do you see here?”

Twilight did not know how to respond his statement. Discord’s voice had almost a gentle tone to it. Not manipulative or condescending like normal. Twilight looked out at the land before her. “The moon and the sun sharing the sky at dawn.” Discord nodded but seemed to be waiting for her to continue. “The clouds in the distance, they move on their own. The wind blows without aid.” She glanced back at the tree behind her, “the animals care for themselves. It’s like Everfree Forest but for all of Equestria.”

Discord chuckled, “Actually, that is Griffica. Land of the Griffins. Behind us is the eastern boarder of Equestria. Over there is the land of the zebras. And over there is where the pony tribes migrated from.”

“Griffica doesn’t behave like that. The world is running out of control on its own. Who’s moving the clouds? ”

“Nature does. No pony guides the weather here.”

“The world can’t work that way. What’s to stop a storm from destroying a village?”

“Nothing. It’s chaos.”

Twilight looked up, “No pink clouds. No soap roads.” The sun was above the horizon now, spreading golden light across the land. The warmth of it tickled Twilight’s cheek.

“No, this is old chaos, before the world became static. Very old chaos. Boringly tame by my standards now. I used to call it…” Discord looked upwards pensively like he was trying to remember something, “I called it freedom.” He stood up to his feet and stretched his arms. For a brief moment, Discord did not seem imposing. “That was a long time ago. I’m too old now.” The draconequus twisted himself in a painful looking position. Sickeningly sounding cracks echoed throughout the area. “Now then! Twilight Sparkle, I dare say you’ve been a most ungracious mind host. You invite me here and you provide no entertainment?”

“Entertain… what?”

“I’m ever so board. I know! Let’s play a game.”

Twilight shook her head, “No, none of your….” It was too late; Discord had snapped his fingers and plumes of fire ignited the grass around the Unicorn. The fire closed in and burnt the ground away where Twilight was standing beneath the grass was a black void and the pony fell. Discord’s cackle could be heard circling around Twilight as she fell through an endless sea of blackness. Swells of abstract shapes danced around her, a few crashing into her hooves as she made her descent. The blackness shifted to a pokadot pattern and a few houses went spiraling by. Suddenly, she found herself being yanked upward and slamming into a checkered ground. When she stood up she was undeniably in Ponyville, or what would be Ponyville if it was not under Discord’s control. In front of her the draconequus sat on am imposing throne. He chortled as he gripped the throne’s armrests.

“What shall we play? Oh! One of my favorites! Hide and Seek!”

“I’m not running from you. I’m not afraid of you.”

“Why would I think that you would be afraid of me? I’m not such a bad guy. It’s you ponies that have an issue with me. I add a little spice, a little excitement to your lives, and all you do is complain! Besides I didn’t say you were the one who’s hiding.” Discord placed an arm on his chest and looked off to the side, as if he were offended. “You’re going to be the one seeking Twilight.” He snapped his fingers and in his claws Princess Luna appeared. The Alicorn struggled against his grip.

“Luna!” Twilight gasped.

“Don’t do anything he wants, Twilight! He is the puppeteer, remember? He’s just trying to… urk!” Discord snapped his fingers and Luna’s mouth vanished.

“That’s enough of that.” He took his free hand and tapped his fingers open and closed like a mouth. The hand mouth spoke with Luna’s voice, “How do you stand her voice? It’s so whiny.”

“Let her go!”

“Certainly.” He snapped his fingers and Luna vanished with a flash of white light.

“What have you done with her?!” Twilight stamped her hoof on the checkered ground.

“Oh? What? Oh dear, you meant let her go here? You really should be more specific.”

“Where is she? Where’s Luna?!”

“Oh the missing one I’ve took? To find her you’ll just have to look. Run around all the town, make what’s lost found. Find her quickly, you’re not alone. Get to her fast and I’ll send you home.” Discord laughed heartedly, “Let the games begin!” With a snap of his fingers Twilight found herself standing outside Sugercube Corner. Discord’s voice echoed, “The clock is ticking, Twilight Sparkle. You wouldn't want something to happen to your poor ‘Pwrincess Woona’, would you?”

“Just shut up!”

“My my Twilight, that was uncalled for. You should apologize for being so rude. That’s it. I was going to give you clues, but now I think I’ll just let you run about aimlessly until time runs out.”

Twilight opened the door to Sugarcube Corner and sprinted around the place calling Luna’s name repeatedly. She checked the kitchen and the store room. No sign of Luna there. She checked behind the front counter to no luck as well. She ran upstairs to where Pinkie lives. A quick glance around did not yield Luna but Twilight soon noticed she was not alone in the room. “Pinkie Pie! Discord has Princess Luna! I need your help!”

“There you are! The party wrecker!” Pinkie jumped into the air and tackled Twilight. Twilight felt the air get knocked out of her. “You left before the toast! Princess Celestia was sooooo mad!” Twilight cast a quick charm to make it so she could breathe again. The Unicorn kicked Pinkie off of her.

“Pinkie! What’s wrong with you?”

“Duh. I’m not even pink. I’m all gray. That means I’m evil. Now get back here so I can stop you from finding Luna in time!” Twilight bolted to the windowsill and teleported to the ground outside from there. She was breathing hard. He was using corrupted ponies again; this was not going to be easy. “Come back here! I just want to throw you a party! A party of doom!”

Twilight made a bolt for the Carousel Boutique. “Ah, Pinkie. She has all the subtly of an Ox.” Discord’s voice rang in Twilight’s ears. “Speaking of which, watch out.” From the sky, oxen began falling landing on either side of Twilight nearly crushing her. She glanced behind her to see that Pinkie Pie was bouncing a few feet from her tail. Twilight used her magic to fling the door open at Rarity’s shop and dashed inside. She called out for Luna again but was met with no response. The store’s inside was warped as if it was being seen through a funhouse mirror. In the center of the room Discord was sitting in a throne on the ceiling. He looked down at Twilight, “What are you doing up there?” Gravity reversed and Twilight slammed into ceiling at Discord’s hooves. “Oh, you've come to apologize for being rude, how nice. All is forgiven, no offense taken.”

“Where’s Luna?”

“Lulu’s busy at the moment. Can I take a message? Wouldn’t you rather talk to Rarity instead?” A Unicorn stepped out from behind Discord’s throne.

“Oh Twilight you look like a mess! Time for a FASHION MAKEOVER!” Several strips of fabric and ribbons swirled around Rarity as she attempted to use them to tie up Twilight. Discord laughed as Twilight bolted out the door. Outside the store Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were flying just above the door. Twilight gritted her teeth and raced past them. In the distance she could see her library tree house. It was a long shot but maybe there were still books in there. Perhaps a spell she could use to locate Luna. The lavender pony was running as fast as she could when she noticed Rainbow Dash casually flying backwards next to her.

“Hi, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash tackled Twilight and pinned her to the ground. “Pinned in ten seconds flat.” Twilight struggled to get out of the pin, but Rainbow Dash was too strong. Fluttershy came up next to Twilight and smiled.

“You caught her. I knew you could do it. Yay!” The shy Pegasus said quietly.

Rainbow Dash bolted into the air and poked Fluttershy with her hoof. “How many times do I have to tell you! Cheers have more volume!” Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on her face and sighed. Twilight took advantage of the fact she was no longer pinned and galloped to the library, teleporting short distances forward when she could manage it.

“Good help is so hard to find.” Discord said with a yawn. “This is why I usually work by myself. I'm not good in groups. It's difficult to work in a group when you're omnipotent.” At last Twilight had reached the library. She bucked the door in and called out for Luna. Books where flying around like bats and were constantly slamming into Twilight’s face. Twilight ran upstairs, tripping on the fourth step. There at the top of the stairs her heart skipped a beat. Luna was sitting on Twilight's bed.

“Twilight!” Luna jumped forward and embraced the purple Unicorn. The flying books all fell to the ground and the checkerboard pattern vanished from the walls. Discord’s laugh echoed off the bookshelves. With a flash of light the draconequus replaced Luna in Twilight’s embrace.

“Now Twilight, I like you and all, but I just don’t like you in that way. Well done though.”

“Give me Luna back!”

“I will, but first I have just one question: Was finding Luna so important that you didn’t bother to cure your friends?”

“What?”

“Your friends! You’ve broken them out of my brainwashing before, why didn’t you do it this time?”

“Luna was…. I had to find…. Time was running out… I….” Twilight clenched her eyes shut a tear almost leaking out.

“It’s so selfish of you. Trading one life for so many others.”

Twilight shook her head, “Selfish? Big words from the one who has to control everything even the laws of physics.”

“Yes, you're right, of course. I'm extraordinarily selfish. But it has served me so well in the past. But you are an element barer! You’re supposed to be above petty things like that! You gambled with your friends’ lives just to save your precious Luna. You blew them off, just like you blew off Celestia’s toast for her.”

Twilight stopped her hooves on the ground, “I’m not listening to you anymore. You’re nothing but a puppeteer. If I had saved them, you would have just said I didn’t care about saving Luna.”

“You are positively no fun.” Discord struck a pose and then was encased in stone. There was a flash of multicolored light. Twilight closed her eyes to avoid being blinded by it. When she opened them again, she was in Luna’s bedroom sitting on Luna’s bed.

5: Canterlot Morning

A quick glance around revealed that Luna was sleeping on the bed as well a few feet away from her. Luna’s bed was quiet large. Actually Twilight was pretty sure it was larger than her bedroom back at the library. Luna was curled up into a ball and hugging a pillow tightly. Her billowy mane was covering her face and she was snoring softly. Twilight giggled at the thought of somepony so royal snoring. Twilight glanced up at the glass ceiling which appeared to be tinted glass. Twilight assumed it was designed so that Luna could comfortably sleep during the day since most of her duties took place at night. She quietly eased herself out of bed and took a walk around the room. There was a bookshelf that covered the northern wall. Twilight went to inspect it, looking to see if there were titles she recognized. However, most of the books were unbound or unlabeled. Many of them simply contained crude quickly done sketches of the phases of the moon and locations of various craters. A few were obviously tax documents. One was a picture book of what Twilight could only guess was children stories, the kind a toddling foal would have her mother read to her. Twilight did notice several books that contained drawings of magical flow paths, visualizations of how magic interacted with the physical world. Understanding these charts were always difficult, Twilight being Twilight, understood their basic principle but would never be able to construct one on her own. Luna apparently had created several. It had become apparent that Luna did not actually have anything to read. She had many complex charts and diagrams all throughout the room, but the only words Twilight could find were an occasional caption for a figure. Luna seemed to love books, but preferred visual medium better. She spied an easel with a few painting supplies placed nearby. Twilight was unaware that Luna painted. She used magic to flip a few of the sheets of paper and glance at Luna’s drawings. Most were of the sun setting upon a field or lake’s reflection at night. One was of Nightmare Moon and Luna standing with their backs to each other. Twilight shuddered at this one. Perhaps Luna was exploring her duality? One was a picture of Twilight and her friends sporting the Elements of Harmony. Twilight blushed at that one a bit. All the paintings were exceptionally well done. The last painting on the easel was significantly less colorful than the rest. It, Twilight could only guess, was a landscape of the moon. Twilight looked at it for a few minutes. It was a desolate place, monotonous and static. The painting felt cold to look at. Not that the painting was actually cold, it just simply made you feel… alone. Twilight’s search was momentarily disrupted when Luna stirred slightly. The Unicorn replaced the paintings on the easel.

Twilight decided that perhaps she should make her way down to Celestia and apologize for her disappearance last night. She desperately wanted Luna by her side when she confronted Celestia, but she also did not want Luna to get in trouble. Twilight made her way to the bedroom door and tried to push it open with her hoof. When that did not work she tried magic. After a few minutes of struggling she gave up and went back to looking at the decorations of the room. She noticed the walls were covered in charts of the night sky. Plots of constellations with several labels scratched out were pinned to the southern wall. Luna had been designing and naming new constellations it seemed. She glanced through some of them, trying to see if she had recognized any of the patterns in the night sky. Most of the new constellations had not had a name picked yet or there were two names chosen with a question mark in between, as if Luna had not been able to choose. One particularly complex constellation caught her eye. It spanned three star charts and included more than thirty stars. It took a while to see as she traced the web of lines, but it appeared to be a pony. Not that there were not many other ponies in the sky, but this one was a Unicorn. There were only a few of those and many were just a couple stars that you were supposed to just take Luna’s word on their shape. But this constellation was clearly a Unicorn. There was a label at the bottom of the center of the three charts. Luna had not had a hard time naming this one. There were not any other names crossed out. “Oh my,” Twilight gasped.

“Do you like it?” Luna asked. In her study of the constellation, Twilight had not noticed Luna waking. “It’s a thank you for helping me on Nightmare Night.” Luna smiled. Twilight honestly did not know what to say. The chart had been labeled with her name, Twilight Sparkle (Unicornus Lux Crepusculum).

“It’s beautiful. But why would you name a constellation after me? That’s…. a big deal….”

Luna giggled, “When the sun sets, the sky is mine to do with what I wish. You helped free me from my nightmare. You were one of the first ponies to show me friendship. And if that’s not enough, you’re a national hero, Tia would have asked for one after you passed on anyway.” Luna levitated a brush and fixed her mane. “But I figured, why wait for one posthumously when you could enjoy it while you’re still alive.”

“Is this already in the sky?”

“It’s right over Ponyville. You can see it quiet well from your balcony.”

“I don’t know what to say… Thank you...”

“It was my pleasure. Now, I hate to say it but perhaps we should go talk to Tia.” Luna said with a slight tremble in her voice. “Unless, of course, you just want to ignore it and we could play a game of chess or practice magic or…” Luna levitated the brush over to Twilight and fixed her mane. Twilight was a bit irritated at some other pony touching her mane, but she allowed Luna to continue.

“No. I need to apologize to Princess Celestia. I’ve put it off long enough.”

Luna sighed, “Of course. Everypony just loves to make Celestia happy.” Luna turned away from Twilight and opened the grand stone door to the room. Twilight frowned. It was clear Luna still held resentment for her sister. Twilight did enjoy spending time with both of the princesses. She honestly was not trying to favor Celestia over Luna. Luna peeked her head out the door. “Come on Twilight, the coast is clear. Celestia will be in the throne room. We’ll see if we can get there without running into any guards.”

They walked out into the hallway and made their way to the tower staircase. Both of them were living or had at one time lived in the castle so they knew their way around the area for the most part. However Canterlot Castle was enormous and its internal structure was a bit confusing. Twilight noticed after a few hallways they were in fact heading to the wrong wing. Twilight corrected Luna, much to the Alicorn’s embarrassment. Truth be told, Luna’s mind was elsewhere and Twilight could tell. “Luna, I enjoyed spending time with you last night. You know I have to return to Ponyville very soon. Actually the train leaves shortly before lunch… But I was wondering if it would be alright if I could visit every now and then and we could… you know… spend time together?” Luna stopped dead in her tracks. Twilight wondered if she stepped over some boundary, after all Luna was a princess.

Luna looked over her should at the young Unicorn, “I would love that, Twilight.” She smiled widely at her friend. Twilight was relieved. Luna seemed to be in a better mood for the rest of the walk. They reached the hallway that lead to the throne room but Luna stopped and gestured to a door they had just passed. “I need to check on something really quick. Don’t go anywhere I’ll be right back. Then we’ll go talk to Tia.”

“What do you need to do?” Twilight’s ears perked up.

“It’s a surprise,” Luna giggled. Twilight nodded and the lunar princess ducked behind the door. Twilight kicked her hooves back and forth patiently waiting for Luna to return when she heard somepony call her name from across the hall.

“Twily!” Shining Armor galloped down the hallway and stopped only a few inches from Twilight’s face.

“Hey big bro! How’s the misses?” Twilight smiled warmly.

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve been up all night looking for you! Princess Celestia is mad at you for something. She’s had my guards looking for you all night. Where were you?” Shining Armor clenched his teeth together.

“I was here at the castle… whoa! Hey! Put me down!” It was too late for protests; Shining Armor had levitated Twilight on to his back and was speeding down the hallway towards the throne room. “Wait just a moment! Shining! Wait, I was… Princess Luna… wait!” Twilight bounced up and down as Shining Armor raced through the halls. For a pony that had just gone a night without sleeping, he was surprisingly energetic. He rounded the corner and entered the throne room.

“Princess Celestia, I have located Twily… Twilight Sparkle as you requested.”

“Ah, I see that, my captain. Round up your guards and wait outside if you please.” Celestia’s tone was hard to read. Twilight could sense a hint of anger, but it was mostly her normal calm demeanor. Shining Armor nodded to the set of guards that were standing on either side of the throne. After they left the room, Shining Armor used his magic to close the door. Celestia straightened her neck as if she was about to make a royal decree, “Twilight Sparkle….”

Twilight laid flat on the floor and bowed her head, “Princess Celestia, I am so very sorry for missing the toast. I heard you were upset and I just wanted to let you know how sincerely sorry I am for disappointing you!” Celestia raised an eye brown in skepticism. Twilight lifted her head slightly and opened her eye halfway to sneak a peek at the princess’s expression. “You’re… you’re not terribly mad at me are you?” Twilight said with a slight tremble in her voice.

“Mad? No. Disappointed, very much.” Twilight winced. “My dear student, last night’s festivities were important for the kingdom. Equestria, Canterlot and its outskirts such as Ponyville more so than others, have been under turmoil far too frequently as of late. With Nightmare Moon, Discord, and the Changeling incident, ponies are starting to worry about the state of our defenses. The word on the streets is that many are questioning their safety. I am afraid there’s a chance we might be entering dark times and if distrust and fear are seeded in the kingdom, we will be for sure.” Twilight nodded in agreement somberly. “It’s times like this when ponies need an ideal to believe in. For the longest time, I’ve strived to be that ideal. But alas the Elements of Harmony have moved to their new bearers after so many years. While I can certainly still protect my people from most of the threats, I lack the firepower to deal so bluntly with more serious issues. Now it is your responsibility to become that ideal. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Princess. I am truly sorry, I had no idea you were expecting so much of us at the party. I treated it like just another one of Pinkie Pie’s get-togethers. I was foolish.”

“Yes you were.” Celestia’s words stung. “As your mentor, I promise to provide guidance to you in whatever way needed. I believe last night’s disaster was in part my fault for not letting you know what was expected of you. But not all is lost. While the ceremony was a failure, the celebration around Canterlot and all over Equestria was by far a success. There was some… political cleanup needed involving pictures of a inebriated element of kindness staggering about on stage. But my attendants have taken care of it, right Storm Dancer?”

The silver Pegasus, who had been slightly obscured behind the throne nodded, “Yes, all cameras were confiscated as the guests left. We are more than fairly confident that the toast will be remembered for your excellent speech and not the guests of honor’s behavior.” The Pegasus took a step backwards after speaking, trying his best to allow Celestia to scold her student in private while still remaining in the room.

“I am glad you came to apologize. I was afraid your lessons in manners were slipping, but I am pleased to see you owning up to your mistakes. Celestia nodded, “However, I am still curious as to where you vanished to during the toast. Perhaps you could enlighten me?”

Twilight knew Luna seemed to want to avoid telling Celestia that she was spending time with Twilight. Twilight did not for the life of her understand why, but she decided to respect Luna’s wishes. “I… just went to bed.” It was true. Twilight was glad she was not the element of honesty. “I’ve been having trouble sleeping.”

“Yes, you did inform me of that. I had Applejack and Rainbow Dash check if there was any volatility for the seal on Discord. They confirmed what my own magics tell me, Discord is sealed tighter than ever. I can only conclude that these nightmares are just merely nightmares.”

Twilight scuffed her hoof against the floor, “I had a dream about him last night. He had taken you sister and turned my friends.”

Celestia glanced down at the floor, “In this dream he had captured Lulu?” Twilight nodded. “Interesting. Do you always remember these dream vividly?”

“Yes, most of the time.”

“I see. I believe that these dreams may, in fact, be related to Discord’s magic.”

“What?! You said the seal was holding!”

“Calm yourself, my student. You are the element of magic, the center piece in the sealing spell. It is through you that the power of the Elements of Harmony are aimed at their target, their conduit. When the Elements are used, a small bit of the target’s power leaks back into the conduit. It did so when you defeated Nightmare Moon and again when you sealed Discord.”

Twilight’s ears drooped, “Wait… what?”

“Rest assured, it is not anything to be worried about. The Elements purify the energy received. In fact, it only makes you stronger. You might have noticed the energy from Nightmare Moon earlier; it most likely shifted your magic attunement to something closer to Princess Luna’s.” Twilight nodded. That made quite a bit of sense. After all she just spent all of last night working with an invisibility spell that only Luna had been able to cast reliably. “When you sealed Discord, you might have absorbed some of his chaotic essence. It should dissipate within a few years. I think this might manifest itself as nightmares.” Twilight nodded in agreement again. “I would like it if you would keep track of the severity and frequency of these dreams and report on them in your letters. In the meantime, I will make use of my resources to see if there is some way I can provide assistance.” The doors to the throne room burst open and Princess Luna was standing with a nervous look on her face. Celestia ignored the outburst, but Twilight glanced back.

“Thank you, Princess.” Twilight said, “I should probably go and catch the train….”

“Very well, my student. Travel safely.” Twilight bowed and turned around to face the door. Celestia called out, “Ah, my dear sister. You are certainly up early, Lulu. You aren’t abusing that rejuvenation spell again, are you?”

“No Tia, I slept all last night,” Luna began to walk up to the throne; she stopped when she met halfway with Twilight. “Twilight Sparkle, you are leaving?”

Twilight gave Luna a small frown, “Yes, Princess, I must catch the train.”

“Do visit soon when you can. My sister always enjoys your company.” Luna leaned forward and whispered, “As do I.”

Twilight winked at Luna, “You were right. Morning time is the best time to apologize.”

“I’ve had many chances to experiment.” Luna smiled before giving Twilight a regal nod of dismissal. Twilight exited the room and Celestia glanced to Luna.

“Is there something you need, Lulu?” Celestia’s voice was caring with a hint of concern, like always.
Luna glanced at the doorway where Twilight had just left from.

She smiled mischievously, “Actually, yes there is.”

“Oh?” Celestia raised an eyebrow.

“I request that my travel restriction be removed so that I may travel to Griffica.”

Storm Dancer, who had been waiting patiently the whole time, spoke up, “With all due respect, Princess Celestia, the princess of the night’s reprimand is not due to be up for another five weeks. I suggest you deny this request. Especially since the princess wishes to travel to foreign grounds.”

“Storm Dancer makes a good point, Lulu. Your punishment for the Appaloosa incident was three months restriction to the castle only.”

“Oh come on! It was only one barn I burned down! They were going to demolish it anyway!”

Strom Dancer stamped his hoof, “They were demolishing the barn next to the one you burned down! You are their princess! They expect you to act with regality! The incident was a public scandal!”

“Calm yourself, Storm Dancer. Lulu, you place me in a difficult moment. I do not like to rescind commands. Why do you think a reprieve is justified?”

“I want to travel to Griffica and negotiate the pastry tariffs face to face. I believe they will take our requests with greater weight if one of us personally attends. You are too busy, and this was assigned to me. You know how important this is to our economy…”

“I see. I am glad you are back to taking such an interest in our affairs of state. Very well, you may make the trip. Storm Dancer, assemble a group of attendants and guards to accompany you and Luna to Griffica.”

“If it is all the same, I do not think they will be needed. I can travel faster alone.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow once more. Luna liked to call it her ‘mare, please’ face. She used it whenever she was certain somepony was trying to pull a fast one, that she was going to let them get away with anyway. “I know Storm Dancer and you have differing points of view, but he is your personal attendant, I would strongly suggest you take him along.”

“Suggest does not mean I have to. I want to travel alone.”

“Very well. Amnesty on your punishment is granted. Represent Equestria well, my dear sister.”

“I will sister; I will rest for the afternoon and depart this evening.”

“Princess Celestia, this is an outrage! She is making a mockery of your initial order! You can’t let her…”

“STORM DANCER!” Celestia bellowed in the traditional Royal Canterlot Voice. The room rumbled with the utterance. Bits of plaster fell from the ceiling. Celestia had always trusted Storm Dancer. He had a keen eye for politics and was one of the best attendants she had seen in this generation of ponies. She had liked him enough to appoint him her sister’s personal attendant, a position that required extreme temperance and delicacy, but sometimes he overstepped his bounds. “I have spoken. I do, however, thank you for your input on the matter. Sleep well Lulu and may mother’s spirit fill your wings during flight.”

Luna nodded with a bit of grimace. She had really wished Celestia had not brought her mother into the conversation. The truth was, Luna had finished the treaty on the pastry tariffs with Griffica a month ago. While the new trade rules were not set to go into effect until later in the year, Luna had not told Celestia about her quick success for a single reason. She knew Celestia would be ecstatic to hear the consultations went well and Luna had been saving delivering the good news for when she screwed up. It would undoubtedly have gotten her out of any trouble she was in, but Luna had a different plan now. She had just secured travel time with no place to go. She had essentially just booked a week’s worth of attendant free vacation time and she knew exactly where she was going to spend it. Luna chuckled evilly as she left the throne room, “Ponyville is so nice this time of year.”

6: Journeys

Princess Celestia sat on her throne, like she always had for thousands of years. Sure the seat cushion changed every decade and the chair itself was changed every century. By Tartarus, the castle seemed to change every millennium. But Celestia’s perfect posture was always the same. She was a mare of order. Everything had to go to plan. It was true, as the years passed her by, she indulged in a joke or two, but these were always under her control. Her informants kept her supplied with news from all over the Known World. If a leaf fell too early in Quagga, the land of the Zebras, Celestia would know about it before it hit the ground. And she would have a four part defense strategy already in the approval process. When things surprised her, she was unhappy, and lately things had been surprising her often. Celestia gathered a small sliver of her magic and focused her attention briefly to the dungeon. She could sense the Changeling Queen sorrowfully singing a song. Serves her right. She thought. No pony gets the better of the Goddess of the Sun. Well… except him. But now that the Elements had moved on, there really was nothing she could do about… him. Now her favorite pony, Twilight Sparkle, was having a long-lasting sprint of nightmares starring him. Perhaps this was nothing, but Celestia would not be Celestia if she did not at least consider the possibility of something… greater.

In her slightly distracted state she had almost forgotten that it was open court. In front of her a gruff-looking Earth stallion was pleading his case on tax laws or something about farmland, he looked like a farmer. Maybe it was about reparations from the Changeling incident? Either way, he had not said any of the special words that got Celestia’s attention. She nodded gracefully to the pony, “My little pony, your concern has been noted. Rivensilt here will be glad to take care of your issues on a more personal level.” It was a boilerplate response she gave anytime she was not actually paying attention. She was not fooling anypony on her staff; Rivensilt smiled at the princess and lead the stallion away. In her defense, the stallion seemed quite pleased he had been assigned a royal delegate to attend to his problem personally. A silver Pegasus coughed loudly. “Yes, Storm Dancer? Is there something you need?”

“Forgive my impudence, my princess, but you seem distracted. Perhaps we should cancel the rest of open court until a time where your thoughts have aligned?” Storm Dancer secretly wondered if the princess was taking ill, after all she had agreed to the absurd proposal of Princess Luna.

“An impromptu cancellation of open court? Such an even has not occurred in over a millennium. It would be awful to break such a splendid record. However, your observations are spot on. I am a bit distracted today.” Celestia thought for a moment, “Gilded Shoe, be a dear and tell the guards that for the next hour I am suspending open court. We will defer the ending time by one hour to compensate. Rising Star, please see that concierges are dispatched to properly apologize for the inconvenience.” Celestia allowed herself the comfort of leaning against the throne’s backrest. My, I’m certainly being wild today. To others it would have been an incredulous thought, but Celestia was a princess without parallel when it came to regality. She had spent years cultivating an image of beauty, perfection, kindness, and authority. Slouching for one hour was not going to undo all that, but the thought still lingered. More importantly however, there was the issue of Twilight Sparkle’s dreams. She contemplated for a moment. “Storm Dancer, it occurs to me that with Luna departing for the week, your schedule has freed up for the time being.” Storm Dancer nodded in agreement. “I would like to give you a special assignment. Are you up for this quest?”

“Most certainly, my princess.” Storm Dancer did his best to hide his excitement. It was a pleasure to be working directly for Celestia and not under the evil command of Luna.

Celestia focused her mind to her private study in the east wing of the castle. Drawing magic there, she combed through the piles of documents and books until she found the one she was searching for. With a bit of focus, she had teleported the scroll to the throne room. “You know of the Castle of the Two Sisters correct?” Storm Dancer nodded as Celestia levitated a quill to the scroll.

“You refer to the old capital, right? The one that is now in the overgrowth of the Everfree Forest?”

“The very one. I wish you to venture there and study a document for me. It will be dangerous to go on your own; I want you to take this map. I have marked the room where the document resides. It’s a magical flow path chart titled Starswirl’s Requiem of the Calming Mind.”

Storm Dancer took the map and placed it in his saddlebag, “You wish for me to bring the chart back?”

“If you can manage to retrieve a stone tablet that’s the size of three ponies, by all means, bring it back with you.” Celestia chuckled, “If not, an etching will do just as well. I believe the Calming Mind spell might be just what Twilight Sparkle needs to escape from her nightmares. I’ve used it myself before, but I am afraid my memory lost it to time.”

Storm Dancer bowed, “I will depart posthaste.” Celestia nodded with a gentle smile.

The Friendship Express was racing down the mountainside. While it took a day to reach Canterlot from Ponyville, it only took three hours to go in the opposite direction thanks to all the downward slopes. Twilight was watching the scenery past swiftly by through the window. She was sharing the car with a extremely hung-over Fluttershy. Fluttershy muttered something about swearing on Angel’s life that she would not touch a drop a cider in the rest of her days. Twilight sighed. She was reflecting on the events of the past night. She felt a bit bad about leaving so early. She had definitely enjoyed spending time with Luna, and she was fairly certain that Luna was quiet upset to know she was leaving. “Missing her already? It’s been less than two hours. Really, Twilight, you’re like a love sick filly.” Twilight’s reflection in the window had been replaced with the smug mug draconequus.

“I’m not a love sick filly.”

“Ah Twilight, you really need to learn to tell the truth. Like me. I never lie.”

“You lie all the time.”

“Oh no, never. Everything I say is true in some fashion. Why would I lie when the truth is far too much fun?”

“I really have to stop looking at reflective surfaces.”

“Oh, I just do the mirror thing because it’s fun. It’s what they call a classic!” Discord snapped his fingers and with a flash of light a miniature draconequus was lounging on top of the Unicorn’s head, leaning back against her horn. “Ah, this is much more comfortable though.” Discord patted the top of Twilight’s head.

“Hop back in the window so I can smash it.”

“Oh, very clever, Twilight. Eat any good books lately?

“Get off!”

“Fine. But don’t think for a minute it’s because you asked. It’s because I want to.” Discord snapped his fingers and with another flash of light he was gone. Twilight was startled by the sound of the train’s breaks squealing.

The Friendship Express had pulled into Ponyville station and her friends were already disembarking. Applejack staid she had to make up for lost time with apple bucking. Rainbow Dash had to go for a flight to clear her head. Was she still upset with Applejack? Pinkie Pie was escorting Fluttershy home. Rarity had to start work right away on the Daring Doo costumes. And finally Spike had already climbed onto Twilight’s back and was waiting for his pony ride home. Twilight sighed and began a slow thoughtful trek back to the tree house library. She had a new shipment of books that had arrived shortly before the party she had yet to catalog and shelve. Other than that she really had no plans for the rest of the evening. She had blocked her schedule out in case the train had arrived late. Tonight though, she was planning on stargazing. She was curious to see what she looked like in the night sky. Her thoughts turned back to Luna. That was happening a lot today. She reached home and glanced around. “Well, home sweet home.”

Princess Luna adjusted her saddlebags. She was not planning on bringing much, just a few star charts and a couple books she thought Twilight might find interesting. She assumed the Unicorn had a chess set they could use. She considered bringing her spyglass for some stargazing, but it was too oblong to fit in the bag properly. She giggled in excitement as she packed one of her better cloaks. It would be useful if they decided to venture about. After all it would be bad if Celestia somehow got word that Luna was not in Griffica but rather in Ponyville. Luna frowned for a moment. She had not exactly taken the time to tell Twilight she was coming, and also planning on staying in her house for a week. Would Twilight be alright with it? She had planned on surprising the young Unicorn, but she had not thought things through. The blue Alicorn smiled to herself. Celestia had always said Luna rushed into things without thinking, still better than being paralyzed with indecision. Luna fastened the clasp on the saddlebags and adjusted her tiara. She considered for a moment leaving it behind but when she took it off her mane fell across her eyes in a manner she found made her look stupid. She placed the small crown back on her head but decided to leave her armor plate and hoof ornaments. She causally laid them on the chifferobe and headed to the northern end of her bedroom. Focusing her magic she forced the glass dome that made the ceiling to open. With a mighty flap of her large wings, Luna bolted out of the room and resealed the dome.

Luan’s wings flapped furiously as she climbed high into the evening sky. She wavered slightly during the ascent; her wings were stiff from not being used in the past months. Being grounded will do that to an Alicorn. Once she was above the clouds, she spread her wings wide and leaned into a glide. She chortled; she had often forgotten how much fun it was to soar though the skies of Equestira. The air rushing across her coat, rustling through her feathers, and blowing her mane to a starry streak in the sky, it was exhilarating. She folded her wings at her sides and fell into a dive. A large smile adorned her face as she closed her eyes and fell with increasing speed. She let her body listen to the feel of the air pressure and only brief moments before she would have collided with the ground, she spread her wings and arced into a swooping climb. She was propelled through the air at an alarming speed as she drew her legs in towards her body for a more aerodynamic position. Luna sighed regretfully. She had always wished she could fly faster, but she was an Alicorn and her large size and wingspan was built for endurance not speed or agility. Given a bit of magical help, she could probably fly around the Known World three or so times before needing to rest, but when it came to obstacle courses or races, she would lose to any Pegasus that excelled at flying.

Truth be told, Alicorns were better at all tribes respective talents, they were better sorceresses than Unicorns, stronger by far than Earth ponies, but Pegasi actually beat them when it came to speed. Manipulating weather however was clearly easier with magic to aid. The princess leaned into a bank around a mountain peak. Ponyville was now in sight and she just needed to glide straight there. Luna chuckled. She was in a spectacular mood today. She had not felt this good since the time before Nightmare Moon. She knew the reason, of course. It was the little purple Unicorn that her sister had taken as her favorite. Luna scoffed at this. Celestia had always taken favorites. Every generation Celestia would find one pony with exceptional talent and take that pony under her wing. The last one Luna had remembered was before Nightmare Moon, an Earth pony by the name of Sandcastle. Sandcastle had been a talented architect and Luna was pretty sure Canterlot Castle had been designed by him. Before Sandcastle was Slipstream, a Pegasus that was an exceptional flyer. Actually now that Luna thought about it, Twilight’s friend Rainbow Dash was a lot like Slipstream. However, out of all the ‘favorites’ that Celestia had, Twilight had been by far her preferred favorite. Luna was not sure if Twilight was so well liked because she was an element bearer or if she became an element bearer because she was so well liked.

Luna on the other hoof, never played favorites before. In her life ponies could be divided into four kinds. First there were the ponies that seemed to think she was a menace to the world; a dangerous foe that would stop at nothing to see the world suffer. She stayed away from those ponies as they tended to make her feel unwanted and sad. The second kind were those that saw her as a victim of Nightmare Moon, one that needed to be cared for and attended to delicately, lest she become distraught and revert back to Nightmare Moon. She positively could not stand those ponies. All of their love was false and born out of fear. The third kind was Celestia, who treated her like a misbehaving filly. She hated being treated like a foal; she was over several thousand years old! Then the last kind was Twilight, who just treated her like a normal pony.

Luna tucked her wings in slightly and scowled. How dare Celestia keep Twilight all to herself, Celestia had every other pony in Equestira rolling in admiration. Could Luna not have just one pony that was hers? Hers to spend time with and laugh with, to play chess with, and gaze at stars with and to snuggle with…. Luna blinked a few times. That last one… that one was a bit different. Lately Twilight had been on her mind more than she would have liked to admit. More than she would admit to herself for sure and definitely more than she would ever admit to Twilight. Lately, Luna had even been having dreams about the Unicorn. Mainly Twilight would just be in the background of whatever dream she was having, but every now and then Luna would have to play hero and save Twilight from some chaotic disaster or from Discord himself.

She shook her head and inclined her wings up at an angle to slow her speed. She was approaching Twilight’s library. She beamed with delight as what sat before her eyes. Twilight was sitting on her balcony staring up at the night sky with a rather crude telescope. What had pleased her most was that Twilight was clearly looking up at Luna’s constellation of her. She decided she would aim for a bit higher than the balcony. And with a bit of deft flying, Luna landed on a branch of the tree over top of the terrace doorway.

Twilight was naming stars out loud that made up the picture, “Septius…. Aldaric… Discordia… Aelitius…. Elysisonica….”

“It’s pronounced El-lis-sion-i-ca.” Twilight spun around to see Luna sitting on the branch.

“Luna!”

“Hello, Twilight. I’ve got a surprise for you. What would you say to me staying here for a bit?”

“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! How long?”

“The whole week. I have no appointments, no attendants. It will be just you and me.”

“The whole week?!” Twilight was bounding around the room more than Pinkie Pie with a sugar rush and that is quite a statement to make. Twilight could not believe her eyes; Luna had cleared time in her busy schedule to spend it with her friend. She was so excited that she was not even upset about having to alter her own schedule, which again was quite a statement to make.

“As long as you’ll have me, we can practice magic, star gaze, anything you can think of; this time is just for me and my best friend.” Luna smiled. Twilight blushed slightly; she was Luna’s best friend? It felt like an honor. More so than Celestia because Luna treated Twilight like an equal, where as Celestia was clearly Twilight’s mentor.

“Of course you can stay! Oh, we’ll have so much fun! I’m sure Pinkie Pie will want to throw you a party, of course.”

Luna winced, “Uh, actually I would rather be incognito, if you understand.” Luna could not risk word getting back to Celestia that she was not in Griffica. She could only imagine how much trouble she would get in for lying.

“I can’t tell my friends that you’re here?”

“I would prefer not. I want to ditch royal decorum for a time and just spend time with you. If everypony knows I’m here, they’ll throw a parade or something. I don’t want that.” In addition to the issue with Celestia, Luna simply wanted Twilight to herself. She was her best friend and she did not feel like sharing anymore than she had to with Celestia. At least not during her probably only free week she would get in this century.

“Well… if that’s what you want.” Twilight sounded slightly disappointed. Luna flinched, she certainly did not want to hurt Twilight’s feelings, but there was just too much risk for involving her friends. “Spike of course will know you’re here. He’s asleep right now, but I mean he’s pretty much here all day or at Rarity’s store.”

“That is fine, if he keeps quiet about it. However I would also appreciate it if you could not tell Celestia I’m here as well.”

“Why? Did you run away from the castle?!” Twilight gasped.

“No, no. She just thinks’ I’m studying the archives in Fillydelphia. It’s no big deal, she just wouldn’t approve of me wasting time like this. But it’s good to spend time with friends, right?” Luna hated lying to Twilight, even if she was good at thinking on the spot like this. Twilight did not like keeping secretes from Princess Celestia, however when she thought about Nightmare Moon, perhaps it was a good thing that Luna was getting out and about more.

With that thought lingering in her mind, Twilight only had one answer, “Your secret is safe with me, Luna.” Luna smiled the biggest smile she could manage. It was shaping up to be a wonderful week for the princess of the night.

It was very late. Storm Dancer had arrived in Ponyville; it was the closest town to the Everfree Forest where the Castle of the Two Sisters was left forgotten by many a pony. He landed ungracefully in the middle of the town. It had been sometime since he had flown like that, not since his time in the Royal Guard. However, that was a long time ago and he had made peace and moved on. The silver Pegasus walked around the area, most of the shops seemed to be closed, which was no surprise for such a small village. It was, after all, well past midnight. Ponyville was not known for its taverns or inns, but there was one place where his subordinates had mentioned he might find a room. He walked to the southern part of the town and gazed at the street sign. He wondered why they even needed street signs; there could not have been more than ten streets in the whole town. Still the place had a sort of rustic charm. When he was too old to serve the princess anymore, he could see himself retiring to a place like this.

Storm Dancer walked through what was obviously during the day the market place. It was a mostly empty street, with a layout in designed for cart vendors to park their stalls. A few of the stalls were left on the street. They had been covered with tarps but otherwise completely unprotected. It amazed Storm Dancer how trusting they could be in this town. Finally after a bit of walking, the silver pony found the building he was looking for: the sole inn in Ponyville, the Stables. He chuckled at the name. It was not very creative, there were at least six other inns he could think of that had that name. He had somewhat hoped that a town like this would have had a more creative name for their inn, one with a story behind it. Like the Prancing Pony. There was a story behind that name, why was the pony prancing? What was the pony’s name? Still, the Stables looked well kept. It looked freshly painted even. Storm Dancer pushed open the door and took a few steps inside. Over in the corner a minty-blue Unicorn mare was magically strumming a harp while lazily slouching on a sofa reading a human-tale book. The Unicorn called out noisily, “Hey, we got a customer!”

“I’m getting out of the bath, can you tend to it, Lyra?!” An odd sounding voice came from somewhere on the upper levels of the house. Storm Dancer guessed it was a mare, but the voice was so odd he was not entirely sure.

The blue Unicorn, apparently Lyra, looked Storm Dancer up and down, waved to him slightly, then shouted at the top of her lungs, “But I’m reading!”

“Lyra Heartstrings! Get out of that chair and tend to the customer!”

“No! I’m playing my lyre, too! Too busy!” Lyra turned to Storm Dancer and added in a gentle tone, “She’ll be right with you.”

“You use magic to play it! You can play it while sleeping!”

“I got dinner! You have to deal with the customers, Bon Bon!”

“Take out from Sugarcube Conner is not that exhausting!”

“It is when Pinkie Pie runs the counter!”

Loud stomps rang out as a cream colored Earth pony descended the staircase. “Hello, welcome to the Stables, its twenty-eight bits per night. Is that alright?”

Storm Dancer gulped, “That will be just fine…” These ponies made Princess Luna seem laid back.

7: Nightmare Moon

Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes to the familiar sight of her library. At least she thought it was her library. A quick glance around told her something was off. She could not quite put her hoof on it but something was definitely wrong. Perhaps if she looked around a bit she could figure out what was off about the library. She inspected her bed. It was made and the sheets were neatly tucked in. Maybe the kitchen was off, but it seemed to be fine as well. It had to be the books then. She looked at the bookshelves. Those seemed alright, the titles were properly sorted, the books were upside down of course but that seemed to make since because she was walking on the ceiling. Then it hit her, she was walking on the ceiling. Then there was this large wooden throne sitting in the center of the room. The throne was occupied by the most peculiar of creatures, a draconequus. “Discord!”

“You shout my name like clockwork, Twilight Sparkle.” Discord giggled.

“What are you doing here? Put my house back the way it’s supposed to be!”

Discord sighed, “Do we really have to go through this again? Come on now Twilight. We’ve been at this a whole month now. You know how this works. You wake up in a strange place, shout my name, then we have a bit of dialog. You then are exceptionally rude to me. I, like the kind soul that I am, turn the other cheek and then we play a game. You have a hollow victory, I say something chilling. Then I snap my fingers and you wake up none the worse for wear, but perhaps a little bit wiser.”

“What?” Twilight found her memory to be a bit hazy at the moment.

“Ah dreams, such a difficult medium for chaos. Look, dear friend….”

“You’re not my friend.”

“See? There’s the rudeness! Ahem, as I was saying. I’m tired of the same routine every night. Why don’t we just talk for a bit? I know! I can give you a dream, any dream you want. So what will it be? You’ll probably want Luna in there.” Discord snapped his fingers. Princess Luna faded into view. She was comfortably sleeping on Twilight bed on the ceiling, which was the floor, but the ceiling comparatively from where she was standing. Gravity was confusing at the moment. “So what do you say? I can give you any dream you want about Luna. What will it be?” Discord pulled at his beard for a moment, “Oh, you know I just realized something. You hardly know little Lulu do you?”

“I know her very well.”

Discord snaked around Twilight’s body, pressing his cheek to Twilight’s cheek, “Really? How much do you know about her time on the moon? Her birth? Her hoof in founding Equestria? What about Nightmare Moon? That’s a big part of little Woona’s past.”

“Nightmare Moon is gone. Defeated by the Elements of Harmony.”

“Just as I was defeated? Twilight you like books. You know that history always repeats itself.”

“Then you know already that you’re going to lose!”

Discord snorted, “You cheeky miniature horse. I’m really trying to do a nice thing here for you and just continue not to trust me. Why? Is it the beard? It’s the beard, isn’t it?” Discord summoned a cup of tea and sat down in a large bath tub that had just appeared. “Listen. If you want a relationship with Luna you'll need to understand this part of her. Let me explain...”

“She’ll tell me when she’s ready.”

“You don’t know her like I do Twilight; she’s not just going to tell you about her biggest mistake. Admit failure? Not like Luna at all.” Discord scratched the underside of Twilight’s chin, “They are two sides of the same coin, if you want to be cliché. Without knowing the mare in the moon you only know half the story! And I do know you love stories. You’ll need to know all about Luna’s dark side.”

Twilight indulged the draconequus, “I do love stories. Speaking of a dark side, why don’t you tell me about yourself and the Elements of Harmony?”

Discord coiled off of Twilight and stood with his back facing her. Luna slept oblivious on the bed above. With a slow turning motion, Discord careened his neck to face Twilight. Discord had always been intimating, but the look on his face at that moment was horrifying. Twilight was not sure she would ever forget the sheer anger in his eyes. Discord raised his hand up and prepared his fingers to snap, “Dark side! I have no dark side! I’ve always been about chaos, freedom, and mischief. I’ve never been darker than that. I’ve been heroic once. And ponies never let me forget it. With all the thanks I get I’ve had good reason to be, but never was I what you could call dark! Let’s turn you to stone so you can see how painful a process it is!” His claw shook slightly as he stared at it. “No. I don’t turn ponies to stone.” He released his fingers and looked up at Twilight. “Well congratulations, Twilight Sparkle, you’ve officially made me lose my train of thought. Have a medal. Have two.” A few ribbons and trophies appeared next to Twilight. “Now, where was I?” Discord placed a thin pair of reading glasses on his face and pulled small book off a nearby shelf. He rapidly flipped through pages mumbling to himself, “Let’s see… dreams of discord… Celebration of Harmony… lullabies… morning in Canterlot… a bunch of traveling… ah here we are… Nightmare Moon. That’s what I was going to talk about.”

“I don’t want to talk about Nightmare Moon, that’s for Luna to talk about and only if she wants to.”

Discord placed his paw over top of his face, “Listen, Twilight, I’ll be honest here. I’ve only got a very little amount of time left before you wake up. And it’s critical that you learn this lesson today. If you don’t want to have a discussion like a grown mare then fine, we’ll have to do it my way. I just thought you might want to change it up a bit. Mix and mingle with different methods. You don’t, that’s fine. I thought I could spare you of this. I just want to warn you this is going to hurt. Alot. Very well then: game time. This one’s called Friend and Foe.” Discord snapped his fingers and a swarm of books pelted Twilight until the world faded into darkness.

When light reappeared, Twilight found herself in a blindingly bright room. To her left, Princess Luna was standing majestically staring off to the side with determination. Twilight heaved a sigh of relief. Then she followed Luna’s gaze. To Twilight’s right side stood Nightmare Moon. The two Alicorns stared each other down. Luna wore a determined glare in contrast to Nightmare Moon’s confident smirk. Discord flashed in between the two mares and smiled devilishly at Twilight. “Divided now in the princess’s duality, your choice shall mark her mortality. Two halves make a whole complete. One stands, the other falls in defeat. But beware for life is far from simple, to your morals I throw this wrinkle: Without the other one cannot breathe, it’s up to you on how you grieve.” Discord laughed and touched the Alicorns on the head with the tips of his claws. The color drained from each creature and they lunged at each other. Twilight was pushed back by Nightmare Moon’s prehensile mane. Luna reared her front legs and kicked Nightmare Moon in the face. Starry mist surrounded Luna and affixed itself around her neck. Twilight listened as Luna gasped for air. “You better stop one of them before the other one dies.” Discord chuckled from his position floating in the sky.

Twilight charged forward and tackled Nightmare Moon. Without her friends to harness the power of the Elements of Harmony, she had few options. Luna was freed from Nightmare Moon’s grasp. Magic focused in the Alicorn’s horn. In a blast of darkness, Nightmare Moon was sent flying across the room. Twilight turned to Luna and gave her a tired smile, “That’s it, Luna! We can beat her if we work together!” Luna ignored Twilight and charged forward, taking flight briefly to tackle Nightmare Moon. Moon retaliated with a swarm of magical bats that bit into Luna’s wings, shredding them to pieces. Nightmare Moon trotted around to give herself charging distance. Twilight panicked. Luna had fallen to her knees in pain from the damage to her wings and Nightmare Moon was going to trample her. The lavender Unicorn had no choice but to charge in and face Nightmare Moon head on. She galloped faster than she had ever galloped before, her mane streaked back by the wind. Twilight stood in front of Luna and steeled herself to tackle Nightmare Moon. The charging Alicorn picked up speed and lowered her horn, ready to skewer Twilight. Twilight tried to create a force field, but she could not seem to concentrate with Luna’s pained breathing behind her. Nightmare Moon galloped closer and closer, but Twilight stood her ground. Nightmare Moon was only inches from Twilight’s throat when a voice cried out.

“Stop! Cease!” Everything around Twilight froze, as if time had halted. Discord descended from the sky and placed his face next to Twilight ignoring the now statue-like Alicorns. “I know I told you this was a dream but you could really get hurt here! Were you really willing to risk your life for Luna?”

Twilight nodded, “She’s my friend! She said I was her best friend!”

“Commendable… but stupid! Risking life for friendship.” Discord snapped his fingers and Nightmare Moon was now facing the opposite direction. With another snap, time resumed. Nightmare Moon charged off in the distance before turning around. Luna had risen to her feet and pushed past Twilight to resume fighting. Twilight quickly teleported in between the two Alicorns and cast a force spell. The combatants were forced apart by the Unicorn’s magic, but were not deterred from fighting. At this rate, Luna was going to get herself killed! Twilight teleported to the air above Nightmare Moon and tackled her. She placed her hooves over the mare’s eyes. With a swift strike of her mane, Nightmare Moon crushed Twilight on the ground. “Again? Luna must be some friend, Twilight Sparkle. Or is it that she’s more than a friend to you?”

“Shut up Discord!”

“If only you would be truthful. Perhaps you should spend some time with Applejack.” The Alicorns charged each other with Twilight in their path. She was going to be crushed between the two until Discord snapped his fingers once more. The ground gave way all around Twilight. Chunks of land fell into a pool of fire. Luna and Nightmare Moon scrabbled to dig their hooves on the edge of the newly formed cliff. Both dangled close to Twilight with pleading looks on their faces. The Unicorn reached out to grab Luna, but as she did, Nightmare Moon slipped. Twilight hated Nightmare Moon but she could not just let her die. She reached over to help the mare of darkness up to stable ground but Luna began to slip as well. High in the air, Discord was suffocating himself laughing. “As you can tell, Friend and Foe barrows quite a few elements from Choice, all that’s missing are the cries of help!”

Twilight could only save one. That was the grim reality. Discord was wrong however, it was not even a choice, she compulsively reached for Luna. She clasped her teeth on Luna’s mane and pulled her to the safety of the platform. Nightmare Moon let out a bone-chilling shriek as she fell into the pool of fire. Luna looked down at the mare as she melted in the lava, twitching and tussling as she burned. Discord floated down from the sky. “So it seems if Luna ever became that monster again, you wouldn’t hesitate to kill her.”

“No...” Twilight went to protest but Luna was screaming. Her body had spontaneously caught on fire and she was turning to ash. Twilight cried out and went to reach for her but the heat was too great. It was over in a matter of seconds. Twilight screamed and burst into tears. She clutched at the ashes with her hooves. “I don’t understand! You killed her! You burned to for no reason!”

“Not I. You let her fall into the lava. Not me. This is the consequence of your actions.”

“No, Nightmare Moon fell… I saved Luna! I saved Luna! I saved her!” Twilight’s eyes were covered in a waterfall of tears.

“They are two halves of the same coin.” Discord placed a paw on Twilight’s back as if to comfort her. As if he was sharing her pain. “Oh, poor Twilight. One cannot be without the other.”

“No, that’s not it at all! I was trying to save her… from Nightmare Moon.”

“Luna is Nightmare Moon, you can’t change who she is.”

“She’s… she’s…”

“Gone? Yes quite so. Funny, you know I always thought I would be the first to lose my morals and resort to killing. But here it was you all along!”

“I…. didn’t kill her! I did not kill… her!”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, my little pony. You thought you were slaying the monster. But the monster was your friend all along.” Discord gave Twilight a hug. “There, there. It’s okay. It will all be okay soon.”

Twilight was sobbing uncontrollably, “She’s gone. How could I? How could I do that to Luna? I just wanted to save her….”

“Luna only? What about Celestia? If she was the monster would you kill her too?”

“I… that would never happen….”

Discord chuckled, “We’ll see about that.” Twilight heard a snapping sound.

Deep in the extravagance that was her bedroom, Princess Celestia’s eyes flickered open. The princess of the sun sat up in bed. Something was not right. She could feel it. Celestia pulled herself to the side of the bed and climbed down. She walked over to the window. There was only one window in the royal bedroom, but it climbed three stories high and held a view of all of Equestria. Celestia stared out at the night sky. The sound of thunder bellowed ominously accompanied by a sky full of dark clouds. It was a scheduled storm, but its effect aligned with her heart so greatly she wondered if it was a sign. Celestia had thought back to what she had told Twilight not but this morning, “Dark times upon us, indeed, my student.” A crippling feeling gripped at her heart and she recognized. She recognized it so very well. It was a feeling she had not felt for at least a year. With a heavy sigh, Celestia opened the door to her chamber. She had not even bothered to don her crown or armor. She walked quickly down the hallways. A few night guards noticed her but she dismissed them rather curtly. Celestia walked down the stairs of the eastern tower, she trotted down the stairs behind the main hall and she galloped down the stairs of the gate room.

Shining Armor sat sleeping on his desk in the room of judicial affairs. Celestia approached him with a stomp of her hoof, Shining Armor jolted half awake. “Let me guess! Somepony stole your cupcake?” He shook his head vigorously. He knew he should not have given the approval for his first officer to take a vacation day. He knew he was going to have to cover his shift. “Oh! Forgive me Princess Celestia. Late nights… You… are missing your royal vestments.”

“Come with me Shining Armor.” Celestia demanded. It was not a tone he was used to hearing out of her, but it made him comply to her orders no less. He quickly dusted himself off and wiped a bit of drool from his mouth. Celestia walked at a brisk pace towards the direction of the dungeon staircase. Surely she was not planning on visiting the prisoners in the middle of the night? Celestia stood at the door to the stairwell, “Open the door, Captain.” Shining Armor nodded and unlocked the door magically. The two ponies began their decent into the depths of the dungeon, stopping only for Shining Armor to light a torch. They must have climbed down eight flights of stairs before the hallway evened out. The halls of the dungeon echoed with the singing of the Changeling Queen. As they neared, the creature called out to them.

The Queen mimicked Celestia’s form and voice, “Oh, look the princess herself is here for a visit.”

“I have no time for the likes of you.” Celestia said quickly as she passed without a glance. Shining Armor gave the Queen a chilling glare as he past. It had quickly become clear to the Captain of the Guard where their destination was, but he could not fathom why the princess would choose to go there in the middle of the night. Soon they had reached it, the small metal platform at the edge of the bottomless pit. Celestia sighed, “If you would, pull the lever.” Shining Armor rubbed the back of his neck with his hoof. “Is something wrong, Captain?”

“I don’t want to go down there. Not with that thing. Hey, everypony is entitled to that one thing that scares them, right?”

Celestia nodded, “I understand; I shall not be long. Wait here.” She understood his fear. Never had there been a creature she had hated more. As the elevator creaked down the track, Celestia felt the cool breeze of the cave rush across her coat. The torch light faintly outlined the shape of the large statue that sat in the center of the pit. As the princess stepped off of the platform a bright spotlight lit the statue’s form. There he was the spirit of chaos. Encased in a static world of unchanging stone, just the same as she had left him. She took a bold step forward. Most ponies feared the draconequus, but Celestia only held rage in her heart for the beast. “DISCORD!”

The word echoed throughout the dungeon. The room rumbled and a few pebbles broke off from the ceiling. But the statue did not answer her call. She waited patiently, if Discord was indeed awake, or even in the process of awakening, he would not pass up the opportunity for a dramatic entrance. Celestia sat motionless for a solid ten minutes, petty time to an Alicorn. Finally she spoke again, “What are you planning?” Again silence, “Answer me! You fool no pony. I can sense your essence. It is begging to be released. But you are completely sealed and yet I cannot shake this feeling.” Celestia was again met with silence. She had not wanted to do this, but the feeling of dread in her heart was compelling enough. She walked up to the statue and began to cast a spell. After a few seconds, she fell to the floor, in a deep slumber. No matter how coy he was trying to play, he would not resist a chance like this.

There was a cackle, “No, you’re right. You know me too well Celestia.” Celestia looked up A miniature version of Discord was resting on top for the statue. “Well, well, well. What have we here? You’ve come to pay me a proper visit. You even put yourself to sleep so we could chat? You haven’t done that in over three thousand years. Well since you’re here I have a few complains to file with the landlord. First of all when you moved me into this new place you said the view was breathtaking. Oh, it’s breathtaking all right, so breathtaking I became a statue just to stop breathing. I want my spot in the garden back. It’s abysmal down here and that pony down the hall won’t stop singing!” Celestia got to her feet. “Are you even listening? Don’t you have a survey I can fill out or something? A complaint sheet, perhaps?”

“No more small chat, Discord.” Celestia said in a stern tone. Discord put on a mock serious face and nodded profusely. “You are going to tell me your plot now, or I will smash this statue once and for all!”

“Really? You’d kill me? I’m touched. I had no idea I was so menacing that I could turn the incorruptible Princess into a common killer. I dare you to do it. Who knows? Maybe smashing the statue will release the seal. We’ve never tested that before.”

“I feel it. Something is coming. I just know it’s you! What is going on?!” Celestia stamped her hoof like a young filly throwing a tantrum. Which with respect to the two gods’ ages it might have actually been appropriate.

“Oh, well how can I know what's going on? I've been in this dungeon of yours, alone, helpless, bored to tears. Just how do you know I’m going to be involved? If I were you, I’d watch that sister of yours.” Discord crossed his arms, “You should ask your dear student. She might know.”

“Leave her out of this!”

Discord grew in size and the lighting dimmed in the cave, “I didn’t bring her into this! That was all you, Miss Order!” Discord shrunk in size, “Now then, while I appreciate company. I’m very busy brooding. I think it’s time for you to leave.” Suddenly the statue of Discord came to life and lunged at Celestia’s face. “BOO!” Celestia was started awake.

Twilight Sparkle awoke in a sweat, her face streamed with tears. She attempted to wipe her tear and when her vision cleared, found Princess Luna standing above her. The blue Alicorn had a concerned look on her face. She sat down next to Twilight and opened her mouth to say something but then decided against it. Twilight got her crying under control rather quickly. She had just had the most terrible dream. A dream where Luna had perished in flame, and while the memory of the dream was rapidly fading, she was pretty sure it had been her fault Luna expired. However, Luna was clearly fine and it truly had been just a nightmare. Luna was beside herself, when Twilight had awoken screaming her name she had not the slightest idea what her role as a comforter was supposed to be. She knew that she was supposed to calm her friend down, but she had not the faintest idea how. She finally decided to say something; after all it could not hurt, right? “You… were not lying when you said you had been gripped by nightmares as of late.” Twilight gave Luna a warm smile and shook her head.

“What time is it?”

“It is three in the morning. You are up rather early. At least I think you are. Are you going to be alright?”

“I’ll be fine. It’s just a dream. They can’t really hurt you.” Twilight got out of bed and trotted down the stairs.

“Where are you going?”

“Since I’m up, would you like some tea?” Luna nodded and followed Twilight down the stairs. Twilight levitated a kettle on the fire and dropped a few tea leaves in with her mouth. Luna watched intently. To be honest, it had been several thousand years since she had made any food herself and even brewing tea seemed foreign to her. It was as though she had forgotten that food actually had to be prepared by somepony before it looked and tasted like it was supposed to.

“Are those dreams getting better or worse?”

Twilight stopped to consider for a moment. On one hoof they had started containing Luna, so that was a good thing, but on the other hoof they were getting more and more traumatic, “Worse I think.” Twilight glanced over at Luna. She wanted to ask her something, but was unsure how. “Luna…. What was the moon like?”

Luna looked away, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Sorry, you don’t have to. I was just hoping to get to know you better. I feel like we’re close, but I know so little about you.”

Luna sighed; she really did want Twilight to know more about her, “Perhaps your right. It was… expansive.” Luna narrowed her eyes in thought, “It was cold. I remember it being cold. It was so very cold. There was nothing around my body. No air, no wind. We were so very cold.” Luna’s pupils vanished from her eyes, “We have never felt so alone. Our hooves push the colorless sand away with each step. The dust rises and settles slowly, like we are under the ocean. It is not like water, we remember water presses against us like Sister’s embrace. The moon has no embrace. It takes away all contact. We feel like our insides will leave our body, no longer constrained by the embrace of air. But they do not, for they fear the sky. The sky was so vast, an endless array of stars that never leaves the horizon. It made us feel small. It threatened to engulf us. It would swallow us in its black maw, its twinkling teeth rending our mind. It has no color, we want to paint it. The moon is only gray. We cannot paint it. Sister took our paints when we were bad. The world taunts us eternally; it never takes its sight away from us. It is a blue eye, watching us, laughing at us. It pretends to beckon but will not invite. It has color! It has our paints. We want them to paint the sky. We try to run from its gaze. Only in the dark are we safe from it. But the dark is worse, it is not our dark. It is foreign and wrong. We try to call out but the moon will not carry our words. It will not let us speak. Our screams ring in our ear but cannot leave our mouth. Once they pass our lips the moon takes them. It never gives them back. We yearn for an echo but one does not come. We scream louder. The moon deafens us. We screech until we have no voice for centuries, but the moon will not speak back to us. Time passes. Time passes but we know not how long. But we know because Sister’s sun moves. We know this means time. We remember the concept of time. The moon has no time. Sister’s sun means time. Sundial in the garden. We remember a sundial where she practiced for the first time. Sister. We have no sister on the moon. Just us. And the sky. The sky will swallow us.” Her voice was still eerily calm, but Luna was shaking and cowering. The room had grown dark.

“The moon. We won’t go back. We can’t. There is no color there. How can we paint? We want to paint the sky, but it will eat us if we touch it.” Luna’s voice became panicked, “We won’t go back. We remember the sundial, we have learned. We won’t go back! We like our voice, we don’t want the moon to have it again. It is our voice. Thou cannot makest us return!” Twilight leaped forward and embraced Luna, trying to comfort her as she babbled like a mad mare. “No! We want to stay here! We will not go back!”

“Luna! Luna! It’s alright, you’re not going anywhere. I’m right here.” Luna struggled in Twilight’s arms. “Luna, I’m here for you. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” For the next hour Luna repeated the protests, each time getting quieter and softer. “I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry.” Luna’s eyes returned to normal and she cried in Twilight’s warm embrace. Luna stared up at Twilight with tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I have much to be sorry for….” Luna sniffled. She did not want to, but she pushed out of Twilight’s embrace. “I need some time alone.”

8: Helia and the Sundial

“I need some time alone.” The words echoed in Twilight Sparkle’s ears. Twilight sat unmoving in the middle of the library. Luna had just climbed to the balcony and took flight without saying anything else. Twilight could not help but think her friend’s emotional state was entirely her fault. The lavender Unicorn had unearthed a heap of memories in the Alicorn that she had not wanted to visit again. Twilight wondered why Luna would have even tried to answer her question if it was going to have such an effect on her. Twilight knew Luna trusted her. She had said she wanted to share her secrets with her, unlike Celestia. Was that why Luna was willing to risk remembering such pain? Was Luna trying to be closer to Twilight than her sister? Twilight’s ears drooped. It certainly was possible. Even though Celestia had forgiven Luna and welcomed her back to Equestria, Twilight had always suspected that their sibling relationship had never fully recovered. Twilight knew it made sense, Luna had let such despair and envy in her heart the dark magics of Nightmare Moon had taken hold of the lunar princess. And Celestia was forced to banish the beast to the moon.

Twilight could not imagine how guilty Celestia would have felt, or how much resentment Luna could have harbored. When the two Alicorns were in the same room, they tolerated and respected each other, they were friendly enough. In a way, it was touching. Twilight smiled slightly. They had been through so much and they still tried to salvage their relationship. Then, as Twilight realized something, her eyes had begun to tear up. Perhaps they tried so hard because there was no pony else. Luna had said there were only two Alicorns left in existence. They were so alone. And immortality is a long time to be alone. And what had she done? She had poked and prodded at wounds that were still fresh. The reminder of the moon, Luna’s own personal nightmare, it was too much for the mare to bear. And Twilight had been responsible for making her relive it. Twilight lived in a world where the power of friendship could cut through madness and chaos instantly, she knew that better than anypony. Yet she had just tormented her friend to satisfy curiosity. Why had she asked that? The answer soon verbalized itself.

“Well,” Discord’s face appeared in the mirror that was mounted near the washroom. “That was creepy. You really upset h….” Twilight smashed her hoof through the mirror and shattered it. The glass hit the floor and scattered into fragments. “Ok! You’re mad, we’ll talk later….”

Luna was flying in circles above the trees of Everfree Forest. Regardless of what she had told Twilight upon leaving, the truth was Luna did not want to be alone. However her mind was racing and her thoughts were getting the best of her. She felt that if she did not leave she would have said something very stupid. The flashbacks of the exile were still fresh in her mind and it brought to light a truth she had been desperately trying to ignore. Luna was tired of being alone. She wanted somepony who would be by her side. Not an attendant Celestia had assigned her to keep her “in check”, like Storm Dancer. She wanted somepony who actually understood her and could comfort her through the darkness. Twilight had just done that. She really did want to share her past with her. She kept so much bottled up inside and needed somepony to listen. Twilight had done that too. But it had become abundantly clear that her feelings for Twilight had extended beyond friendship. Yet in the brief moment of her flashback she felt a prick of rage creep up. How could anypony have feelings for something that was so monstrous?

Luna landed in the thick of the woods. She walked along the ground, her head hung low. The Everfree Forest had grown dark. She had remembered when it had not come out this far, but that was eras ago, even before her banishment. It had grown back larger each time. Luna had always guessed it was the world’s way of trying to heal. Each time Celestia had tried to burn it down, Everfree would take a bit more land as it grew anew. Finally Celestia must have given up. However it was so much more dismal now. Luna remembered when she and Celestia would walk the paths in the heart of the forest as fillies. They would chat and laugh and even sing in the tongue of the ancients. Back when mother and father had been alive. She contemplated. She felt a pull at her hooves, as if they were yearning to walk in a particular direction. Glancing around, she came to a slow realization. “I know this place. It’s… close by… if it’s still there.” She walked slowly down the moonlit path, her eyes searching furiously in the surroundings. Then she found it. It was covered in vines and overgrowth. The stone had chipped in several places, and the gnomon had long sense fallen off, but there it was. Her mind filled in the missing details, and she could see the old sundial in all its glory. When it was light clearing, back in a whole other age, when she was still young. Luna felt the memories rush over her. And for the second time this morning she could feel memory lane taking her mind on a ride, back when she and her sister spoke in the ancient language:

An Alicorn with a pink mane and white coat stood with her fierce eyes fixed on the sundial. Its gnomon cast no shadow for it was high noon, and it had been for weeks. Selena, the younger blue coated Alicorn, was nuzzled against the neck of her sister, Helia. It was the only form of comfort she could offer Helia. But the taller Alicorn simply ignored her and focused on the sundial. Time had stopped for the world. The sun had been slowly burning the land for days. Nights did not exist. They had not for weeks. Soon all the water would dry up and there would be no way to stop the fires. Helia let out a scream in anger. She turned to face her sister, “Selena! We cannot give up hope now! Not when we have come this far!”

“Sister we have come nowhere! We have done the unforgivable. They are dying. They are all dying and we cannot help. All this power and we can do nothing. And we will live on, won’t we? We’ll live on here in this empty, static world!”

“NO!” The Alicorn’s voice echoed and the all birds left the forest terrified by the way the speech shook the earth. “We will find a way. We must! They are free now and so are we! We must lead them Selena!” The Alicorn turned to the sundial and stamped her hoof.

“Helia… we have killed them. Was it worth it?”

“If we are not strong enough we will become strong enough! We have the Elements! We are Alicorns! If the sun will not move, I will force it to!”

“You’ve gone mad with sorrow, Sister!”

“No, I am in command!” Helia focused every ounce of her magic into her horn. She reached out to the burning orb in the sky. She poured her essence into its soul and pleaded for it to move. No, she demanded that it move. She forced her will upon it. But the sun was not to be trifled with. It did not wish to be tamed. Fire danced in the Alicorn’s eyes. Helia’s body began to burn. It cried out in pain as the sun retaliated and struggled. Smoke rose from around her. Her insides melted under the heat. Selena watched in horror as her sister’s beautiful pink mane burst into fire. The sun screamed and hissed at the Alicorn. It shouted lines of loathing into her mind. It clawed at her soul and it kicked at her thoughts. The fire consumed her tail from the tip as it burned away. The sun pleaded Helia to burn with it, to die alongside it. The sun twitched high in the sky, its last action before it perished. Its soul was extinguished and replaced by the Alicorn’s own more determined one. In a moment of blinding light and an explosion of sound, Helia’s mane and tail were reborn as a billowing plain of the morning sky. Ponies of all tribes looked to the sky in awe. They rushed to the sundial and bowed before the Alicorn. Helia rose to the sky and spread her wings, her shape eclipsing the power that she had just vanquished. She was in control. “Oh, once great sphere your soul is not your own anymore! Your powers now are mine to command! You will bow before she who controls the heavenly bodies!”

Selena gasped, “Helia!”

“No my dear Selena, I am not Helia anymore than this world is dying! I am the goddess of the golden sun now! I am she who commands the power of life and death itself! The Mistress of Order! The harbinger of harmony! I am the subjugator of the celestial world! Yes! I am Celestia, princess of the sun! Savior of the Known World!” All around Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth ponies bowed in reverence as the sun set behind Celestia. The world began to cool. The ponies cheered and showered her with gifts of gold and silver. “Rest now, my little ponies. For when the sun rises tomorrow, with the first new dawn in weeks, we shall toil until the world is restored! Yes, now the world is ours to command! We rule the clouds! We shall tame the earth to our bidding! We shall create a new world to live in! A world of harmony and order! A world where ponies are in command of their own destiny! It is possible! I have tamed the sun and together we shall tame the earth! Equines from everywhere shall join in my joyous kingdom! We shall call it Equestria! The time of ponydom is now! The time for our utopia is upon us! When the first new dawn breaks, our new age begins!”

“And that is how Equestria was made,” Luna sighed. She placed her cheek on the old stone of the sundial and cried softly. She remembered from that day on, her sister was everything to the ponies. She was incapable of wrong. She gave them everything she promised: hope, harmony, and order… a utopia. Then Luna ruined it. She had shattered the façade and let the ugly truth be revealed. Celestia always got what she wanted. If she wanted it, she would force it to be. Luna could not understand why she could not do the same. Now she felt her heart twinge. Luna sighed, “Should I even tell her? Is it even worth it? She’ll just reject me….” Luna cringed for a moment as her eyes morphed into green slits. He coat blackened and her height increased.

Nightmare Moon stamped her feet, “We must be strong! We can make her love us! I have to power to…” The Alicorn shrunk in size and returned to her meeker state.

“Twilight would not love us if we were you…” Luna said somberly.

Nightmare Moon scoffed as she stood back up, “I must act! We desire her so! We cannot let her simply fade like the others.”

Luna fell back to the ground, “I know. But we can’t force her. We’ve tried that before. Look where it got us…”

Nightmare Moon shuddered, “I do not like this. I am conflicted. There is always a way if we are strong. Sister told us that. We must get the object of our desires. We deserve to have it!”

Luna stood up and shook her head, “It’s not about what we deserve. We forfeited that long ago with our selfishness. What we desire now is to let her be happy. That means she can never learn our truth.”

Nightmare Moon frowned, “We do not desire to live a lie with her.”

Luna cried softly, “So we can never be truly be close to her. It would not be fair for her to place her love in this character we play.”

“But it is what we desire… But so is her happiness. We are so conflicted.” Nightmare Moon clenched her jaw. Her eyes widened as she realized her only option, “We must keep up this façade. It is the only path that best serves us.”

Luna stood up and wiped her tears, “It’s the path that best serves her….” She walked back to the sundial and gave it a soft kiss. She took to the sky, flying over the old Castle of the Two Sisters.

Storm Dancer was looking at the morning sky. It had been a hectic morning. First there had been a manticore, a sea serpent, and then several flowers that snapped at him. The Castle of the Two Sisters had been a sight for sore eyes. He was glad that his errand was finished. He was certain that Celestia would be proud of him. Perhaps he would get promoted so he would not have to serve that brooding, rude, spoiled brat of a sister the princess had. He could certainly see himself as Celestia’s number one aid and attendant. After all, he was full of the best qualifications. He understood the intricacies of politics, his time in the military had given him an excellent insight to loyalty, and his enthusiasm was unmatched. He was a horseshoe-in to replace Rivensilt as Celestia’s right hand pony. He had to be, after all Celestia had given him a specific mission. It must have been of great importance because it was for Celestia’s protégée. He had certainly earned it, playing hoof-stallion to that whinny mare. However, he would be lying to himself if he did not have any doubt.

Rising Star was just as qualified as him, and she had pedigree behind her actions as well. She was a member of one of the oldest noble families in Equestria, the Heartstrings family. Rising Star was also a horseshoe-in to get the promotion as well. Storm Dancer sighed. What he needed was an edge. He needed an ace in the hole. Frankly, he needed a miracle. Just then, as if in some manner of random chance had suddenly aligned favorably, he saw a shape streak across the sky. It was a very large Pegasus. No, she was too large for that, and she had a very distinct mane. It was undeniably the bane of his existence, Princess Luna. Flying above Everfree Forest. Princess Luna. Flying above Everfree Forest. When she was supposed to be in Griffica.

“Oh, you’ve slipped up for the last time, princess. Your sister trusted you and you slipped up.” He could not believe his luck! He could return to Celestia with the etching she had requested and the news that her sister had been lying to her! Well, he could, but Celestia would not believe him. He had cried wolf too many times. “Princess Celestia, Nightmare Moon left the castle with a carriage and she cast some sort of spell on the carriage pullers! They were turned in to hideous monsters with bat wings! What? Costumes for Nightmare Night? But she left without your permission! Oh, her holiday, her rules?” Then there was that other time, “Princess Celestia, Nightmare Moon is trying to create eternal night again! Proof? Well, she was rearranging the stars! She was pushing them all over Ponyville! That’s something to be concerned about, right? No…? New constellation… Of your protégée… Oh. Well… she’s still using a lot of stars….” Or there was that one time, “Princess Celestia! Princess Luna is staging a coup! Of course I’m sure! She has kept the moon in the sky for too long! Oh, right… Winter Solstice… Rising Star barrowed my calendar and hasn’t returned it yet…” Then there was that time he had been so sure, “Princess Celestia! Your highness! Your sister has made it rain fire and rocks! Requested permission for a meteor shower over Ponyville? Scheduled three months ago?” And then there was the other time, “Princess Celestia! The princess of the night is terrorizing Appaloosa! She is burning buildings down!” Actually, that last one had worked in his favor, there were several angry witnesses.

He needed proof this time, hard evidence. It should not be too hard to find, Luna was never very discrete. It looked like she was headed to Ponyville. Well that was not really a surprise. Everything worthwhile seemed to be happening in Ponyville. “Princess Luna. I will stop you from your web of deceit to the good princess. I will prove my worth to her by exposing Equestria’s greatest foe! I will do so or my name isn’t Storm Dancer!” He shook a hoof in the air and then took off towards Ponyville.

Luna knocked her hoof on the door to the library balcony. Twilight’s ears perked up. The balcony was high off the ground and only a Pegasus could reach it. It was far too early for Rainbow Dash to be awake and Fluttershy never really flies anywhere. Twilight knew that meant it could only be one other pony. She raced up the stairs and flung the doors open to the balcony. Luna stood with her hooves crossed and her head hung in embarrassment. She smiled sheepishly at Twilight. She wanted to tell her how she felt so badly. Her eyes flickered to slits for a brief moment as her desires got the best of her. Thankfully she was able to suppress the change with a small cough. This was just the way it had to be, there was no other solution that would not end up with the lavender Unicorn hating the Alicorn. “I’m sorry for running off like that.”

Twilight gave Luna a big hug, “You need to stop apologizing so much! You had every right to be upset. I’m just glad you’re feeling better now.”

In the far distance, Twilight could hear a subtle laughing sound followed by a male voice whispering, “Personal change? Self-restraint? That’s a first, Selena. Maybe there’s hope for you yet. Just maybe.” Discord chuckled.

9: Cloaks

Celestia leaned back against her throne. Good posture, which normally was as natural as breathing to her, was lost. Her mind was racing. What had Discord meant by telling her to watch her sister? Where did Twilight Sparkle and her dreams fit into all of this? She had so many questions and not enough answers. At least one thing was clear, whatever was going to happen would at least not involve the draconequus as he was still very much sealed in stone. Discord may have the power to reach is essence out from the statue and observe the areas nearby, but he could not affect anything. She imagined for him is must have been like being a ghost, bound by a chain to the statue. Still, he could have sensed her worries and simply said things to make her paranoid. However, in as long as she had known him, he never did lie much. Still, that was no reason for him not to start now. Celestia took a deep breath and sighed loudly. There was no way he could circumvent the seal was there? No, if that had been the case he would have broken free much earlier. Seeming to read her mind, Shining Armor coughed loudly. “Seven bits for your thoughts, my Princess?”

“You need not concern yourself with my well being, Shining Armor. However I do thank you for your concern.”

“You were quiet distraught, for you, last night.”

“Just a few bad dreams, my Captain.”

“First Twily, now you. My whole family seems to be getting plagued by nightmares!” Shining Armor laughed.

Celestia raised an eyebrow for a moment, family? Oh yes right, married the adopted niece, the Pegasus Unicorn one. The princess of the sun glanced to one of the grand windows lining the throne room. At the very least it was going to be another beautiful day in utopia. “What is on the agenda for today? Any security inspections?”

“The castle is as secure as ever, my Princess. And our new anti-Changeling measures are keeping it that way. Princess… forgive me for speaking so candidly, but are we expecting a threat to safety?”

Celestia scowled slightly. It was not good for the Captain of the Guard to make such accusations, it would frighten the populace. “No. Why would you suspect that?”

“Your visit with Discord. You also sent Applejack and Rainbow Dash to check the seal. Are you worried he will break out?”

Celestia sighed, “No. The seal is stronger than ever. With Discord now locked beneath the castle and with the enchantments I have placed upon the chamber it would take a monumental amount of chaos to release him now. Nothing short of the total destruction of the city would suffice. And I swear as on my claim to the throne, nothing that dangerous will have an ounce of a chance against me, my sister, and the Elements of Harmony.”

“And the guards as well!”

“Well, at least the captain of them.” Celestia’s eyes suddenly sprang wide open as she noticed Shining Armor’s reaction. Had she said that last part out loud? “Please excuse my rudeness, I have not been feeling well. The royal guard is more than adequately equipped and skilled to take on any such challenge without my help.” Celestia shook her head. What was happening to her? First she was trounced by the Changeling Queen, now she was losing her poise and grace. Discord's words haunted her mind. Regardless of the truth in them, Celestia could not simply sit and wait. She had to do something, “Shining Armor. I want you to review my sister’s recent correspondences.” Celestia looked up towards the western tower. With a small flexing of her magic she grasped hold of a stone door. “I have opened the entrance to my sister’s room. I give you permission to enter her royal bedchambers and investigate.”

“Princess Luna? You don’t suspect…. Is this about Storm Dancer? You know he’s just a bit over protective of you.” Celestia looked grim. “I see… then I assume I should keep this under wraps until it is resolved?” Celestia nodded.

“Just you. No pony else. Especially not Princess Cadence.”

“What am I looking for?”

“Anything out of place. Anything odd. Anything that doesn’t seem like Lulu. Just filter out the suspicious from the mundane. I will personally review the letters before anything will come of this.” With that statement Celestia dismissed the Captain and returned to slouching on the throne.

Shining Armor rushed up the stairs of the western tower towards the bedchamber of the princess of the night. When he approached the extravagantly large door he paused. This was one of the chambers of the castle that no pony was allowed to enter. Both Celestia’s and Luna’s bedchambers were forbidden by any but the Alicorns. This was not an official rule, but it was so heavily implied that if one had asked anypony at the castle they would have assumed it was on a placard somewhere in the north wing. The chambers themselves were sealed with very powerful magic. Even the Changelings, during their siege, had tried to breach the chambers but found that they could not get past the doors. Only an Alicorn, a true Alicorn (as he had asked Cadence if she could open them), could open either door and neither sister ever invited anypony inside. Shining Armor had assumed that there would be only one circumstance that any normal pony could enter and he had always assumed that would be for a lover. To the best of his knowledge and to the knowledge of history books as well, the immortal sisters never took lovers. Yet here he was, probably the only Unicorn in the history of all of Canterlot to enter one of the goddesses’ rooms. He could only imagine what he could find inside. Cadence’s room was elegantly furnished, but she was not one of the ruling princesses and comparatively had a much smaller sleeping place. He frowned for a moment, Cadence probably would have loved to see what he was about to see. Then he scowled as he realized that the only reason he was even entering here is that Princess Luna was being suspected of treason. That sobered his mood just a bit.

The inside certainly lived up to expectations. The glass ceiling, the telescope, and the star charts all added to the room’s mysteriousness. He checked around the room and looked for the princess’s letters. He found a locked box he was unable to open even with his magic. He set it down and continued his search. Just as he walked by, one of the star charts caught his eye bearing the label Twilight Sparkle (Unicornus Lux Crepusculum). “There’s a constellation of my sister?” He stood in disbelief. Well sure she was a national hero and all around one of his favorite ponies, but still a constellation this big? He walked over to one of the easels in the room and flipped through the painting. He felt a bit ashamed. He had always liked Luna. She was always nice to him, though he knew that he was one of the few ponies she was not mean to all the time. But he was sure she had a good reason for it, after all she had been through a lot. One of the pictures caught his eye. It was a detailed painting of Twilight Sparkle. His sister again? A few more paintings were covered up by the last one. Each were other drawings of Twilight and Luna star gazing, sitting next to each other far too innocently and even one that appeared to still have fresh paint where they were playing a game a chess. “Does the princess have… an obsession with my sister?” He shook his head. Perhaps they were just commissioned by Celestia. After all it was no secret that Luna was a skilled and quick painter. Still that did not explain why so many of them involved the two ponies sitting together.

Shining Armor shook his head again trying to get rid of the unpleasant image that had just popped into his mind. Maybe Luna was as creepy as they said she was, after all it was quiet clear that she had been fantasizing about his sister. Shining Armor had one more place to check, a vanity where Luna kept her sundries. He glanced at the desk beneath the mirror where a few sheets of paper resided. He leafed through them, a few on the pasty tariffs with Griffica. Odd that she did not take them with her. Then his eye caught a elegant silver handled brush. The kind of brush used on one’s mane and tail. There were a few stands of blue hair sticking out of it. Shining Armor glanced around. He had always been curious about Celestia and Luna’s mane. What was it made of? Cadence had a normal mane for a pony, nothing like the ruling sisters. He leaned closer and examined it. It appeared to be a shimming strand that light danced off of with its own will. Then something else caught his eye. A few strands of dark purple caught in the brush. It was a shade he would recognize anywhere. It was his sister’s unique hair color. “But that could only mean Twily was in this room…” It hit him like a flying dragon doing a cannon ball into a pool of pudding. The paintings, the constellation, and the brush, they all pointed to the same thing. “Princess Luna… and my sister….”

Shining Armor bolted down the stairs and back into the throne room. He marched up to Celestia and demanded her be granted travel time for his investigation. Celestia nodded with an unsure look about her. When she questioned him as to where he needed to go or as to why he only responded with a curt line. “Following a lead. I’ll be back soon.” And with that, he made his way off to the train station. Celestia raised an eye brow as she closed the door to Luna’s bedchamber. Well, Shining Armor has always been passionate about his work.

Twilight smiled, “It’s going to be a beautiful day to day, no storms or even cloudy skies are scheduled. It would be a shame to waste such a day indoors here in the library.” Luna frowned slightly. She had always hated that phrase. Ponies were certainly capable of wasting a day, but not a night apparently. Honestly, Luna would have preferred to just spend the day inside with Twilight reading, talking about magic. Sitting side by side, just the two of them, alone…. Luna shook her head to clear her mind. If they were to go out, Luna would have wished it to be a moonlit stroll. She could make a very lovely moonlit stroll. Still, Twilight was used to being up in her sister’s sun. She could not keep asking Twilight to conform to her waking hours, and the rejuvenation spell would be too hard for her body to keep up. Unlike Luna who had been abusing it extensively. Being immortal certainly helps reduce the side effects.

“That sounds great. But I told you I want to keep a low profile while here. Going out and about around town would be hard….” Luna smiled sheepishly at Twilight.

“Oh, well… I suppose we could just stay here. I had kind of promised Applejack I would help her with something, but I’m sure she’ll understand…” Luna felt her heart break at the sight of Twilight’s disappointed face. With a noticeable huff, Luna rolled her eyes, completely disgusted at herself for giving in so easily from one simple look.

“Hang on,” she said as she focused magic in her horn. In a puff of smoke, Twilight saw Luna disappear. In her place was a small dark blue Pegasus with a dark colored mane. The Pegasus looked very similar to Luna herself, but obviously lacking the horn and unique mane.

Twilight circled around Luna, “That’s an amazing spell! What is it? Is it transfiguration? Illusion? Alteration? Is there anything Alicorns can’t do? Can Celestia do this one or is it one of those that only you can do? Can you teach me this one?!”

“Illusion… there’s a lot we can’t do… Only I can do this one, Celestia can’t do Illusion spells like this and invisibility. Are you sure you don’t just want to stay inside so we can practice magic?”

“No! Now we can go out and you can remain incognito! But um… should I still call you Luna out in public?”

Luna smiled, “Call me Nightsky.” Twilight choked on a giggle. “What’s so funny?” Twilight rolled on her back and laughed.
“I thought Pony Joe had a weird name. What pony is named Nightsky?” Twilight said, covering her mouth with a hoof to hide a chuckle.

Luna scowled, “I think it’s a great name. There used to be several ponies named Nightsky back in the time before… um…. Well you know.” Twilight pushed the door open and gestured for Luna to walk out. Twilight called back to Spike to let him know they were leaving for the day. As they left the library Luna’s ears perked up, “Where are we headed, you have something planned?”

“I promised Applejack I would help her with inventory today. You know counting the apples, keeping records on how the crop yield was this harvest. Big Macintosh used to do all the books by himself, but last year he was just swamped with numbers and I offered to help. The Apples were so impressed with my number skills they offered to pay me for my help, but I just do it for free. After all we’d still be in a storm of chaos if not for Applejack and the rest of my friends. Luna? Or... uh... heh… Nightsky? Are you listening?”

Luna blinked a couple times before trotting up next to Twilight’s side, “Oh… Um, no…. sorry I was just admiring how you looked….” Luna reflexively bit her tongue, “No! I meant, you know, you look different?”

“I look different?” Twilight gave Luna, or rather, Nightsky, a once over. “I’m not the one who lost a horn and changed height.”

“No, I meant I’m much shorter in this disguise. It’s odd seeing you from this height. It’s a different angle and all that.” Luna was telling the truth, but not all of it. It was true that Twilight looked very different from this angle, but she left out the part where she was hypnotized by Twilight’s tail swishing back and forth.

“Yeah, I’m kind of short, comparatively. Welcome to my level.” Twilight smiled.

“You’re not short. You’re perfectly average height for a pony. It’s my sister and I who are gargantuan.” Luna sighed.
“I like how tall you are. It makes you look elegant.”

“Thank you,” Luna blushed. It was not very unique complement. She had heard it endlessly from pretty much every pony she ever had met, but coming from Twilight, it meant a lot more. They walked in silence for a bit. Luna would continually glance over at Twilight, wondering if she should be saying something. Every now and then Twilight would wave to a passing pony and say hello. Luna wondered how many ponies Twilight could possibly know. They all seemed so friendly to her, Luna’s mind immediately compared her to Celestia. Everypony just seemed to inherently like Twilight. It really was not fair when she thought about it, but it was Twilight, so Luna would refrain from an outburst. As they walked, the two friends went oblivious to a single cloud in the sky that was seemingly following them.

Sweet Apple Acers was one of Ponyville’s finest attractions, and as Luna approached the endless fields of apple trees it was not hard to see why. Row after row of perfectly spaced fruit trees had a mesmerizingly calming effect on the mind. A few buckets were scattered around the bases of the trees. Several filled with apples but many still empty. In the distance, a young filly with a red mane was pulling apple baskets back to the barn. Luna racked her brain for the filly’s name. She knew she had seen her before. It was a family farm so she must be one of the Apples. “Applejack’s daughter?” She asked.

“Younger sister, Applebloom.” Twilight corrected. The young filly finished tugging the baskets back and proceeded to sprint to the next one.

“She certainly has enthusiasm for her work.” Luna said with a slight chuckle. “Where are her parents?”

“Applejack has never brought them up. I don’t ask. I’m not sure if they had a falling out or if… well... I just don’t ask. She’ll tell me about if she feels she needs to.” Twilight said in a somber tone.

Luna bit her lip, “Does it bother you that your close friend keeps secrets from you?” It was a leading question and Twilight saw that Luna was clearly talking about something else besides Applejack.

“I wish she would have the strength to share that part of her life with me, but if she can’t that’s alright too.” Twilight looked over at Luna, “Everypony is entitled to a secret or two, as long as it doesn’t hurt anypony.”

Luna nodded with a small smile, “Twilight…. Um…. So remember when you asked about Nightmare Moon?”

Twilight’s ears perked up, “Yes?”

“This…. Ugh, where do I begin? Oh! You see Nightmare M….”

“Twilight! Ya runin’ late, sugarcube!” Applejack tipped her hat, “Oh, well howdy hay, who’s ya friend? Don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. Name’s Applejack.” Applejack stuck a hoof and grinned widely. Luna stuck out her hoof as well while stifling a giggle. She had of course met Applejack before, and this was a great opportunity for fun.

Twilight grinned mischievously, “This is my friend from Canterlot, Nightsky!”

Applejack covered her face with her hat and laughed “Oh, ya poor thing. What did your ma and pappy have against ya to go on an’ name you something like that?”

Luna shot Twilight a scowl. “It was in honor of Princess Luna, actually. I’m quite proud of it.”

“Then why not name ya something pretty like, Moonbeam or Starlight? Instead, it sounds like your parents just stuck two random words together!” Applejack and Twilight broke out laughing. Luna stamped her hoof. “Aw, I’m real sorry, sugarcube. It’s not polite to make fun of ponies’ names.”

Luna frowned, “It’s alright. I have been told it’s a silly name.”

“Well alright then. Anyway, we’re wasting time. We got a lotta apples to count! You’re free to help too, Nightsky.” Twilight nodded as Applejack led them into the barn. The barn was filled to the brim with baskets of apples. Luna had never seen anything in such disarray as the Apple family barn after a harvest. Luna almost wandered if there were more apples in this barn than stars in her night sky. That was impossible, of course, but it was still a thought that lingered. Applejack quickly began explaining all the groups of baskets, which Luna could not distinguish from the others. Twilight levitated a clipboard and a quill. She walked by each basket and began rattling off number and figures. Luna chuckled; Twilight gave her all to everything she did. It was endearing in many respects.

“Ok, it might be too early to tell. But by my estimates, which are never wrong, you have a fifteen percent increase from last harvest.”

“Wee doggie! That’s what hard work will get ya!”

“Don’t get too excited yet, we still haven’t accounted for apples that fail quality yet. According to the clipboard last year you lost seven hundred and fifty seven apples. If that number this year is not less than or equal to that number then your wee doggies may be in vain.”

“You saying my apples aren’t up to stuff?” Applejack locked eyes with Twilight.

“I’m saying we got a lot of counting and sorting to do!”

“Darn tootin’!” Applejack and Twilight shook hooves and got to work at sorting. They started passing apples from one basket into another while shouting out numbers. Twilight would magically check off the list every time they finished a basket. Discarded apples were thrown out the window where Applebloom would take them off to make other apple products. Luna watched in awe. Her mind quickly planed out a way she would do the task of sorting with magic. Actually she was pretty sure Twilight would know a simple object sorting spell. Luna could only guess she did not use such a spell because the activity was less bout work and more about having fun times with friends. Twilight gestured for Luna to help but the princess had very little idea what she needed to be doing with the baskets. So Luna just stood staring at the two ponies work. Twilight paused for a moment to walk over to Luna. She quickly put the princess to work on counting the defects. It was the easiest job there was, but Twilight did not tell Luna.

A couple hours had passed and they had moved out of the barn and onto the baskets that were stacked on against the back of the barn. Luna was behind on counting the defects. Applejack and Twilight had stopped for a moment from lifting, hulling, sorting, and counting apples so that they could cool off with a drink. “So, Nightsky, huh?” Applejack said after gulping down a swig of her cider.

“Yeah, she’s from Canterlot. Say uh, nice weather we’re having right?” Twilight’s intentional diversion was completely noticed by Applejack.

“Just like they scheduled it!”

“Still that one cloud in the sky up there though. Guess somepony got lazy.”

“Could be Rainbow up there spying on me.” Applejack sighed. Twilight gave her a confused look. “RD’s still upset about what happened at the party, I reckon. She was mopin’ around here all yesterday like a love sick squirrel. Like I couldn't see her up there....”

“What’s the deal between you two anyway? I mean… you… like mares, right?”

Applejack sighed, “Just cuz that’s true, doesn’t mean I have to start smooching with RD.”

“She really likes you though. And you seem to like her a lot as well.”

“RD and I just ain't a good match. We’re as alike as two apples from the same branch.”

“That’s good right?” Twilight said with another confused look.

Applejack shook her head, “Not when those apples are as completive as we are.”

“Still you could try right?”

“I don’t think it’s worth risking our friendship, sugarcube. What we got right now is darn good. I wouldn’t want to ruin that for some what if-ery. Rainbow will get over it; she has afore.” Twilight nodded and both ponies watched as Nightsky tried to stack the baskets of defects while Applebloom shouted directions.

Applejack scratched her chin with her hoof for a moment. “Something wrong, AJ?” Twilight said.

“Naw, sugarcube. Just trying to figure out why Princess Luna’s walking around as a Pegasus.”

Twilight’s face flushed with surprise, “How did you know?”

“No pony’s name is Nightsky, sugarcube.” Applejack and Twilight laughed as they finished their drinks.

High above in the lone cloud in the sky, Storm Dancer rubbed his hooves together. Princess Luna had been foolish to use the same disguise that she had used when she ran away to Manehatten. He was still a bit confused as to why Luna was in Ponyville, and why she was stacking apple baskets. Perhaps the apple baskets stacking pattern contained a secret code that signaled her underlings to attack at dawn. No, that was silly. Luna would attack at midnight, not dawn. Perhaps if he held off his inferences he could get a better understanding, he was confident that all his questions would be answered soon if he just kept his watch diligent.

It was becoming late evening and Twilight and Luna bid farewell to Sweet Apple Acers. They started their journey back into town. Twilight chattering away at how angry she was that the Apple family had managed to increase production by twenty three percent, a whole eight percent higher than her prediction. Of course she was happy at the surplus, but it spoke badly to her estimation skills and Twilight was listing off several excuses why her estimation was doomed to be inaccurate from the start. How she had over compensated for the cider incident, how she did not take into account the extra rain that Rainbow Dash stole for the fields a few times. Luna could not help but chuckle as she noticed how Twilight’s nose would wrinkle when she was upset.

They continued down the road with Luna listening while Twilight ranted until Luna stopped in her tracks. Twilight walked on for a few feet before noticing that the princess had not been at her side. Twilight walked back over to Luna and took a look at what she was staring at. Twilight chuckled, “Oh, that’s Horseshoe pond. We take picnics there every now and again. You can see the sunset from there really well.”

“Or the moon rise.” Luna said softly.

Twilight’s ears snapped to attention when she realized something, “I’ve never seen you raise the moon. It’s pretty close to time for that now. Do you think I could maybe…?”

Luna’s face lit up with a large smile, “It will be the greatest moonrise ever! Come on let’s find a spot where you’ll have the best view.” Luna’s disguise blew away in a puff of smoke and using her magic, Luna levitated Twilight down to the bank of the pond. Twilight hit the ground with a thud. She rubbed her sore side and watched as Luna excitedly ran along the bank, looking for the perfect angle. Twilight could not help but smile. She had wished she had brought a picnic blanket, it had not been on her checklist for apple-inventory-day, and she mentally scolded herself for not taking into account Luna’s presence.

The Alicorn finally seemed to find the spot that best fit her vision of the event. She early waved Twilight over and tapped her hoof on the ground signaling her to sit. Twilight smiled and obeyed, it would be rude to deny the princess of the night her fun now. Luna sat down next to Twilight and returned her smile. “Once Sister’s sun is down, you’ll see the moonrise right over there.”

Twilight giggled, “Right underneath the constellation Twilight Sparkle?”

“Exactly,” Luna blushed. “I didn’t plan that! That’s just where it’s scheduled to be this time of year.” The two ponies watched as the sun began to sink below the horizon. Luna had scooted herself against Twilight’s side and was presently surprised when Twilight seemed not to notice. They were silent as the sun passed below the tree line, each retreating to their own thoughts. While Twilight was focused on the sunset, Luna was focused on how the light was dancing in Twilight’s eyes. The subtle twinkle they gave off, the halo of light that surrounded her at the right angle. She mentally captured the image so she could picture it later. When she returned to the castle, this would be the first thing she would paint: Twilight in the twilight. Luna beamed the biggest smile she had ever smiled. She could not remember a time when she was this happy. Her eyes drooped for a moment, which was a sign that the rejuvenation spell was wearing off. She let out a loud yawn that Twilight glanced back and chuckled at. She made a joke about the moon falling asleep. Luna prepared to cast the rejuvenation spell again, stretching her wings first.

It was then Twilight jumped slightly in surprise. After stretching, Luna’s wing had come down to rest on Twilight’s back. It wrapped around her slightly hugging to her side and pulling her closer to Luna’s body. Now Twilight did not know much about romantic relationships outside of what she had read in books. Even then, what was happening here was something she had not found in a book. However she had participated in a conversation with Rainbow Dash on this exact subject when she had noticed the phenomenon in the park one day. According to Rainbow Dash, when a Pegasus places its wing around another pony, it was signifying that the two were romantically involved and that this pony was hers and for other mates to stay away. Twilight glanced up to Luna to see if she was expecting a reaction. Luna seemed not to notice what she had done, so perhaps the gesture did not extend to Alicorns. Luna caught Twilight staring at her with a peculiar look on her face, including the biggest blush she had ever seen on the Unicorn. Luna glanced down to notice where her wing was located and then back to Twilight.

“I’m sorry!” Luna jumped up and took to the air in one swift motion.

“Wait, Luna!” Twilight called out, but it was too late. Luna had already flown into the woods, her face riddled with embarrassment.

Princess Luna landed in a clearing of the Everfree Forest near the Castle of Two Sisters. The sun had already set, but she had still not bothered to raise the moon. The Alicorn paced back and forth gritting her teeth. Her insides were shaking. She had never been so embarrassed in her incredibly long life. “You’re screwing everything up!” She shouted. Her coat blackened and her eyes changed color.

“It is not our fault that the Unicorn is the object of our desires.” Nightmare Moon scoffed.

Luna used her magic to uproot a tree in frustration, “We agreed that we would not pursue her! This isn’t going to end well. I don’t want rejection. I can’t take any more rejection.” Luna lowered her head to the ground.

Nightmare Moon jerked her head up, “So let her love the façade. What difference does it make if we get what we want?”

Luna pulled her head back down to the ground, “It makes all the difference, and you know that!”

Nightmare Moon threw herself at a tree forcefully, “We are so conflicted. Our desires are not achievable at the same time! We want Twilight, but cannot take her by force. We want her to know the real us, but cannot tell her because we will lose her! This is your fault! You and your paintings and constellations. You make her consume all our thoughts. Our life was simpler when we just thirsted for revenge! Our life was simpler when we only wanted our night to be appreciated by all. Appreciated by just this one is too challenging.”

“We were doing fine until you stepped in and messed up! Wrapping my wing around her! She’s going to think we are in love with her!”

“But we are in love with her!”

Luna pounded her hooves on the ground in a tantrum, “That’s not the point! I hate you! You make everything complicated! I wish Twilight could have gotten rid of you with the Elements! I wished they worked that way!”

Nightmare Moon stood up from the ground and was pensively silent for a moment, “We cannot be separated. We are forever bound, Selena.”

Luna sat on the ground quietly. It was a very rare occurrence for either of them to call each other by name, let alone for Nightmare Moon to use Luna’s ancient name. Luna sighed, “I’m sorry. You are right. There’s no sense in fighting. Just as Helia cannot exist without Celestia, Luna cannot exist without Nightmare Moon.”

“For what it’s worth, I apologize too.”

“It’s not your fault. We do desire Twilight, and our desires are conflicted. There was no reason I could have expected you to act differently. But what do we do now?”

Nightmare Moon stood up and looked at the sky, with just a flexing of her power; she raised the moon to its proper spot, “I do not know. We are conflicted.”

Luna chuckled as she wiped a tear from her eye, “Sometimes you sound like a broken record.”

11: Chambers

Deep within Canterlot Castle the doors to the Chamber of Harmony were blasted off their hinges. Celestia marched forward, not seeming to notice the extent of the damage she had caused to the room She walked down the aisle with heavy steps, her normal poise and grace discarded wholly. The stained-glass told stories. Stories she would rather not remember. She passed the window depicting the events of Nightmare Night. She shook her head somberly at her greatest failure. How had she become so ignorant to her own sister’s wants and needs? Then she remembered. While her sister spent her time locked in her tower with her paints, Celestia had ruled. Celestia had to rule or chaos would rise again and he would return. Now she stood in the Chamber of Harmony, where the most powerful and ancient artifacts were protected and sealed away from the common pony. The Elements of Harmony had saved her kingdom in its darkest hour no less than three times. She could feel it. They would be needed again. They were calling out to her. She inserted her horn in the lock and cast a spell. The door opened with a twitch and a soft blue glow. There in a largely empty hexagonal chamber sat a small lockbox. He scooped up the box and opened it. She had to gaze upon them once more. To be sure that they, and the aid they offered, were still real.

She placed her cheek near the crown. It felt cold to the touch. It had forsaken her and her sister. Too many sins of the past clouded her thoughts for the Elements to work properly. Still, they appeared happy with their new bearers. They had changed shape from the first time she had seen them. A signal, she guessed, that they had passed themselves on to new owners. She thought back to the first time she had discovered them back in the depths of Tartarus. In the endless series of bits and caves that made up that twisted maze, she had found the cave of metal. She could remember the over-cheerful voice that narrated her find:

The large doors to the chamber broke off and shattered from eons of rust. Helia peeked her head inside the room. It was dark, but there was a light source. A series of glowing gems sat in the center of the room, placed atop bronze pedestals. A voice was chattering endlessly in the background. It must have been a Sound Permanence spell. Like the one mother had shown her. The speech was repeating apparently the same short message again and again. Perhaps it was a warning. Helia hated to admit it, but she was a tad frightened. She had not been frightened in a long time. It was slightly exhilarating. The young Alicorn with the pink mane walked around the room. A few more light sources sprang to life, recognizing her presence and honoring it by guiding her. She was now close enough to hear the voice’s message. At times, she could understand it, but in other moments it appeared to be speaking in a different tongue:

“…à votre civilisation! … Greetings, Friend! You are currently standing in the chamber of…”

Helia glanced at the walls. They were covered in glyphs she could not understand, but they were also familiar. Books from long ago, back when she was nothing more than a mere filly, had spoken of them. They were the ancient ones.

“…beyond the laws of physics and time, it evolved into magic! ...”

They cared for the world in times past. She wondered what had happened to such a great race.

“…coalition used magic to create a solution for…”

They were masters of magic. Perhaps the original masters of its great power. Some would say the ancestors of the Unicorns. She was not so sure. She had been alive a very long time.

“… Crystallization of the distillation of emotions, a set of six…”

But then again, even they had predated her. Helia wanted to call out to her sister. To show her what she had found. But the mysteries of the place were captivating her mind.

“…amplify positive psycho-emotive energies! ...”

She stared at the gems on display in the center of the room. Each item bore a different color. She touched one out of curiosity. That was when she first had a taste of their power. She fell to the ground in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. She felt giddy and warm on the inside. A feeling she had not felt in a long time.

“…of Harmony introduce a pacifying effect on…”

Feeling temptation well in her, she tapped a different gem with her hoof. Memories of her mother welled up inside. She felt the warmth of her embrace and the pride she felt when her mother gave her a complement. Her thoughts turned to her sister. She would never abandon her sister, no matter how dark the battle had become.

“… If you are incapable of understanding the principles presented in this…”

More! She needed to know more about these wonderful gems! They held such powerful emotional connections. She placed her cheek against another one of the stones. This time she felt sobered. The truth of the current situation she had gotten herself and her sister in hit her hard. She fell to the ground in a fit of tears. So, they were not all wonderful it seemed.

“…not yet advanced to point of needing…”

“… Please feel free to explore the chamber but do not…”

Only two more gems had not been tested. She glanced at the remaining stones. They looked so foreign. Gems were always reflecting the light and sparkling, but these were actually emitting the warmth of a soft glow. The next gem’s feeling was hard to describe. But she felt content. Content, despite all the troubles that were burning in her heart.

“…society is currently undergoing a period of magical chaos, now is…”

The last gem. The one positioned in the center of the other five. She saved this one for last. It had to be the most important. And it was. It was completely. She tapped her horn against the stone, and was filled with power. A power beyond her dreams flowed through her.

“…friends and create your utopia of harmony! …”

Utopia. These ancient ones could not obtain it. But she could. She could feel the power in these artifacts. She was a mighty Alicorn! She had the strength to make her will a reality. She would right her wrong. She and her sister would have their peace. She did not care how much effort it would take.

“…best of luck to your civilization! ... ¡Saludos, amigo! Usted...”

Celestia shook her head and snapped the lockbox shut. Memories attacked her mind. With a sharp inhale she attempted to purge out the darker times in her life. But they would not leave her thoughts alone. She sprinted to the center of the Chamber of Harmony. In a small fit she stopped her hooves and pressed her head to the floor. Her mane lost a bit of its color, turning a pinkish hue, “We can’t let all we’ve worked for…”

Celestia shouted a sound that belonged to no word. She regained her regality, for the first time today, and stared at one of the windows. She clenched her jaw when she realized she was staring at the window depicting Discord’s defeat at her hoof. She focused her attention to the series of bells that lined the castle walls. They were summoning bells for alerting castle staff that she needed assistance. With a flick of her magic the bells all rang at once. She tilted her head to adjust the flow of her mane while she waited. All over the castle they would be scrambling to find her location; all of them eager to serve. After a few moments one of her top attendants entered the room, a young mare by the name of Rising Star.

“Your highness, you rang?”

“Ah yes, fair Rising Star, Fetch me the acting Captain of the Royal Guard.” It felt good to have a bit of civility again.

“Acting Captain, my princess? Is Shining Armor ill?”

“He is away on a personal errand for the crown. Please send in his second-in-command. Post-haste, my dear.” Rising Star nodded and sprinted off at top speed to the guardhouse. Celestia waited patiently as the sound of galloping hooves outside the door faded away. Eventually the galloping sound returned and the acting captain entered the hall. “Acting Captain Wind Strider, I have a command for you.”

“Anything you want, your majesty!”

“I want you to place Canterlot on lockdown.”

Wind Strider gasped, “Lockdown!? We have not placed the city in lockdown since the Changeling Incident! The ponies will be in panic if we call a lockdown! Perhaps you should rethink…”

“I make the decisions in this kingdom! Lockdown Canterlot. Close all the gates, put in place a curfew, and triple the patrols.”

“Understood, my princess.” Wind Strider left the room and Celestia lifted her head to the sky and with a sense of clarity in her mind, she cast a spell. A golden sphere of light enveloped the city, shielding it from harm.

Shining Armor was furious. He stepped in between Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna. He faced the princess of the night and gritted his teeth. He was still breathing slightly heavy from galloping all the way from the train station to the library in his full set of armor. Or perhaps he was simply hyperventilating from his suspicions being true. He had originally intended to confront Twilight alone, he had been sure that Princess Luna was in Griffica, but now that he caught her in the presence of his sister, there was nothing more obvious about the situation. “I know!” It was all he could get out of his mouth.

Twilight smiled sheepishly, “Know what…?”

“About you two!”

“How…? How could you possibly know?! We’ve only been a couple for a few minutes!”

Shining Armor pointed with his hoof, “So you admit it!”

Luna stood up and stomped her hoof, “Captain!”

“I saw all the paintings of you in the princess’s room!”

“You were in my room?!” Luna’s voice echoed in the night.

“The painting with me and my friends?”

“No! The twenty or so paintings of you and the princess walking along the beach!”

Twilight scratched “Twenty?! I didn’t see any of those…”

Luna blushed, “I may have cleaned up a bit before you entered the room…”

Shining Armor was poking Luna with his hoof, “Yes! You were in her room too! I saw the brush!”

Twilight tilted her head up in memory, “Brush? Oh right, when I spent the night.”

“You spent the…!” Shining Armor gasped. “You…!” Shining Armor gasped. “In her room...!” Shining Armor gasped.

All the blood in Twilight’s body rushed to her face, “Oh, no! It wasn’t like that!”

Luna smiled devilishly, “Well, we did share the bed….”

“You! You! Harlot! I used to… to think you were alright, but now I see you lie to your sister about your whereabouts, you sneak around behind ponies’ backs, and you had the gall, the absolute gall to steal my sister’s innocence!”

“Armor, we never…”

The stallion flopped his ears down and began chanting, “La, la, la! I don’t want to hear the details! The point is this is all over! She’s not just some… thing you play with until you get bored!” He pressed a hoof against Luna’s chest. It clinked against her royal vestment.

Luna’s eyes flashed into green slits for a moment. Nightmare Moon was screaming in her mind. “You will remember your place Captain. You speak to a princess… and a goddess.” It was taking every fiber of her very being not to be screaming in the Royal Canterlot Voice.

Twilight put a hoof around Shining Armor’s back, “Armor, you need to calm down, I’m a grown mare. I make my own decisions. And you’re acting crazy in front of my fillyfriend. And, well… your boss.”

Shining Armor pushed Twilight aside and focused magic in his horn. Luna was chuckling inside, was this little pony really going to attempt to fight her, the princess of the night? It was highly laughable. She’d just let him blow his puff of smoke and wait for him to tire. Or at least she would if Nightmare Moon would stop shouting in her thoughts. Shining Armor gritted his teeth, “You will not lay another feather on my sister! Do you understand?!”

Twilight stamped her hoof, “Armor!”

Luna was practically shaking, he head was hurting so much, “There… is something to be said for sibling concern.” She choked the sentence out and turned to the balcony. “I need some air, I will be back shortly.” Luna pushed open the door and let the cool air of the night sky fill her mane. With a grandiose leap, she departed from the balcony. Once she reached a high enough altitude, she allowed Nightmare Moon to speak. And the Alicorn of eternal night had quite a bit to say.

“We must go back! The foal seeks to take our Twilight! We must show him his place! His death will be slow…”

“Twilight still doesn’t know about you. And under no circumstances would offing her brother keep her close.”
Luna’s wings forcefully folded onto her sides, “I will not sit idly while you let her slip away!” Luna began to plummet to the ground. “I will handle the situation from now on.”

Fast and fast she fell, “You have all the subtly of an Ursa Major. If I let you run things, we’ll be alone again. I will not be alone again.”

Luna’s wings opened reluctantly. The Alicorn swooped into a glide moments before hitting the ground. Luna turned back in the direction of the library. She landed ungracefully on the balcony and walked back into the room. Shining Armor was calmer now, he was no longer bearing his teeth but he was still practically growling at Luna.

“I still think you’re too young, Twily.”

“The point is, I like Luna, a lot. And we’re going to be together and that is something you’ll just have to get over.” Twilight sighed.

Shining Armor approached the princess, “I am sorry, Princess. Twily is everything to me. I don’t want to see her hurt.”

Nightmare Moon hissed in Luna’s mind, but the Alicorn ignored it, “It is all right, your protection for your sister is admirable. But there is something we need to discuss.”

“Celestia doesn’t know you’re here does she?”

“No. And she doesn’t know about me and Twilight either.”

“You want me to keep a secret from Celestia? I can’t do that! That would be treason.”

“I am ordering you to keep quiet; it would be treason to tell her.”

Twilight looked depressed, “Luna, I think we should tell her. She’ll be happy for us, you’ll see.”

Luna stopped her hoof, “No! You don’t know her as well as I do Twilight, she’s protective of you and untrusting of me. Please… I’m asking you to give me time to think of a way through this.”

Twilight nodded, “Alright, Luna. She’s your sister.”

Shining Armor, “I don’t feel right about this. But… I guess.... Does she really make you happy, Twily?”

Twilight nodded and walked over to Luna’s side. Luna placed her wing around Twilight and nuzzled her head onto Twilight’s own. Twilight glance briefly out the window, “It’s past midnight. There aren’t any more trains; you’ll need a place to stay for the night.”

“There’s an inn here, I think. I’ll…”

“Nonsense, there’s plenty of room here on the couch. This is the first time you’ve ever visited me in Ponyville. You’re going to stay at my place.” And suddenly, like a switch, Twilight became doting again. She gathered blankets and helped her bother remove his armor. She set him up on the sofa in the reading area of the library before head upstairs to her own bedroom.

Luna lingered by Shining Armor for a moment, “I’m not playing with her. I love her, Captain. It may sound cliché, but the thought of her is what keeps me from being so lonely. Princess Cadence would bring about eternal night before I would hurt Twilight.” Shining Armor shook his head disapprovingly. Luna sighed and walked up the stairs. She laid down on the bed next to Twilight and turned her back to her fillyfriend. Twilight waited for Luna to get comfortable before she started speaking.

“A couple for only five minutes and we’ve already got chaos everywhere. At least I was able to talk Shining Armor down. I’m sorry about him. He’s always so protective of me.”

“It’s alright.” Luna curled into a ball and let her mane fall over her face.

“Luna? Why don’t you want to tell Celestia about us? Is it because you’re not supposed to be here? Or is it something else?”

“You need to understand, Twilight. You are Celestia’s favorite of this generation.”

“What?”

“Every generation of ponies, Celestia finds one that’s the best at something. The best flyer, the best fighter, or the best racer. She then adopts them as her surrogate daughter. It’s her way of dealing with the loneliness that comes with immortality.”

“I’m one of these ‘favorites’?”

“No. You’re the favorite. It’s different with you. I’m not sure if it’s because you are an element bearer or if it’s just your talent for magic. But she is enthralled with you.”

Twilight smiled, “So that’s great! Who else better for her sister than her favorite?”

“She likes you better than me.” Luna said remorsefully. “Not that I’m jealous. It’s my own fault. I messed up when…. Well you’ve read history books.” Luna rolled over in the bed.

“So what about you?”

“Hm?”

“You said Celestia has her friends to keep her from being lonely in her long life. What about you?” Twilight said with a whisper. Luna could not help but feel Twilight was fishing for a sappy note, but Luna decided she would indulge the Unicorn.

“I had my paints. I would paint everything. The stars in the sky. The shadows on the moon. I would paint landscapes of all over Equestria. I would paint self-portraits and still-life. But those paintings were not alive. They couldn’t replace the joy of a real live friend. That was before Nightmare Night. Once I was back… I found somepony in particular to be my muse. So now I have you.” Luna rolled over and yanked on the cloth covering the bed.

“Luna, you took all the blanket…” Luna smiled devilishly. She extended a wing and waited for Twilight to snuggle underneath it.

12: False Start

A loud trumpeting sound startled Twilight Sparkle awake from her slumber. The young Unicorn clasped her hooves over her ears. Her head was spinning from a combination of her jarring awakening and from having stayed up far too late last night. Princess Luna was still fast asleep, curled up into a tight ball next to her on the bed. How she slept through the trumpet, Twilight could only guess. The trumpet sounded again, this time directly in her ear. Twilight swatted with her hoof at the horn it fell to the ground with an equally loud clanging sound. There was a screech of joy that came from the trumpet player, arguably more annoying than the trumpet itself.

“Twilight! Come on and get up you silly sleepy head! You’re missing it!” Twilight pulled her pillow over her head and flopped back on the bed. She glanced at the clock that was hanging on the far wall. The young pony let out a wine.

“Pinkie Pie, it’s too early for you to be in here…”

“But Twilight! We have to celebrate you and the princess’s relationship! This is a big deal! A celebration!” Pinkie Pie squealed with delight.

“Be quiet, you’ll wake Luna!”

“Princess Luna and Lady Twilight! Together at last! It’s a happy snappy bookworm-y love-y-dove-y part-y!” Pinkie Pie tossed confetti in the air that landed all over Twilight’s bed, and on the back of the sleeping Luna. “Come on! Get out of bed! It’s all covered in confetti now anyway!”

“It’s covered in confetti because… you….!” Twilight growled at the pink pony.

Pinkie Pie pulled Twilight out of bed and started prancing around the room. She pulled Twilight every which way and began giving her a tour of the party favors, “I’ve got punch! I’ve got cider! I’ve got cookies! I’ve got a pickle barrel!” Pinkie giggled incessantly, “Pickle Barrel!” She pulled Twilight over to a different table, “I’ve got a cake! A really big one with little figures of you and Luna on it! Mrs. Cake said that’s normally for weddings, but we might as well get a head start since you and Luna are going to last forever!”

“Pinkie!” Twilight blushed.

“Oh I’ve got games, too! I’ve got pin the tail on the donkey! Horseshoes! And board games too like Candyworld! Oh and other games like… Piñata! Pony-scotch! Leap-frog! Sacrifice! Ping pong! Silly-ooper! And…”

Twilight covered Pinkie Pie’s mouth, “Wait… what was that?”

“png pgn…” Twilight removed her hoof from Pinkie’s mouth, “phft! Ping pong?”

“No, the one before that…”

“Leap-frog!”

“No… I meant… never mind…”

Pinkie Pie gasped, “Oh! And we’ve got guests! Tons of guests! So many you won’t even believe!” Pinkie Pie trotted over and sat down next to very large wooden chair. She must have brought it for the party, because Twilight did not remember having such a chair. “Rarity and Spike and Rainbow Dash and a whole army of Griffins and Fluttershy and Gummy and Applejack and Big Mac and Lyra and Princess Celestia and Flim and Trixie and...”

“Celestia! Luna didn’t want to tell…!”

“And Carrot Top and Bloomberg and… oh yeah! All of Eqeustria! Oh! And Gilda the Griffin and…” Pinkie’s ramblings were drowned out by a thunderous male voice echoed in the room:

For she’s a jolly good filly!
For she’s a jolly good filly!
For she’s a jolly good filllllllllllll-ly!

With a flash of light a large figure took a set on the chair next to Pinkie.

Thaaaat no pony can deeeeee-ny!

“Happy birthday, Twilight Sparkle!” The draconequus placed his palm on top of Pinkie Pie’s head and chuckled. He gave Twilight a huge smile and an explosion of balloons welled up around him. They floated to the ceiling and then crumpled into rocks.

“It’s not my birthday.”

“Now hold on a minute! Pinkie Pie, the invitation said this was a birthday party!”

Pinkie Pie gasped, with a frightened look on her face, “I reused the invitations from a earlier party, this was to celebrate Twilight and Luna getting together….”

“So you just sat there while I busted in here singing a birthday song and you didn’t think to stop me? Now I just look like a fool.” Discord snapped his fingers and Pinkie Pie began to melt into a pile of pink goo. The pink pony let out a hideous wail as her face drooped to the floor. Twilight rushed forward but it was too late. With a sputtering sound the pink slosh pooled on the floor. A bubble of air popped on the surface and a slight giggle echoed in the room.

“You monster!” Twilight sobbed.

Discord stood up from his throne and loomed over Twilight, “I am many things, cheeky mare, but I am not a monster.” Discord clapped his hands together and slithered around to Twilight’s bed, “But today is not about me. Oh, no! It’s a celebration for you and little Lulu!” The draconequus gently stroked Luna’s mane. Twilight jumped forward and stabbed Discord’s hand with her horn.

“You don’t touch her!”

“You hit me! And you have the gall to call me a monster! I have never hit a pony before!” Twilight took a defensive stance overtop of the sleeping Luna. “What? You think you’re going to protect her from me?” Discord rolled on the ground laughing. He attempted to stand up but fell back down clutching his sides, “You silly filly! I’m not the one she needs protecting from!” He wiped a tear form his eye. “Oh that’s just too good! Protect her from me!” Twilight summoned a bolt of magic and zapped Discord in the face. The draconequus reared back. “My, my… we are feisty today! You’re acting like a dragon in heat! You want to fight? A round of good old fisticuffs? A bit of rabblerousing?” Discord snapped his fingers and in a flash of light he had donned a top hat and a curly bar mustache. His claws were covered in oversized, bright red gloves. “Come on, little pony! Put up your hooves! This is what you want right?” He began hopping in place and faking punches.

Twilight stood over top of Luna and focused magic in her horn to cast a force spell. “I’m so done with you, Discord.” Her horn vanished with a flash of light and Discord shook his head as he danced around the room.

“That’s not very sporting like, Twilight.” Discord lunged forward and struck Twilight in the side of her jaw. The small pony was flung into the air and crashed through her bedroom window. As she broke through the glass, the fragments slowed down. They sparkled and like snow. Perhaps they were snow now, she could not see much as she was flung out of the library and into a pit of nothingness. She was thrown far from the tree house into a black void. Eventually she landed against something. She could not see what it was she hit. She could see herself quite well, but not anything around her. There was just the color black to greet her eyes. Discord’s booming laugh shook her ribcage. The draconequus slithered around Twilight and placed his claw on her shoulder.

“What do you want with me?!”

“Want? This is still a party, isn’t it! I want to play some party games!” Discord smiled evilly, “Oh! I know a great one! It’s called Sacrifice!” Discord placed his paw against his head and cracked his neck. Luna appeared next to Twilight. The Alicorn kneeled down and used a wing to shield Twilight from Discord. “Oh that’s just too perfect. Even her soulless effigy is loyal and protective of you. How interesting. Your bond transcends my powers….”

“That’s why you’ll never win, Discord!”

“Win? Why do you keep assuming that I’m even playing the same game?” Discord snapped his fingers and the lights appeared to flicker on in the world. Twilight’s horn reappeared. The nothingness gave way to a mountaintop. Immediately Twilight saw they were surrounded by Griffins holding spears. “Stories tell of bonds quite strong, this true love writes poetry and song. But just how solid is your bond? How long will you cling when all is gone? I pose now a question to you, if you had to choose, what would you do? Let others live and stay the course? Or abandon your love when others demand recourse? To have it all, you cannot, this is the grim truth that ties your insides in a knot.” Discord snapped his fingers and Luna fell to the ground shivering.

“What did you do to her?”

“Calm down, it’s just a bit of weak knees. She’s perfectly healthy…. But rather unable to defend herself.” As Discord finished speaking, the Griffins began to charge. Twilight fired a bolt of magic from her horn and it found its mark squarely on one of the Griffin’s beak. In a burst of blue flames the Griffin was consumed. Twilight jumped back. She had not meant to do anything like that with her spell. She was not even sure she was capable of such an action. “Oh my! What did you do to that poor Griffin. Oh, well. It was just a Griffin after all. Not like it was a pony.” Twilight took a step backwards. Had she kill that Griffin? No, she would never do such a thing! She watched as the Griffins advanced and pushed past her. Luna struggled to stand but could not find the strength. One of the Griffins closed in on the princess of the night and stabbed her with a spear. Twilight cried out as she watched blood trickle out of the princess’s wound. She dug her hoof into the ground and blasted the attacker with a spell. It burned up in a burst of flame as it cried out in pain. As more Griffins approached Luna, Twilight blasted each of them in turn. Tears streaked down her face as she went about her task of protecting Luna. Discord cackled, “So, you’re willing to kill to save her? How noble of a sacrifice on your morals. Let’s up the ante shall we?” Discord snapped his fingers. The Griffins morphed into Pegasi. “Perhaps you were internalizing them as monsters. You seem to like using that label. But now there’s no doubt what your fighting.”

“Call them off! Ponies, listen to me! I mean you no harm!” But the ponies did not listen; they charged forward and attacked Luna with hoof mounted spikes. Twilight watched in horror as Luna’s body was cut by their attacks. Twilight attempted to cast a spell that would force them away, but all it did was set them on fire. The ponies screamed. Twilight wanted more than anything to crouch down and hide under her hooves, but every time she stopping fighting, Luna would get hurt.

“Hm. Still a killing machine, huh? I had no idea you were this ruthless, Twilight. Is she really worth that much to you? That you would kill your own kind?” Discord snapped his fingers, “How far does this devotion go? Let’s find out!” The army of Pegasi disappeared. An army of ponies, more than she had ever seen in her life were charging. Spears were flying through the air

“Well, Twilight?”

“No I won’t!” The army jumped into the air. One of the spears cut deep into Luna’s wing. Twilight cried out in pain. She closed her eyes and there was a flash of light, in an instant all was gone.

Discord laughed. “You are something else, kid.” A stone pillar broke away from the ground and lifted Twilight high in the air. She was pressed against the surface as it soared higher into the sky. It collided with the clouds and lifted up until Twilight could see the whole planet. It was burning in brilliant blue flames. “Would you sacrifice all of Equestria for her?” The pillar crumbled and Twilight fell. She fell faster and faster until a cone of flame engulfed her. Then she passed out.

Storm Dancer glanced around at the wasteland that was before him. Still this area was better than the Everfree Forest. He walked carefully around the area, watching where his hooves landed with each step. There were pits and holes all around the ground, making navigating this landscape difficult. After about an hour of searching various locations, eventually he found what he was looking for when he stumbled upon a tunnel in the ground. Cautiously he entered the tunnel and made his way down the dark passage. He had never dealt with Diamond Dogs before, even in his time in the army, but he was told they were like mini-versions of dragons, enslaved by greed. As he walked a sound began to echo down the tunnel. A sickening chattering sound that was grating on his ears. As he neared the sound’s source a voice called out, “Who’s there!?”

Suddenly, Storm Dancer found himself surrounded by large bipedal creatures. They were breathing heavily and drooling. Their breath was enough to curl a pony’s mane. He had never seen so much drool. “What have we here? A pony that is lost!” The largest of the three dogs barked.

Storm Dancer began rifling through his saddlebags, “I’m not lost. I came here to make a deal with you.”

“Rgh… Diamond Dogs do not make deals. You smell of gems! You must be from pony palace.”

“I am indeed. Tell me, do you have this?” Storm Dancer held of an old piece of paper with a sketch of a necklace on it.

“Rgh! Why do you carry a drawing of our keepsake?”

“Oh good, you have it. I want it.”

“Necklace is ours! You no take it!” The dogs grabbed at Storm Dancer’s wings.

“How about a trade then?” Storm Dancer removed a large sparkling ruby from his saddlebag.

“Rare Fireruby! We want! We want!”

“Then trade with me. I want the necklace, and you want this splendid Fireruby.” Storm Dancer pulled his wings out of the dogs’ grasp.

“What is stop us taking it?” Storm Dancer sighed, these dog things really needed to learn to speak proper pony.

“If you think you can. By all means!” Storm Dancer reared back on his hind legs, his front hooves bearing small knife like spurs, standard equipment for pony infantry.

Twilight awoke to the interior of the library. She had been screaming and was covered in sweat. She stared at the ceiling as she waited for her breath to slow down. At least it was over. Her nightmares had been happening so frequently that she was well past dreading putting her head on a pillow. At least it was over. She could fell Luna body next to hers. It was a comforting feeling, knowing that now whenever she woke up from one of those terrifying nightmares, Luna would be nearby. All the horrible things that happen in the dream would be just a fading memory. Twilight rolled over, her plan was to steal a kiss from her love.

“Morning darling.” Discord was lounging on the other side of the bed, with a curved bubble pipe in his mouth. He took a few drags on it as Twilight rolled out of bed. “Wait! You said we’d spend the day together!”

“Buck off.” Twilight did not cuss often. Actually she could not remember the last time she had.

“You know, Celestia never used such vulgarities with me. Why can’t you be more like her? Besides, you don’t realize that this may be our last time to talk like this. Just us, one on one. Look the point is I have much to tell you and not a lot of time left. Let’s play a new game. I call this one Love Divides.” Another flash of light blinded her. She hated that light. Every time it occurred her life became miserable. The library broke apart. Its pieces gave way to a void of starry space. “Never a more powerful force than that of the green eyes you’ll find. It makes tempers seethe and morals blind. Now you stand with your love here at last. The finale is upon us, the dice have been cast!”

Discord snapped his fingers. Luna appeared a few feet from where Twilight was standing. “Look, there’s the pony you love!” Twilight galloped over to Luna only for her vanish in a flash of light. “Oh, wait, sorry. She’s over there.” Luna appeared behind Discord. Twilight ran back to Luna’s direction but she faded away before she could reach her with a snapping sound. “Oh. I’m sorry. My fingers keep slipping. Try again!” Luna appeared a bit further away this time. Twilight started to trot over to the princess of the night only for a flash of golden light to blind her momentarily. Twilight glanced back at Discord. “Don’t look at me! My hands were tied.” Discord held up his hands to show that they were literally tied together.

Blocking Twilight’s path to Luna was Celestia. The elder Alicorn looked down disapprovingly at Twilight. “Twilight Sparkle!” The Alicorn’s voice boomed. “You have betrayed me.”

“What! No! I haven’t!”

“You have done the unthinkable.”

“No! I would never hurt Luna! She’s my everything!”

“I am disappointed in you, Twilight.” Celestia turned away from Twilight. Twilight was horrified. She had never seen Celestia scowl as she was now. Actually, Celestia had never acted this way before. In all the years she had known the princess, this was completely out of character for her. Then something clicked in Twilight’s mind. Suddenly her thoughts were crystal clear.

“I… I…” Twilight gritted her teeth, “I don’t care.”

“What?”

“I said that I don’t care.” It was spoken plain, with almost a hint of annoyance.

Discord flashed in front of Twilight and raised an eyebrow. “What’s the matter Twilight? Normally these little images get your attention a bit more…”

“Celestia wouldn’t react like that. This is just a dream. This isn’t real.”

“Reality is subjective, but bravo!” Discord clapped his hands and confetti fell from the ceiling. “It only took your subconscious two months to realize that these were dreams. Bravo! That was sarcasm of course. A greater mind would have figured it out in less than a month.” Discord laughed, “So you won’t play my little games anymore will you?” Twilight shook her head. Discord frowned, “Oh how painfully boring.”

“What are these games supposed to teach me?”

“Why, the boundaries of your capabilities of course! Wasn’t that obvious?”

“Let me go Discord. I’m not playing anymore.”

“Well when you put it that way…. Nah.” Discord snapped his fingers and the world flooded with light. “Let’s see if I can’t knock theses silly ideas about reality out of your tiny little noggin.”

Twilight sat down, “No harm in you trying.”

“Oh aren’t we smug… Just for that cheeky comment, no more magic for you for the rest of our session.” Discord snapped his fingers and with a flash of white light, Twilight’s horn vanished.

Twilight glanced up at the space where her horn used to be. “Actually….” She glanced back to Discord, when a thought popped into her brain. “Since this is a dream,” with a flash of purple light, Twilight’s horn reappeared. “I think I’ll keep my magic.”

Discord’s eyes widened; his jaw fell to the ground, “But! That’s! Oh no… No… no… no! That doesn’t…”

“Make sense?” Twilight chuckled. “What fun is there in making sense?”

Discord let out a fearsome roar, “Fine! You want play hardball!? Let’s… play… hardball…” Discord snapped his fingers and with another flash of white light, the draconequus doubled in size. He snaked around Twilight and laughed. Twilight staggered back for a moment. Discord coiled into a tighter circle, threatening to strangle Twilight. His sinister cackle was panning around the area as he spun.

Then there was a flash of purple light. Discord found himself in the shadow of something monstrous. He looked to the sky to find it blocked. His ears dropped and his pupils shrank as he realized the shadow’s source. Twilight looked down from high above, her size easily equaling that of Canterlot Castle. The Unicorn leaned down to bring her face to the terrified and minuscule Discord. “Oh I know! Let’s play a game. I call this one Squish the Draconequus.” Twilight’s massive hoof raised as its shadow tracked itself over Discord.

Discord turned and began to run; Twilight’s rumbling steps tossing him into the air repeatedly. “Now Twilight, let’s be reasonable!” He said in a panicked tone, “We’re both reasonable creatures, right?” Twilight’s hoof slammed down dangerously close to his tail. Discord dropped to all fours and continued running, “Hey! Listen, if you squish me, you’ll be a killer! You’ll be no better than you think I am!” Discord snapped his fingers. A chariot appeared in a white flash. He climbed aboard the chariot and attempted to race away from the gargantuan Twilight. The chariot sped away unbelievably fast. Discord laughed as he looked back. “What’s the matter? Does all that size make you slow, Twilight?” The chariot crashed into a tree that had just appeared in a flash of purple. “Summoning trees in my path? That’s just rude.” Discord climbed out of the wreckage and attempted to resume running. Suddenly he felt his feet swept out from underneath of him. He began to fall sideways, towards Twilight. “Breaking the laws of gravity is cheating, Twilight.”

“My game, my rules.”

“Good cupcakes, you catch on fast….” Discord clawed at the ground as he was being pulled closer to the giant. Finally his claws gave out and he was flung into the air. He slid to a halt right below Twilight’s raised hoof. With another flash of purple light he found himself in a pit with Twilight’s hoof slowing coming down on top of him. “Now, now , let’s not do anything hasty! If you think about it… I’m not such a bad guy! I’m just trying to have a little fun! No…. No, no, no!” The hoof neared his head and his view of the sun was completely blocked. Discord snapped his fingers, and the sky turned in to a image of Ponyville burning. Twilight glanced at it, but otherwise ignored it. “Ok! Look! Look, I know we have our differences but is this really the answer?”

“You assault my mind with horrific images of those I care for. I’m done playing your games.”

“But squashing me? How dreadfully gruesome.” Discord winced.

“You’re omnipotent. I’m sure you’ll survive in some form or another. Just not within my mind.” The hoof came down with the force of a hurricane. Discord curled into a ball and shivered in fear. With a last second thought, he extended his arm and snapped his fingers. Princess Luna appeared next to Discord. The Alicorn looked up at the giant Unicorn with a fearful expression. Twilight’s hoof came to a sudden stop in the air. Discord glanced up with a bit of hesitation. His lips slowly curled into a smile. He snapped his fingers. Soon Twilight was back to normal size and Discord was looming over her.

“I’m going to forgive that little outburst. Because I’m so magnanimous.” Discord smirked, “Now, let’s see if I can’t reaffirm the gravity of this situation. Don’t worry; we’ll get this right if it takes all night.” Discord snapped his fingers.

13: Lessons

“Initial Lockdown protocols have been carried out, my princess.” Wind Strider, bowed to Princess Celestia. “As per your orders, sky and ground patrols have been tripled. Curfew has been established. All residences have been instructed to remain indoors one hour after sunset until one hour after sunrise. I’ve also dispatched the third Unicorn division to search the city for unauthorized types of magic and the third and fifth Pegsi divisions to check for any illegal weather.” Wind Strider stood up from his bow and saluted. “Is this sufficient?”

Celestia nodded, “More than. You take great initiative in dispatching the magic search and weather patrols. I see Shining Armor has been training his second-in-command well.”

“He has confided in me that I have been picked to be his replacement should he retire. I hear with the prospect of a family coming up, he has been considering stepping down from his post to more of a desk role.”

Celestia closed her eyes and sighed, “I have not heard that. At least we will be in good hooves if such a case arises. Still, he is only one of two Unicorns that can replicate my shield spell. So until another is trained I dare say I may require his assistance in some capacity.”

“You would have to talk with him on that one, my princess. I’m just relaying what I have been hearing.” Wind Strider suddenly felt awkward. He did not like to be the one delivering bad news. “Is there anything else I can do to ensure your safety, Princess?

“My safety is not the concern. My subjects, Acting Captain, I place the care and protection of my dear subjects in your capable hooves for the rest of the night. Make sure they sleep soundly. If you’ll excuse me, I have a few matters to tend to before retiring for the evening.” Celestia used her magic to open a window and took flight. It certainly was a lovely night. The moon was particularly beautiful that evening. Little Lulu must be extremely happy to create such a calm and perfect night, the talks in Griffica must be going exceptionally well. Celestia smiled. Good news, she needed good news like that. The Alicorn flew over the perimeter of Canterlot, just to check on the progress of the nightly patrols. Wind Strider may have done a good job, but he was still no Shining Armor. When she was satisfied with what she saw, Celestia made her way back to the castle. Her wings twitched and buckled under her weight for a slight moment. It was most ungraceful of her and a surefire sign she was tired. She bit her lip and cast a rejuvenation spell. The very same spell she warned Luna about using. She mentally scolded herself for breaking her own rules, but this was an emergency. Besides, it was not as though she was going to get a good night’s sleep this night anyway. She still had work to do. Equestria was not going to remain a utopia by itself. She landed near the south end of the castle. She found herself again staring at the door to the dungeons for the second night in a row.

With a drawn out sigh, she magically unlocked the door and descended into the darkness. She climbed down the stone steps in hasty manner. She could not risk talking to Discord again, the more time she spent in his presence, the more he could influence her. However, she still could not shake this feeling of dread in her heart and there was still one lead she had close at hoof that she had not exhausted yet. The stairs gave way to a long narrow hallway, lined with empty cells. She walked past each cell and fought back a tear. The cells had once been used to house all of Nightmare Moon’s supporters when she had tried to bring about eternal night. It was quiet ironic. For as much as Luna had claimed to be lonely and unloved, several of Celestia’s subjects had switched loyalties as soon as the sun did not rise. As she neared her destination she could hear the creature’s voice. It was singing again. It was always singing.

That’s when he fell…
For his sweet belle…
With loooove’s… last… kiss…

“Her grace has graced my presence two days in a row.” Queen Chrysalis rolled her eyes, “I must be a bucking queen or something.” The Changeling leaned her hooves on the bars of the cell. “What’s the matter, Princess, getting a bit lonely in your old age?”

“Dark tides are coming. I can sense them.” Celestia turned her back to the queen, “I need to know what your swam is planning.”

The queen chuckled, “Why would you think I would tell you anything?”

“Because, you’ve lost before. You’ll lose again. The only difference is how much collateral damage is done to my kingdom. You tell me what I need to do to prevent this upcoming hardship and I’ll cut you a deal.”

The queen cracked a sinister smile, “A deal?”

“I’ve piqued your interest I see. What do you want?”

“My freedom.”

“Out of the question.”

“Then food.”

“I’ll have the chefs prepare a four course meal fit for myself.”

“Not that disgusting pile of grass and sugar you call food. Real food. Food I can eat. Find me a loving pony couple and bring one of them to me so I can drain them of their love… and life.” The queen stared down Celestia.

The princess broke the stare and looked down at the floor in contemplation. There were several couples in the castle that would be able to… fulfill… the queen’s order. Am I seriously considering this? Celestia shook her head, “I can’t do that. I won’t let even one Unicorn, Pegsi, or Earth pony suffer under your fangs.”

“Griffins have the concept of love, and they’re not ponies… Dragons, Diamond Dogs, Zebras… Alicorns. At this point I don’t care about the source. I’m starving.”

“You’re asking for a tall order. First you tell me about what your swarm is up to and then we’ll cut a more suitable deal.”

“My swam? The one you killed?”

“I didn’t kill them.”

“Oh, that’s right. That Unicorn did. Him and your bucking niece. They were flung far away from me. They can’t fend for themselves. They all starved. All of my children. Dead. I blame him and his whole family. Which, last time I checked, includes you.”

Celestia looked at the floor, “But… if your swarm is dead.... Then where is this feeling coming from?”

“How should I know? I can’t see into the future. Clearly, or I would have killed the pink princess first, instead of trying to save her for a snack.”

Celestia shook her head, “You can’t. But I can.” The princess turned her back on the Changeling and left the dungeon. The queen leaned back against the wall of her cell.

And so my face I did reveal,
And to my power he did justly kneel,
When he saw my real face…
I gave him just one sweet taste…
Of loooove’s… last… kiss…

Twilight and Luna stood huddled together. Luna’s wing was draped over Twilight’s back, pulling her close. The ground heaved and bucked around them. The grassy field folded up into a box, engulfing the two ponies. The dirt around them formed into wood and brick. Soon they found themselves in the Ponyville schoolhouse. The chairs and desks sprung up and grabbed Luna and Twilight. They were forced to sit down, facing the front of the classroom. Discord summoned a mortarboard, a black gown, a long pointing stick, and a chalkboard. He tapped the chalkboard with his claw. The draconequus scrapped his claw against the board and let it screech. He walked slowly from one side of the board to the other, dragging the claw in an even motion. Luna and Twilight banged their heads on the desk, their ears folding down to try and muffle the noise. Twilight felt a terrible shiver sprint down her spine. “Sorry, couldn’t resist.” Discord laughed.

“Let us go Discord!” In the back of Twilight’s mind she had the faintest memory that she could overpower the draconequus, but her thoughts right now were so clouded with images of Luna getting hurt.

“You mean you, not ‘us’. And I'm Sorry, but I can’t do that. You see, now that I know your mind is finally starting to catch up, I’m unfortunately going to have to speed up our lessons. I would so much like to avoid another incident like we just had.”

“Anything you could teach us would be not worth learning!”

“There you go with that ‘us’ again.” Discord walked over and patted Luna on the head. Twilight squirmed against her bonds.

The Unicorn screamed, “Don’t you touch her!”

“Oh, Twilight,” Discord said in a condescending tone, like the one used by a magic-kindergarten teacher. “I just don’t know what I’ll do when you finally realize that this thing is just a mindless doll. The real Princess Woona is still sleeping next to you while you toss and turn.” Discord looked up at the sky, “Disgusting, she’s snuggling with you….”

Something the draconequus had said confused her, but her mind was foggy. The only thing she could see now was Discord stroking Luna’s mane, “Get your claws off of her!” Twilight growled.

Discord sighed, “Anyway, back to our lessons. I’d love to taunt you more, but your lucidity might come back. And we can’t have that.” Discord started drawing frantically on the chalkboard with his tail. He drew crude depictions of ponies of all types. He drew the sun and the moon and the Alicorn sisters. Discord snapped his fingers. With the wind from a hurricane, Twilight was sucked in to the chalk drawing. She felt the air squeezed out of her body as she became flat. The colors of the world gave way to green and white and the concept of perspective changed in a way she could not even describe. If her mind was not so foggy, she would have been happily jotting down notes on the shift from three dimensional spaces to the second dimension. Discord’s laugh echoed throughout the area. If she looked in a direction that no longer existed, she could see the face of the draconequus chortling.

“Tell me, Twilight, how much do you know of Equestria’s history?” The chalk ponies began to multiply and move about in a flickering fashion. “Do you know where Alicorns come from? Do you know how Luna and Celestia are able to control the sun and moon? What about the three pony tribes? Do you think they always existed?”

“Alicorns are born just like any other pony. There just aren’t any more around now.”

“Oh and is that what Luna told you? You shouldn’t believe everything she says. She’ll lie in a heartbeat if it serves her purpose.”

“Luna’s not a liar!”

“Really? What do you think she told Celestia when she left the castle?” Twilight bowed her head. She really did not have anything to say against that.

“Let’s go back, back over Equestria’s time line.” A large line drew itself underneath Twilight’s hooves. “Now most recently, there was the Changeling Incident.” A picture of Canterlot surrounded with a bubble of magic appeared. “Well done on dropping the ball on that one. Couldn’t make it to the Elements of Harmony in time, huh? Good thing your big brother was there to clean up the mess like always. What was the nickname your parents had for you? Twilight Stumble? Always with her head in the books; bumping into things. Who’s a silly pony? You are!”

“Shut up!”

The image of Canterlot was messily erased into white streaks of chalk. “Alright, moving on. Next we have, what in my professional opinion as an educator, was the best day in Equestrian history!” A brilliantly drawn image of Discord singing appeared, “My return! Oh what a great day that was! Truly so. You have no idea how stiff your legs get when you’re encased in stone for just over three thousand years.” An image of a colorless-chalk rainbow wrapped itself around Discord’s image. “Then you had to go and ruin it. Ah, c'est la vie, as the fancy say.” The image was erased. “So let’s skip back a year or so,” the line under Twilight’s hooves was yanked out from under her as it sped by, “Ah, here we are! Nightmare Moon’s return!” An image of Luna and Nightmare Moon appeared with Twilight standing in between. “I wonder if you would have acted differently if you had known you would have been snuggling noses with the beast only a few years later?”

“Nightmare Moon is gone. I freed Luna from her.”

“Oh, right. My mistake, you still believe that silly lie told to you by Celestia. The fact of the matter is, as we covered just a few sessions ago, is that Nightmare Moon is very much alive. The real question is why did you think she was gone?”

“The Elements of Harmony banished…”

“Oh!” Discord laughed, “I’m sorry what? You thought…! Oh well this is just silly!” Discord’s laughter died down. “Have you ever stopped to wonder what the Elements do? Where did they come from? Or perhaps who made them?”

“They… have always existed, right?”

“Well I wouldn’t say always. But they are certainly older than me and I’m the oldest thing on this little planet! Let’s go back to when ponies first found the elements, back before Equestria was founded….” The line was again yanked out from under Twilight’s hooves. It whirled on by with increasing speed. The chalkboard seemed to age, it became covered in dirt, rust, and dust. Finally the world stopped spinning so fast the chalk line settled back down on the ground. “It was Celestia, back when she was just so young. Still several times older than you though, as was her sister. Think about that next time you lock lips with the princess of the night. And this was thousands of years ago. Back when giant lizards roamed the earth! Do dragons still do that? Oh, I’m off track again…”

“Is that…?”

“Tartarus? Oh, most certainly.”

“The pit in which all evil is kept? Guarded by Cerberus, the three headed dog?”

“Yes. Which, if you think about it, should tell you something that Celestia doesn’t keep me in there….”

“But… Tartarus is home to the most violent beasts in all of the Known World.”

“Who do you think put them there? After she retrieved the Elements from their resting place, she filled the pit with anything she deemed too dangerous for her new world….”

“How could the Elements of Harmony come out of a place so evil?”

“Oh what is evil anyway? If you had to define it, what would you say, bookworm?”

“Evil is anything that threatens the idyllic peacefulness of Equestira!”

“Oh? And where did you get that? From a book?”

“The Canterlot Dictionary….”

Discord rested his elbows on Twilight’s head, “Face it, filly. Celestia has her hooves in everything. Wake up and look around, Twilight. Celestia has spent thousands of years shaping your culture. Everything is under her carful control. And you have the gall to call me the puppet master?”

Twilight pushed Discord off her head, “But everypony is so happy!”

“Are they really happy? Or just brainwashed? They prance around like mindless dolls. So dreadfully boring. True happiness comes after victory. Victory is meaningless without strife.”

“That’s not true. I am happy anytime I spend time with my friends.”

“And when did you make friends? After the conflict with Nightmare Moon. See? Strife and chaos bring us all closer together. Celestia wants to rob the world of that. All in pursuit of ‘order’! She sculpts her nation to be entirely in her image.”

“Who cares if she defined our culture? That’s what a ruler does!”

“Or at least that’s what your definition of a ruler is… How do you know where Celestia’s ideals end and your own begin?” Discord pressed his cheek against Twilight, “Wouldn’t it just so much easier if Celestia was gone?” The image of Celestia faded away, leaving only Twilight and Luna standing next to each other, hugging. “Imagine a world with just you and Luna. Forever together and free of Celestia’s control! You wouldn’t have to hide your relationship anymore.”

“That…” Twilight knelt down and placed her hooves on her head and clenched her eyes shut, “… would be nice…”

Discord twirled into the air, “Wonderful! Absolutely spectacular! Congratulations, young Twilight! You earn a gold star for today’s lesson!”

Twilight smiled, “Wow! A gold star!” Twilight’s smiled faded, “I… wait… but Celestia… is my friend….”

Discord frowned, “Oh, cheese and chaos… so close.”

“Celestia is my mentor, she practically raised me!”

Discord started whining in a mocking tone, “Oh wah, wah. Celestia is soooooo great. Everypony loves Celestia. You think she’s just perfect, don’t you?” Twilight nodded. “Oh, but she’s far from it… I mean, how can a killer be the perfect ideal of peace?”

Twilight stuttered, “Killer…?”

“Why yes, you… Oh? You didn’t know? She never told you? How she has not just taken a life… but one of the most, if not the most, sacred lives in the whole world? How do you think she got all that power? You thought she was born with it? Oh my dear little pony, the power of a god is not given, it is always taken.”

“But Luna is just as…”

“Her too, my little pony, her too…” Discord scratched his chalky beard. “Perhaps you need to see what the world was like when Celestia first took rule…” Discord snapped his fingers.

Back in Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia was pacing in her room. If Queen Chrysalis’s swarm was not the looming threat, than what was? The queen had made a valid point thought, she could not see into the future. “But I can,” Celestia said. She did not often talk out loud to herself, only when she was exceptionally nervous or worried. Celestia looked at the device before her, a relic of the ancient ones. She kept it in her room, that way she was sure it would never be used. It was a large upside down hemisphere, plated with gold. “The Dome of Vision,” she had called it. It had been found in Tartarus near the chamber where the Elements of Harmony had been found. It wasn’t until hundreds of years later, with the help of Starswirl the Bearded, that she had figured out how to work the finicky contraption. It required an exhausting amount of magic to use, even for her, and even then it only provided a small glimpse into the timelines. But the biggest reason it saw little use was not that it exhausted one’s magic supply, “Staring into the future void of time drives you mad.” Time travel to the past was difficult, but not impossible if the caster was exceptionally gifted. Still the spell was limited by interaction time and distance traveled across the timeline. Gazing into the future was against the laws of the world. She would know, she wrote many of them. Even she was uncertain if the power of the Alicorn would protect her from the effect of the device, but she had never before dared to experiment to find out.

“It affects you subtly. Slowly your thoughts begin to betray your ideals. Voices whisper in the back of your skull. It’s a tickle at first, as your senses begin to cross. A taste in your mouth you can’t quite remember where you’ve heard before. The smell of static electricity burning through your eyes. Oh, poor Starswirl. I should have destroyed this relic long ago when it claimed your life. Then at least there would never be the temptation to use it.” Celestia levitated a bottle from one of her shelves over. “A liquefied sundial once made of sandstone and boiled in the noonday sun.” She poured the bottle into the dome. Another bottle floated near, “The mist that rolls off a waterfall bottled in the moonlight.” A small bowl of water floated by and Celestia pulled out a small guppy and tossed it into the dome, “A fish out of water, as is the viewer out of their time.” Celestia opened a small chest. Waves of frosty mist plumed out of the box as she removed several frozen flowers, “The petals of a spring daffodil, the stem of an autumn aster, the center of a summer dandelion, and the thrones of a winter frostrose, and all grown from the era of chaos.” Celestia glanced over to the windowsill. She opened the windows gentle and looked out at the city. She let out a low, soft whistle. In an instant a swarm of butterflies crowded her window. Celestia focused her magic on one and pulled it inside the room. It struggled against her levitation spell before its wings were torn from its body. “Finally, the wings of the monarch butterfly, the keepers of the time stream.”

Celestia closed her eyes and focused magic into her horn. Light softened in the room as she absorbed it and channeled it into the dome. A mess of blue electricity arched and sparked inside the dome. Sounds of thunder echoed throughout the palace. In a flash of blue light, the electricity settled into a swirling vortex of blue liquid. Celestia stared over the device, and braced herself. She inhaled deeply and dunked her head into the dome and opened her eyes:

Nighttime…. Flash…. No stars…. Flash…. Storm clouds…. Flash…. Thundering noise, no rain…. Flash…. Canterlot in ruins…. Flash…. Shield missing…. Flash…. Empty city…. Flash…. Smoke in the distance…. Flash…. Tear rolls down a purple Unicorn’s cheek…. Flash…. The Elements of Harmony scattered…. Flash…. Luna crying…. Flash…. Luna shouting…. Flash…. Castle tower falls to ground…. Flash…. The sound of thunder…. Flash…. Sun falls from sky…. Flash…. Nightmare Moon stands on top of rubble…. Flash…. Laughter…. Flash…. Sun falls off horizon…. Flash…. Nightmare Moon…. Flash…. Young foal runs from falling rubble…. Flash…. Nightmare Moon…. Flash…. Luna crying…. Flash…. Sun crashes off the edge of the sky…. Flash…. Nightmare Moon….

Celestia pulled her head out of the dome and gasped for air. She inhaled deeply and coughed, spewing glowing blue liquid from her throat. She staggered over to her bed and tried to steady her fit of coughing. “No…!” Her eyes welled with tears. She broke down in another fit of coughing. “Luna’s changed…! The dome is never wrong but… How could my sister still want to bring about eternal night?” Celestia kicked a vase that sat on a nearby drawer. “This can’t be possible! She couldn't match me without the power Nightmare Moon…. But Nightmare Moon would only attack if… if Lulu truly desired eternal night.” Celestia flopped onto her bed and let her head roll to the side. She stared at an extravagant painting of a teal colored Earth pony. Luna had painted it so long ago, and it had never left Celestia’s room. None but the ruling sisters had ever laid eyes on it. “Did I not pay enough attention to her? Did I not give her everything I could give her? It’s not my fault the other ponies prefer the day to the night! I’ve tried…. I’ve tried so hard…. What should I do?!” Celestia pounded her hoof on the bed. “Oh, my dear sweet mother!” Tears stained the bed, “Where did I go wrong? How could she still resent all that we’ve worked for? I’ve tried so hard with her…” Celestia buried her head in her pillow, “I’m just not you… I’m just not you….” Celestia pulled her covers over her head and curled into a ball, “I’m trying to take care of her… I’m trying…. I wish you were still here…. Mother…. Mama… Selena is being bad again…. It’s not my fault…. I wish you were here....” Celestia began to sing. In the castle, a sorrowful song could be heard for the second time in a month, its lyrics in the ancient tongue.

14: A Day to Ourselves

Twilight Sparkle was screaming. The young Unicorn was tossing and turning in her sleep. She must have been having a terrible nightmare. From the other side of the bed, Princess Luna stared at her fillyfriend in horror. What was she supposed to do? She had never been good at comforting other ponies. Nightmare Moon was hissing in her mind, commanding that she do something to calm their love down, but Luna simply stared at Twilight as she moaned in her sleep. Feeling a bit awkward, Luna sat up on her haunches and picked Twilight up off the bed with her magic. She pulled the terrified Unicorn into her embrace, wrapping her front hooves around the pony and encasing her in her wings. Twilight seemed to wake slightly and her ramblings seemed to start to form words. “It’s not true! You’re lying!” Luna hugged her little Unicorn tighter, perhaps subconsciously trying to squeeze the fright out of her. “She would never do this! There’s so much fire….” Luna let her flowing mane fall down and envelop Twilight in its cool mist. After a moment, Twilight stopped squirming. She let out an occasional sob as she quivered in the princess’s embrace. “Luna?”

“I’m here, Twilight.” She must have done well. Twilight was much calmer now. This comfort thing was not so hard.

“Luna…” the Unicorn whispered, “It was so horrible.”

“It was just a dream. Everything is better now.”

“There was fire everywhere….”

“Don’t worry, the library is fine. All your friends are safe, I’m safe, and Shining Armor is safe. Even your books are safe.”

“It wasn’t the library…. It was all of Equestira. It was on fire.” Twilight sobbed.

“Well that’s just silly, Twilight. The library is part of Equestira and as you can see, it’s safe and sound.” Luna loosened her grip slightly, to allow the Unicorn some room to breathe.

“No…. It was long ago… There was fire…. Celestia had killed.... something…. She killed…. Something holy… something sacred… a great spirit….”

Luna’s eyes widened, “How...?” Luna gulped, “How do you… know that?

“The dream…. And you were there… you…. I can’t remember…. But it was terrifying.” Twilight nuzzled her snout in to Luna’s arms.

“Twilight, perhaps it’s time I tell you about Nightmare Moon.” Luna knew saying the words would cause Nightmare Moon to throw a tantrum in her thoughts, and the darker side of her did not disappoint her in this regard. “Twilight, you see… It was a very dark time in our history, and Celestia… and, well… myself too I guess… had made some mistakes…. But! But she found a way to fix them… for a cost…. You see, Nightmare Moon is actually….”

“Oh! My! Bucking! Horseapples! The mystery mare was Princess Luna?!”

Luna and Twilight scrambled out of their embrace and quickly tried to act casual which in situations like this, always makes the action seem at least three and seven twenty-seconds times worse. “Rarity!” Twilight tried her hardest to remove any hint of embarrassment from her voice, considering that she had called out her friend’s name at in a pitch three times higher than Sweetie Belle’s singing voice, she was probably not doing a good job. “You’re up early?”

“Who let you in?” Luna said with a hint of annoyance.

“The door was unlocked; rather the lock was broken! Oh, please Princess, forgive my earlier language. I’m just so awestruck that Twilight could land such a catch as you. Oh, and you’re already sharing the bed! How romantic!”

“Rarity!” Twilight repeated, although in a tone of annoyance rather than surprise.

“Oh this is just THE! MOST! WONDERFUL! THING! To ever happen to our little group of gals! I’ll get to be part of two royal weddings in my life time! It will be fantastic! You absolutely have to make me the best mare!”

“Rarity, calm down! We just became a couple last night. It’s ages before we even need to think about stuff like that.”

Luna smiled slyly. “I don’t know, Twilight. She would make a great best mare. And you saw the dress she made for Cadence. I could probably wear something in that style. All those sparkling gems would complement my mane.” Rarity’s eyes lit up like the night sky.

“Luna! Don’t encourage her!” Twilight threw her hooves down on the bed and stared angrily at her fillyfriend.

Luna leaned over and kissed Twilight on the cheek, “Oh, calm down Twilight.”

“Oh. Great… you two slept in the same bed,” Shining Armor said as he rounded the staircase. “I was already having nightmares about the thought of that happening… And here it actually happened…”

“Armor!” To be honest, Twilight had forgotten he had spent the night on her reading couch. “Why is everypony in my bedroom?!”

Luna put on a fake pout, “Well… if it upsets you… I guess I can leave…”

“No, you stay. Armor get out of here! Rarity, if you get out of here and promise not to tell anypony what’s going on here, I promise you can do the dresses for my wedding, to whoever it is.”

“But I can’t leave now! Darling, you don’t know the first thing about romance! Have you gone on a date yet? How will you know what to talk about! You can’t screw this up for me! I want to plan that wedding!”

Shining Armor stamped his hoof, “There’s not going to be a wedding! Because the princess is going to start acting like royalty and get her hooves off my sister!”

Twilight scrabbled to the top of Luna’s head and covered the princess’s ears with her hooves, “Stop talking! Just all of you, stop talking right now!”

“No, now is the perfect time to talk. Look, Twily, you’ve had your fun. But it’s time to get practical.” Shining Armor moved to the bed, but was blocked by Rarity.

Rarity pushed the stallion, “What is it in your family that makes you ponies so possessive of your siblings? You can’t stand in the way of my wed…. I mean true love, of course!”

“True love? They’ve been together for only a day!”

“Shouldn’t you, of all the possible ponies in Equestria, understand love when you see it?”

Luna attempted to pry Twilight’s hooves off her ears, “Twilight, sweetie. I can still hear them.”

“Cadence and I dated for seven years before we tied the knot! We knew what we were getting into! Twily is too young! And don’t even get me started on how old the princess is!”

Twilight threw herself down on Luna’s lap, “Kill me now… Please tell me you have a spell that can just put me out my misery.”

Luna glanced down at her Unicorn, “I could put you to sleep. But judging by how the past two nights have been… I don’t want you have any more nightmares like those.”

Rarity kicked Shining Armor, “Love is ageless you uncouth simpleton!”

“You sure this is any less horrific?”

Deep within a bush, Storm Dancer yawned as he fumbled with a spyglass. He could not for the life of him figure out non-Unicorn ponies were supposed to hold the darned contraption. After a bit of finagling, he managed to balance the ends of the spyglass on his hoof and nose. He carefully aimed the contraption at the window of the Ponyville Library. He fumbled with the focus and when he could not get that to cooperate, he squinted his eye to try and make sense of the image. What he saw horrified him. The library must have been converted into a rebellion command center. Right before his eyes, ponies of the rebellion were gathering to overthrow his great Celestia. He could only imagine the evil plots that were being plotted inside the rebel command. “The princess and two element bearers, and the Captain of the Royal Guard! Nightmare Moon’s corruption goes deeper than I thought. Now if only I could… Gah!”

“Hey-yah, old feathers!” The voice of a young filly startled the Pegasus. Storm Dancer’s hoof flipped the spyglass up into the air. He made a grab at the device with his teeth, but he dropped it. He tried to pop it back into the air, but his aim was off and he only clipped the side of the spyglass. “What’s with the fancy getup? You from the palace?”

Storm Dancer turned to the small orange Pegasus, “Go away, little filly. I’m very busy.”

“Are you spying? Are you on a top secret mission for the princess?” The filly donned a huge smile.

“If I was a spy, do you think I would tell you?” Storm Dancer picked the spyglass back up with his hooves and peered back inside the library. He yawned very loudly. Truth be told, he had not slept in three days.

“Wow! The life of a spy must be great! Camping out and protecting the masses! I wonder what a spy Cutie Mark looks like. Oh, man! I bet it’s so awesome! Whatcha looking at?” The filly grabbed the spyglass and glanced through it. “Oh wow, is that Princess Luna in there? Whatcha spying on her for?”

“Uh… Celestia sent me on a special mission to watch over the princess. You know, so if she gets into trouble, Celestia will know about it.”

“Wow. Being a spy must be awesome! I bet the Cutie Mark for it is this cool spyglass, that’s what you use, right?”

Then Storm Dancer had an idea. He had a terrible, awful, and splendid idea. With Nightmare Moon ready to pounce at anytime, and frankly he was running on fumes from days of preparing, he needed at least a couple hours of sleep. “Hey, kid. What’s your name?”

“Scootaloo,” the filly answered.

“How would you like to be an honorary spy for a few hours?”

“You’re kidding! REALLY?”

“Shh…! First rule of spying is to be quiet. Here’s the deal. I’ve been up all night for the past two days. You know, protecting the kingdom. I’m just going to go take a nap at the Stables. You keep an eye on Princess Luna and make sure there’s nothing odd. If you see something odd….”

“That’s when I swoop in and save the day?” Scootaloo pantomimed a few kicks in the air.

“No. You come and wake me up so I can call in backup. You got that? No heroics. Spies are ponies of mystery and secrecy. We don’t get the face-time glory. But Celestia gives us plenty of medals to make up for it.”

“Awesome! You can count on me! SCOOTALOO SUPER SPY!”

“Shhh!”

“Howdy there, Spike. Is Twilight in?” Applejack tipped her hat to the young dragon. It was a tad early in the morning. Well, not for her, but for Twilight Sparkle it certainly was early in the morning. Not that the lavender Unicorn was a late raiser, but Applejack was up usually a whole two hours before any of her friends even stirred in bed. Whilst they slumbered, Applejack had already made her morning rounds to check on the orchard and cleaned the cider press. Today was Saturday, however, and she was done with her job for the rest of the time the sun was in the air. She always looked forward to Saturday, and while she always enjoyed working on the farm, she welcomed the break to spend time with friends. She usually spent Saturday with Rainbow Dash, playing a lazy game of horseshoes or with Twilight, playing a game of chess or laughing at Twilight try to explain what she learned about farming from a book. With things being uncomfortable with Rainbow Dash right now, Applejack was all set to spend the day with Twilight.

Spike gestured to the staircase, “She’s up there, in her bedroom. Careful though. It’s a circus up there right now.” Applejack nodded and began to trot up the stairs. Spike called back, “Wait! Applejack, do you know about Twi and…? Oh, well, you’ll figure it out.” As Applejack approached the bedroom door, she could understand what Spike meant. There were all kinds of shouting coming from the other side of the door. Applejack cautiously turned the handle.

“She’s too young! Absolutely too young! And frankly, the princess is not what anypony could call datable material.” Shining Armor stomped his hoof an additional time for good measure.

Twilight was practically growling, “I can date whoever I want! I’m a full grown mare!”

Luna stretched her haunches and then settled back down on top of the bed, “Well, he has a point. I’m not exactly the best mare to bring home to a mother.”

Twilight turned her glare to Luna, “You’re making this worse!”

Luna sighed, “Let your brother say his peace. It’s not like he could stop us from dating. That’s up to us to decide. Just be happy you have a sibling who cares for you.” The Alicorn flattened her head down against the bedspread and curled her hooves in front of her mouth. She looked decidedly bored.

Rarity, “She has a point, you can’t get in the way of love, Shining Armor! You can’t just demand that…. Oh, hi Applejack.”

“Spike wasn’t fibbin’. ‘S more crowded up here than a basket-full o’ red crisps.”

“Applejack! Did you hear? Oh, of course you didn’t, my poor uninformed stetson wearing dear. Twilight and Princess Luna are a couple! And they’re getting married!”

“Say what now?”

Twilight tossed a book at Rarity’s head, “We are not getting married!”

Luna casually rolled on her back, “I can see I’m going to have a hard time purposing to you if the time comes…” Twilight glanced back to see the princess completely disregarding any royal manners and could not help but let loose a smile. Luna was adorable when she wanted to be, and judging by the coy smile she returned, she was purposely trying to tease Twilight.

Shining Armor pushed past Twilight and pressed his eyes to Rarity’s, “All I’m trying to say is that, they’re moving too fast! Sharing the same bed, they haven’t even had a proper date yet!”

Rarity pushed back, “Well, of course they should go on a date! Finally we agree on something!”

“That’s not what I….”

“We should go on a date, Twilight! That sounds like fun. You know just the two of us.” Luna nudged Twilight’s shoulder.

Twilight levitated several books from the downstairs bookcases up to her room. The tomes circled around her and she paged through several at once. She shook her head at each book before dismissing it. “Ah! It says here we could take a picnic. That sounds like fun, let’s do that.”

Rarity’s eyes ignited with more stars than Luna’s mane, “A romantic picnic! That sounds perfect!” The Unicorn almost fainted, “I’ll have to come along, of course, to make sure it’s just perfect.”

Shining Armor shook his head, “Oh no! You’re not going anywhere without me! If you insist on this ridiculous relationship, I’m at least going to chaperone.”

“If Rarity is going, I’m coming too!” Spike poked his head up from the stairs.

Twilight’s eyes went teary, “Applejack,” she pleaded, “help me!”

“Why sure, sugarcube, I’d be happy to get you some of my famous apple-pie for your date! Heck, ya’ got so many ponies going along, might as well join ya’ and make it a party!”

The balcony door opened abruptly and a pink pony stuck her head into the room with a burst of confetti, “Did somepony say party?”

Luna chuckled slightly, it was just going to be one of those days it seemed. Twilight smacked her face with her hooves, “Remember this day, Luna. This is the day my life ended.”

Celestia was staring at the painting of her mother. She stared into the eyes of the teal Earth pony and cried softly. It was hard to keep focus on the painting through the watery orbs. The Alicorn tired her best to fight back the sniffling sobs her body was forcing upon her. Still, the painting had always made her feel better even in the worst of times. She had spent almost a whole two hundred and fifty years staring nonstop at the painting after the first Nightmare Night. Now the second coming of eternal night was on its way and she had no idea how to stop it. The Dome of Vision had predicted the return of eternal night, that part was a fact. Celestia was well aware of the rules of the time stream. The past could never be changed, but visions from future still allowed some leeway. If she could act fast enough she could prevent the tragedy. The easiest way would be to preemptively banish Luna. But she would prefer not to have to destroy her relationship with her sister anymore than she already had. She wished she could ask her mother for advice. She always knew just what to say. Celestia stood up and tentatively caressed the canvas of the painting. She had never touched the painting before, not in all the thousands of years she had owned it. She had always believed touching it would wear the paining down and then she would have nothing left of it. Today, however, she just needed to be closer to it, closer to her. She placed her cheek on the picture and sighed. “You’re not coming back. No matter how much I wish. No matter how much I want to speak with you.”

She kissed the painting and turned to the door to her room. She glanced briefly at the vanity on the north side of the room. With a small flexing of magic she levitated a series of towels and brushes around her head that fixed her mane and wiped the tears from her eyes. She closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. A false smile adorned her lips as she opened the door and prepared to set about her royal duties. She walked down the halls of the castle. Her poise was regal. Not a single one of her subjects would have known how upset she was inside. Luna might have noticed. Her mother would have certainly. But her guards? Her attendants? The entire rest of Equestira? No. They would never see how much was weighing on her heart. That was her job, to never let them see weakness. Ponies bowed and greeted her as she passed them. The gilded halls of Canterlot Castle had never felt so alone. Even after she had banished Luna to the moon, she still had hope that she would one day return and they could go back to being the best of friends. Now, she knew Luna was going to betray her again. This time, there was no room for leniency. “Fool me once….” She muttered under her breath as she entered the throne room. The guards by the doors closed the grand entrance and took their places alongside the lower sections of the throne’s pedestal. She sat as still as a statue and listened to the water fountain trickle softly. From the windows outside, the glimmer of her barrier spell shimmered. Rising Star, one of her most trusted attendants approached the throne.

“Your highness, the citizens are requesting an explanation for the lockdown of the city.”

“Tell them it is a precaution against stray Dragons that were separated from the migration. It shall not last long.”

Rising Star had never seen the princess so causally deny the truth from her subjects, “Is it a precaution against Dragons?”

“No. But that is what you will tell them. Now, go, give them their answer.” The truth was, if Nightmare Moon was indeed the threat, there was little the shield would do to protect Canterlot. In fact it would most likely inhibit proper aid to the city. However, Celestia still did not know the circumstances that would bring about Nightmare Moon’s return. Hopefully, it was an outside source. There were several species in the Known World capable of mind manipulation. If Luna’s emotional state was fragile enough even she, as an Alicorn, could become susceptible to influence. Of course there was always the grim explanation that she had simply never recovered from her resentment. Considering Lulu’s rampart misbehavior since her return, it was more than likely. It was times like these that all precautions needed to be taken and she needed to count her assets. Canterlot was steeled for siege; the princess herself was back to the peak of her magical power after her embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Changeling Queen. What now mattered most was that she needed her trump card to be ready to fight. Nightmare Moon could well match her, but Nightmare Moon was still susceptible to the artifacts of the ancient ones. The Elements of Harmony could nullify the power of an Alicorn like Nightmare Moon for nearly a year, more than plenty enough time for Celestia to figure out how to handle her sister. “Graycoat, fetch me a quill and paper.”

An Earth pony stallion guard bowed, “As you wish, my princess.”

She watched as the stallion raced off. She focused her gaze forward at the door, lowering her head slightly. The pose was for nothing more than to look picturesque. She found that over the years it made her look commanding and regal, yet approachable and compassionate, which was the exact image she wished to convey. Soon the stallion returned in haste. She levitated the parchment from his mouth and began writing with her quill:

My Dear Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle,

It has been a few days from your last report. I have yet to hear any progress on your discoveries on friendship as well as the status of your nightmares. I sincerely hope you did not take our last meeting to mean that I am upset with you. While it is true I saw the Celebration of Harmony going differently, you are my dearest friend and student and I only wish to make sure the world sees the best in you. I mean not to impose upon you, as I am sure you are quite busy preparing for the upcoming Summer Sun Celebration, however, I would like to hear from you more often if possible. Always remember that you are welcome to visit Canterlot Castle if you feel you cannot convey your thoughts in writing. Personal visits are also welcome at anytime. As always, the guards have been instructed to allow your entry to the castle even without appointment. I hope to hear from you soon.

Your mentor and friend,
High Princess Celestia of Equestria

She laughed as she put her full title down on the letter, using extreme formality when corresponding with each other was their little joke. They had known each other long enough that they ought to be calling each other by some sort of pet name, but they stuck to full names and titles whenever possible. The joke started somewhere around the time Twilight’s parents had come to pick her up from her private lessons at the Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns, they had heard Twilight call her mentor Celestia sans princess, and they were horror struck at such a lack of manners in the presence of royalty. From then on, Twilight always properly addressed the princess and she returned with overly formal exchanges with her student, calling her Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of the Element of Magic, or Lady Twilight Sparkle, Valedictorian of the School of Gifted Unicorns. She chuckled to herself. Perhaps she should write a few more letters to Twilight, even if they were not intended to be sent. This activity had done wonders for her mood. Still, with a heavy sigh she focused her magic and lit the letter a blaze in a puff of yellow smoke and flame.

Twilight hung her head low as they walked to Horseshoe Pond. Luna had her wing draped over the back of her fillyfriend, though it was significantly harder as she was currently posing as Nightsky, the Pegasus. Pinkie Pie was bouncing along next to them, chattering endlessly. Applejack was pulling a whole cart full of apple based food for the picnic. Rarity was lecturing Twilight about how she was not standing up straight and was giving Luna the impression that she did not care about good posture. To be fair, she did not. Shining Armor was attempting to shoot deadly beams of cupcakes at Luna with his eyes. Silently he contemplated if such a spell existed, and if he could in fact learn it. Luna herself was a tad annoyed that she was not getting Twilight all to her, but just seeing how adorable her fillyfriend was when she was overwhelmed was enough for Luna to avoid transforming into Nightmare Moon and blasting the interlopers away with dark magic.

The day was exceptionally pleasant, do in no small part to the fact this was a weather compensation day. Every morning, Ponyville, being primarily an agricultural based economy, was given a light rain shower, just enough water to keep the soil fresh and the plants healthy. However every so many weeks there would be a weather compensation day: an off-day where no rain was planned to give the soil time to drain. Thus, on this pleasant morn, the usual puddles were absent and the lack of clouds allowed the sun to give Ponyville a nice warm day. As they approached the pond, they could tell it was going to be just a splendid spot for a picnic, with the morning sun glistening against the water and the soft blue tones of the sky were comforting to the eyes. It would be the absolute storybook definition of romantic. Well at least it would be if it was just the two of them.

“Oh would you look at that view!” Rarity squealed with delight, “Darling, I’m telling you right now that when they write the history books about your marriage to the princess, they’ll not have words to describe how romantic your first date was.”

“I’m not getting… oh never mind.”

Luna pressed her side against Twilight, “You know, now that I think about it, that night at the party might have counted for our first date.”

“So that’s where you were at the party!” Applejack said as she spread out the picnic blanket. “Hoo boy, Celestia was mighty tickled pink when you done an’ not shown yer self. Well, an’ then there was Fluttershy…. So maybe she didn’t even really notice you was gone.”

Pinkie Pie placed a hoof on her chin, “Tickled pink? How would that work for me? Is there deeper level of pink I could turn?”

“I don’t think so, sugarcube.”

Twilight sat down on the blanket and Luna sat down next to her. Shining Armor took a seat in between the two ponies. Twilight gave him a scowl and after focusing her magic, she teleported to the other side of Luna. Shining Armor blew a puff of air upwards at his bangs. Rarity sat down on the other side of Twilight and attempted to fix her mane. Twilight sighed, “This day is going to be just… perfect.”

15: Portrait of a Unicorn

“So, let me see if I understand this correctly,” Princess Luna said as she pointed to Applejack, “You dressed up in costumes, posed as a superhero, and prevented several disasters just as an elaborate way to tell Rainbow Dash she was being a jerk?”

Applejack, placed her hoof behind her head, “Well when ya’ put it that way… maybe we did go a might overboard. But it was mostly Twilight’s idea. The superhero thing, that is.” Behind Luna, Twilight Sparkle was rapidly shaking her head and signaling Applejack to stop talking. Once Applejack finished speaking, Twilight threw herself on her back. She could not believe how much her friends were embarrassing her during her first date with Luna. This was probably the most important day of her life and they were doing their best to ruin it.

“It was Twilight’s idea?”

“Well, yeah,” Spike said, “In her quest to read everything ever printed Twi was delving into comic books at the time.”

Twilight sprang up from the ground and positioned herself in front of Luna, “What! No! I don’t read comic books! You know the books I like! Magic manuals, history textbooks, geographic reference guides!”

Luna giggled, “That’s okay, Twilight. We don’t have to like all the same kinds of reading material. If you don’t like comic books and I do, that’s not an issue.”

“You… Like comic books?”

“Do not misunderstand, I appreciate the stouter literature just as much as you, however history books are not as marvelous when you were actually there. Most magic manuals were written by me, and geographic references… well they’re just mind-numbing, actually. I much prefer fantasy tales. Do you have a favorite series?”

Twilight’s ears drooped and her eyes were shying away from Luna’s own, “Um… I like the Sir Lancer series….” She could not believe she had said that out loud.

“Oh, that’s a good one. I knew him personally, actually. The real Sir Lancer was even more fantastic if you can imagine.”

“He was real?!” Twilight’s eyes lit up, “I thought…. Wait a minute! The adventure with the Centaur! You were in that issue! Sir Lancer and the Princess of the Night delve into the forsaken ruins of Atteris! Did that really happen?”

“Oh that… if you mean did we meet a real Centaur like in the comic? No. But we did find a statue of one outside of Tartarus.”

“And the Amulet of Null? Was that real?” Twilight clapped her hooves together in excitement.

“Yes, and just like the story it was stolen by Diamond Dogs. Just as well, it would have been lost to history either way; Celestia confiscates all Centaurian artifacts because of… well… that’s really not important to the story.” Luna leaned in next to Twilight.

“That’s amazing! How come you never told me this before?” Twilight looked deep into Luna’s eyes.

“I’ve been alive a long time. It’s going to take a while to tell you all my stories.” The two ponies leaned in close and extended their lips only to meet a magic barrier blocking their kiss.

“That’s close enough!” Shining Armor shouted.

Twilight kicked her brother in the ribs, “Armor!”

Rarity began to whine, “Shining Armor, you’re spoiling everything for them! Can’t you just let your sister be happy? She let you be happy with your fillyfriend, why can’t you return the favor?”

Shining Armor crouched on the ground, “Oh great Celestia! Her voice hurts my ears! Fine, whatever, just stop whining!”

“Then it is agreed, Twilight and Princess Luna shall forever be a couple!”

“I’m not agreeing to that at all!

Pinkie Pie stood up and plopped a large cake down in the center of the bickering ponies, “Hey, come on everypony! Let’s turn those frowns the other which-a-way around and make this a real party!” Pinkie Pie shoved a piece of cake into Shining Armor’s mouth. She quickly scooped up another piece and turned to Rarity.

“Pinkie, no! Mfffgh!”

“There! You can’t fight if you can’t talk!”

Twilight smiled over at her pink friend, “Thanks, Pinkie.” Pinkie Pie returned the smile with a wink.

Luna shook her head. At this rate it was going to be a long day. At the very least, she had Twilight by her side. It was not that she disliked Twilight’s friends; it was just that, they were Twilight’s friends and not hers. The Alicorn watched the shadow of a nearby tree. As the sun was finishing its morning rise, the shadow was swinging around the base of the tree and creeping closer and closer to where she and Twilight were sitting. Just a few more minutes and they would be fully under the cool shade. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were busy talking about some harvest celebration. Did Pinkie Pie ever talk about things other than parties? Luna wondered. She glanced over at Twilight, who seemed to be the most embarrassed pony in all of Equestria at the moment. Luna was not very good in most social circumstances, her impatience tended to make most ponies avoid her, however she could still recognize when somepony was trying their absolute best to make a good impression. Luna gave Twilight a reassuring smile. Truth be told, there was practically nothing Twilight could ever do that would make Luna stop revering her so. In some part of her mind she acknowledged that the thought was probably very unhealthy. Still, if one lives forever, what would sixty or so years of devotion matter in the long run? That last thought saddened her though. Regardless of how much she cared for her new fillyfriend, she was still and Alicorn and she would still outlive everypony. Everypony except her sister at least. There was absolutely nothing she could do about it. Death was final, irrevocable. Her sister had learned that the hardest way possible. The Alicorns were beings of nigh unlimited power, physical gods, capable of housing the spirits of the sun and moon. But they could never conquer death; only hide form it while others succumbed. Such was their blessing. Such was their curse. Luna shook her head. Now was not the time for such thoughts.

“You may be her friend, but that doesn’t mean you know what’s best for her!” Shining Armor said.

Rarity let out an exasperated huff, “And you’re not her father! So stop acting like it!”

Twilight turned back to Luna, her eyes pleading for an escape. Luna gave Twilight a small nod and started hatching a plan. Luna turned to Pinkie Pie, “If this is a party, are there not supposed to be games?”

“Just who do you think I am? I’ve got the best party games ever!” Pinkie began to rapidly set up several games. Twilight gave Luna a worried look, but Luna just smiled.

Now all Luna needed was a distraction for Rarity and Shining Armor and she could act. “Pinkie Pie, could you do me a favor?” Luna gave Pinkie Pie a wink.

“A favor? What kind of… hold on a moment…” Pinkie Pie stained her neck upwards at the sky, as if she was trying to read something out of sight. “Oh…! A distraction for Rarity and Shining Armor. Got it, coming right up!” Pinkie Pie raced over to the two bickering ponies and pulled them into rousing game of pin the tail on pony. While Shining Armor and Rarity were busying forcefully playing a game, Luna used her wing to nudge Twilight underneath the shadow of the tree. Luna gave a brief wink to Pinkie Pie. She looked over at Twilight and smiled.

“Hold your breath.” Luna said.

“What?” Twilight gave Luna a confused look. Luna tired to give Twilight a reassuring look. Twilight began to inhale but was startled by the tree’s shadow creeping up her hooves. With a lurching motion, the shadow engulfed Twilight and Luna, and pulled them into the ground in a series of broken lines. Where Twilight found herself next was a strange place. Shifting shades of various grays and blues danced around as she was pulled by Luna through a tunnel of some kind. Sound was only series of humming and plinking noises. Every now and then a piece of the tunnel would break away and be pulled to the other side. Luna glanced back to see if Twilight was doing alright. With a sudden tug, Luna plunged both of them into the side of the tunnel. As they hit the wall, they fell into what at first seemed to be a cool murky liquid, but the substance soon shattered into a series of disconnected lines. Twilight’s eyes burned as the light assaulted her senses. When the world came back into focus, she appeared to be in a forest.

Luna watched Twilight gag. The Alicorn sighed, “You didn’t hold your breath, did you?”

Twilight coughed a few times, “What was that?”

“Shadow Walking, I can move to anywhere a shadow touches in nearly an instant. Tia can do something similar with light. Unlike your teleportation spell, this one isn’t limited by distance…. Are you alright? I’ve never taken another pony into the Meld before.”

Twilight staggered around slightly, “I’m a bit woozy, but I think I’m ok. Whoa!” Twilight tripped and crashed to the ground and let out a groan.

“Oh! Twilight! I’m sorry.” Luna bent down and helped Twilight stand. “Some first date, huh? First swarmed by bickering ponies, now I’ve gone and made my fillyfriend nauseous.”

Twilight shook her head to fix her mane, “At least the bickering ponies aren’t your brother and your closest friends. Still it could be worse.”

“Yes, I’m sure. I’m just hoping that I’m still delightfully adorably awkward enough that you forgive the nausea part of this.”

Twilight gave Luna a smile, “I thought adorably awkward was my thing?” Twilight looked around, “Hey… where are we?”

“The Everfree Forest, on the outskirts of it anyway.” Luna gestured behind her, “Horseshoe Pond is only about a mile that way; we didn’t come that far.”

“Teleporting a whole mile away! You’re so amazing Luna.” Twilight leaned against the Alicorn’s side.

Luna chuckled, “It will be a sad day when I run out of magic tricks to impress you with.”

“I think that will be a ways off, Luna.” Twilight nuzzled her head into Luna’s neck for a brief moment. The two ponies sat in a moment of tranquility. The birds of the forest, happily chirping away and busy ignoring the sight before them, were providing just the right amount of ambiance to make the moment perfect. Twilight had never thought the Everfree Forest to be a romantic place, but it had a certain mysterious appeal to it. It certainly helped that the dangers of it seems so far away whilst she was in Luna’s embrace. In a way, her view on the Everfree Forest was much like a metaphor to her relationship with Luna. At first she had been fearful of the place. It was dark and foreboding, cast aside by everypony. It was powerful and ancient and that scared most ponies away. But then after she braved a bit of time with it, she found it had its charm. Now she sat, staring at the treetops with her fillyfriend and it had become the most romantic place in all of Equestria. Twilight’s heart was beating faster than ever before. She looked into Luna’s eyes.

Luna sighed, “Twilight… I know this is all moving very fast but... I think that I…”

BOOM!

The ground rumbled and birds took flight from the sheer volume of the sound. Luna looked to the sky, “What was that?!” High in the air, whizzing past, was a blue blur trailed with a magnificent rainbow. “It that…?”

Twilight smiled and pointed to the sky, “Shh, just look!” So, Luna stared upwardly. In a moment, a wave of colors plumed out across the sky, casting shifting light in between the foliage of the trees. Luna had to admit, it was a fantastic sight. “Ladies and Gentlecolts, I give you Rainbow Dash’s Sonic Rainboom!”

“We admire its splendor…” Luna coughed, “I mean… it’s exquisite.”

Twilight smiled, “She won’t tell you so, but Rainbow Dash sure has a thing for beauty. I don’t care what anypony says, that’s art right there.” The edges of the phenomenon in the sky had just started to clear, bringing back the brilliant blue ever so slowly. “Have you ever seen a more amazing display in the sky?”

“Twilight Sparkle!” Luna said, slightly hurt, “Have you never laid eyes on the full moon in autumn? Have you not seen the brilliant twinkle of a billion stars?”

“Oh, no I didn’t mean….”

“You wait right there, little pony, I’ll be right back!” Luna stood up and raced off to one of the trees; she stood in the shadow of the tree and gave Twilight a wink, “I’ll show you real art!” The shadow crept up her hooves and in a second, she was gone. Twilight frowned, unsure if she had really offended Luna or if the Alicorn was just getting ready to show off again. Either way, a small part of Twilight was glad Luna was gone. Truth be told, Twilight was becoming a bit uncomfortable around the princess, her heart would not stop beating so rapidly and she was contently worried about what she was saying. In such a short time Luna had begun to consume all her thoughts. All of her dreams as well, and yet there was still so much she did not know about the pony that had enthralled her so. She would have delved deeper into those thoughts but a strong wind shook the area around her. Up above Rainbow Dash had circled back around and was buzzing the tree tops dangerously. The cyan pony did a roundabout and a flip to land gracefully next to Twilight.

“Hey ya, Twilight!”

“Hey Rainbow. Great display, today.” Twilight smiled.

Rainbow struck a pose, “Ya caught that, huh? Thanks, but it could have been so much more awesome. Princess Celestia only lets me make small ones over Everfree nowadays. Something about disturbing the peace.”

“Well we thought it looked great from down here!”

“Yeah, I saw you down here, whatcha up to out here in the forest? And wasn’t there another pony here too? Kind of big?” Rainbow glanced around.

“That was Princess Luna.”

“Luna? What was the princess of the night doing out here in Everfree during the daytime?”

“She’s here on a date with her fillyfriend. Or she was, until she just abruptly left…”

Rainbow Dash kicked Twilight playfully, “No way! The princess has a fillyfriend? Oh that’s rich! Her own sister sent her to the moon for a thousand years because she was unloved! She has got to be a needy piece of work! What mare would be dumb enough to want to date that amount of baggage?” Rainbow started laughing.

Twilight’s eyelids drooped and she stared at Rainbow skeptically. “Apparently me.” She said deadpan.

Rainbow quieted down quickly, “Oh, horseapples! She’s the mystery mare?” Rainbow slapped her face with her hoof, “Oh… I’m sorry. You know I was just kidding, right? I’m sure she’s great. Yeah, I mean, an Alicorn! Right? That’s gotta be awesome! ‘Cept she’s like a gajillamazillion years old, huh?”

“She’s only four thousand!”

Rainbow placed a hoof on the back of her head, “Well… you can’t tell. So… she’s got that going for her, right?” Twilight frowned at her friend. “No! I mean, she’s really pretty. Her mane does that… that… whoosh thing… and she’s got a great flank…” Twilight blinked a few times in irritation. Rainbow frantically rubbed her mane, “I mean, you know…. Honestly I’ve not really met her. I think we exchanged a few words last Nightmare Night and we both noted how your brother’s wedding reception was well catered. That’s like the only interaction I’ve had with her. So… you know.... If you think she’s great then she must be amazing! Tell you what, if you need any help or advice on anything, pure simple advice, not all that complicated romantic philosophy stuff Rarity has, I’ll be glad to help!”

“Thanks, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash nodded, “Yup. I’m super loyal and all that. You know, it’s my element, blah blah blah and stuff. Still though, you and Luna. Guess you weren’t happy just being one princess’s favorite. Had to get the whole family. Come to think of it, Cadence likes you a lot too. Um… so if you’re dating Luna, and you brother is married to Cadence…”

Twilight scowled, “I know where that train of thought is going and you can stop that right now. They aren’t even blood relatives in the first place.”

Rainbow Dash laughed, “I know, but it’s so fun to tease you, egghead. You overreact to everything! But can I ask you a serious question?” Twilight nodded uneasily. “What’s up with her mane? Like what’s it made of?”

Twilight blushed, “You know, that’s one of those questions I’ve been dying to ask her and her sister forever, but I’m afraid I’ll offend them. It’s really peculiar up close too; it’s like a window into space or something… really beautiful and fascinating at the same time.”

“Yeah… Like, if you put your hoof in it, can you like feel the stars?”

“Well… I’ve only touched it a few times… but it’s weird. It’s like… I don’t know how to describe it… um… like mist… from a cloud, like cool mist from a cloud.” Twilight glanced around nervously.

“What’s the matter?”

“She said she’d be right back… I’m just… this isn’t a conversation that I would want her to walk in on.”

Rainbow nodded, “Right. We can talk about something else.”

“Sure…”

“Is she great in the hay?”

“Oh, for the love of Celestia….”

“No wait, hear me out, ok? She’s like almost twice as tall as you. How does that work?”

Twilight turned her back to the Pegasus, “I’m not talking to you.”

“Oh and speaking of the mane, it’s so long it probably gets in the way, right?”

“Oh, for pony’s sake!” Twilight crouched to the ground and covered her ears. “We haven’t even… I’m still a… She’s probably still too…”

“Really?” Rainbow Dash fell to the ground laughing, “Leave it to Twilight Sparkle to find a forty hundred year old virgin! I bet you two wouldn’t even know where to start.” Twilight clenched her eyes shut and remained silent. Rainbow Dash’s laugh died down, “Oh… that’s true isn’t it?”

“I have a few books that….”

Rainbow Dash sighed, “Ok, look. She’s half Pegasus, right?”

“Technically she’s one-third Pegasus. See, Alicorns are an equal blend of all three tribes and…”

“Right, got it. Point is… she’s a pony with wings. So look, all you gotta do is, when the time is right, give her a small kiss right at the base of the wing. Absolute putty in your hooves after that.”

“Rainbow Dash!”

“It’s just advice, kid. Take it or leave it.” Rainbow Dash spread her wings and chambered for takeoff, “Anyway, I gotta get going to work, believe it or not. Still got a few clouds that need clearing. Today’s weather compensation day, didn’tcha know?” With a kick off the ground, Rainbow Dash was back in the air and soaring through the sky.
Twilight shook her head. She sometimes could not fathom how brash Rainbow Dash could be at times. She glanced around the woods waiting patiently for Luna to return. She wondered what was taking her so long. Well in reality it had only been about two minutes, but that was starting to seem like an eternity. The Everfree Forest was always a mystery to ponykind. Weather acting on its own, plants growing without the care of an Earth pony, it was something that was horrifying to Equestrians. Even though Twilight had become accustomed to it, she still felt a bit shaky when in the parts of the forest she did not travel often. All the parts besides the path to Zecora’s hut, actually. Still, Luna seemed quite at ease in the wood. She was an Alicorn, so perhaps it just did not bother her that there this place defied nature. Then again, as an Alicorn, she was nature. She rightfully would have felt that the Everfree Forest’s very existence was an insult to her being. She had read history books; she knew the Princess Celestia had, on several occasions, tried to burn the forest down. Which made sense for the most part, it was a dangerous place most of the time.

“I’m back!”

Twilight turned around, “Luna! What’s all that stuff?” The princess of the night was carrying painting supplies, and a lot of them. She had an easel, a dozen and a half paintbrushes, and several small canisters of paints.

“You seem to think Rainbow Dash is the only artist around. I’m going to prove you wrong.”

“You’re going to paint a Sonic Rainboom?”

“I’m going to paint you.”

Celestia was standing on one of the many balconies that lined the towers of Canterlot Castle. She was staring up at the sun in the sky. Normally a dangerous act, but not for her for she was the sun. With a small flexing of her magic she increased its brightness slightly for only a moment, and then let it return to normal. Her relationship with the heavenly body was not a pristine one. It had been the first object she laid eyes on, after her mother, when she was born. It had watched her grow. She had become friends with it in her later years. It taunted her in her darkest hour. Then she took its power for herself. With it at her command, she reshaped the world. She rounded the demons and monsters of the world and sealed them away in the pits of Tartarus. She covered the lands in idyllic plains of brilliant green grass and pastel flowers, all cradled by the sun’s warmth. She built fantastical cities in the skies, in the plains, and in the sides of mountains. She raised ponykind back from the brink of extinction and made them the dominate race in the world. Equestria, her country, was the jewel of creation. Other races, no matter how devoted to their own homelands, would always talk of Equestria as if it were heaven. Some Griffins even believed that when they died, their sprits would reincarnate as ponies in Equestira, the holy land, the land of the heavenly goddesses. Was there any truth behind that belief? Celestia did not know, death would always be something foreign to her. She was wrenched from her thoughts by the murmurs of the crowd at the base of the castle. What had she been doing again? Oh, right, addressing her subjects. She cleared her throat and poured a bit of magic into her voice to amplify her volume to be heard citywide.

“Citizens of our scared land! Ponies of all kinds! Beloved subjects! Your cries of concern have reached my ears. I hear tell of murmurs that there is fear in the streets. Baseless fear, I assure you! While it is true I have placed this city in lockdown, I promise as your princess that this event shall only last for three more days. Until, curfew and the gate restrictions shall remain in effect. I wish only to protect you. While it disturbs me greatly, I regretfully share with you that I fear our city may be at risk. Until the time when my sister, your Princess Luna returns from her mission in Griffica, I wish to take precautions. Rest soundly, my subjects, with the knowledge that my watchful eye will keep the threats on the horizon at bay. In three days, my little ponies, in three rises of my glorious sun. I only ask patience until that time. I will never let anything threaten our way of life. May peace find you, my subjects!” The ponies began to cheer in an eruption of praise and joy. Celestia nodded and smiled, as long as she had the devotion of her subjects, she would be happy. A few of the ponies began to sing:

From the plains of peace tended by the Earths to the skies of the Pegasi,
The spirits of the ethereal, Unicorn lead, together our oath to you we sing:
Adored land of Equestria!
Divine ground of the goddesses!
May our hymn enlighten,
The glory of the sun will brighten!

Celestia closed her eyes and hummed along with the crowd. The brass band sitting in the other balconies of the castle were taken by surprise. They had not counted on the crowd spontaneously deciding to sing the national anthem, and they struggled to begin to play along.

Celestia, goddess of the sun! Celestia our princess, divine!
From the ashes of chaos to the splendor of order, we sing:
Beloved land of Equestria!
Divine ground of the goddesses!
May our hymn enlighten,
The glory of the sun will brighten!
Save us from darkness, lead us from chaos!
For our devotion to our princess, we sing:
Our land of Equestria!
Divine ground of the goddesses!
May our hymn to thee enlighten,
Brighten others to the glory of the sun!

As the song continued, Celestia looked out to the horizon in the direction of Ponyville. “Worry not, my student; I will protect your home from this oncoming darkness.”

“Hold still!” Luna said with a hint of annoyance. She was busy levitating fifteen or so paintbrushes around her head, all of them frantically dabbing the canvas. She was meticulously manipulating a paintbrush of bright lavender in her mouth, as she worked on her model’s eyes. She was almost done with her labor, but it just was not turning out as magical as she would have hoped.

“I am holding still, aren’t I?” Twilight had never modeled for anything. Luna had requested that she just simply lie down on the grass and sit patiently for Luna to finish. “How’s it coming?”

“I don’t think I can do anything else to make it better. It’s not great, but you can look at it if you want.” Luna sighed. “This is the first time I’ve ever actually had you present for reference, but I couldn’t quite get your mane right in this light. Actually… you know what… I’ll just toss this one out and we’ll do another some other time.” Luna placed her hooves on the side of the canvas to pick it up.

“Wait! I want to see it first!” Twilight walked over and stared at the painting. “Luna!” She gasped. “This is…”

“I know, I tried to do too much with the shadows of the leaves and…”

Twilight gave her fillyfriend a smile, “You’re right. This is all wrong.” Luna winced. “You’ve gone and made me much too beautiful.”

“That’s how I see you though…” Luna blushed heavily. Twilight’s face flushed as well. The Unicorn gave Luna a kiss and the two ponies embraced. Twilight stared at Luna’s back as they hugged. Rainbow Dash’s words echoed in her mind. Twilight leaned down and kissed Luna’s wing. Luna shivered, “Ohhhhhhhhhhkay!” The Alicorn removed herself from Twilight’s embrace and staggered backwards. She slammed into a tree trunk and let out a small yelp. Twilight giggled. She levitated the portrait behind her.

“So… what next?”

“Follow me,” Luna said with a smile. Luna trotted off down a path, and Twilight raced after her. Twilight had to gallop to keep up with Luna’s trot. Eventually they made their way to a grand clearing in the forest.

“The Castle of the Two Sisters? What are we doing here?”

“You like history, right? Well this place is full of history, if you have the right tour guide.” Luna extended her wing and waited for Twilight to take cover under it. “So, what would you like to see first? The old library, the courtyard menagerie, or perhaps Starswrill the Bearded’s old alchemy laboratory?”

As they approached the entrance Twilight pointed with her hoof, “Actually, it looks like we’re not alone here…”

“I can’t believe I’m missing their date because you scared them off with all your over-protectiveness!” Rarity whined loudly.
Shining Armor grunted, “If you hadn’t distracted me, I could be making sure the princess is actually respecting…! Twily!” Shining Armor, Rarity, and Applejack all trotted over to Twilight and Luna.

“Nice job picking locations, Luna.” Twilight said with a heavy dose of sarcasm in her voice.

“How was I supposed to…?” As the three other ponies neared Luna put on a fake smile, “Oh! Captain, Rarity and Applejack! What brings you out here to the old Castle of the Two Sisters?”

Applejack tipped her hat, “RD said ya fellows were in the Everfree Forest. An’ Rar’ty figured that the only romantic place in the forest was right here.”

“That’s just wonderful…” Luna sighed.

“If you’ll excuse us, Luna was just about to give me a tour of the courtyard.” Twilight smiled at her friends and brother and skipped ahead inside the castle. Luna smiled sheepishly and raced after the Unicorn.

“So the courtyard menagerie then? It’s a marvel of engineering I think you’ll find fascinating. It was build to hold several types of exotic birds that Celestia used to keep. The cages that…”

“Show me where the library is; I only told them the courtyard so they’d leave us alone.”

“Oh, well done, that’s quick thinking! The library is this way.”

They made their way down several long corridors that Luna seemed to have memorized every detail of their pathways. It was in stark contrast to when they were walking through Canterlot Castle at night during the Celebration of Harmony. Luna seemed much more at home in the Castle of the Two Sisters than Canterlot. It only made sense. After all, the older castle had been Luna’s home for probably two thousand years or so, where as Canterlot was built after Luna had been banished. They passed several destroyed rooms. Twilight stopped at each one and glanced inside. “This place must have been so grand in its time. Too bad age has crumbled most of it.”

Luna hung her head, “’Twas not age that sankest its teeth of destruction into the heart of our fair home.”

“Luna?”

The Alicorn glanced back at her fillyfriend, “What? Sorry. Nostalgia sometimes creeps up on me. It happens when you have so many years of memories.” Luna led them down another corridor.

“What was it then?” Twilight said as she rounded the corner.

“What was what?”

“You said it wasn’t age that destroyed the castle. What was it then?”

Luna sighed, “You stand in what was the first of many sites of destruction during Nightmare Moon’s…. during my little tantrum.” They passed several broken windows, what had most likely been filled with stained glass at some time.

“Luna…. This morning, you said there was something you wanted to tell me about Nightmare Moon. What was it?”

“Oh, right. And we were having such a nice time today too….” Luna said as she reached the end of the hallway. “I’ll tell you tonight. For now, look here. Behind this door is the old royal library.” Luna opened the door to a grand hall, significantly in better condition than the rest of the castle. A few sets of burned book covers, lacking the pages, were strewn about the room. Luna turned to face the center of the room, “And this is was the atrium to the royal library. You would have loved this place, Twilight. The bookshelves were kept in magic portals. You could grab on to one of the shelves and give it a tug and more and more shelves would fly past. Not all of the books made it to the new library. But it was one of the most spect…. And… You have never been so quiet when talking about books…” Luna looked around and Twilight was nowhere to be found. “Twilight? Twilight!” Luna galloped from one end of the room to the other. “Twilight?” She raced out of the room and back into the hallway. She glanced around and called out Twilight’s name once more. That’s when she noticed the painting she had done of Twilight earlier. The Unicorn had been levitating it alongside them since the Alicorn had painted it. Luna flipped the painting over and found a small note scribbled in ink.

Come find me in the courtyard.

Luna giggled seductively, “Well, Twilight… A game of hide and seek, is it?” Luna walked over to one of the broken windows and took flight. She soared over the castle grounds, spying the bright orange coat of Applejack walking around the, now roofless center ballroom. Rarity and Shining Armor were alongside her, exploring the castle as well. Luna gracefully banked a turn and landed in the center of the courtyard. She had loved this place as a young mare. It had an excellent view of her night sky. Not so much today. It was overcast above, which was odd because it was supposed to be clear all day. Somepony must have screwed up. Or perhaps Rainbow Dash had just lazily pushed all the clouds over Everfree instead of breaking them up like she was supposed to do. “Twilight?” Luna called out. A sound answered her, but it was not her fillyfriend’s voice. Instead she heard the loud ratcheting sound of the gates that provided land-bound ponies access to the courtyard. A large iron portcullis came crashing down with dust on the north entrance. A similar sound repeated from the west. Luna watched as the western gate closed shut. Then the eastern, and finally the southern gates all crashed against the ground with a loud echo. A louder cranking sound filled the courtyard. Up above her head, a metal mesh rose over the room and engulfed it. It had been used to cage in the birds back when the castle was still lived in, even the large ones like phoenixes. Luna glanced around frantically, until her eyes caught a glimpse of a pony by the northern entrance.

“Hello… princess of the night.”

Luna let out a horrified gasp, “Twilight!”

16: The Courtyard: Ambition

“Hello… princess of the night.”

Luna let out a horrified gasp, “Twilight!”

“Or should I say… Nightmare Moon?!”

Luna could not believe what she was seeing. To the best of her knowledge, she had left all of her attendants behind at the castle. She had been very careful to make sure she was not followed when she departed under the false destination of Griffica. Yet here she was staring face to face with a pony she had come to hate over the past two years. Storm Dancer was dressed from head to hooves in golden armor. Not just any armor, but the armor of the royal army from the Griffin War. At the gray Pegasus’s hooves was a lavender Unicorn laying on her side. “Storm Dancer! What have you done to Twilight?!”

“Now, now. Don’t fret, Miss Moon. Your mistress is still alive and well.” Storm Dancer tossed an empty bottle on the ground, with just a few drops of brilliant blue liquid hugging the rim. “The witch of the wild Everfree gave me a little something to calm her down.” Storm Dancer nudged Twilight with his hoof and turned her to face Luna. Twilight’s eyes were shut and her mouth was agape slightly. She was breathing in slow, drawn out bursts; giving the impression that she was perhaps not getting enough air with each breath. “It’s a deep slumber potion. As you can see, she’ll be out of it for quite awhile.”

“You drugged her?” Luna was seething, “Storm Dancer, such actions are reprehensible; you are hereby relieved from your duty as an attendant!”

Storm Dancer threw his head back and laughed. As he spoke his sentences began to run together, “I am, Princess? Then who’s going to fetch you your tea, Princess? In the middle of the bucking night, Princess! Wouldn’t you like me to fetch you tea, Princess? Would you like that, Princess? No, Princess. You, Princess! You! You are hereby relieved of duty!”

Luna laughed, “You’ve gone insane, haven’t you?”

Storm Dancer gritted his teeth, “You would know. You are certainly an expert on the subject.”

“Enough, this has gone on long enough.” Luna took a step forward.

“No so fast!” Storm Dancer raised his hoof, revealing a dagger-like protrusion extending from his horseshoe. He angled it so that it caught the glint of the sun and reflected into Luna’s eyes. She recognized the attachment, it was a fighting spur used by the army. “Come any closer, or try to use any magic and well… you like to paint, right?” Storm Dancer lowered his hoof and pressed the spur against Twilight’s cheek. “What do you think about the stonework here? It’s a good shade of gray, to be sure, but wouldn’t it look lovely in a dark red?” Storm Dancer laughed. “It’s up to you, you’re the artist here. Your lover’s blood would make a great paint, don’t you think, Princess?”

Luna scoffed, “You don’t have the nerves to do so.”

Storm Dancer slammed his rear hoof against the ground. The sound echoed throughout the castle. “Nerves? I used to spill Griffin blood all the time back in the Griffin War. I used to be an army officer, until one of the blasted featherbrains sunk her talon into my carpal bone. I fought for my county and for what? So a temptress could waltz in here and blanket the world in eternal night? I don’t think so.”

Luna was trying her best to sound strong, but a hint or worry was creeping into her voice, “I… I don’t have time for this.” Luna lifted her hoof to take a step. Storm Dancer flicked the spur across Twilight’s cheek. It made a shallow cut and blood trickled down her Unicorn’s face. Twilight twitched slightly, but otherwise remained in her deep sleep. Luna put her hoof back down. Not out of a want to comply with Storm Dancer’s commands, but because she was now fighting two battles. In the confines of her mind, Nightmare Moon was screaming. Her darker side was screeching, demanding that she be allowed control.

“That was a warning. The next wound will be much deeper.” Storm Dancer glanced briefly at the ground. “I was right, wasn’t I? She does have the loveliest shade of blood. How much more of it do I have to spill before you’ll comply?”

Luna clenched her jaw and looked up at Storm Dancer, “You think you can take me in a fight? I? An Alicorn? Have you not heard the tales? You know I command night itself! How could you be so foolish? This battle will be over in a second. It won’t even be a footnote in history.” Luna began to focus magic in her horn. Storm Dancer raised his other hoof and placed it on Twilight’s ribs. Another fighting spur pressed against her coat, the small pony’s flesh indented under the weight of the spur.

“Tell me, Nightmare Moon, how fast do you think you are? Are you as fast as a Griffin? Are you faster than me?” Luna gritted her teeth; Nightmare Moon was beating against her mind. “Do you want to wager your love’s life against your speed? If you think you’re faster than my hoof. By all means, come and get me!”

“You foal of a bucking broodmare!”

Storm Dancer thrust the spur into Twilight’s side. The sickening slicking sound of the knife piercing the skin rang in Luna’s ears. Blood welled up around Storm Dancer’s hoof and matted down Twilight’s coat. “I suggest you watch your language in the future. No need for this to get uncivil, Miss Moon.” Luna’s eyes welled up with tears. It was becoming increasingly difficult to stop Nightmare Moon from taking control. She would be lying if she denied that she was in pain. She had to struggle through it, though. Nightmare Moon’s first action would no doubt be to charge Storm Dancer head first. That would risk Twilight’s life at the hooves of the mad pony. The only comfort she took is that Twilight was sleeping through all of this, hopefully blissfully unaware of the pain being inflicted on her.

“Please, Storm Dancer, let her go. She’s not done anything….”

“I’m afraid I’m the one making all the commands today, Princess.” Storm Dancer cackled and spit on the ground. His laugh was interrupted by the sound of a metal clang ringing from the west entrance of the courtyard. A pair of hoofs struck the gate again.

“Twilight! Princess Luna!” Applejack called out to her friends from behind the portcullis.
Storm Dancer glanced over at the orange pony, “Not to fret, fair Applejack. The spell this temptress has over you will be broken soon enough.” From behind the gate Rarity, Shining Armor, Applejack, and a small orange filly were terrified for Twilight’s safety.

The filly started to cry, “I’m so sorry! I just wanted my Cutie Mark! I didn’t know he was a bad stallion! I would have never told him you were in the Everfree Forest if I knew… I’m sorry!”

Applejack leaned down to the filly, “You did right to come and get us, Scoot’loo. Rar’ty, take Scoot’loo home and go get the others. Shining and I will stay here and try to get Twilight out of there.” Rarity nodded and took off with an unladylike gallop. “Don’t you worry, Princess, the cavalry is almost here!”

Shining Armor changed the gate head on, “Storm Dancer! You’re dead! You hear me! As soon as we get this gate open, you’re bucking dead!”

Luna smirked, “Well, the tables are turning.”

“Pfft. I can take the Captain easily, I’m armed and in armor. Little Applejack may be a strong kicker, but she can’t fly. Maybe then she’d be tough enough to go hoof-to-hoof with a stallion that can match a Griffin. This battle is over before it started.”

“And what about me? You know the only reason you’re still standing is that you have Twilight. Once she’s safe, I can end you with a small nod of my head. I have more magic in my hoof than most of the world.” Luna bared her teeth and pointed her horn at Storm Dancer.

“Well then it’s a good thing I have your little mistress then.” Storm Dancer chuckled.

“That’s the funny thing though. That little potion of yours is going to wear off of Twilight soon; Twilight’s friends… my friends… are going to be here in a matter of time. Your hostage is going to be very hard to keep and then you will have to deal with my magic.”

“Yeah. You see, I thought of that.” Storm Dancer reached into his saddlebag and tossed a golden necklace at Luna’s hoofs. “You’ll be putting that on now.” Luna stared at the necklace, she recognized the design, but it was not possible that this was the same necklace. “How does it feel, hag? How does it feel to look upon one of the only things in this world that is older than you?”

Luna gasped, “The Amulet of Null! Where did you get that?”

“I borrowed it from a couple of Diamond Dogs. It was going to be a simple trade, but things got complicated. Let’s just say there’s a lot less Diamond Dogs around these parts now. Filthy creatures anyway, High Princess Celestia will be proud that I’m cleaning up Equestria. Now to deal with the source of the filth. Put on the amulet, Princess.”

“You don’t even know what it does!” Luna stamped her hoof.

“You’re not the only one well versed in history. It was designed to phase lock the ethereal connection points of the mana envelop. In short, it nullifies all magic of anything it’s touching, even if that something is an Alicorn.” Luna’s eyes widened. “Yes, I’m not just a dumb block of muscle! I’m quite brilliant too. I am a member of the royal court!”

Luna stared in horror at the necklace, “This is a Centaurian artifact! The use of this is forbidden. Celestia will have your head!”

Storm Dancer chuckled, “It’s a good thing I’m not the one who’s going to be using it then. Put on the amulet!”

“If you think I’m that stupid…”

Storm Dancer shook his head, “Oh, Nightmare Moon. Why do you insist on putting this poor mare through so much pain? Tell me. What part of her excites you most? Is it…” Storm Dancer hovered his hoof over Twilight’s face, “Her lovely lavender eyes?” He lowered the spur less than an inch from Twilight’s eyelid. Luna bit down on her lip. “No? Is it…” He pulled back the side of Twilight’s mouth with the spur, “Her splendid smile?” Luna’s eyes steamed with tears. “Not it either?” He dragged the spur down the length of Twilight’s body, scratching the skin. “Her shapely flank?” Luna’s hooves dug at the ground nervously. “Really? What about something more…”

Luna fell to the ground, “You win! Just stop touching her! Please! I’m begging you. Your princess is begging you!”

Storm Dancer shook his head, “You were never my princess. I only serve the true princess!”

Outside the courtyard, Shining Armor through his shoulder into the gate once more. “I’m going to throw him the bottomless pit where Discord is kept. Let him rot there while he goes mad from the energies of chaos and that succubus’s singing!” The gate had buckled slightly from the impact. There was a visible dent from where he had impacted and where Applejack had been kicking. Shining Armor slammed into the gate again, he had produced a magic shield to help cushion the impact from his end and strengthen the damage dealt to the gate. However he had been charging with such force, his own shield shattered as he collided.

Applejack shook her head, “I reckon we’re just beating a dead tree. We gotta come at it together. You tackle it and I’ll give it a good ol’ taste of my signature harvest move.” Shining Armor nodded and picked himself back up off the ground. Applejack adjusted her hat, “On three!”

Storm Dancer slammed a spur into Twilight’s side. The Unicorn convulsed slightly as the area around her ran red. “You’re taking too long, Princess! Your lover is going to need medical aid very soon. Put on the amulet!” Luna lowered her neck and picked up the Amulet of Null with her teeth. “Hurry up, Miss Moon!” Luna tossed the necklace in the air and over her head. It slithered onto her neck and tightened against her throat. “That’s a good girl!”

Luna immediately felt weak. Nightmare Moon was screaming in pain. If not for the sheer rage she was feeling alongside it, she probably would have let the pain press her into submission. She tried her best to keep her eyes open and focused on Twilight. “Ok… I’m wearing the necklace… I’m….” Luna was having trouble breathing through the pain, “I’m defenseless. Let her go now….” Luna’s voice cracked with sorrow.

“As you wish, princess!” Storm Dancer charged forward and with a wing aided leap, he kicked Luna in the face. The Alicorn staggered backwards and clenched one of her eyes tightly shut. It most likely was not going to open again anytime soon. Luna reared up onto her hind legs and kicked them in the air. Storm Dancer deftly slid to the side and used his armored skull to strike Luna in the underbelly. The Alicorn was thrown off balance and slammed into one of the outer walls of the courtyard. If Luna had not been in so much pain she would have been winning even without her magic. She was an Alicorn after all; she had the strength of an Earth pony and the speed of a Pegasus. A pony with only one tribal gift should be no match for her. But the pain from Nightmare Moon’s agony was blinding her sight. She cursed her bond with the spirit; once more it was causing her heartache. Not that it was Nightmare Moon’s fault. She was a spirit of magic, and needed it to live. The Amulet of Null was slowly killing her and Luna herself, by extension. Luna reached down with her mouth and tugged at the infernal artifact. “Ha! A fat lot of good that will do you, temptress!” Storm Dancer kicked Luna in the face again, on the same side. A pulse of pain throbbed in her skull. She knew he could not kill her with just these primitive physical attacks, but she still was going to feel every single blow. “Once attached, the Amulet of Null cannot be removed by the wearer! Don’t worry it will all be over soon for you and your little toy.”

Luna spit on the ground, “You… piece of…”

Storm Dancer kicked Luna’s jaw, “I told you to watch your language! It’s so unbecoming of royalty to speak like such! I think I’ll just break that jaw of…” Storm Dancer was startled as the gate to the west was flung across the courtyard. Storm Dancer’s expression of confidence fell for just a moment as his mind processed what the event had meant. Shining Armor came charging into the courtyard with his horn lowered. Storm Dancer forced his wings downward and propelled himself a short distance into the air. He came back down onto the top of Luna’s skull with his hooves. Luna came crashing to the ground, her good eye closing shut as she lay motionless. Shining Armor crashed into Storm Dancer’s side, colliding with the Pegasus’s armor. If adrenaline was not pumping in such excess quantities, Shining Armor would have probably knocked himself out in the process.

Applejack meanwhile knelt over Twilight and tried to inspect her wounds. The Earth pony cried out, “She’s hurt badly, Shining! We need to get her plum out of here! Pro’lly Luna too!” Applejack leaned down and began to try to tend to Twilight’s injuries.

Storm Dancer dug a spur into Shining Armor’s neck. The Pegasus laughed, “That’s going to be harder done than said, honest Applejack!”

Shining Armor let lose a power kick that Storm Dancer narrowly dodged. The Unicorn growled, “Give up, Storm Dancer! It’s two against one! You can’t beat an Element bearer and the Captain of the Royal Guard!”

“Oh, misguided foal! I’ve already subdued your sister! Rumored to be the most powerful raw source of magic that comes in Unicorn form! And perhaps you didn’t notice that Nightmare Moon lies unconscious on the floor! I have beaten that which the strength of Discord and Celestia herself could not topple! What hope does a mere Unicorn have against that which can tackle goddesses?”

“Hubris!” Shining Armor unleashed a series of kicks. Storm Dancer allowed his armor to take the brunt of most of the attacks. When the final kick connected with Storm Dancer’s chest plate, the Pegasus kicked his own leg up and flipped Shining Armor onto his back.

“Oh, the Bumblehoof Seven? Are you trying to humor me, Captain? I had Bumblehoof for an instructor! Experience beats youth in these kinds of fights. You can’t beat me, Captain. My family has a long line of top notch fighters.”

Shining Armor struggled to his hooves, “You know… My family has a long line of something too. Where do you think Twily got all her talent from?” The Unicorn’s horn began to glow.

Storm Dancer laughed, “Please, spare me! You’re only capable of protection magic! It’s why your Cutie Mark is a shield. Go ahead; blow your little purple bubbles!”

Magic focused into Shining Armor’s horn as he screamed. He flicked his head and a wave of purple energy formed a wall of force, springing outward. The field struck Storm Dancer and sent him hurling against the caged ceiling. “My spells make force fields. They’re like portable walls of energy. Ever been slammed into a wall? It doesn’t feel so good.” Storm Dancer fell from the ceiling and slammed into the ground. He struggled to his hooves, his armor clanking as his muscles began to spasm. “What’s the matter, attendant? Spent too much time on your haunches? Or is your war injury acting up?”

Storm Dancer buried his head into his saddlebag and began rummaging through it, “I put my life on the line for my country. I’d do it again, because there is absolutely no place in the Known World better than Equestria. I fight for Princess Celestia to maintain our tranquility both from outside savages and false goddesses of the night, and most of all, traitorous Captains of the Guard!” Storm Dancer pulled a bottle full of a glowing liquid out of his saddlebag. “I was hoping to save this, but I’ll admit you’re out of my league.” the Pegasus whispered. He clenched the container in the side of his mouth and began to charge Shining Armor.

“You’re the traitor!” Shining Armor flung a few more waves of energy at Storm Dancer, “Face it! You’re no match for my magic!”

“Exactly! That’s why I came prepared!” Storm Dancer swung his head down and shattered the bottle over Shining Armor’s head. A vibrant purple liquid splashed over the Unicorn. “The witch of the wild Everfree gave me more than just the sleeping potion, my dear Captain!”

Shining Armor crumbled to the ground, feeling as though an invisible weight was laying on him. His words were strained, “What did you… do to me…?” The Unicorn struggled to stand, but it was no use. His legs simply lacked the strength.

“That potion quashes the magical powers of a Unicorn. Think of it like a liquid Amulet of Null. And it seems the shock of taking it away is enough to weaken you. Interesting.” Storm Dancer threw his head back and laughed heartily.

Applejack stopped trying to apply pressure to Twilight’s wounds, it was not helping it anyway, and she was pretty sure she was going to have to start defending herself very soon. The orange pony straightened her legs and stood tall overtop of Twilight. Out of the corner of her eye, Applejack noticed Luna was awake again and struggling to get to her hooves, a good sign, but she still was not able to stand. The farmer pony pulled the brim of her hat down and gritted her teeth, “Listen here, Mista Danc’r. You’ve gone and hurt a lotta ponies I care for. That was your first mistake. Your second one was using all those fancy artsy-facts and potions. I don’t take too kindly to ponies that cheat. So what do ya say? Care to settle this hoof to wing? Your speed against my strength.”

“Ha! The farmer has come to play the local militia! I’m going to tell you the same thing I told the Captain: Today I’ve tangled with demons and heroes and thoroughly, and single hoofedly, trounced them all! You’ve absolutely no hope of winning this fight. Now if you still think you and your little cowgirl tricks can match my brain and brawn, come at me!” Storm Dancer slid his hoofs against the floor and steeled his stance.

“Partner, you’ve just gone and bucked an apple tree you don’t have enough baskets for.” Applejack charged forward with amazing speed, her hat’s brim flapping in the wind. Storm Dancer took wing and soared over Applejack’s head. Applejack slid to a stop and reversed directions, without skipping a beat. She soon was back up to full speed and yipping wildly. Storm Dancer landed next to Twilight and only was able to turn around for a brief second when he noticed something orange in his peripheral. Applejack jumped in the air and twisted her body, her hind legs now facing Storm Dancer’s face. Her momentum from the charge fully behind her strike, she landed both rear hooves against Storm Dancer’s skull. The Pegasus only saw a white flash as the blow connected. He felt his body sailing through the air; somewhere in the distance, his helmet clanged against the stone floor, knocked clean off by the strike.

Strom Dancer spit out a couple teeth, “I’ll give you credit. That was a solid hit. But I’m made of tougher stuff than that. So unless you were just trying to make me look like you…” Storm Dancer gestured to his missing teeth, “I suggest you try again.” Storm Dancer raised his hoofs and readied his fighting spurs to strike.

“Happy to oblige.” Applejack lowered her head and started another charge. Storm Dancer dug his hind hooves into the ground and reared up to strike. If dodging was not effective, then counterattacking should get the best of this freakishly strong pony. Nearing the end of her charge, Applejack leapt into the air again and twisted her body, this time throwing her head first much more quickly than before. Her body turned a full circle this time; her tail swatting at Storm Dancer’s spiked hooves, safely knocking them away as her front legs came back around for a satisfying crunch against his chest. Storm Dancer slid backwards in utter shock of what he had just witnessed.

“Impossible! How did you counter my counterattack? You lack any training!”

“Aw, shoot. Sounds like all that fancy army training doesn’t work against my home-style. I’ve had more trouble wrestling with Applebloom in the field after work. Are you gonna put up a tussle or not?”

Storm Dancer reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a large blade, he gripped the handle in his teeth and readied his stance again, “Lady, you’ve just bitten into a rotten apple core!”

“You makin’ fun of the way I talk? That’s mistake number three.” Applejack charged once more. Storm Dancer was prepared for this. He just had to watch out for her hooves. He really could not stand take another one of her kicks. He had the advantage this time, his blade gave him something she did not have, reach. Once she leapt, he would have her. Applejack neared the Pegasus. He prepared to swing; she was going to leap in the air to bring her hooves around any moment. Only Applejack did not leap this time. She threw herself on the ground and twisted her body around. She slid on her back in between Storm Dancer’s hooves. The Pegasus’s eyes widened as he watched the unexpected maneuver. Once she was positioned underneath Storm Dancer, Applejack kicked upwards with all four hooves. Storm Dancer was thrashed into the sky, dropping his blade in the process. Applejack rolled to her hooves and flipped her hat back on her head. She stomped on the blade with all her might, shattering it at the handle. It was useless now. “Yeehaw! Now that was a buck! How ya doing up there, SD?”

Storm Dancer was clinging to the caged ceiling. His underside hurt, his head hurt, his mouth hurt, but most of all his pride hurt. How dare this untrained hick make him look like a fool? This was just not acceptable. Her kicks were like hurricanes! It was unfathomable. But what he hated most was not the skill or strength of the fighter. It was that snarky home-town politeness of her annoying voice. He saw nothing but rage as he kicked off the cage and dive-bombed the pony, “Shut up! Stop talking! Cease this instant!” Applejack had little time to react Storm Dancer crashed into her and slammed his own rear hooves right into her rib cage. His wings pushed into the attack and propelled both ponies to the south wall. Applejack’s back slammed against the stonework as Storm Dancer’s hooves crushed her ribcage. As Applejack fell to the ground into a pile of vines, Storm Dancer laughed. “There’s a good girl.” Applejack tried to get to her hooves, but it was no use, the wind had been knocked out of her.

“Wings… are… cheatin’…” She gasped as she rolled around in the vines. Storm Dancer proceeded to use Applejack’s moment of weakness to tie her up in the vines.

“Consider yourself hogtied.” Storm Dancer belted a laugh, “Ha! I’ve done it! I’ve defeated Nightmare Moon and her thralls! I’ve brought glory to all of Equestria! I’ve brought glory to Princess Celestia! I am victorious!”

“The only thing… you are… is delusional.”

Storm Dancer turned around, “Ah, the false Princess Luna. Good to see you’re back on your hooves. That certainly saves me the trouble of carrying your heavy body back to your sister.”

Luna looked over at Shining Armor, withering on the ground, “You used… a Mangus Thief potion?! That robs the… subject of their… tribal gift…. It’s a crime… against nature….”

“Yeah yeah, just like the witch said, terrible consequences. Listen, we’ve got to get going if we’re going to get out of here before the rest of your thralls arrive.”

“I’m not going… anywhere… with you….”

“Oh, I think you’ll follow this little one anywhere, won’t you?” Storm Dancer walked over to Twilight and kicked the Unicorn. Twilight groaned in pain. “Oh look, she’s going to wake up soon. Guess the potion is wearing off. Shouldn’t be too much of a hassle though, with all the injuries she’s sustained. Just to make sure though….” Storm Dancer dug a spur into Twilight’s flesh and drew more blood.

“You’re a monster….”

17: The Courtyard: Desire

Applejack was wriggling against her binds. How dare anypony think they could hogtie her? She guessed that in some way it was fittingly ironic, but she still was irritated by the situation. Where were Rarity and the others? What was taking them so long! Applejack attempted to bend herself so she could gnaw at the vines with her teeth. She never was a flexible pony. She was surprised the vines of the Everfree Forest were so strong. They were almost as strong as the rope she uses on the farm. As she wiggled around she quickly realized that Storm Dancer had no knowledge of rope tying. If she just fussed with the vines enough she might be able to break herself free. The question was would she be able to do so in time? Storm Dancer glanced back at Luna. The Pegasus spit on the ground, “What did you call me?”

“A… monster…” Luna said in a pained breath.

The gray Pegasus walked up to Luna and raised his face to the Alicorn’s eyes, “I am not a monster. You are the monster!”

“You’re right… I am…. But it… takes one… to know one…” Luna shuddered. Nightmare Moon was still screaming in pain and it was chilling Luna to the bone. She wished there was something she could do to stop the agony. All these events were happening so fast. This day had started off so nicely too.

“How dare you compare me to the likes of you?! So I’ve hurt one mare in order to save millions. I’m a soldier. That’s what I do. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. You hurt millions because you were sad. Oh boo-hoo. Grow up, you thousand-year-old foal.”

“What do you want… from me? An apology? I’m sorry…. There…. But ‘I’m sorry’ won’t make it better…. Nothing can… I messed up…. And perhaps you’re right… I don’t deserve happiness… But Twilight does… Please… just untie Applejack and let her fetch help for my love…. I’ll do whatever you want… I am broken.”

Shining Armor was laying on his side, “Princess Luna… you… would sacrifice yourself for Twily?”

The Alicorn bowed her head, “I would do… anything to for her.”

Storm Dancer laughed, “Your devotion to your thrall is commendable! It is too bad your soul is too far beyond redemption for that to matter. Still perhaps your sister will remember that when she judges you in the afterlife. If Alicorns even have one.”

Luna reluctantly bowed to Storm Dancer, “What would you have me do?” She had never bowed before to another pony. It was humiliating.

“Oh how the mighty have fallen. Everypony observe this spectacle! Captain… farmer… witness how I have brought a goddess to her knees, ready to do my bidding.”

Applejack yelled, “Hey ya dumb piece of bark! Witness this spectacle!”

Storm Dancer spun around, “How dare you steal my moment?!”

“I dare because I got my tail free from these here vines.” Applejack’s tail wiggled in the air. Storm Dancer gave a bemused look to the Earth pony. “Now you might think to ya self, what in tarnation does a single tail have to do with your circumstance?” Applejack squirmed around and appeared to be fiddling with something. It was hard to see from this angle. “Well, prolly nothing if it was Twilight’s tail, or SA’s tail. But see this here is my tail. My blue ribbon winnin’ tail.”

“I think you hit that wall a bit too hard, little filly.”

Applejack’s tail rose back up into view spinning around in a circle. Attached to the end was one of the vines. She was twirling it just like a lasso.

“You can’t be serious. You can’t even move your legs. You think a simple rope trick is going to defeat me?”

“Well I think we’re all about to find out where the apple lands.” With a controlled flick, the vine lasso went soaring through the air. Shining Armor watched as it neared Storm Dancer. Luna winced as Storm Dancer skillfully evaded the vine.

Storm Dancer belted a full on guffaw, “Well seeing as you missed me horribly, I’d say we can see the apple falls not far from the tree. The daughter of a farmer hick is of course a farmer hick.”

“Wasn’t aiming for you.”

Storm Dancer raised an eyebrow, “Then what were you aiming for?” Applejack pulled the line taunt.

CRACK!

Storm Dancer’s eyes traced the vine as it went from Applejack’s tail to Luna’s neck. The vine was wrapped around the Amulet of Null, and the necklace’s chain had just snapped. Storm Dancer’s expression turned to horror. “Oh… this is…. I need to get…” There was a booming rumble that shook Equestria. The sky seemed to darken and Storm Dancer suddenly found his legs unwilling to move. He glanced over to Twilight. If he could just make it over there, perhaps he could still fix this.

Luna fell to the ground, the pupils of her eyes vanishing into glowing sources of light. The Alicorn began to chuckle sinisterly. “You know… I tried… I really did.” Luna’s wings twitched as the feathers smoothed over and bent into a different shape, “I don’t know why I tried so hard….” Luna’s voice deepened as she was taken over by a dark laugh, “I think I was trying to show you mercy. Yes… I was trying to show a little mercy….” Luna’s mane dissolved into a fine mist. “You don’t deserve it, I see that now…” The Alicorn threw her head back. Her eyes widened in an unnatural way, she bellowed a laugh in a different voice from her own. “I tried to show you mercy….” The mist from her mane swirled into a vortex around her. “Because she’s not going to.” Storm Dancer took a few steps backward and tripped. The mist spun like a hurricane. A tendril of smoke reached out of the swirling mass and snaked over to the iron gate that Applejack and Shining Armor had dislodged as they entered the courtyard. The tendril coiled itself around the gate and began to crumple it. The rust from the gate fell away as the tendril sculpted the metal. The shards of the gate compounded together into the shape of a helmet. A haunting laugh echoed through the Everfree Forest as the helmet was flicked back into the vortex of mist. The mist settled suddenly revealing a frightening silhouette.

Shining Armor gasped, “Nightmare Moon! Dancer was telling the truth, she’s not dead!”

Nightmare Moon laughed, “Far from it, Captain.” Nightmare Moon turned to Storm Dancer.

“No! This wasn’t…! The Amulet should have…!”

“What’s the matter Storm Dancer? Are you not going to gloat? Did you not demand an audience with me? Is this not what you wanted? You torture Luna and call her a monster, but when the beast herself rears her head you soil yourself?” Nightmare Moon laughed.

Storm Dancer shook in his armor, “I’m not afraid of you, Nightmare Moon! I will fight to my death.”

“Good to know, for I will fight to your death as well. Let me explain the gravity of your situation. You have insulted my other half and caused her no small amount of physical pain. You have hurt fair Applejack, which Luna counts as a friend. And finally you have hurt our Twilight. In your defense I offer but one single word of advice.” The mist around Nightmare Moon flared up and crashed down to swirl around the floor. “Run.” Storm Dancer took to the air and flew as fast as his wings would carry him. Tendrils of mist, stemming from Nightmare Moon’s starry mane snaked and slithered out across the floor. Storm Dancer flew higher in an attempt to escape their clutches. The tendrils sought out a shadowy corner of the room and disappeared in the darkness only to reemerge from a different dark corner. “Fly! Fly like your life depends on it!” Nightmare Moon crumpled down in a fit of laughter, clutching her sides in pain from the strength of her mirth. Storm Dancer stalled out in the air to avoid a group of tendrils that dangled down from the ceiling. From the wall to the side, in a small crack of the stone where the shadows lurked, a tendril lashed out and wrapped around his rear hoof. He was yanked out of the sky and flung into the wall. Storm Dancer let out a scream. Another tendril coiled itself around his neck and pulled him to the ground.

“No! No! Let go of me!” Storm Dancer fidgeted and squirmed as tendril of shadow pecked and pulled at his limbs. “Get them off! Get them off!” The tendrils stung with an unholy cold as they tightened around his form. He found himself shivering and twitching as the tendrils dragged him across the floor. The tendrils connected with Nightmare Moon’s flowing mane and he found himself hanging upside down, face to face with the Alicorn.

“Ah, Storm Dancer. It appears you did not fly fast enough.”

“Demon! Let me go!”

“I will soon enough. I detest the smell of dead bodies. Do you know what question is on my mind right now?” Strom Dancer kicked his hooves in a desperate attempt to break free of the Alicorn’s mane. “I am speaking to you! You will answer.”

“I… don’t know…”

“The question on my mind is what to do with this sack of feathers and fur that’s tangled in my mane right now.” Nightmare Moon sighed, “What to do? What to do?” The Alicorn’s mane released Storm Dancer for a moment only to grab him again by his rear hoof and dangle him upside down. “Perhaps I could clog your airways and watch you beg for breath.” Smoke poured into his mouth and he let out a gasping cough. “No, to easy.” The tendril encircled Storm Dancer and formed into sharp spikes. “Perhaps I could finish painting the courtyard red for you. I could treat you the same way you treated our Twilight. I’m sure your blood is just as lovely a shade of red as hers. It would brighten this place up nicely.”

Applejack called out, “Nigh’mare Moon!” The Earth pony had freed herself from her bonds and had taken up a position over top of the fallen Twilight Sparkle.

“Ah, fair Applejack. Perhaps you have some input on the matter?”

“We’ll stop you! You’re not going to get away with this!”

“Get away with what exactly? Do you think at all before you talk?” A tendril shot out in Applejack’s direction stopping only inches from her face. Nightmare Moon flinched slightly. The tendril retracted back into the Alicorn’s mane, “Apparently Luna disagrees with that action.” Nightmare Moon sighed and turned her head back to Storm Dancer. Storm Dancer glanced up at the sky. “The sun? You think the sun will save you now? Very well, direct your prayers to your precious sun. When you get over your delusion, perhaps you can pray to goddess that has your fate hanging by a shadowy thread.”

Storm Dancer turned back to the Alicorn, swinging back and forth from the spot he hung, “Oh great Nightmare Moon! Sprit of the eternal night! I plead to you! I entreat you! I implore you! I beg of you! I beseech you! Please die!” Storm Dancer swung forward and imbedded a spur deep into Nightmare Moon’s throat. The wound was far more than enough to kill a Griffin or any pony. To his horror he found that he could not pull the spur out of the Alicorn’s neck. His face turned to terror as he found himself stuck in place and uncomfortably close to the Alicorn. Nightmare Moon seemed not to notice that she had just been mortally wounded.

“Oh, this one is funny. You amuse me, Storm Dancer.” Nightmare Moon chuckled as the spur snapped off of Storm Dancer’s hoof. “Now back to my predicament.” Shadowy shapes swirled around Storm Dancer’s face, “Perhaps it would be fitting to assault your mind with illusions of torment.” Storm Dancer screamed as the shadows took on the frightening faces of Griffins in armor. “No? Hm… You seem to think I have brainwashed my dear love. Perhaps then it would be fitting to give you some experience on the matter.”

Storm Dancer’s eyes turned to black pits of overflowing smoke as he spoke in a monotone, “Thank you for enlightening my mind, Nightmare Moon…”

“What about the burning cold embrace of shadow magic?” A few tendrils pressed themselves against Storm Dancer’s coat. He howled in pain as smoke rose into the sky. “No. I think the bottom line is that while watching you suffer for eternity would be amusing, you are a liability. A liability I am about to erase.” Storm Dancer was thrust upwards to the sky. He burst through the caged ceiling and high into the air. He paused for only a moment until he was pulled back down at an alarming rate. Faster and faster he sped to the ground, past the cage ceiling and closer to the floor. He impacted the floor with the sound of crunching stone. The floor fragmented and pieces of stone exploded in all directions. Storm Dancer groaned from within the small indent in the stone work. The tendrils slammed the Pegasus into the ground and then lifted him back into the air.

Applejack glanced down at Twilight, she was groaning. The effects of the potion were almost gone and the poor Unicorn was going to be in a lot of pain very soon. Applejack looked back to Nightmare Moon. She was cackling widely as she thrashed Storm Dancer from wall to wall. Eventually she suspended him in the air, only a few inches from her face, “Now that I’m done toying with you….” The tendrils of shadow began to crush the pony. Sounds of crumpling metal echoed throughout the courtyard as his armor was crushed against his body.

A weak voice spoke up, “Lu…na… Night…mare… Moon…” Nightmare Moon turned around. Applejack looked down at the purple Unicorn she was standing over.

Nightmare Moon took a step closer, “Twilight?”

Twilight’s breath was severely labored, “I… heard… you… talk…ing…”

“Don’t push yourself, sugarcube,” Applejack said softly.

Nightmare Moon bellowed, “LET HER SPEAK IF SHE WISHES!” Applejack was knocked off to the side from the sheer force of the Alicorn’s voice.

Twilight’s eye rolled up to look at the Alicorn. It was the only movement she could muster. “Let… him… go… Night…mare…. He… can’t… hurt me… anymore…”

Nightmare Moon looked at the ground, “Your compassion is dangerous. This one caused you harm. He deserves to be punished. I must protect you.”

Twilight’s eye closed, “And… you did… now… let… him go…”

Storm Dancer coughed, “Killed by the very demon I wished to thwart… A fitting end for a hero.”

“Hero?” Nightmare Moon fell into a fit of laughed as she lifted Storm Dancer back into the air. “You think yourself a hero? You are so amusing.”

Storm Dancer grunted, “What else would you call me? Clearly you’re the monster here, taking lives of the innocent.”

Nightmare Moon laughed, “Says the pony that planed to do the same to our Twilight.”

Storm Dancer struggled in the air as he was lifted high into the sky. Twilight coughed, “Nightmare… Moon… please… you don’t… have to… be this way….” Storm Dancer was quickly lowered to the ground and then brought to a sudden stop inches from the floor. Nightmare Moon sat motionless. The Alicorn did not move or speak for almost a full minute. Storm Dancer was moaning in pain, but otherwise was silent as well, still suspended upside down in the air.

Applejack was a tad confused, “What in tarnation is going on?”

Nightmare Moon barely moved as she responded, “We are conflicted.”

“That made as ‘bout much sense as bananas on an apple tree.”

“Our desires are conflicted. We cannot agree on an action. So I wait until we can decide on a path.”

“Conflicted how? You keep using ‘we’. Is Luna in there? Can I talk to Luna?”

“Luna hears you.” The Alicorn spoke as though she was preoccupied with something.

“Then… am I speaking to Nigh’mare Moon or Luna?”

“You speak to both, but I reply.”

“If you’re Nigh’mare, then how can we get Luna back?”

“Luna is not gone. Luna is here.”

“Why are you talkin’ so funny? All short and choppy like that?”

“We are conflicted.”

“You mean you and Luna is fightin’ in there?”

“No. She fights with herself. I will wait until her heart aligns and my thoughts become clear again.”

“I don’t understand. You are waiting for Luna to decide something?”

“Nightmare Moon is Luna. Luna is Nightmare Moon. Our body and memories are one, but our minds are not. Our thoughts are separate but our desires are one. I am strong. She is weak. Her subtleness allows us to coexist with others. I fulfill our desirers when she is not strong enough. But these desires currently conflict. We do not know how to proceed.”

“What are these desires you keep gabbing about?”

“We must protect our Twilight. We must kill Storm Dancer to prevent harm from befalling her. We want our Twilight’s love and attention. She would frown upon our violence. These actions conflict. We will wait until a better action appears or until our desires change.”

Storm Dancer groaned, “Do it… just kill me… weakling….” He was slammed onto the ground.

“You will remain quiet.” Nightmare Moon scoffed then turned to face Twilight. “You think we are better than this?”

Twilight forced a smile, despite the pain she was in. “I already… know Luna is…. Are… you?” Nightmare Moon sighed. The shadowy mist dissolved around Storm Dancer and he fell unceremoniously to the ground. The Alicorn walked to Twilight. Applejack careened her neck upward to try and compensate for the Alicorn’s height. Nightmare Moon shot the orange pony a demanding look. Applejack gritted her teeth and let out a small growl. Twilight’s eye rolled upward to glance at the two ponies standing over her. “AJ… It’s ok…”

Nightmare Moon lowered her head to the floor to be on Twilight’s level, “You do not think me a monster?”

“I…. suspected… you were… still around…. Luna… tired to tell me…. She’s… afraid of… what… I’ll think…” Twilight coughed a few times. “You… protected… me… you can’t… be a monster….” Nightmare Moon kissed Twilight on the forehead. Twilight’s eye closed and she lay motionless against the cold stone floor.

Nightmare Moon began to yell, “Twilight? TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”

The Alicorn cringed as her fur turned a lighter color. The helmet around her head shattered and she shrank in size. Princess Luna stood back up and placed her hooves around Twilight’s body. Apparently, Nightmare Moon had panicked and gave control back to Luna, which was the only thing she could think of for now. Her alternate ego had left in such a rush. From the western gate a group of four ponies entered the courtyard in a huff, “Applejack, I'm back! I’ve brought… Great Celestia, what happened here? The whole place is destroyed!”

“Quickly, we’ve got to get Twi and SA to a doctor! RD go round up Storm Dancer!” Applejack pointed behind her.

“Who?” Rainbow Dash asked in confusion. The spot Applejack had pointed to was empty save for a broken piece leg armor.

“Consarnit!”

Fluttershy was helping Shining Armor lay down on the reading couch in the Ponyville Library. She had just arrived shortly after everypony else. The soft-spoken Pegasus had first tried to take Shining Armor to Nurse Redheart, but she had never even heard of a Mangus Thief potion or anything that could take away the magic of a Unicorn. In the end, Luna had mentioned that all Shining Armor needed was rest and the potion’s effects would wear off by itself. Twilight, however, they were not able to get to the hospital. Luna had instead taken her back to the library and was frantically flipping through books. Rainbow Dash looked over at Twilight then yelled at Princess Luna, “You stupid mare! She’s dying we need to get her to a doctor right now!”

“The doctor won’t be able to help. She’s lost too much blood. She needs magical healing. Ah! By the souls of Dagr and Nótt…! I’ve found it at last!” Luna pulled a book off the shelf and slammed the open book in Rarity’s face. “This spell! Perform this spell!”

Rarity took a few steps back, “Me? Why not you?”

“This is light magic! I cannot perform it!”

“Perhaps a doctor?”

Luna stomped her hoof and lighting struck nearby, “The sleeping potion that filth gave her has side effects! It puts the body’s ability to heal asleep as well! It must be purged from her system. I need you to perform this spell and at this instant!”

Rarity began to stutter, “Some other Unicorn could…”

“We don’t have time for me to explain this! This spell needs raw power! You are an Element bearer are you not? She’s dying! Once she’s dead that’s it! Dead is dead! Not even Celestia can undo that!”

“That may very well be but I haven’t the slightest idea what this thing on the page means!”

“It is a magical flow path chart! Have you absolutely no training in the mystic arts?!”

“No… I’m… I’m a dress maker….” Rarity started to cry. Luna threw the book at the wall. She crumpled down to the floor in frustration. Suddenly she cried out in pain.

Pinkie Pie rushed over to the Alicorn, “Princess! Are you alright?”

“Applejack… She has an idea. She won’t tell me what it is, but she says she can help. Can you convince them?”

“Convince us of what?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Applejack shook her head and sighed, “Alright. Won’t be the first time today we’ve done something stupid. Everypony listen up! Nightmare Moon has an idea.” Several ponies gasped. “That’s right, Nightmare Moon. So everypony just shut up and let’s get this over with.”

Luna pushed Pinkie Pie away as she transformed again. Rarity and Pinkie Pie blocked off the route to Fluttershy, who had already somehow wedged herself under the couch. Nightmare Moon looked at Rarity, “I’m sorry for this. Twilight is dying. I’m so very sorry.”

“Sorry for…!” Rarity’s eyes turned to black pits of frothing smoke. The other ponies gasped.

Rainbow Dash jumped in the Alicorn’s face. “Now wait just a minute! What have you done to Rarity?!”

Rarity and Nightmare Moon spoke at the same time, “I need a pony that can cast light magic. Since she is too stupid to learn the spell herself I will simply take control of her body and perform the spell myself. Now stand back.” Rarity approached Twilight. Magic focused in her horn and with a flash of light Twilight drew in a sickening inhale. It was the first sound she had made since she fell silent in the courtyard. The smoke faded from Rarity’s eyes and Nightmare Moon shrunk back into Luna.

Luna was crying. “I’m sorry… I didn’t know she was going to do that… I’m sorry…. I wouldn’t have let her do that if I had known….”

Rarity sat down on the floor and closed her eyes tightly, “It’s…. alright… at least she’ll be better now…”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know….”

Twilight coughed, “Luna…”

“I’m here…” Luna lifted Twilight up with her magic and began to walk up the stairs with her. “Twilight needs energy to heal; I’m going to watch over her. Make sure her brother drinks plenty of fluids to dilute the poison. And Applejack, go get some rest....” Luna shut the door to Twilight’s bedroom.

18: Statues

Twilight Sparkle awoke standing. Her eyes flickered open to a brilliant white sky. She was standing. She must have fallen asleep standing. It was a good thing too, when she looked down she found she was standing ankle deep in water. Twilight looked around. There was nothing but the placid water in every direction and the white sky above. No matter how far she trotted the water stayed the same depth. Her hoofsteps barely even created ripples as she walked. In the sky to her left hung the moon and to her right, the sun. A gentle breeze blew past; her mane ruffled slightly and she did not bother to fix it. A spray of mist danced above the water’s surface, giving off a slight rainbow. There was an unnatural peace to this area, not to mention the surrealism of a plane of endless water. “This must be a dream,” Twilight said to nopony in particular. “But what am I supposed to do here?” Twilight spun around in place. On her fifth turn, she noticed a far away object that had not been there before. “Good as idea as anything else.” She walked slowly to the object. It was some spindly thing off in the distance. She glanced up at the sun, which was glowing dully in the sky. The moon was full, but lost in the white sky. Finally after much walking, she reached the object. It was a tree, and a dead one at that. Its branches were twisted in an untraceable nest of intertwined paths. Its bark was a shade of gray similar to that of a statue. The water rippled out from the tree’s base. Twilight looked around. The sound of a stringed instrument of some kind was playing. Twilight followed the sound to the top of the tree. She shook her head at the sound’s source, “Hello.”

“Hello,” Discord replied. The draconequus was slowly going chromatically up the notes on a fiddle he was clutching. “I’m glad to see you’re starting to show some civility around me. You were being just downright rude before.”

Twilight glanced around. “Why am I here?”

“How should I know?” Discord reversed directions of his playing; now gradually stepping down through the notes on the fiddle. “Perhaps you’re dead?”

“I’m not...! I’m not dead!”

“Oh yes, that’s what it was now. You’re dead. This is the afterlife. Storm Dancer really did a number on you.”

Twilight looked at her reflection in the water. “That’s not true! This can’t be… How can you be here then?”

“I’m a god. I can be where ever I want. It’s one of the perks of being omnipotent.”

“You are not a god! You’re some crazed sprit with a twisted sense of humor!”

Discord reversed directions on his tune again, slowly climbing the scale. “Blasphemy! I should smite you or something. I am too a god. Or I was one anyway. Now I’m nothing more than a resting place for pigeons.”

“This can’t be the afterlife. There’s nothing here! Just the water and the sun and moon. And this dumb tree!”

“Oh I can’t tell you how much I hate pigeons. If there’s one thing I don’t miss from the garden outside the castle it’s the blasted pigeons. Oh and the field trips. Those were ever so annoying.”

Twilight shook her head. “I remember Luna was carrying me up to bed though. I couldn’t have died….”

“They really are worthless creatures. All they do is eat and defecate on statues. Pigeons that is. Not the field trips. I don’t think a trip is capable of sitting on top of a statue. It should though. Twilight, take a note! When I get my powers back I want to make field trips a living creature. Like an eight-headed zebra-sidewalk thing. No! Wait. Avocados. Perfect, absolute genius. All field trips shall be made into avocados. I’m not sure how that’s going to work yet. I’ll figure out the details later. Point is, write it down so I don’t forget.”

“Are you even listening? I’m telling you I’m not dead.”

“Oh. You’re still on that. Yes of course you’re not dead. I’m a god of chaos, not the afterlife. Once you’re dead you’ll never have to worry about me again. I just told you that because you take everything so seriously and it’s hilarious. Did you write down the note about the avocados? I’m not kidding, this is super important. The fate of Equestria could very well hang on this one day. Avocados. Not the writing part. Don’t forget.”

Twilight shook her head. “Then why am I here in this strange place?”

Discord resumed playing his fiddle. “Don’t look at me. I don’t know. I’m just resting here because I needed to get out of the dungeon for a while. That stupid siren is singing again. It’s much more peaceful here.”

“This is one of your stupid lessons isn’t it? What’s with all the water?”

“I told you I don’t know.” Discord leaned over the side of the tree.

“The sun and the moon both in the sky at the same time over a field of water with a single dead tree. Is this supposed to be symbolic?”

“Probably. Maybe it’s your inner turmoil or something.” Discord waved Twilight off and went back to his fiddle.

“I thought you were supposed to be…”

“Oh I got it! I’ll turn all the little ponies that go on the field trip into avocadoes. There it is.”

“Listen to me!”

“Oh you’re right. That’s not really turning a field trip into an avocado that’s more just turning the field trip participants into fruit. Is an avocado a fruit? Bah. It don’t matter, if it's not it will be by the time I’m done with it.”

“I thought you were supposed to be teaching me something!”

“Fine! You want this to be symbolic? Take a look.” Discord grew in size and his shadow engulfed Twilight. He snaked around and pointed to the moon. On the horizon a large outline of Luna appeared below the moon. Opposite the image was a child’s drawing of Ponyville and Canterlot, painting the sky below the sun. “The time may come yet very soon, for you to choose between the sun and the moon. The moon which loves you without a doubt and the sun which Equestria cannot live without!”

“Enough of your riddles! What do you want with me?”

“Want? Why nothing but your absolute happiness, little Twilight.”

“Happiness? You have a funny way of showing it, assaulting my mind with images of my fillyfriend’s death and my home being destroyed.”

“Happiness is the goal, my little pony. I never said it would be a smooth path. You have to earn it. I show you things that prepare you for events to come.”

“You show me lies! This whole place is just a fun ground for you to torture me!”

“Torture you? Here? I can’t. This is your dream.”

Twilight looked around “This is… my dream…? You’re a liar. This is one of your little lessons.”

“You would think so. But as hard as it was for me to comprehend, apparently you actually do a have a brain and this is what brains do at night. They dream.”

Twilight glanced up at the sky. “My… dream…?”

“Yes but perhaps you’re right. We should get down to business. Let’s face it. I’m not getting anywhere with this avocado dilemma. Well. Since you asked for it. Let’s play a game. I call this one ‘Statues!’”

Twilight gasped, “No…!”

“Too late.” Discord laughed as he snapped his fingers. The water began to drain down an unseen hole in the ground. Twilight was sucked into the vortex of water, pulled by the current to the center of the area. Discord laughed as the sky darkened and thunder echoed. Twilight’s head was pulled under the surface. She kicked her legs and flailed her neck. Her head surfaced only long enough to take a gasping gulp of air as she was pulled back down. She neared the edge of the swirling drain, feeling the flow turn from sideways to vertical as she fell into the abyss. Discord’s laughing expression was the last thing she saw from the surface as she was pulled into darkness. As she fell downward she had the strangest feeling that she was falling the wrong way. All around her objects on inexplicable origin were passing her, traveling upwards. A table, affixed with several colorful balloons, passed her by. A small pocket watch zinged right near her snout. A couple of books teased her as she tried to read the titles before they flew upwards and out of sight. She could have sworn that she had just seen Fluttershy’s pet bunny float by with a red vest. Then the speed increased. She was assaulted with scrolls and cookies and rainbow colored lightning bolts. Flower petals and pillows brushed against her tail as a few stray trees and apples bumped into her hooves. A large muffin smacked her in the face and somehow became lodged in her mouth. Then she began to tumble. She rolled from side to side as the objects assaulted her. A group of pink butterflies flew past by her in the hurry to evade her fall. She did loops around a set of sewing supplies that could not seemed to be bothered to get out of her way. Just when she thought it could get no stranger, a gray Pegasus with a blond mane floated by from the side. The gray mare snatched the muffin out of Twilight’s mouth and gave her a salute before lazily floating off to the side, nimbly dodging a pair of horseshoes that flew by. Twilight could see a small dot of light below her. The wind was nipping at her mane and stinging her eyes as she neared the light. She was almost to the light when it vanished with a clicking noise. Soon after, she impacted against a hard object.

When she stood up the first thing she noticed was how hard it was to see. The area had become very dark and devoid of all color. It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust, but when the world finally came back into focus, she could tell without a doubt that she was at the front gates to Canterlot Castle. She pushed the grayscale doors open and entered the castle. A muffled sound echoed around her, perhaps the scraping noise of the doors but it could have been anything. She walked down the large atrium of the castle. It was as she always remembered it, a long hallway lined with fantastical stain glass windows. However there were also several statues of royal guards placed rather peculiarly around the hallway. The Unicorn leaned in and stared closely at one of the stone stallions. A voice rang out that startled Twilight. “Twilight?”

The lavender pony glanced around to find a shadowy figure at the end of the hallway. “Who’s there?”

“Quickly! This way, Twilight.” The shadowy figure ducked around the corner. Twilight recognized the voice. It was Princess Luna’s voice. Eager to find a way out of this nightmare, Twilight raced down the hallway. Her hoofsteps muffled against the stonework despite her understanding of sound to tell her the exact opposite should be occurring. She rounded the corner to see Luna a fair distance ahead. Luna’s lovely blue coat was the only color in the otherwise gray world. Like a beacon drawing Twilight closer. “This way. We must hurry, my love.” Twilight followed Luna into the royal ballroom.

The grand hall was littered with ponies that were made of stone. The statues were all poised as though they had been sculpted in the middle of grand waltz. Luna glanced back to Twilight with a heavy sigh, “Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a statue, Twilight?” Luna weaved in and out of the ponies and made her way across the dance floor. “It must be dreadful to be a statue. Unable to move, trapped in a pose for all to see. I guess the best you can hope for is that you’re posed gracefully, so that others will see you how you want to be seen.” They walked around several ponies dressed to the nines, bowing to their partners with elegance. “What if the pose portrays you as a monster though?” They walked up to a pony that had tripped, and was immortalized in stone in the middle of a fall. “I guess if that’s what was going on when they made you a statue, then you’d be forever remembered as a villain. Ponies would only ever see the darker side of you. You’d be remembered only for your sins.”

“There’s always redemption.” Twilight tried to kiss her fillyfriend, but Luna walked away too briskly.

Luna made her way up to the stage where the stone band was frozen in the middle of a stanza. “It must be dreadful to be a statue. Unable to speak or sing. Ponies only can look at your image and from that they make their judgments. You try and call out to tell them that no, they are wrong! But your voice can’t leave your lips.” Luna’s tail brushed past an elegant pony on the cello. “Your sweet music is forgotten. There is no way for you to share it with others because they can only see the memory.” Luna paused a moment to stare at the cello. “I bet if statues could sing it would be a mellow song.” Luna pushed the gray curtain aside and disappeared behind the stage.

“There’s always a chance they could see the real you.”

Twilight followed suit and found herself, strangely, in the castle kitchen. Luna walked past several ponies wearing chef hats. They were in the midst of a chaotic still life. All around the ponies were dashing from left to right trying to quickly prepare dinner for the royalty and their guests. Only they were not moving. They too were encased in stone. “It must be dreadful to be a statue. Unable to interact with others, or share in conversations with them about nothings.” They walked past a pair of chefs statues, one was putting the finishing touches on a cake, while another was smiling widely and patting the first on the back. “No pony that can tell you that you’re doing a good job. No words of kindness can make it to your ears to praise your actions.” They moved over to a lone pony that was knelt down on the floor, trying to clean up a mess of broken eggs. “No pony to hear your calls for help. Perhaps that’s for the best though. Who would help a statue?” Luna lowered her head as the rounded a corner.

They found themselves in another hallway. There a Pegasus statue stood, donned in armor from the Griffin War. “It must be dreadful to be a statue. Unable to affect the world in any significant way.” Twilight walked past the stone Storm Dancer and shook her head. Luna paused only a moment to spit at the statue’s hooves. “Watching others rally around your misdeeds. Living on in infamy. The object of hatred. Forever.” Luna shook her head as they left the statue to their backs. They descended some staircases. “That’s what it means of course. You live forever.” The stairs delved deeper and deeper into the darkness. “And when so many years go by, your features… they wear off… the statue you once were is not just a figment. All the subtleties of your expression are gone. But the general pose is still there.” Twilight glanced around. They had entered the dungeon of the castle and were walking down the long hallways towards the crypt. “With your features gone, all on lookers can no longer see the pain in your face. The regret.” Luna was walking faster than Twilight. The Alicorn faded into the darkness ahead of Twilight, despite how fast she galloped after her love. Luna’s voice echoed. “All they see is the menacing pose.” Then Twilight could see nothing. Only the unknown darkness greeted her pupils now. “The enemy of the past.”

A bright light illuminated the center of the room, igniting with a thundering sound. The statue of Discord stat over the spotlight, posed as though he was signing a song. To the right was a statue of Princess Celestia staring up at the sky longingly. Luna was standing on Discord’s other side, gazing at Twilight. The blue Alicorn spoke in a hushed tone, “It must be dreadful to be a statue. Unable to change how others view you.”

Twilight shook her head. “Luna… You have me. You have me who sees you for what you truly are! A kind soul who’s biggest fault is just wanting to be loved.”

The Alicorn nodded. “Perhaps you’re right.” The room rumbled violently. The two ponies let out a gasp. The ceiling fractured. Fissures crept quickly around the area, a soft blue light pouring from the crevasses. With the thundering sound of a rock slide, the ceiling dissolved away to the night sky. Color flooded into the chamber as the starry sky shone forth, an ocean of rich blue velvet sprinkled with pinholes of light. In the center was the crown jewel, the centerpiece of the whole arrangement, the pale moon. It sat brilliantly high in the sky in all its glory, casting a spotlight down onto the ponies in Discord’s crypt at the heart of the castle dungeon. Luna looked up at the moon and tears streamed down her face. She was lit with a golden light coming from the floor. Around her hooves a circle of runes traced themselves into the dirt. Luna looked down in horror. “Twilight!” The Alicorn called out as the circle’s invisible artist completed tracing. A pillar of light raced up from the ground and struck the moon. Twilight shielded her eyes for a moment. A gust of wind knocked Twilight back as Luna screamed. In a second the ground inside the runic circle vanished and Luna fell.

“Luna!” Twilight raced forward and jumped through the rift. Her rear hooves wrapped round one of the legs of the statue of Discord as she fell into the fissure. She quickly interlocked her front leg around Luna’s own. Luna was dangling out into a colorless landscape, covered in dust.

“The moon!” The Alicorn’s face was streaming with tears. “We’re on the lunar surface! Please! I don’t want to go back!” Twilight struggled as some invisible force was pulling at Luna’s tail. She felt her grip on the statue slip and the two ponies edged further into the rift.

“I’ve got you! I’ve got you!” Twilight’s legs felt as though they were going to be torn off. Wind rushed up around her and bits of dust and pebbles nipped at her cheeks. “It’s going to be ok!”

“Please! I can’t go back! I can’t go back!” Luna’s leg slipped slightly as a small pebble hit her eye. “I won’t go back! Twilight! Help me, Twilight! Don’t let go!”

“I won’t let go! I’m here!” One of Twilight’s hind legs slipped and she fell forward past the shining light of the runic circle. She now was in danger of flying out with Luna as well.

“Twilight!” Luna screamed.

“It’s ok! My leg is caught on something! I’ve still got you!”

Luna gasped, “Sister! Tia, please help me!”

Twilight strained her neck to look back up through the rift. Princess Celestia was staring down at the two ponies with a scowl of hatred on her face. Twilight had never before seen such anger in her mentor’s eyes. Fire burned in them, a fire more intense than the breath of a Dragon. “Princess! Help us! I can’t hold on much longer!”

“Little Lulu.” Celestia's voice rang with malice. “You have broken the code of the Alicorns. And for that you shall be punished. From this moment on, the sun hath forsaken thee.” Celestia’s raised her hoof overtop of Twilight.

“Please sister, give me a second chance!”

“I already gave you a second chance. And you are never returning.” Celestia smirked.

Luna screamed. Celestia’s hoof came down on Twilight’s spine and the Unicorn’s leg slipped from the statue. Twilight and Luna fell into the rift. For a moment there was tranquility as they passed through the rift and entered the cold embrace of space. In some twisted way, the moon had a lonely beauty as they floated. Twilight looked back at Luna. “Don’t let go!” The Alicorn screamed. Then Twilight felt a large claw wrap around her body. The bright yellow claw of a Griffin arm pulled her slowly back into the rift. Her grip on Luna failed and the Alicorn was flung away.

Luna yelled as the void of space consumed her, “Twiliiiiiii…!”

Discord laughed, “Sometimes… you can’t have it all.”

19: Theory of Concatenation

Twilight Sparkle was startled awake. She inhaled sharply. Her eyes were slightly damp from crying in her sleep. She was definitely getting tired of waking up teary-eyed. When she sat up the room seemed off. It took a moment for her brain to register that she was facing the wrong way in her bed; her head was where she normally put her tail and vice-versa. Princess Luna was laying to her side, curled up in ball. Luna was still wearing her royal vestments, apparently too tired to be bothered to remove them before she climbed into bed. Twilight was glad that Luna still bothered to join her in bed after the events of yesterday. Come to think of it, what did happen yesterday? Twilight pondered on the events for a moment. She attempted to roll off bed but was met with a dull pain throughout her whole body. She groaned as the memories flooded back to her. Storm Dancer had surprised her in the Castle of the Two Sisters and had given her some potion. Then there were the cuts. Nightmare Moon soon followed after that, she remembered. She attempted to get out of bed again only to let out a shriek as a sharp pain tore through her sides. “Don’t move, sweetie.” Luna inhaled deeply. “You’re still healing.”

“Luna, you sound weak. Are you ok?” Twilight glanced over at her fillyfriend. Luna’s eye was half open, lazily staring up at Twilight. Her mane was flat against the bed, unusual as when they had shared the bed in the past, it would still flow in her sleep. Overall, Luna looked positively exhausted.

“I’m fine…” Luna wheezed. “Just a bit… tired….” Twilight gave Luna a frown. “The real question… is how are you feeling?”

“Luna. You look terrible.”

“Always… a pleasant… thing to hear… from one’s fillyfriend. I’m fine… I’m just low on magic… That’s all.” Luna’s eye closed and she exhaled loudly.

“Why are you low on magic?” Twilight’s ears drooped.

“Do you remember what happened yesterday?”

Twilight sighed, “Bits and pieces. More than I suspect I want to.” The lavender pony shook her head, “Storm Dancer captured me. I know I was injured. And then… Nightmare Moon was there and I have a lot of questions about that when you’re feeling better. What I want to know is why you are low on magic. You’re an Alicorn, you should have….”

“I spent it healing you. Rarity cast the spell, but I fueled it. It took most of the night.”

Twilight brought her face down to Luna’s own and examined her for a moment. “I’m not sensing any magic from you at all. That’s…. You normally are irradiating magic. You’re an Alicorn! Where’d all your magic go...?” Twilight’s face turned to horror. “Just… just how hurt was I?”

Luna lifted her head slowly and set it back down facing away from Twilight, “Seconds. A minute, perhaps if luck was on our side.”

Twilight shook slightly, “From…?”

“One of the few things even the spirit Discord can’t affect.”

“Death… I take it…”

Luna began to sob, “Oh Twilight…! I was so close to losing you….”

Twilight snuggled up against Luna and placed her head in the crook of Luna’s neck. “It’s alright. I’m fine now. I guess this makes you my hero now, doesn’t it. I should probably have Pinkie throw you a huge party or something.” Twilight started to laugh but quickly stopped, “Ow… My side is so sore….”

“It must be… you had several stab wounds there.” Luna drew in a labored breath.

“Luna… are you sure you’re…? Is there something I can do for you?” Twilight looked at her fillyfriend with a worried expression.

“Last night… was physically and emotionally exhausting. I would be very happy… if you just stayed here with me.” Luna closed her eyes and appeared to fall asleep.

“For my hero, I can do that.” Twilight scooted back in the bed. She nudged herself underneath Luna’s wing. She fidgeted back and forth as she tried to make herself comfortable and as close to Luna’s side as possible. She lowered her neck and set her head down next to Luna’s own. She kept one of her eyes watching the Alicorn, just in case Luna’s condition suddenly started to show signs of worsening. Twilight sat in silence for several minutes. Finally, Luna spoke softly.

“You can talk… just don’t expect much... of a response from me….”

“I have some questions for you… but since you’re tired, what if I just present my theories and you tell me how close they are?”

“Alright,” Luna said with a bit of strain.

Twilight sighed, “I’m sure you can guess what they are about. Nightmare Moon, of course.” Twilight paused a moment before continuing. “When we saw each other for the first time, it was the day of the Summer Sun Celebration almost two years ago. When Nightmare Moon first returned from her banishment to the moon.” Twilight watched Luna carefully for a reaction. Luna was eerily still. Twilight took a deep breath. “I first saw you, Princess Luna, after the Elements of Harmony defeated Nightmare Moon in the Castle of the Two Sisters. For the longest time I’ve wondered what exact effect the Elements of Harmony had against Nightmare Moon. Was it destruction of Nightmare Moon’s essence? Or was Nightmare Moon simply sealed away, like the Elements sealed Discord? Judging from what I saw last night. Nightmare Moon is alive and well.”

“Yes,” Luna sighed.

“So that makes the Elements’ power most likely to be that of a sealing nature. This is consistent with their effect against Discord.” Twilight shook her head as the gears in her head frantically turned. “But there are a few holes in that theory. First of all, if Nightmare Moon had been sealed, then why did she return last night? Extreme chaos combined with the passage of time and the changing of the Element bearers caused Discord’s seal to weaken one year ago. Did something similar happen with Nightmare Moon?” Twilight rolled to her side, pressing her back against Luna’s body. “It is said that you became jealous of Princess Celestia’s rapport with her subjects and that caused the essence of Nightmare Moon to be born. Could an intense emotional event have triggered Nightmare Moon’s return, despite the seal?”

Luna exhaled, “Twilight…”

“You’re right. I haven’t addressed the one key issue that brings that whole theory into question. You are clearly not Nightmare Moon at present. Therefore! Therefore we can conclude that the axiom of the Elements acting only as a sealing agent is false and disprove the whole theory in one fell swoop! If Nightmare Moon was sealed during the past two years then it would stand to reason by the principal of induction….”

“Twilight…”

“I know, deduction would be a better argument, but I’m just thinking it through right now. I’ll draw a formal proof later. Princess Celestia once said, ‘Sometimes you have to start at the conclusion and work your way back to solve a difficult problem.’ And that’s what I intend to do.” Twilight turned her neck and stared up at the ceiling. “First we need to determine the rules of a harmony seal. Assuming… I know, dangerous. Assuming that the seal on Discord, once broken, must be reapplied in order to take effect again… then if Nightmare Moon was sealed during those two years and reappeared last night we are currently lacking an explanation for why I’m not currently sharing the bed with Nightmare Moon.”

Luna sighed again. In a lot of ways, Twilight was being very cute and she decided she would let her Unicorn have some fun. “Sound logic,” she wheezed.

“Of course it is, Luna.” Twilight chuckled, only briefly, as it reminded her how much her chest hurt. “So it stands to reason that out of the two possibilities suggested for the Elements of Harmony’s effects, neither has any sound evidence supporting them. Unless, of course, their effects are unpredictable in nature, an axiom which was disproven by their effect on Discord, which was the same outcome during both uses.” Twilight hummed to herself for a moment. “The law of probability states that it is entirely possible that both uses were randomly the same. After all, when given a string of random whole numbers with a length of four, the sequence: one, two, three, and four, is no less likely than: three, eight, six, and forty-two. Common sense would say otherwise but mathematics is more trustworthy than horse sense.” Twilight inhaled sharply. “Perhaps I’m approaching this from the wrong angle. I’m focusing on the Elements too much when I should be focusing on the relationship between you and Nightmare Moon.”

“A good place to start…”

“I thought so too.” Twilight rolled back to an upright position. “First we have to consider the nature of Nightmare Moon’s appearance and motives. Her first appearance was in a time of emotional trauma for you.” Twilight glanced down and Luna. “I’m going to assume this predicate is true and that history books are accurate. I have a feeling you’ll disagree on some of it, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.” Twilight fidgeted with her hooves for a moment. “Nightmare Moon, origins still unknown, took control of your Alicorn form and proceeded to carry out your wish to be loved by your subjects. An action which ultimately backfired, but the motivation was clear. Now let’s move forward a thousand years to the present. Nightmare Moon again appears to attack Storm Dancer, somepony who was threatening somepony you cared about…” Twilight’s face flushed. “If… if I’m not running away with assumptions here…”

Luna gave a small smile. “Not in the least…”

“So the question still is… Why did Nightmare Moon leave after the events with Storm Dancer?” Twilight gasped. “Unless! Nightmare Moon lives within your mind like a split personality! Hm… Nightmare Moon, however, seems to share link to your own memories: a fact that does not often coincide with standard dissociative identity disorder cases. Normally there is more of a separation and memory loss while personalities switch sides. The inactive personalities are unaware of the active’s actions except by third party informants.” Twilight rolled on her back again. “Nightmare Moon also seems to utilize your magic in a much different fashion than you. I might even go so far to say that its source is different. Perhaps her makeup is not entirely psychological in nature. Perhaps she exists as another entity that is interlinked with your subconscious!”

“That is correct.”

Twilight clapped her hooves together, “I knew it!” Twilight rolled her head over to face Luna. “Then that only leaves the mystery of how the switch takes place. Oh and how much communication there is between both entities. Oh! And how the other entity came into existence!”

“Twilight…”

“Then there’s the Elements effect on this entity! Perhaps the Elements simply cut off the link between the two sets of consciousness?”

“That’s not a bad guess.” Luna let out a weak chuckle. “It’s wrong, but it’s not a bad guess.”

Twilight squealed, “You have to tell me everything!”

“You’re not upset that Nightmare Moon still lives?”

“Nightmare Moon saved me last night. She showed mercy to a pony that did not deserve it in the least. There must be more to her than eternal night.”

Luna inhaled deeply, “You’re right. Nightmare Moon is not gone. She never will be. She and I are bound together… forever. You were also right about memories.” Luna whimpered a bit, she was clearly still not feeling well. “It’s hard to explain to another pony that doesn’t have an Affixed. We share memories and moods but not thoughts.”

Twilight looked up at the ceiling. “So… she’s separate but aware while you are active?”

“Yes.”

“Is she aware now? Can she hear this conversation?”

“Yes.”

Twilight’s speech became drawn out as she processed the full ramifications of Luna’s statement. “Could… she hear… all… of our conversations? Does she share other senses like sight and touch?”

“Yes.”

“So when we kissed on the balcony?”

“Yes. She was aware of that.”

“And… what exactly does she think of me?”

“I told you… perhaps I’m not explaining this well. We are separate but largely the same. We share memories and moods. Therefore, if I have strong feelings for a pony, she shares them. Nightmare Moon is… in many ways, the embodiment of my deepest desires. That’s not what she is actually, it’s much more complicated than that, but that’s the simplest explanation I can give. You know how someponies have the drive to succeed in anything they want?”

“Well… Rainbow Dash and Applejack are kind of like that…”

“Nightmare Moon is that drive. If I truly want something, she takes control and uses her strength and power to obtain it. It’s like a reflex. One that with enough concentration I can keep in check, but not always. She exists with only one purpose, to fulfill what I want most at the time. Things get complicated if I want two things that I can’t have at the same time…. That’s when things like… well Nightmare Night happen.”

“I see. Can I talk to her?”

“No. I mean, you currently are talking to her, this conversation has her full attention right now, but I know you are asking for me to transform and I will not.” Luna coughed and groaned loudly.

“Luna! Are you alright?” Twilight trembled, “Luna… What happens when an Alicorn loses her magic? I know it’s not healthy for Unicorns to be low on magic. They get light headed. But…”

“I’m fine Twilight.” Luna stopped breathing for a second and sat motionless. Twilight gasped. Luna exhaled painfully, “I’m fine. It’s actually Nightmare Moon who’s in pain…”

“She survives on magic, doesn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“And you share pain?”

“We are intertwined, if she were to perish, then I would as well….” Luna sighed, “I have a question for you now…”

“I’m listening.”

“Now that you know the truth, what happens to us?”

Twilight twisted her neck to face Luna. “Nothing? I don’t understand what you are asking, Luna.”

“Surly by now you’ve pieced together that Nightmare Night, was me to an extent. And attacking you and your friends was again, me. Not some evil entity that’s now banished. It was me, Twilight, and I’m sorry.” Luna began to sob. “I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry…. I’m…”

Twilight wrapped her hooves gently around Luna’s neck. “Shh… It’s alright. I forgive you.”

“But I…!”

“You’ve more than made up for it. We all make mistakes. I once hypnotized an entire town for homework. Like your sister says, we just need to keep moving forward. If anything our first encounter shows how much we’ve progressed.”

Luna smiled and let out another sob. “Oh, Twilight…” Luna pulled herself closer to the Unicorn and kissed her. Twilight giggled as she returned the kiss.

The door to the bedroom opened with a creak, “Twilight, I… oh my…” Fluttershy blushed heavily. It might have been possible that she was blushing so much, she could have been mistaken for Miss Cheerilee. “I didn’t realize you were being intimate… I’m so sorry….” The yellow Pegasus closed the door and let out a small cough. From behind the closed door, Fluttershy spoke very softly, “Um… Twilight… your brother wants to speak to you…. If that’s ok… whenever you two are done…. Um… if… you... the thing… um… ah… Shining’s downstairs… so when… you two… um… if that’s ok… I’ll be down stairs….”

Twilight rolled to a sitting position, “I should probably go and see what he needs.”

Luna coughed; her voice slightly higher in pitch than she wanted it to be, “Yes… Ahem. He probably wants to see that you’re alright. You gave him quiet a scare yesterday. I’m going to stay here and rest. You go see him.” Twilight got out of bed with a groan and hobbled over to the bedroom door. “Don’t overexert yourself. You’re still healing.”

Twilight nodded and made her way down the hallway with a slight shamble. Fluttershy had already disappeared back to the first floor of the library. From down below she could hear most of her friends talking. Had they stayed the whole night? Twilight reached the top of the staircase and took a step down. She tripped and began to tumble down the flight of steps before she was caught in the hooves of somepony. “Careful, egghead. You’ve got some real battle scars there.”

“Thanks, Rainbow Dash, nice catch.” The Pegasus set Twilight down at the base of the staircase. She patted Twilight on the head and gave her a big smile. All around her friends were smiling just as largely, which was about the only thing distracting Twilight from noticing all of her books strewn across the floor.

Rarity placed her hoof on Twilight’s forehead. “Are you feeling well, darling?”

“What a stupid question. According to Fluttershy, she and Luna are doing just…”

From the reading couch, Shining Armor groaned, “I don’t want to hear this!”

Twilight hobbled over to her brother. “Armor, are you ok?”

“Well, I’ve been much better. But thanks to your friends, especially Fluttershy, I think I’ll pull through.”

“We’ve been looking up everything we can find on the Mangus Thief potion!” Pinkie Pie smiled as she began to point to books on the ground. “There was something in that book! And that one! And that one! And that one! But not in that one. And that one!”

Rarity shook her head. “The poor dear still doesn’t have his magic back yet, but he’s at least not suffocating anymore.”

Shining Armor smiled, “Your big brother should be well and up on his legs again in a day or so. It takes me longer because I don’t have an Alicorn pouring unthinkable amounts of magic into me. Speaking of which, I need to report to Princess Celestia on my whereabouts and the events that happened. Not to mention Cadence is going to kill me.”

“Armor, you can’t do that. Luna wants to…”

“I know what the princess wants. But the fact of the matter is, I’ve been gone for a day now and there’s the matter of Storm Dancer that needs resolved. He’s a dangerous pony and he’s still out there. Then there’s the issue of Nightmare Moon. I don’t even know what to do about that one.”

“Nightmare Moon isn’t evil. She’s just…”

“Don’t say misunderstood. I’m not in the mood for clichés right now, Twily. I just thought I should talk to you about what I’m writing in this letter before I send it to the princess.”

“Armor, I really…”

“I’m going to keep it vague. I’m not going to mention Luna being here or Nightmare Moon. That’s Celestia and the Element bearer’s problem any way. I am however going to inform the princess of Storm Dancer’s treachery and attack against myself. I will leave you out of it because of the details behind it. Storm Dancer and I never really got along at the castle. Celestia will probably think he just snapped or something.”

“Armor, thank you so…”

“However! Once I return to Canterlot, Princess Celestia is going to want a full report and I am going to tell her everything. You have until then to figure out how to tell Celestia about your relationship otherwise I’m going to tell her.”

“I… suppose that’s fair…. Luna isn’t going to be…”

“I honestly don’t care. I’ve had my magic and strength sapped from me, I’ve watched Applejack get beaten to a pulp and I had to watch my sister get stabbed nearly to death. I’m in no mood for this buck.”

Fluttershy winced. Twilight shook her head. “Armor!” Shining Armor gave Twilight a stern look. “Alright. I understand…”

“Good. Spike, you can send the letter now.” Spike nodded and inhaled deeply. With a puff of green flame the parchment he was holding vanished.

Twilight sighed, “I’m going to make some tea…”

“Twily….”

“Armor, I understand, it’s…”

“No. I…. Well… I just want you to know I’m not doing this because I disapprove of your relationship. I…. Well, Princess Luna obviously cares a lot for you, and you seem so happy around her. I just want you to know that… I approve. Not that you were going to take that in to consideration, but just so you know.” Shining Armor blushed slightly.

Twilight gave her brother a hug, “I’m still going to make some tea.”

Pinkie Pie jumped into the air with inconceivable height. “I’ll help!”

“No, no,” Twilight said as she entered the kitchen. “I’m perfectly fine making it by myself.” Twilight closed the kitchen door behind her. To be perfectly honest, Twilight was starting to get a headache from all of the noise in her library. She set the teakettle on top of a set of firerocks and waited for the water to come to a boil. She retrieved a package of earl gray tea from the pantry and dropped the bag into the kettle. She walked back over to the cupboard and picked up a tea cup with her teeth. As she turned around she was startled and dropped the teacup. The cup shattered into tiny fragments and she glared at her teakettle, which had changed shape while her back was turned.

Rarity voice rang through the door, “Everything ok in there, darling? We heard a crash.”

Twilight sighed, “I’m fine, just dropped a teacup, that’s all.”

The Discord teakettle laughed, “Oh, nicely executed Twilight Stumble.”

“You startled me. Go away.”

“Never tell somepony to go away when they have a perfectly legitimate reason to start singing ‘I’m a little teapot!’ That’s just rude. I think somewhere it’s actually a law of the universe.”

“One you no doubt made up.”

Discord laughed. “Now you’re catching on.”

“Is there something you need?”

“Oh yes, there is. I just thought you’d like an update on our little dilemma. You see, I’ve been thinking about it all wrong. I was so focused on trying to turn things into things that I completely overlooked the fact that a field trip is a concept, not a thing. So if I want to turn a field trip into an avocado, I need to figure out how to turn a concept into a thing! Now it’s taken quite a bit of work, but I think if I reinvent physics I can just pull it off. Might have to get rid of the third dimension though. A tad shame, but worth it in the end, after all that pesky z-axis is just messing everything up right now. Flat-world should be new and exciting.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes pretty much… Oh! Wait, now I remember. Chrysanthemums.”

“What?

“Must I spell it out for you? Chrysanthemum tea. Bring that mare of yours some chrysanthemum tea.”

“Ugh, that stuff is disgusting. The only reason I have it in the pantry is because Fluttershy likes it. Luna will hate it. Go away.”

“Fine I’m going. I have a lot of things to do anyway. I have to figure out how sound waves are going to work in this new flat-world. Why, it would be a crime against the universe if my sweet and mellow voice couldn’t be heard. Just get the mare some chrysanthemum tea. She saved your life. You owe her that much.” There was a flash of light and the teakettle returned to normal. Twilight shook her head and walked back up stairs with two teacups.

“Luna?” Twilight said as she entered the bed room. “I brought you some tea…” The Alicorn sat up. “It’s… chrysanthemum…”

“My favorite. How did you know?”

“I guess, I just… knew? How are you feeling?”

“About the same. You don’t have to worry about me. Once the moon comes up, Nightmare Moon will draw power from it and I’ll be right as rain. Until then I’m afraid I’m going to have to spend the day in bed.” Luna gave Twilight a worried look, “What did your brother want?”

“He wrote Celestia about Storm Dancer. He says we have until he gets back to Canterlot to tell your sister about us.”

Luna rolled away from Twilight, “I might as well not draw power from the moon and just die instead.”

“It’s not going to be that bad, Luna.”

“No… it’s going to be much worse.”

20: The Sun Hath Forsaken Thee

Princess Celestia was staring at the stained glass windows in the throne room of Canterlot Castle. She was focused, in particular, on the one depicting the phases of the moon. Shining Armor’s letter from yesterday floated lazily by, suspended by her magic. The Storm Dancer described in the letter was not the one she recognized. Her sister’s faithful attendant had attacked the Captain of the Royal Guard. Could her sister have brainwashed Storm Dancer? Such a thing was well within the realm of shadow magic. Celesita shook her head. Perhaps she would need to make a visit to Ponyville to assess the situation, though it would be difficult from a political standpoint to leave Canterlot after placing the city in lockdown. She would have to settle with the letter she sent:

Dear Captain,

I am appalled to hear about Storm Dancer’s treachery. I assure you punishment will be dealt with on his return and you need not let it weigh down your thoughts anymore. For now, your remaining task shall be to rest and heal. Your sister, being one of the few ponies that have the concentration to properly perform light magic, shall be more than sufficient to aid in your recovery. I am confident in her ability to administer healing spells as needed. I must say, your description of your symptoms have caused me a great deal of worry. I am particularly shocked by your loss of magic. There are few things that can cause such an event and I shudder to think that Storm Dancer might have inflicted one of them upon you.

I have informed Princess Cadence of your injuries, as you requested. Her doting on you warms my heart. She has left on the morning train to Ponyville in quite an upset form. I understand her need to be near you, and normally I would think her presence a blessing, however I fear she may be a tad frazzled with the news of your injuries. I recommended she take an attendant with her, but she refused most profusely. I would suggest that one of your sister’s wonderful friends help with calming her down.

I will note that until your letter arrived I was anxious about your sister’s lack of a response to my last correspondence. I see now that she has had her hooves full with your recovery. I would be ever so grateful if you could pass along my greeting to her. Rest well Captain and know that we are taken care of at the castle. Your protégée, Wind Strider, is turning out to be quite adept at carrying out orders and swiftly at that. You have trained him well; it is simply too bad that he cannot replicate the shield spell, like you and I, lest he find himself the new Captain! Ah, perhaps I should not make such jests while you lie ill, but perhaps a smile shall do you some good. As always, the sun watches over you in your time of need.

Your friend and Princess,
Celestia

With a heavy sigh she glanced upwards. It was almost noon. She could tell even without vision on the sun. She stood up from the throne and glanced over to one of her guards. “I will be in the planetarium, if one should need me.” She gave the guard a harsh stare. “Make sure no pony needs me.” The guard nodded in return with a slight gulp. He was not used to seeing the princess be so curt. She regally strutted down the red carpet that lead to the grand entrance of the throne room.

She navigated the intricate hallways of the castle, pausing only a moment to look outside one of the few windows that were not stained glass. She gazed across her beautiful city. Even in the splendid glow of the soft yellow barrier that protected it, the city was a gem of creation. Its tall spires reached for the heavens and its perfectly paved streets guided residents to their destinations. It was the pinnacle of all cities, in the golden land of Equestria, the holy land. There was little that could even be done to improve it. It basked in the light of the day with magnificence and was a beacon of majesty against the starry sky. It put nature to shame. There was only one word that could describe it: Canterlot. For its own name had become the definition of spectacular. Celestia smiled. It was hers. Hers was the solitary vision made tangible that could have harbingered such an emphatic superstructure of utopian opulence.

She made her way into the top of the central tower of the castle. This area of the castle was for restricted ponies only. Only a select few were allowed here and no tours ever ventured this far up the central tower. It was less restrictive than the ruling princesses’ bedrooms, there were no enchantments that barred access, but it still was off limits to many of the kingdom’s citizens. The top of the tower, where she now stood, was capped with a magnificent dome, the planetarium. The dome that encased the tower had been specially designed by her and Clockwork, one of her faithful students. As she entered the dark room, she bowed her head in remembrance of Clockwork. She whispered to the walls, “May your soul live in idyllic serenity, my dear friend.” Feeling a set of tears coming on, she quickly shook her head and inhaled deeply to clear her thoughts. She glanced upwards at the ceiling. A small pinhole was set in the center. When the sun would reach its center point in the sky, a beam of light was enter the room. It was almost that time. She quickly levitated a few reflective crystals into the sockets on the walls. Then she went to work on the levers. With a set of careful calculations for the current season she slid each lever into a specific position. The room vibrated slightly as large gears began to rotate the brass arms that held the crystals. Celestia sighed. She had originally commissioned this addition to the castle in preparation of Luna’s return. It was meant to be a gesture of goodwill, a place where she could gaze at her stars even in the midday. Luna was grateful for the gesture, but she used the room rarely. Luna had always said it never captured the positions quiet right so she only used the room when she was designing large constellations. Celestia waited penitently as the sun reached to crest of its daily arc.

The sunbeam entered the room with an almost audible radiance. She watched it creep in. Others would have said this impossible, to observe light moving was a physical impossibly. She was light, however. The beam hit a reflective dish at the base of the room and scattered beams of rainbow light to several crystals on metal arms. She watched patiently as the rays crept from reflective point to reflective point. Light can be so slow sometimes. Once the apparatus was fully lit, Celestia stomped on a small pushbutton on the floor. The gears that lined the walls began to turn with a series of cranks and hisses. The room rotated and the floor rose. A pillar emerged in the center of the room supporting a blue sphere of shifting liquid. The rays of light were centered on the sphere and in an explosion of multicolored light the domed ceiling was painted with stars.

Celestia glanced up in wonder. The night sky had always fascinated her. Even during the thousand years she took care of the moon, she could never set the sky alight with spark her sister could. Even in this simulation, she could see all of the infinitesimal details that her sister had painstakingly woven into the canvas. Celestia let out a sigh. She would under no circumstances ever admit it, but she desperately envied the beauty and control Luna had over the heavens. When the first Nightmare Night occurred, Celestia had admitted it to the younger Alicorn in one last attempt to avoid the incident. Her sister, consumed by despair and rage, brushed off the comment as a lie. The raising the sun had always been a functionary task. It was raised every day because it was needed. There was no love to the motion; there was little expression other than the effort involved. The night sky, however, had always been an art form. It was painted because it was supposed to cradle and comfort, to make others wonder and awe. Celestia shook her head. In many ways, little Lulu had been well within her right to be upset that the ponies of Equestria ignored that which she put so much effort into in favor of what was little more than a emotionless task. Often Celestia wished she could paint the sky like her sister, but the power of the sun could do little than provide warmth and a steady even light. The most she could manage was the colors of the sunset and sunrise, but truthfully, those we just a fact of the world she had no control over.

“Alas, now is not the time,” she sighed. The Dome of Vision’s images were always true, however with all of the flashes of pictures they often lacked context. It was possible her vision of Nightmare Moon had nothing to do with an eternal night. Perhaps Nightmare Moon was attacking some great threat that required Luna to use the power of her Affixed. Then again, the visions could be exactly what she thought. Celestia glanced up to the starry projection. If her sister was troubled, it would show in the stars. Not the larger constellations, Luna would always ask before moving those stars, lest she confuse sailors all over. But the smaller stars that were not connected to any picture, those would cluster up or shift from time to time as Luna’s overall mood changed. “Lulu, you never were one to hide your feelings well.” During the time before Nightmare Night there had been signs of Luna’s despair. She had seen them, and ignored them as childish antics. “If only I was more attentive at the time, perhaps our relationship would not be so strained. I’m sorry Lulu.” She stretched her neck back and simply gazed upwards, looking for anything that would give her insight into her sister’s heart.

The stars were quite pretty, fantastically so, she could only conclude. If something had been troubling her sister, she should see wild patterns of strewn strings of stars flung onto the sky in frustration. These stars instead were meticulously placed with such detail. “What is going on in your head, sister dear?” The stars were clustered together, to combine their brightness. She grasped her magic around one of the control levers. The dome rotated as it simulated the night’s progression. The stars seemed to dance in circles, “These aren’t positioned like before at all. Where is the anger? These are almost celebratory in nature…. Happy even.” Celestia pulled the lever back up and rewound time. “No… it couldn’t be….” There was a path that clearly lined where the moon would traverse. There was only one conclusion. “If I’m reading these correctly…. Lulu… are you… in love?” Celestia sighed and shook her head, “You silly filly….”

“Princess Celestia!” The door to the planetarium was thrown open, flooding the room with harsh light. Acting Captain Wind Strider gave a brief salute. “I have important…”

Celestia frowned. “I thought I made it quite clear I wished to be left to my thoughts today, Wind Strider.”

“We have something here we think you would wish to handle personally. We have set up the throne room for you.”

Celestia raised her eyebrow. “This cannot wait?”

Wind Strider sighed, “No, your highness, I do not believe so.”

“Very well, escort me to the throne room.” The two ponies descended the stairs and made their way back to the northern end of Canterlot Castle. “Tell me, Wind Strider, has any correspondence passed through the mail room from Princess Luna?”

“I am sorry, my princess, I am just responsible for captaining the royal guard.” Wind Strider shuddered. He was not used to being bad at his job. “I am aware that Shining Armor had his hooves in many of the happenings of the castle as a service to you, but he had not trained me in such things.” The Pegasus looked up at the princess to see her expression clearly said she was not looking for excuses. “To the best of my knowledge, I do not think dear Princess Luna has sent anything to the castle from Griffica. But, as I said, I don’t know. I believe Rivensilt has the knowledge you seek.” Wind Strider looked to the ground for a moment as they passed the junction point that connected the west wing to the central tower. “Lady Heartstrings, uh… Rising Star I believe is her given name, she was in the mail center earlier today. She would know. Oh look, the throne room! My how the time files!”

Celestia sighed with irritation, “Yes. This would be the throne room.” Celestia took her seat on the throne and inhaled deeply. “Very well, what is this event that needs to be dealt with?”

Wind Strider looked nervously off to the side. Two more guards escorted in a limping pony dressed in damaged armor. “We found him hobbling about outside the city-shield. He is refusing medical care. He says he needs to talk to you immediately.”

The battered pony kicked one of the guards away. “I can speak for myself!”

“I see.” Celestia sat down on her throne and nodded. “It would seem you have much to speak about, Storm Dancer.” Celestia gave a half hearted smile to the injured pony. “But perhaps Acting Captain Wind Strider is correct. You seem to be in dire need of medical attention. Might I suggest that we wait to have our discussion until later?”

“No! Princess, this is very important!”

“Very well.” Celestia’s tone went from caring to harsh very quickly. “Perhaps you would care to explain how you came by your injuries. I will have you know letters have preceded your arrival and their details are quite telling.”

Storm Dancer fell to one knee. “Nightmare Moon has returned!”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “Nightmare Moon was vanquished by the Elements of Harmony. What you say is simply impossible. Besides, Princess Luna is in…”

“The princess of the night is in Ponyville! I saw it with my own eyes!”

Celestia stood up from her throne. She began to pace around Storm Dancer slowly, encircling him like a snake does to its prey. “Be very careful with the next set of words that you choose to speak. It sounds as though you are getting ready to accuse my sister of treason.”

Storm Dancer struggled to bow in his armor. “It is with a heavy heart that I must.”

“Your wounds… they are deep and of dark origin. These burn marks are the work of shadow magic. Only four ponies in the world are capable of casting in such a domain.” Celestia leaned closer to get a better look. “These injuries are Shadow Sealed. They will never heal. Not even with the aid of purity magic. This is very dark hex. I am inclined to believe you. Only the mistress of shadow could cast this magic.” Celestia, rather melodramatically looked up at the stain glass window that showed the phases of the moon. “My sister…. Luna cannot draw on this power on her own; this is the work of Nótt.” Celestia sighed, “It seems that Nightmare Moon has returned.”

“It is a grave day for Equestria. But I have found a suitable tactic we might be able to use.” Storm Dancer dropped a small jeweled necklace on the ground. “It’s broken, but this is an…”

“An Amulet of Null. Centaurian artifacts are forbidden. You attempted to use this on Nightmare Moon?”

“Yes. It prevents even the shadow demon from using magic. It…” Celestia stamped her hoof on the Amulet of Null, shattering it. “You…!”

“It was broken. No being in the world can repair Centaurian magitek; it draws on an ancient, chaotic power. Its components are too dangerous to allow their existence once the unit has stopped functioning. This is why Centaurian artifacts are forbidden. Even in dire times they must be avoided at all costs.”

“But without it…!”

“If Nightmare Moon truly wishes to bring about Eternal Night once again, the Elements of Harmony will quash any such actions.” Celestia’s eyes rolled to the ceiling for a moment. She closed them and hummed a few notes to herself. “What I would like to know now is how exactly you managed to placed the Amulet of Null upon my sister’s neck and how she managed to remove it.”

Storm Dancer let out a pained cough, “Her thralls!”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Thralls? Elaborate.”

Storm Dancer stamped his hoof. “She has corrupted the Elements of Harmony! This is why we needed the amulet!”

Celestia bit her lip. “Corrupted? How?”

“It’s not just the Element bearers; she had the captain of the royal guard in her control as well!” Storm Dancer’s leg slipped and he crashed to the floor. As he struggled to stand he continued, “But I found a weakness. She has taken a special liking to one of her puppets, your student Twilight Sparkle.”

Celestia tilted her head slightly in disbelief, “My student? A liking in what way?”

“The succubus has turned her into a love slave. A mere puppet for her lust! Luckily she values this slave highly, no doubt to the magic that particular Unicorn is rumored to have. And if I learned anything from the Griffin War, it’s that the right pressure point used in the wrong way can make all the difference in the world.”

Celestia’s eyes widened slightly. “Am I to understand that you used my student as a hostage?”

“It was the only way I could…”

Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “And what exactly did you do to this hostage that motivated my sister to comply?” Celestia’s mouth went agape slightly. “There is blood on your hooves….”

Storm Dancer winced slightly. “I assure you, if her mind is salvageable she will be none the worse for wear.”

“I see.” Celestia sat back down in her throne and looked pensive. “Please, continue.” Celestia levitated a small metal box from behind the throne. “Describe the event. In detail.”

Storm Dancer took a deep breath, “Once I learned of Nightmare Moon’s presence, it was difficult to proceed.” Celestia used her magic to open the metal box and from the inside, a small cloth of velvet floated out. “I used a sleeping potion I conned out of the witch of the wild Everfree and subdued Nightmare Moon’s mistress. Then I…”

Celestia broke her stare off of the velvet cloth. “You were in the Griffin War, correct?”

“Yes. I was awarded the Golden Horseshoe for vigilance and strength!” Celestia smiled and gave Storm Dancer a nod. A small needle floated out of the metal box and was quickly strung with a multicolored thread. In an instant the needle began to stitch into the velvet cloth. Storm Dancer coughed uneasily, quite unsure as to what was going on. “As I was saying, then I captured her mistress and demanded that Nightmare Moon don the Amulet of Null. It was quite ingenious I might add. Once she had the amulet on I was able to subdue her. I had a bit of trouble with the bewitched captain of the royal guard. Luckily I am ever so prepared and I used a potion of the Mangus Thief on him. Powerful stuff that….”

Celestia nodded. “Mangus Thief? Interesting.” The velvet cloth, now free of the needle, floated down to Storm Dancer’s face. “Tell me, what does this look like to you?”

“It’s… uh… the mountain tops of Griffica?”

“Oh good. That’s what I was going for.”

“Right… as I was saying, I was…”

Celestia stood up from the throne and shook her head. “No, no. We hath heard enough of thine obscene words.” She said with a far too cheery smile.

Storm Dancer suddenly felt very uncomfortable. “Um… why… why are you talking like that?” There was a blaring pinging sound from underneath his hooves. The gray Pegasus gasped in horror. “Oh… no…”

“Storm Dancer of the Pegasus tribe!” A circle of glowing runes formed underneath his hooves. “We hath witnessed thy plea of thy acts and are ready to cast judgment uponest thee!”

Storm Dancer found himself unable to move. “Oh no! No, no, no!”

The velvet cloth, now with an image of the Griffica Mountains hastily stitched upon it, floated above Storm Dancer. “Hear now thine acts of sedition and bearest witness to our divine and royal ruling absolute.” The runic circle completed with an audible ping. “One admitted account of possession and use of a Centuarian artifact, an Amulet of Null. One admitted account of accusation of treason against a member of the royal court.”

Bars of light rose from the circle to the ceiling, imprisoning Storm Dancer. “Please, Princess! You misunderstand!”

“One admitted account of possession and malicious use of a Potion of the Mangus Thief, upon a member of our royal court, no less! Perhaps even for all these we would forgivest thee, but this last account.... One admitted account of… assault… upon an Element Bearer.”

Storm Dancer shivered. “No! No, no, no! Please! I beg of you!”

“For thy crimes against mine sister, thy princess of the night, our favored pupil, and our own divine crown: We stand ready with our royal ruling.” A ray of golden light traced upward from the center of the circle and impacted the stitching of Griffica. “We hereby banish thee to the mountain tops of the nation of Griffica.” Storm Dancer let out a gasp. “We hope the residents hath forgivenest thee for thine actions in the war.... Though we doubt this is the case.”

“I can’t...! No…! Celestia! I am your faithful attendant! I can do better! I can stop Nightmare Moon! I can stop her! I can stop her! No, no, no, no!”

The ray of light widened and it became hard for Storm Dancer to see the princess. “During thine exile, thou will be magically expelled from returning to our holiest of lands. Thy sentence shall last three hundred years.”

“No pony ever lives that long! I live for Equestria! You can’t…!”

“WE CAN! During this time, not even thy remains shall be permissible to return. Thou shall not seek thine eternal rest within our great boundaries.” Storm Dancer felt himself lifted off the ground as the floor under the runic circle seemed to break apart into an abyss. He began to fall as the ray of light coming from the velvet cloth pushed him into the rift. Wind rushed from the room into the newly formed pit.

Storm Dancer screamed, “No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Great Celestia! Have mercy!”

“We suggest thou direct thy prayers to the Ancient Sprits. For from now on, THE SUN HATH FORSAKEN THEE!” With a blood stopping scream, a blinding flash of light shook the room. When the occupants could see once again the rift and the circle were gone. The small piece of velvet cloth ignited and turned to ash. Storm Dancer’s battered armor fell to the ground with loud clangs. Celestia chuckled, “My sister and Twilight… My sister… and Twilight….”

No matter how much he tried, Wind Strider could not steady his heartbeat.

21: Inevitability: Slumber

“Hey. Wake up sleepy head!” Princess Luna groaned. Somepony was poking her with a hoof. The Alicorn stirred slightly before letting out a monstrous yawn. She could not remember the last time she had been this tired. She felt a hoof poke into her side once more. Luna tried her best to ignore the other pony in the bed but it became difficult once she felt a light nibble on her ear. “Oh, princess!” The other pony’s voice teased in singsong. Luna covered her ears with her hooves and used her wings to shoo away the other pony. She did however, even in her sleepy state, not want to be so dismissive of her bedmate so she did extend her wing around the Unicorn. It felt nice to have her Unicorn so close to her. If she could just get back to sleep now….

Luna gasped, “By Dagr and Nótt!” She sprang out of bed, startled by Twilight Sparkle kissing her the base of wing. “Don’t do that without telling me first!”

Twilight giggled, “Oh, but the look of surprise on your face is half the fun!”

Luna shook her head. “If you weren’t so cute….” Twilight let out a giggle. Luna playfully nudged Twilight with her hoof.

“How are you feeling today?” Luna said with another yawn.

Twilight smiled. “Much better. What about you? You seem to have your strength back now that night has passed.” Twilight nudged her way up to the edge of the bed and with a bit of a leap, she plopped onto the floor. “Ugh. I’m so sore…”

Luna chuckled. “That’s what happens when you are brought back from the brink of death using only magic.”

Twilight stretched her hind legs. “Actually I think it’s much more from lying in bed all of yesterday.” Twilight twisted her body around in an attempt to ease her stiff muscles.

Luna chuckled, “You didn’t have to stay by my side the whole day. You could have done other things if you were feeling up to it.”

Twilight levitated a brush from her desk and began to fix her mane. “I couldn’t leave my heroine all alone while she was recovering from saving my life!”

Luna tilted her head. “How long to plan to keep calling me your ‘heroine’?”

Twilight approached the side of the bed with the brush. “Is there something else you would have me call you?” Her voice clearly gave away her teasing intent. “What about Cutesy Moon?” Twilight barely withheld a laugh.

The Alicorn sighed, “Just call me Luna…”

Twilight clapped her hooves together, “OH! I’ve got it! Crescent Flank!”

Luna gave Twilight a chilling scowl. “Don’t you dare….”

“Oh lighten up, Crescent Flank.” Twilight levitated the brush to Luna.

“This is payback for encouraging Rarity isn’t it?”

“Maybe,” Twilight chuckled. “Now hold still so I can brush your bed-mane.” Twilight took Luna’s long mane in her hooves and began to brush in long strokes down the misty entity. Alicorn manes, or at least the mane of a true Alicorn, had always fascinated the young Unicorn. She had spent quite a bit of time near Luna lately but out of respect she had avoided messing with her fillyfriend’s mane just because she knew many ponies must have asked her about already.

Luna chuckled, “Having fun?” Twilight let out a small inquisitive noise. “Oh don’t deny it. Eveypony is always curious about it. I think there was a law some two thousand years ago that Tia passed forbidding ponies from asking about our manes. It’s the only frivolous law she’s ever made and it was just because everypony would ask about them. We just got tired of answering.”

“Oh I wasn’t…”

“It is akin to tangible magic. I mean, it’s not like we’ve done extensive studies on it or anything, but we think it is best described as the venting of the extra power from the heavenly essence we control. It’s essentially Nightmare Moon’s extra power flowing off like the whistle for a teakettle.”

“If it’s related to Nightmare Moon… How come Princess Celestia has a…”

“That’s a very long story. You probably wouldn’t find it interesting anyway...”

“Actually I really would be….”

Luna sat up and nudged Twilight, “Hey! Let’s go do something today! Let’s go on a proper date, you know, alone. Without any tagalong friends, siblings, or ponies that are trying to kill us. What do you say?”

Twilight noted that Luna did not want to talk about Celestia and decided to let the issue drop. “That sounds nice. Do you have anything in mind for an activity? The book said we needed an activity. Preferably a romantic one.”

“Actually I do have something in mind! Come on, let’s go down stairs and I’ll show you.” Luna hopped out of bed. Twilight followed suit after carefully placing the brush back on the vanity before rushing after Luna who was heading downstairs. As they approached the stairwell, the noise of the lower level’s occupants engulfed their ears. Twilight half wondered if she was running a hotel instead of a library lately. Shining Armor was still sitting on the reading couch, although he was now actually sitting up instead of laying down, which must have been a good sign with regards to his recovery. As of yesterday, with the help of all of the other ponies he had even begun to gain some of his magical strength back. However, as Luna had informed him, the potion of the Magus Thief would not give his gift back so soon. It would be years before his casting would be at full strength, and currently all he could manage was a few simple levitations.

Tending to practically his every whim at the moment was Fluttershy and Princess Cadence. Fluttershy had been spending time tending to herbal pain relievers for his injuries as well as keeping his tea cup ever full. Cadence, who had arrived on the first train possible once she heard from Princess Celestia that Shining Armor had been hurt, had spent the night as well. Thankfully Rarity, who was also helping Spike out with keeping the place clean despite all the residents at the moment, had elected to still sleep at home. However, the real reason Rarity was around was that she was still enthralled at the concept of Luna and Twilight’s relationship. A fact that was confirmed as Luna and Twilight arrived at the bottom of the stairs to be greeted by Rarity.

“Oh good morning, darlings, have a good sleep? Or hardly any at all?!” Rarity let out a very loud snicker. “Oh, I’m absolutely dreadful!”

“We slept just fine.” Twilight said with a stern look. “How’s my brother?”

Princess Cadence gave her sister-in-law a smile. “He’s getting better, Twilight. He can levitate things again, but I’m still a tad worried. I guess I should have prepared better for this, knowing I married the Captain of the Guard….”

Luna nodded to the winged Unicorn. “Princess Cadence.” The tone was reeking of disinterest.

“Aunt Luna.” Cadence’s reply was equally a mere formality. The two princesses had participated in a heated discussion soon after Cadence had arrived in Ponyville. Cadence had blamed Luna in some part for Shining Armor’s current state. Only at Twilight’s request had the argument subsided and Cadence grudgingly accepted the relationship between her aunt and the little filly she used to foalsit. “Are you two going somewhere?”

Twilight smiled. “On a date, since our last one ended in a Pegasus trying to kill us.”

“I see.” Cadence shook her head and went back to Shining Armor’s side. “Try not to get killed out there….”

Twilight closed the door to the library behind her and glanced up at the sky. It was another beautiful day in Ponyville. “So, Crescent Flank, what did you have in mind for our date?”

Luna yawned, “I’m serious about you not calling me that. Anyway…. I had a thought: it’s such a nice day out, we should do something outside.” Luna stopped for a moment to let out a large yawn.

“Are you going to fall asleep?”

“I’m just not used to being up during the day. Not to mention I’ve been casting the rejuvenation spell absolutely nonstop in order to spend time with you…” Luna yawned again. “Anyway… have you ever been flying, Twilight?”

“I’ve been in a hot-air balloon before. Hm… that certainly sounds romantic.”

“Oh no, I didn’t mean a balloon ride. Here…” Luna knelt down and spread her wings. “Come on, hop on.”

Twilight laughed, “You’re joking right? Right?”

“You’ve yet to live until you’ve soared through the skies like a Pegasus. I’m not sure I’d trade magic for it, but it certainly is thrilling.” Luna lowered a wing.

Still thinking Luna was joking in some capacity, Twilight shook her head and laughed, “Sure, why not?” Twilight climbed up on Luna’s back and wrapped her hooves around the princess’s neck. “Can you even lift me?” She giggled slightly.

“I have the strength of an Earth pony. I most certainly can lift a little Unicorn.”

“Are you calling me short?” Twilight said in a mock stern voice.

“No! I just….” Luna shook her head. “Just hold on….” Luna’s wings flapped with a sudden jolt. Twilight wrapped her hooves tighter around Luna’s neck as they lifted off into the air. It was not a voluntary motion. Luna’s wings flapped furiously as she climbed. It looked exhausting. Twilight glanced over to the side and felt dizzy as she soon realized how high she was in the air. She had been at this altitude before, perhaps even a bit higher, but that was in the hot-air balloon. Being on Luna’s back had an entirely different feel. With the balloon it felt safe as long as you did not lean too far out of the basket. Now the thought hit her suddenly that her life was completely in Luna’s control. It was a thought that should have frightened her, but instead it simply exhilarated her. They soared higher and higher until they were at the cloud level. Luna extended her wings and fell into a glide. “How are you back there?”

Twilight gripped Luna’s neck tighter. “I’m a little frightened and just a tad glorious!” Luna chuckled. Twilight could not hear her over the wind, but she felt the chuckle rattle Luna’s ribcage. Luna dived down and threw herself into a spiral for which Twilight was not prepared. The young Unicorn clenched her eyes shut and hugged her fillyfriend tightly. To be honest, she did not enjoy the aero-acrobatics very much and Luna seemed to pick up on that very quickly. When it became clear that Twilight was getting just a little bit nauseous, Luna spotted a cloud and glided in for a landing. Flaring her wings to slow her movement, she gently touched her hooves against the cloud. “Oh good! You’re landing!” She tilted to the side to let Twilight roll off her back. Without thinking, Twilight’s took a step and her hooves passed right through the cloud. She let out a small yelp as she fell.

“Twilight!” Luna yelled. The terrified Unicorn felt herself enveloped in warm sensation as Luna’s magic enveloped her. “I have you! Don’t worry!”

“It might have helped if I had cast a cloud-walking spell first.” Twilight focused magic in her horn and with a dull flash, she suddenly felt lighter.

“Indeed.” Luna set Twilight down on the surface of the cloud hesitantly. “Better?”

“Yes. Much less terrifying. Still fun though. You’re right about soaring through the air as a Pegasus. I kind of wish I had wings….”

Luna flexed her wings almost tauntingly. “They are quite useful.”

“It must be great to be an Alicorn. I’ve often wondered what it would be like. I kind of wish…”

Luna shook her head. “No you don’t. Trust me.” Luna sighed, “Being immortal is not as fun as you think. It’s actually… quite horrible….” Luna yawned. “It’s really…” Luna let out another yawn.

“Are you alright?”

Luna yawned again, “Sorry. I guess carrying you around was more tiring than I thought it would be…”

Twilight chuckled. “You’re not going to fall asleep on me are you?”

“No, no. I’m just not used to being up during the day so much. And the rejuvenation spell wore off.” Luna set her head down on the fluffy cloud. “When it wears off it makes you feel even more tired than…” Luna yawned loudly. “Let me just…” Another yawn escaped her lips as her eyes drooped. “Recast the…”

“Luna?” Twilight peered over at her fillyfriend. Luna let out a cute little snore. “Asleep.” Twilight laughed. “How very romantic!” Twilight peered over the side of the cloud. “And now I’m trapped here…” She looked back at Luna, who was fast asleep. “If you didn’t look so adorable, I’d wake you up, Crescent Flank….” Twilight sighed and wedged herself underneath Luna’s wing. Still, it was a beautiful day and the flying had been fun. She decided that she would wake Luna up in a few minutes, but for now the Alicorn could rest. After all, it was not completely fair that she kept asking Luna to be on her sleep schedule. Of course now she was terribly bored. Idly trying to pass the time she attempted to experiment with the consistency of the cloud’s surface tension by pressing her hooves into fluffy white entity. Without a set of writing supplies to properly track the results that activity wore thin quickly. As if to answer her thoughts, she saw a colorful streak race across the sky. Twilight focused magic in her horn and then fired a few fireworks into the sky. The Unicorn waited a few moments as Rainbow Dash circled around.

The cyan Pegasus laughed as she approached, “Oh my gosh! What is this? Why are you up here on a cloud?”

Twilight smiled. “Luna brought me up here. It’s a date.”

“And she’s asleep? Did you two tussle on cloud? I had no idea you liked to live so… dangerously, Twi.”

“No we didn’t… tussle! We just landed here to take in the view, but then she fell asleep!”

Rainbow Dash laughed. “You must be a really boring date.”

“Yeah, whatever. Just get your laughs in. Bottom line is… I’m bored. And stuck. Could you go get me a book from the library?”

“Sure thing.” Rainbow Dash laughed heavily as she flew away. “Put her date to sleep! That’s priceless!” Twilight waited a little bit and attempted to whistle. Eventually Rainbow Dash came soaring back into view with a tome in her mouth. The Pegasus dropped the book on the cloud. “I’m back. You time me? I think that was like twenty seconds tops.”

“It took nearly twice that long. What is this book? Did you get this from the library?”

“Yeah. It was just sitting atop your vanity. Right next to the mirror.”

“Huh. I’ve not read this one. Daring Do and Discord’s Dastardly Diabolical Departure. I thought I’ve read everything Compass Rose ever wrote.”

“Yeah, when you’re done with it, I’d like a peek. I’ve not read that one yet either. It looks great though. You read the back yet? ‘Daring Do ventures into the depths of Tartarus to uncover an artifact that is the only hope for saving her home!’ That’s like grade ‘A’ there. Where the ‘A’ stands for awesomenessity. Anyway, you know the drill, weather doesn’t move itself. Later, Twi. Pleasure talking to ya, Princess!” Rainbow Dash gave a quick salute and then vanished in a streak of color.

Twilight cracked the cover open. “Go figure she’d bring me a Daring Do book. Hm…” There she stood, wind billowing in her mane as she faced the fearsome inner gates of Tartarus. “Oh, in media res. Compass Rose wastes no time getting to the action.” Getting past Cerberus wasn’t easy. Thankfully her old friend, Zerafin, the wise Zebra shaman, was able to give her a sleeping potion to quiet the beast. “I think I’ve lived this plotline….” Now nothing stood in Daring Do’s way. Except for the hoards of demons and their spawn that line the passageways ahead, but other than that there was nothing barring her from her goal. Well, there were also the traps of the ancients that guarded the way forward, but other than the demons and that, there was nothing that stopped her from progressing. Then there also was the steadily increasing danger of just the terrain as it wound deeper into the earth, but other than the… “Oh for the love of Luna! Get on with it! Wait… that phrase may have lost some meaning as of late…” Now she stood at a glowing passageway. The fires of the brimstone pits were burning hot tonight it seemed. The hot air here was doing terrible things to her feathers and it would seem that flying down the throat of the pit would be impossible. “So she’ll use her rope like always. I don’t know why Compass Rose wrote her as a Pegasus; it just means she has to keep coming up with more and more ridiculous situations so that she can’t use her wings.” Luckily her trusty rope… “Called it.” As she descended into the harsh glow of the pit she tugged at her hat. Her thoughts turned back to her home, the small village of Ponytown. There was little hope for her friends if she didn’t hurry back soon with the Icosaflux. “The what? Oh, it must be the artifact she wants.” Yes only the power of the mystical Icosaflux would be able to banish the chaotic evil plaguing her humble town. It was said to be even more powerful than the Elements of Harmony that had been used to quell Nightmare Moon. Legend told of the ancient Centaurian artifact that could only be obtained by those with true perseverance. Many had tried but none ever returned from the pits of Tartarus. “If no pony ever returned, how could there be a legend?” But Zerafin had warned her why the Icosaflux was impossible to obtain. The ancient Centaurs had placed a mighty guardian that was undefeatable. The guardian would only allow those who where pure of heart to enter the artifact chamber. Daring Do wasn’t sure if she was pure of heart, but the thoughts of her town burning in chaos was enough of a fire under her hooves for her to attempt it. When she reached the bottom of the pit there she found the guardian. In all her years as an adventurer she had not been prepared for this. A swirling mass of stars and fangs, no beast would be fit to guard such a treasure as the fearsome Ursa Major! As the beast rose to its full height, it opened its mouth to speak. In a voice rivaling the low rumblings of an earthquake, the Ursa Major began to cast its judgment upon the lowly pony’s soul. “Whoa!”

Twilight suddenly realized that in her involvement in the book she had failed to notice that she was sinking. Her cloud-walking charm was wearing off rather quicker than she was expecting. Twilight quickly tugged on Luna’s wing rather harshly. The Alicorn attempted to swat the pony away and return to sleep. “Luna! Help!” Luna mumbled something but otherwise ignored Twilight. Twilight soon found her body deep in the cloudy mist. Her head struggling to remain on the top of the cloud, she focused magic in her horn. With a flash of light a loud bang, a firework detonated right next to Luna’s ear. The Alicorn quickly jolted awake. “Oh good you’re up. If it’s not too much trouble, Crescent Flank, I’m just falling to my death. So… feel free to stretch and whatever before you save me. I’m not going anywhere except… well… down.”

Luna yawned and wrapped Twilight in her magic. She glided to the ground and gently set Twilight down on the dirt road. “Sorry. Dozed off for a moment.”

“I noticed.”

Luna yawned, “My we are snarky today.”

“You fell asleep during our date….”

Luna blushed and looked down at the ground. “Again, I’m sorry for that. Why don’t we do something else? Perhaps we could eat lunch somewhere romantic?”

“Are you going to fall asleep again?” Luna shook her head. Twilight laughed, “Pinkie Promise?”

“I’m not familiar with that…”

“It’s ok. I wouldn’t make you take an oath that serious unless I was sure you would be able to keep it. Anyway if we’re going to go out to lunch, we’re going to have to get money. I’ll need to grab my bit bag from home, since I’m fairly certain you don’t even know what a bit looks like.”

Luna scoffed, “I do too! They have my picture on one side. I just don’t think I’ve ever touched one.”

“Hello, everypony!” Twilight said as she opened the door. She was immediately greeted by Pinkie Pie and shortly thereafter by Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Spike, Shining Armor, Cadence, and lastly Fluttershy. “Oh, I guess everypony is here. I’m going to need a bigger library if I’m going to keep entertaining so many friends and family members.” Twilight walked over to Spike. “We were just about to go out for lunch. Maybe Paisleys’ place? You would want to join us? Is that alright, Luna?”

“The more the merrier.” Luna smiled, but deep down she was growling. If she was honest with herself, she absolutely hated sharing Twilight’s attention with another pony. On the other hoof, she did find Twilight’s friends to be good company; she just wished they did not take so much of Twilight’s time. Throughout the room, murmurs of agreement spread.

“Great! Spike could you fetch my bit bag?”

Spike gave a quick salute. “Sure th… urk!” The young dragon coughed and hacked. A few of the ponies in the room encircled him.

Rarity bent down and gave him a worried frown. “Are you alright, Spikey-wikey?”
The dragon nodded in reply and clutched as his throat. With a loud burp, a puff of smoke expelled out of his mouth and formed into a scroll.

Twilight gasped. “It’s a letter from the princess!” She levitated the scroll with her magic and cleared her throat. “Dear Twilight Sparkle, your presence is requested at the throne room in Canterlot Castle immediately. I expect your arrival no later than seven this evening…. Princess Celestia…” Twilight rotated the letter and looked perplexed. “That’s it?” She flipped the page over and squinted. “I don’t think she’s ever written a letter so short.”

“What could possibly be wrong that she would need you to be there so quickly? If you want to get there by seven you’re going to have to catch the very next train!” Rarity said as she placed a hoof on her chin. A crash of thunder rattled the library. With a swirling mass of smoke and brilliant light a scroll with a midnight blue seal appeared next to Luna.

Luna stamped her hoof. “By bucking Dagr and Nótt!” Luna looked at the rolled up scroll and shivered slightly. “There is no possible way that this is good.”

“Aren’t you going to read it?”

Luna inhaled with a bit of catch in her throat. “Luna, your presence is required at the throne room immediately. Arrive before seven this evening. Celestia.” Luna’s eyes widened and she clenched her jaw. The letter exploded in a brilliant flare of fire. The crowd of ponies gasped. “I hate her so much! It’s not fair!”

Spike covered his mouth. “What’s going on?”

Twilight attempted to nuzzle up against her fillyfriend. “Luna?”

“Don’t you see what this means?! These letters! Somehow she found out about us and now she’s going to try to separate us!”

Twilight shook her head. “It doesn’t say anything about us being together in those letters at all…”

“What else could it possibly be? One for you one for me, both the same message, sent at the same time. You don’t understand! There are rules! I can’t just… It’s not fair! It’s not fair! I won’t let her! I won’t! I won’t! I won’t!” Luna slammed her hoof into the table and overturned it. The ponies of the room shrunk back to the walls as the Alicorn flipped the central reading table. Princess Cadence and Shining Armor seemed the least horrified of the princess of the night’s actions. In truth, Luna’s tantrums were not unheard of at the castle. “I hate her so much! She’s so stubborn and set in the old ways!” A crack of thunder rumbled outside. A storm cloud gathered above the library and it began to pour rain.
Twilight approached the Alicorn carefully, “Luna, calm down. Everything will be alright.”

“No! No it won’t! It’s not fair! I just want one pony to myself! Why can’t she just let me be happy?! Well that’s it then! We’ve had a good couple of days but its all over now! Does Tia even care? No! Of course not!” Luna was heaving heavy sobs.

“Luna, she was always going to find out about us eventually.”

“Twilight! Let’s just run away! We can go to Quagga and live with the Zebras! Just you and me!”

“We can’t just run away. Luna, you’re acting crazy.”

“You don’t know her like I do….”

“Luna, I’ve known Celestia almost my whole life. I can’t speak for what she was like during the old times, but I assure you I know how she is now and she’ll be happy for us.”

Luna kicked her hooves against the ground. “It’s just not possible…. It’s no use…. It’s just no use….” Luna’s face was streamed with tears.

Princess Cadence approached Luna and pinned her tail against the floor. “Oh would you just grow up!”

Luna glanced upwards to the winged Unicorn. “Ex-excuse me?”

Cadence scowled. “You’re a grown mare of who knows how old and here you are throwing a fit like a little foal. Running away to Quagga! Inconceivable! Grow up and confront your sister if you need to. Tell her how you feel about Twilight and where you stand on the matter. But for pony’s sake don’t roll around on the floor here.” Cadence removed her hoof from Luna’s tail. Luna let out a small whimper, but was silenced by Cadence quickly. “I understand you’ve been through a rough time. I know things haven’t been completely pleasant between you two since your return. I honestly have no idea if you two ever could be in the same room without all that tension. But she is your sister. And she does care for you. A lot. I know. I know because I can sense these things.”

“I…”

“You two avoid each other so much in the hallways at the castle. She avoids you out of remorse and you avoid her out of fear. Frankly I’m sick of seeing it every day! When it comes to each other, you two act like misbehaving blank flank fillies. I don’t know how Celestia feels about your relationship with Twilight but if Twilight is important to you then you have every right to go and explain things to Celestia. The bottom line is you are just as much the ruler of Equestria as she is and you can make the rules as well.”

“But I…”

Twilight extended her hoof to help the princess off the ground. “Luna, I’ll be there by your side. And I’m telling you, it’s not going to be bad at all…”

Rainbow Dash pumped her hoof in the air. “And we’ll all come as well to support you! That's what friends do!”

Fluttershy smiled, “I’ll help… if you want me to as well.”

“Shoot, you got my support too. I reckon it won’t be any worse than a squirrel with its tail caught in tree branch!” Applejack received a few confused looks from around the room. “And by that I mean it will be as easy as pie.”

“And speaking of pie, you’ll have Pinkie Pie, that is to say me, that is to say the best pony at cheering ponies up ever, there if you need cheering up when things go bad!”

Rarity gasped, “Pinkie! Ignore her, darling. We’ll all be there for you two.”

Princess Cadence tapped her hoof on the ground. “Now pick your flank up off the floor and go get on that train.”

The Friendship Express steadily climbed the mountain. Luna stared out the window at the outline of Canterlot as she approached. Apparently Celestia had ordered a lockdown and had encased the whole city in a shield. Great. She thought. If the city was under threat, there was absolutely no hope of the elder Alicorn being in a good mood. Still, it comforted her that Twilight was by her side, gazing out the same window as her. Then again, Twilight was the problem. “I cannot believe I’m on this train….”

Twilight rested her head on her hooves. “Where do you think I learned how to lecture? Cadence is a great persuasive speaker.” Twilight sighed. “Luna…. Why do you think Celestia won’t approve of our relationship?”

Luna mimicked her fillyfriend’s pose and sighed as well. “Because it is forbidden.”

Twilight glanced up at Luna. “Forbidden? Is it a punishment for Nightmare Night?”

“No. You see… there are certain rules for those who are immortal. There has to be. Otherwise you end up with beings like Discord, who cause nothing but terror and torment wherever they go….”

“Laws?”

“We call ours the Code of the Alicorns.”

“And this code forbids you from having relationships?” Twilight placed her hoof against her chin. “With mortals I assume.”
“The code covers many things: how we should act, what our role in the world is, what our role is not, and of course ways to help prevent us from straying from the path. The code was never written down, but each stanza was memorized thoroughly. And we made an oath to follow it. Forever.”

“But why can’t you have a relationship?”

“It is because all those we interact with will eventually pass, while we must endure and live on. It is a fact of the world. A fact of reality as it exists. We are cursed to watch every pony we care about fade away whilst we must continue. We must continue because the world needs the sun and the moon. It was thought that if we became too attached to a mortal, a pony we could not truly have, then we would fall into despair and fail our duties to the world.”

“But how do you know if that’s even true? It’s just an assumption.”

“Experience is a harsh teacher, Twilight. We’ve lived a long time, and we had already even before the code was drafted. This particular part of the code was to prevent disasters on the scale of Nightmare Night. You need to understand that while Celestia would have ponies think otherwise, we are just as fallible as every pony else. We feel happiness and regret and despair and loneliness, but unlike others, the power to cause harm is so well within our reach it is fairly easy to slip and cause countless others harm in a single lapse in judgment.”

“But you followed the code a thousand years ago, right? And loneliness took your heart and Nightmare Night still happened. It seems the code does not even work.”

“Nightmare Night happened because I let jealously in my heart. I was lonely beyond all compare, and perhaps you are right, if I had found somepony like you back then I might have acted differently. But Nightmare Night was not the fault of the Code of the Alicorns, it was my issue entirely.”

“Who wrote the code?”

“We did. My sister and I came up with it once it became clear that we had a responsibility to the world. We needed to make sure that both of us would always act in the interest of others. It was our way of redemption….”

“Redemption?”

“That’s not important. The point is we made an oath. And I broke it by being with you. I don’t know why I went against the code. I knew I was doing it. But… my heart just didn’t give me a choice.” Luna sighed. “I wish it did…. Perhaps things wouldn’t be coming to what there are now.”

“What’s the worst Celestia could even do? Like Cadence said, you make up the rules too. Don’t you have some say?”

“The worst? I don’t even want to think about the worst she could do. At best she’ll restrict me to my room for the next hundred years until you pass on. But it’s not about who makes up the rules. The code was decided upon long ago at the sundial and it will never change. No matter how much I want it to, Celestia would never agree. She has lived her whole life by what we decided that day. Every action she takes is carefully scripted within those bounds, each step furthering the goals outlined by the Code of the Alicorns.”

“Is it that important to her?”

“We drafted it and swore by it upon the sundial!”

“I don’t understand. What does that even mean?”

“The sundial is a consecrated place for us.”

“But it’s just a sundial right? I mean is it still consecrated all these years later?”

“It was there that Celestia took control of the sun for the first time and it was then that we sought our path of redemption for our sins against the world. Any words spoken in the presence of that sundial are not just law, but a commandment unbreakable. I… care deeply for you… but I still feel the horrible shame for placing such a blemish on the sundial’s significance.”

“Wait, what do you mean ‘took control of the sun for the first time’?”

“We are only four thousand years old, Twilight. The world is much older; therefore we were not the first to move the sun and moon.”

“But times have changed. What sense does it make for a four-thousand year old code to dictate how you live now?”

“I agree the code has perhaps outlived its usefulness. But we swore on the sundial. It cannot be revoked.”

“I don’t give a buck about the sundial! It’s just an ancient clock made of stone!”

Luna buried her head in her hooves and let her mane cover her face. “Perhaps I should have also mentioned that the sundial is mounted on a stone pedestal.”

“So?”

“That pedestal is a headstone. It marks our mother’s grave.” Luna looked up and faced Twilight with teary eyes. “Twilight, if it came down to it….” Luna’s eyes wondered away for a moment before finding Twilight’s pupils again. Twilight felt a little dizzy. Luna’s face twisted. Her coat above her neck turned gray. A fang extended from her upper lip and her eyes turned yellow became uneven. Beady red pupils burned into Twilight’s eyes. Mismatched horns grew out of her skull and her voice changed, “If it came down to it…. whose side would you choose?”

“What?!” Twilight shook her head at the monstrous face she was looking at. In an instant Luna’s face appeared normal. Twilight blinked a few times to be sure. “What…! What did you say?”

“If it came to it, whose side would you choose? Mine or my sister’s?”

Twilight crossed her hooves against the window and pressed her forehead against the glass. “I guess if I had to choose, I would pick the pony I love.”

“I under…. What? You…! You…! Lo…” Luna’s face lit up bright red. She quickly wrapped her hooves around the Unicorn and brought her into a tight embrace. “I see.” Luna’s eyes were wet with tear as she spoke. “Well then…” Luna’s irises turned a bright green and her voice dropped nearly an octave as she spoke in a sultry tone, “Then as long as you feel that way, I will never let us be apart.” Nightmare Moon giggled.

22: Inevitability: Awakening

A slender figure was heaving and shivering. Its legs were weak with an indiscernible feeling. Terror, perhaps. Guilt, certainly possible. Strength? Most definitely. Things were different now. She could see that, but she could not explain why. Things had been changing so much over the last few centuries. Yes, centuries, that was the word that best described how much time had passed, but it still felt weird on the tongue. Others would say the word and have no concept of its meaning. Yet... she did. Things had been changing at every turn during that time, but she had managed to remain static. Then when everything had stopped, she was forced to change. Now it caused a question to plague her thoughts. The question was an obvious one and it had been on her mind even before this point. What would she become? What had she become? A gentle, yet commanding voice pulled her from her thoughts, spouting the answer she sought. “Arise! Nightmare Moon!”

“I have risen.” Even now, despite what she had become, she responded without thought. This voice was not one she could ever refuse. Its smoldering will had been her one constant in this miserable world and she would stand by it no matter what. To assume that the voice’s owner could ever be wrong was something that would break her entire worldview. Even so, lately, she had questions she would not voice.

“How do you feel, sister?” Celestia approached the side of the other creature.

“I feel… Strong. Strong enough to accomplish anything.” Nightmare Moon glanced to the sky and laughed. “I feel as though the laws of the world are mine to command!”

“It is good that you feel that way, for it is true.” Celestia nodded thoughtfully.

“But also… I feel… guilt. Our hooves are stained with blood. Perhaps we were wrong?” Nightmare Moon looked up at the sky, staring at the pale surface of the moon.

“This blood was necessary for the survival of the world. This world is our burden now, and we will bear it, no matter the cost. We are the only ones strong enough. The only ones with enough will.”

Nightmare Moon spit on the ground. “This feeling of guilt it eats at my mind. We have killed that which should never die. Our actions forced, but still the result of your selfishness and sorrow. I desire retribution. I desire to wash my hooves of these deeds, to cleanse the blood from my coat. Can you not see this blood spot on my hooves?” Nightmare Moon laughed uneasily. “This nightmarish form I take now, this mind that whispers such sweet promises of desires fulfilled, these are monstrous. I desire no part in it any longer!”

Celestia shook her head. “Sister! You are not yet adjusted; your Affixed… it corrupts your thoughts but you must resist! You must…!”

“No! We must do nothing! You are the reason we are such creatures of disgust! This damned spot! I wish it gone! Who would have thought they would have had so much blood in them? Perhaps it is time you and I joined mother….” Nightmare Moon charged. The sisters locked horns in a flash of light and an explosion of shadow. Celestia’s eyes narrowed. Nightmare Moon was powerful, but she was not powerful enough to best the pony that had claimed the raw power of the sun. In a burst of golden magic, the newly born Nightmare Moon fell to the ground and dissolved into something smaller. She was still the form of a mighty Alicorn, but she was something less. “Sister… I am sorry. I do not know what came over me….”

Celestia frowned. “I see now. The desires of Nótt are too great for you to control. Perhaps it would be best if for now you remained in that form.”

“Then Nightmare Moon shall slumber, and Selena shall still walk.”

“No! Just as Helia is, Selena is now dead. From now on… you shall be… Luna.”

The Alicorn stood up from the ground. “Luna…. The sound is pleasing to the ear. I will be… I am… Luna! Essence of the night!”

“We shall rule together, my sister. A new dawn breaks on this world, a glorious dawn. Our mistakes of the past shall fade and we shall lead.”

“Our transgressions will never truly fade. What right do we have to lead?”

Celestia looked up at the moon. “Perhaps you are right. We hold a power too great for mortals and perhaps even ourselves to comprehend.”

Luna was silent for a long time. When she spoke again, it was with a determined tone. “We shall make a code. By that we shall live eternal. And if one should falter from it….”

“The other shall punish.” Celestia nodded.

The train jolted to a stop. Princess Luna was pulled from her thoughts in a much more abrupt manner than she had hoped would be the case. Her eyes refused to focus for a moment. Twilight Sparkle was still nuzzled against her neck, half asleep. The train ride had been long, but it seemed as though they had finally reached their destination, perhaps in more ways than one. Luna gave Twilight a gentle nudge. The Unicorn looked upwards at her fillyfriend’s upside-down face. The lavender pony gave Luna a soft smile. A voice bellowed over the announcement system. “Attention all passengers, we have arrived in Canterlot. Please watch your hooves as you disembark the cars. All passengers must disembark here as Canterlot is the end of the line, folks. So, get off my train.”

Twilight hopped out of her seat and glanced down the passageway of the train car. “Well, here we are…”

“You know, it’s not too late to fly to Quagga.”

“Luna!”

“I was joking. Mostly.” Luna sighed as she stepped out of the train and onto the platform. She craned her neck upwards to gaze upon the towering structure of Canterlot Castle. She never had really felt at home in those halls. They were too big and spacious and made lonely echoes when her hooves impacted the marble. In many ways they reminded her of the moon. She shivered slightly, the thought of facing her sister scared her more than she would care to admit and she had admitted to quite a bit already. Still if she was ever going to have to face her sister under these circumstances, this was the best way to do so; surrounded by her friends and the pony she loved. Shining Armor and Princess Cadence approached the couple.

“I have to go to the barracks and take care of a few things. Princess, Twily… I know I haven’t been very supportive of your relationship in the past but I want you to know that you have my full support now. If things with Princess Celestia go sour, I will use my good name to vouch for the strength of your love.” Shining Armor wrapped his hooves around Twilight and gave her a small peck on the cheek. “Best of luck to you, but honestly, I don’t think there will be a problem.” Shining Armor gave Luna a salute. “Princess, best of luck to you as well.”

Luna smiled. “Thank you, Captain.”

Princess Cadence sighed and glanced up to one of the towers. “I have a few duties to catch up on as well from when I left early yesterday. If you two need somepony to talk to after you have your meeting with Aunt Celestia, you can find me in my quarters.”

“Any last minute advice, oh wise and beautiful Cadence?” Luna said with just a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Cadence pressed her hoof against her chin for a moment. “In all things, follow your heart. For only in your heart can the path to happiness and tranquility be found.”

Luna wrinkled her brow. It was a lovely sentiment, but one she had heard before. “Do you have any advice that didn’t come directly from my sister’s mouth?”

Cadence chuckled, “Oh right.” She inhaled deeply. “I guess I would advise you to stand up for yourself. Don’t let your sister push you around when you are just as entitled to happiness as she is.” Cadence gave a nod and turned off down the pathway to a distant tower.

Twilight leaned against the side of her fillyfriend. “Alright, we’ve put this off long enough. Let’s go inside.”

Luna glanced back at the central entrance to the castle, a pair of enormous gilded doors. She sighed and then gave a small nod. No matter what, I won’t let her separate us. Luna donned a determined look. “Let us stay true and enterest into mine sister’s presence!” Luna coughed, “Sorry, I do that when I'm nervous. Let’s just go.”

A pair of Earth pony guards pushed the colossal doors open. “This way, Princess, element bearers… Princess Celestia has been expecting you in the grand throne room.” One of the guards glanced at the ground for a moment, as if he was deciding something. “Uh… in case you forgot, the throne is located up the atrium staircase then down the central hallway. At the end of the hallway is the great ballroom and from there it’s just up the staircase. If you need a guide, I would be honored to offer my…”

Luna stomped her hoof on the ground. “I know where the throne room is!”

Twilight glanced up at Luna. Twilight thought back to the time they had gotten lost in the castle during the Celebration of Harmony. “Don’t worry; I know where it is, Luna. You just have to follow the red carpet.” Twilight nodded to the guard and trotted up the staircase. Luna held her breath and refused to move. After a rude shove from Rainbow Dash and Applejack, Luna climbed the staircase after Twilight. The hallway that connected the atrium to the grand ballroom was, like many other rooms in the castle, lined with stained glass. Each one depicted various times in Equestrian history or different models of the solar system. They passed a series of doors that lead off to other areas of the castle, a few Luna had yet to figure out where exactly in the castle they lead to when opened. Finally at the end of the hallway was the grand ballroom. It was perhaps the largest room in the castle and where many events were often held.

The ballroom was currently empty. In fact they really had not seen any ponies in the castle at all except for the two guards that had let them through the entrance. As they walked to the opposite side of the room Pinkie Pie whistled. “This place is huge!”

Rarity shook her head. “Pinkie, you’ve been in here before.”

“Yeah, but I think it is bigger now! I bet you could fit a fully grown dragon in here!”

Luna glanced around as they neared the carpet lined steps. “Yes. Yes, I suppose you could.”

“And there’d be so much room left over! You could have like a whole dragon puppet show!” Pinkie Pie lifted her forehooves up and pantomimed the operation of a marionette.

Twilight placed her hoof on her face. “Pinkie, that’s ridiculous.” They climbed the staircase at the end of the ballroom, stopping at the small circular room that connected the stairwell to the throne room.

A dark pink Pegaus stallion held up a hoof. “Halt!”

Luna gave a brief smile. “Ah, Commander Wind Strider, Tia has you on door duty?”

“Actually it’s Acting Captain, your highness. I do hear Shining Armor is back in Canterlot, but he has yet to relive me of my post.”

“Very well, we’ll be going in now.”

“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that, Princess. Princess Celestia’s orders, only the princess of the night and the element of magic may pass. Your friends will have to wait out here.”

“That is all fine and good, but now I order you to let them pass.” Luna said with a slight scowl. She was not looking forward to facing her sister, and even less so alone. Wind Strider glanced at the floor and winced.

Twilight pursed her lips. “Are you alright? You look unwell.”

“I don’t want to go against Celestia’s orders. Please don’t make me. She… I saw her banish a pony yesterday. I’m still a bit shook up from it….”

Twilight gasped. “Banish…?”

Luna bit her lip and for just a brief moment, her eyes flashed green. “You poor thing. Come, Twilight, we can face my sister together.” Luna focused magic in her horn and opened the doors to the throne room.

“Good luck!” Rainbow Dash called out. Luna inhaled deeply and stepped into the room alongside Twilight. A golden glow engulfed the doors to the throne room and they slammed shut with a loud crash. Luna could not help but reflexively glance back at the closed doors. At the end of the room, slouched against the throne, Princess Celestia scowled. Her attention was focused on a small metal object that was lazily floating near her lap. The object appeared to be a gyroscope, one that Twilight had recognized. Long ago, Celestia had used it to help Twilight master more advanced levitation techniques. Luna hesitantly approached the throne with Twilight following in tow.

“Well… well…” Celestia spoke in a dark tone, and other than the brief statement she had not moved or even glanced up from the gyroscope to acknowledge her guest’s presence. Celestia adjusted her position slightly as she watched the spinning gyroscope float higher and higher into the air. “How was Griffica, my dear sister?”

Even though Celestia’s gaze was focused on the gyroscope and not on Luna, the younger sister still could not manage a glance at the elder. “Griffica was…”

“I know you went to Ponyville.” Celestia chuckled as the gyroscope began to wobble.

Twilight cleared her throat. “Princess… judging by your letters you already know but... Luna and I are…”

“Three rules, Lulu....” Celestia let the gyroscope destabilize and it flung off to the side, bouncing with a metal clink several times across the marble floor. Twilight and Luna followed the path of the object as the bounced and it eventually came to rest at dark corner of the room. “Upon your return I gave you three… simple… rules….”

“Sister!”

Celestia adjusted her sitting position so that she was no longer slouching. “The first of which, was for Nightmare Moon to remain in hiding. Storm Dancer made it clear that you failed to follow that.”

Twilight gasped, “Storm Dance?! Princess, that monster…”

“Second! You were to say away from the Elements of Harmony… and their bearers.” Celestia glanced at Twilight for a moment. “I see you could have not possibly done anything more to disobey that further.”

Twilight dragged her hoof on the floor slightly. “But, Princess I was the one who…”

“Finally! You were to follow the Code of the Alicorns, our scared oath, and you violated that without a second thought.”

“Princess Celestia, please… Luna just…”

Celestia frowned. “Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student, I am sorry. I am truly very sorry you were dragged into this.” She brought her attention back to Luna and spoke in a barely audible voice, “Sister of mine, bid Twilight goodbye.”

Luna narrowed her eyes. “And by goodbye you don’t mean, ‘goodbye I’ll see you tomorrow’?”

Celestia shook her head. “No.”

Twilight stamped her hoof. “Princess, that’s not fair! We…”

“Your concept of fair is far too shortsighted, Twilight.”

Luna’s eyes lit up green. “No!”

“Excuse me?” Celestia’s eyes widened.

Luna gritted her teeth. “Twilight said she loves me… and I love her too. You will not separate us.”

Celestia stood up from her throne. She took a few steps down the ramp that lead to the elevated platform where the throne rested. Each hoofstep thundered against the marble floor. Twilight attempted to read the emotion on Celestia’s face, but it was not one she recognized. It could have been anger, but she was uncertain. Celestia stopped a few feet from Luna and they locked stares. After a few minutes of silence Celestia raised an eyebrow. “You are serious about this?”

Luna narrowed her eyes. Cadence’s advice echoing in her mind, she answered her sister in a way she had never before. “I am.”

Celestia paused for a moment, then without breaking her stare with her sister she spoke, “Twilight Sparkle, please leave us for a moment.”

“What? No, I’m staying by….”

Luna tapped her hoof impatiently. “Twilight, leave the room.”

“But…!”

“My sister and I have things to discuss….”

Twilight’s eyes widened at her fillyfriend’s demand. She hung her head and turned to the doors. Using her magic she opened it slightly and walked outside of the room. Luna turned her neck slightly to glance at the door as she closed it with her magic. She sighed heavily and then returned her gaze to Celestia. Celestia began to circle around Luna, her gaze harshly fixed on her sister. “Why, Luna? Why must you be so difficult?”

“I could ask you the same thing. All I want is something so simple, to be allowed to spend time with a pony I care deeply for and yet you won’t allow it.”

“You know exactly why it is forbidden! As I recall the rule on relationships was penned by you.” Celestia spoke a series of syllabus that Luna had long forgotten the meaning to, however she recognized the sound of the eighth law. “It is true that the path we walk is a lonely one, but we have no choice. I will give you one last chance. Drop this silly schoolfilly crush and we can put this whole incident behind us.”

“Perhaps….” Luna was shaking under Celestia’s gaze. She looked at the ground and clenched her eyes tightly shut. When they opened again her pupils had turned to slits and her irises were green. A hissing sound beat against her mind. “No.”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”

“I said 'no'. I don’t see why I have to follow a rule that you do not.”

Celestia completed another circle around Luna. “I have never broken our code. I have followed its letter whilst you have strayed!”

Luna thrust a hoof out. “Surely you jest!”

Celestia circled around again. “Excuse me?”

“You cheat, you with your collection of favorite ponies from each generation! You think that just because there was never a physical element to those that they don’t count? I saw how you reacted when Slipstream passed on. You wept for years. And it was even longer after him when Sandcastle died so suddenly.”

“It is not the same.”

Luna gritted her teeth. “How do you think you’ll react when Twilight reaches the end of her lifespan?”

Celestia’s face flattened from anger to sorrow for a brief moment. The elder sister shook her head. “You think you would act any different?”

“No. I will weep. I will sulk. I will sob. I will thrash. I might even level a mountain and I will never be the same, but I have seen you do worse and I think it only fair I be allowed my turn at happiness.”

Celestia scoffed. “You expect me to believe that you will behave if I allow this?” Luna nodded. Celestia laughed. “You have barely begun to be involved with her and already Nightmare Moon is out and about causing havoc.”

Luna bit her lip. “You don’t understand! That was…. You weren’t there! That monster, Storm Dancer, he was… carving her!” Luna shuddered. The image of her poor Twilight limp on the courtyard floor had haunted her dreams since it occurred. Luna’s only solace was that Twilight had been asleep for most of it. “I swear I have her under control.”

“Do you? The Dome of Vision says otherwise….”

“The Dome of Vision?! How could you use that infernal artifact after what it did to Starswirl?”

Celestia shouted, “The dome foretells of a second coming of Eternal Night! I can see the signs in the stars already, I know you have genuine feelings for my student, but I cannot allow such a union to occur.” Luna clenched her jaw tightly. “I will give you an hour. Go outside and please let her down gently.”

Luna’s mane flared to the ceiling and her coat blackened. Nightmare Moon hissed, “We will not!” Celestia gasped. Nightmare Moon’s mane snaked forward and collided with Celestia. With a thunderous crash, Celestia was slammed into a wall, shattering the bricks and stone that separated the throne room from the adjoining conservatory. “Tia!” A single pony who was reading in the conservatory galloped out of the room. Bits of rubble fell on top of Celestia as Nightmare Moon approached the newly created fissure in the wall. “Sister? Are… are you alright?”

Twilight jumped back from the throne room door, startled by a loud sound. “Did you hear that?” “It sounded like somepony took a wrecking ball to the side of the castle.” She pressed her ear up against the throne room door and attempted to listen in on the conversation that was occurring on the other side. However, whatever was being discussed was now silent. “Oh, maybe Luna was right. Perhaps I don’t know anything about Princess Celestia when it comes to her sister….” A deafening explosion of golden light flung Twilight away from the door. The castle and perhaps all of Canterlot rumbled with the force. Applejack caught Twilight as she was forced away. Smoke seeped out from behind the door. Twilight stood back up and hesitantly approached the doors. One of the doors fell off its hinges and crashed to the floor. The ponies looked in fear at the image of the throne room they saw before them. The carpet was on fire and the walls looked as though dragon had rampaged. Celestia was flying in the center of the room, gazing out a large hole in the wall that provided a view of the city. With a scornful look in her eye, the Alicorn dashed out of the opening and towards the city streets. Twilight raced to the opening and watched as Celestia chased after Nightmare Moon while flinging bolts of magic at the Alicorn. A stray bolt impacted a house and reduced it to rubble.

Wind Strider gasped in horror. “What madness has befallen our great kingdom? Could it be that the monstrous Storm Dancer was right? Has Nightmare Moon truly returned?” Wind Strider watched as Nightmare Moon’s mane slammed Celestia against the base of one of the towers of the castle. “I must fetch the Captain! He will know what to do!”

Twilight shook her head to clear her thoughts. “We need to try to see if we can figure out what’s going on down there.”

Wind Strider nodded. “Good luck, fair Twilight Sparkle.” He stretched his wings and took off through the opening towards the barracks. He soared through the city skyline. The sun was in the process of setting over the city, which would have been a beautiful sight if he had not just witnessed such a display of destruction. He glided down to the base of the castle and landed in the gardens, which were adjacent to the barracks. Overhead he watched a flash of white tangled up in a mess of shadowy mist speed by and slam into the side of a castle tower. A large section of stone from the tower crashed to the ground. Wind Strider’s mouth went agape. The tower appeared to sway slightly. A few ponies ran past him screaming. “Citizens, remain calm!”

“Commander!” Wind Strider spun around.

“Captain, you’re a sight for sore eyes!” Wind Strider saluted hastily.

Shining Armor glanced up to the sky where a battle raged above his head. “Are my eyes playing tricks on me, Commander, or are our fair rulers waging a war?”

“I wish your eyes were, Captain. It seems Nightmare Moon has returned! Oh, poor Princess Luna, her fair heart has fallen to darkness again.”

Shining Armor glanced around for a moment a pillar of smoke was rising in the distance. There must have been a fire somewhere in the city. “Commander, rally the rest of the guard. We’re evacuating the city. Get every pony out of here and to Sunset Cliff outside the main gate.” Shining Armor gazed at the damaged tower before him. The royal guards were already flying into the windows to rescue ponies as the tower leaned closer and closer to the ground. “Send platoons one and three to the market district, have Silver Tongue go with them. He’ll need to convince the merchants to leave their wares behind. Send platoons two and five to the upper levels to get the nobles out and get platoons four, six, and seven to the residential area. Platoon nine is on castle duty, have Falconheart lead them. You and I will take platoon eight to Masonhoof Promenade and evacuate the ponies there.”

“Yes, Captain! I’ll dispatch them at once sir!” Wind Strider saluted and turned around to take off. He extended his wings and froze in a chambered position. “Uh, sir, just had a bit of a brainwave, won’t the city wide shield make it hard to get ponies out?”

“Good call. Hang on a moment; I’ve sort of got a specialty with shields.” Shining Armor focused his attention to the shimmering yellow dome of energy that engulfed the city. He focused magic in his horn. A sputtering flash of static exploded around him. “Ah! Bucking Storm Dancer and his potion!”

“Are you alright, Captain?”

Shining Armor gritted his teeth and stamped his hooves. “Nothing a little willpower won’t fix!” The Unicorn growled fiercely. His head was swimming with pain as he shot a pink flare of light into the sky. The bolt of energy impacted the shield sending cracks of violet light throughout the skyline. With the sound of shattering glass the shield broke into fragments and fell from the sky.

“Amazing, Captain!” Shining Armor fell to the ground. “Captain!”

“I’m fine… just a bit… low on… magic… today….” Shining Armor exhaled slowly. “Look at that sky…. Do you see the sun setting, Commander? It’s the hour of twilight… what a fitting time for the sun and the moon to do battle.”

“No!” Above her head, Celestia watched fragments of her shield crash down to the city below. Her mouth fell agape slightly as she suddenly became aware of the pillar of smoke that was burning around her. The Alicorn let out an angry snort. “See what you have wrought upon us, sister?” Celestia flicked her head and let lose a blast of energy that collided with Nightmare Moon. “You have placed my city in danger!” Nightmare Moon fell from the sky and crashed into the street below. Celestia glided down to the ground and landed gracefully next to the crumpled form of her sister. Nightmare Moon groaned from inside the small crater that had formed upon her impact. Nightmare Moon rolled to an upright position. Her legs refused to stand despite how much willpower she attempted to muster. Celestia stepped forward closing the distance between the two Alicorns. She looked down at Nightmare Moon with a confident smirk. “Give up Nightmare Moon; you cannot win against my power. I have put you in your place before and I shall do so again.”

Nightmare Moon inhaled deeply. “WE SHALL NOT YIELD!” Celestia was hit with a forceful gale that swept her hooves out from underneath her. She twisted and tumbled as she crashed into a nearby building. Nightmare Moon laughed and struggled to rise to a standing position.

Celestia climbed out of the rubble. “If that is the way you wish to fight, then so be it. But if we are to fight with the power of the word, then I shall use the strength of the Ancients!” Celestia drew in a large breath of air. “Vos… appellamus… SELENAM!”

A booming echo thundered throughout Equestria. Nightmare Moon tore in a burst of starry mist revealing a small blue Alicorn filly. Luna found herself flying through the air against her will colliding with one of the towers of the castle. The tiny filly crashed through a series of walls before finally coming to rest at what appeared to be one of the smaller libraries. Celestia’s wings eclipsed the light coming from the missing wall as she entered the room. Luna felt blood trickle down her side from underneath her wing. Torn pages of books swirled around the room as Celestia walked over to Luna. “I was always the better speaker, little sister.”

Luna coughed violently as she spit blood out of her mouth. “You use such old magic, Tia…” Celesita smirked. Behind her she was oblivious to the shadow of the moon rising. Luna’s coat blackened as she let out a chuckled. “But perhaps you forget that the power of the true name can easily work both ways….” Engulfed by the moonlight, Nightmare Moon suddenly found the strength to rise to her hooves, drawing in breath as she did.

Celestia gasped. “You wouldn’t!” The elder Alicorn took a few steps backwards.

Nightmare Moon laughed. “Oh I would, my dear… HELIA!” The word resonated through the fabric of the land. Celestia’s mane flared to a pink hue as the Alicorn’s expression turned to pure terror. Tears streamed down her face and her wings drooped to the ground.

The elder sister’s lip quivered. “No…! How dare you speak that name?” She took a few staggering steps backwards until her rear hoof slipped off the edge of the tower. The Alicorn plummeted to the ground, a stream of tears lagging behind in the air. Nightmare Moon leapt out of the tower, following her sister’s descent. The elder sister crashed into the ground and was motionless as Nightmare Moon slammed her hooves into the Alicorn’s side. “I told you… never to speak that name again… she’s dead…. SHE DIED WITH MOTHER!”

Nightmare Moon laughed. “You are beaten, Celestia. Admit defeat and we shall write a new code.”

Celestia groaned. “You have grown strong, sister….” She struggled to open her eyes. “I see how much desire burns in your form. I am beaten and my city lies in ruins. Perhaps…” Her eyes refused to focus even once they were open. “The code is flawed, I see that now… Perhaps you are right… We shall…” Then the image was clear. “Wait…”

It was nighttime, but there were no stars. A pillar smoke billowed in the sky like a storm cloud, and a thundering noise erupted as one of the castle towers fell to the ground. It was a storm, but no rain fell. Canterlot was in ruins and the protective shield was missing. Ponies fled in every direction leaving the city empty. The sun hung on the edge of the sky as a young foal ran from falling rubble. The imposing figure of Nightmare Moon stood at the forefront and laughed. Suddenly thoughts aligned and the world became crystal clear.

“I have seen this before….” Voices whispered in the back of her skull. “I have seen all of this before!” It started as a tickle in her head. “Yes… this is the moment.” She tasted something familiar in her mouth but could not quite remember where she had heard it before. “This is when Eternal Night is brought upon our world once more!” The stench of static electricity burned in her eyes. “I won’t let you! I will not let you destroy my kingdom!” The Alicorn’s horn ignited with a golden light and her mane flowed with color once more.

Nightmare Moon gasped, “You rise! What causes such determination in you, Celestia? Have you gone mad?”

“Yes, I rise. I rise to protect my subjects from the selfish evils that you wish to bring upon us all.” Brilliant rays of light flowed into Celestia’s horn.

Nightmare Moon took a few trembling steps backwards; her wings flapping anxiously. “You would never!”

“If Canterlot must fall to save the rest of the kingdom, then it shall fall.” Celestia rose to the sky and her horn glowed with a blinding radiance. Nightmare Moon took flight through the streets as fast as her wings would carry her. With a horrifying rumbling thunderclap, a beam of golden light trailed after Nightmare Moon; leaving a course of fire and devastation. The beam lasted only a few seconds, carving a smoldering path the ground, having reduced the streets and houses to ash. “Stop with all this running, sister! Embrace your destiny as I have done mine!” Celestia gathered more magic from the air into her horn and prepared to unleash another blast. “You cannot defeat me for I was always the better Unicorn!”

Nightmare Moon charged the elder sister and tackled her before she finished casting her spell. They fell to the ground, Celestia kicking against Nightmare Moon’s shadowy mane. They landed through the roof of a house or at least what was left of the building as it had only two walls remaining from the previous use of Celestia’s spell. In an explosion of light, Nightmare Moon’s mane released its hold on the elder sister. Celestia rose to her hooves and began to focus magic in her horn. “Princesses! Stop!” Twilight Sparkle’s voice echoed through the otherwise silent battlefield. The purple Unicorn galloped towards the two Alicorns.

Celestia glanced over her shoulder. “Do not interfere.” A golden wall of energy cut Twilight off from reaching Celestia and Nightmare Moon. Undeterred, Twilight attempted to cancel the spell with one of her spells. The bolt of magic fizzled upon contact with the barrier. Rainbow Dash slammed her head into the shield only to fall to the ground. “Now then… where were we, sister of mine?”

A rumbling thunderclap shook the stone bridge Shining Armor was standing on. A ray of light from the sky traced around the city, chasing something he could not see from this distance. The beam sliced through one of the tall spires of the upper levels, where the nobles lived. He watched the spire crumble in a pile of dust. “Captain!” A voice was calling out his title but he ignored it. As the last of the spire fell, he could not help but remember that he had eaten lunch with Cadence there only two weeks ago. The earth shook as the roof of the spire impacted the ground. “Captain Shining!” He hesitantly tore his gaze from the destruction to face the pony.

“Commander, report.”

“Platoons one and three have guided all the ponies out of the market district. We are more than certain that we found every pony. The ponies in the residential area are exiting through the main gate as we speak. Thankfully the battle has only been on the outskirts of that district, platoon six reported that there were no incidents. Unfortunately, this was not so with the upper levels.”

Shining Armor nervously glanced back to the castle towers. “We were too late?”

“Regretfully so, the upper levels are nothing but a pile of rocks now. The bridges that made up the streets have all crumbled onto the crossway. However, apparently the nobles were evacuated on their own. They were lead by somepony named Fancy Pants and they are currently taking shelter by the storm sewer. I’ve sent platoon seven to dig them out. The castle was cleared out… platoon nine didn’t report any sign of the princess.”

“Well done, Wind Strider. You make me proud.” Shining Armor shifted his jaw as he tried to rip his gaze from the castle. “All that should be left is to get the last ponies that are trapped on the promenade. We should be able to…”

“Captain... go and make sure she’s safe.”

Shining Armor blinked a few times. “Commander?”

“I’ll handle the rest here. You go make sure she’s alright.” Wind Strider gave a quick smile.
Shining Armor started to give a salute, but instead turned the motion into a quick hug around the Pegasus. “Thank you, Strider. You are a true friend.” Shining Armor tossed his helmet on the ground and turned to face the castle.

Wind Strider placed a hoof near his mouth and yelled, “Oh! Captain, about that promotion?”

Shining Armor skidded to a stop and turned his head around. “Yes?”

“I changed my mind. I think after all this is done, I’m retiring. I’m sorry, you’ll have to find somepony else to replace you.”

Shining Armor laughed as he galloped away. “You just don’t make things easy on my do you, Strider?”

As the Commander and the platoon faded out of view, Shining Armor jumped over a pile of rubble and slid down what had probably been a fragment of a roof at one point. He deftly turned his momentum from the slid into a leap as he reached the bottom of the pile. Landing in what appeared to be soft ash, Shining Armor raced down the road. He passed the rubble of the a few shops he used to frequent. The destruction of such familiar things earned a brief shake of the head, but he was far to determined to reach the castle to spend any more time on it. “Cadence?!” He called out with as much volume he could muster. The main entrance had been forced open when the building was evacuated. His hoofsteps echoed on the marble floor. The empty inside of the castle held a weird serenity compared to the smoke and fire of the outside. A low rumbling and a slight tremor reminded him that two impossibly powerful beings were still fighting outside. He raced up a flight of stairs and to the rear veranda. “Cadence?! Horseapples! You should be here! Where are you?” He shook his head and stopped to catch his breath. “Think, you foal! Where could she be?” His hooves not wanting to sit still that long, he raced back down the steps and through the kitchen. Without stopping, he turned his momentum into a kick and broke down the door to the armory. “Cadenza!”

That was when he heard her voice above the rumbling of the battle. She was singing. That crazy pony of his was singing in the middle of a warzone! “Cadence! I hear you, hold on, I’m coming!” He raced to the back of the armory. The door to the dungeon was ajar and swinging from its hinges with each tremor. Shining Armor raced down the long flight of stone steps into the darkness, a faint glow from his horn the only thing lighting his path. “Cadence?” He reached the bottom of the staircase and raced down the hallway lined with empty prison cells. He soon reached the source of the signing. His wife stood leaned up against a cell door, humming a melody. “Cadence?”

The pony batted her eyelashes. “Oh, sweetie cakes!”

“Oh… it’s just you.” Shining Armor shook his head. How could I be so stupid? Cadence was engulfed in green flames as the Changeling Queen yawned. Shining Armor turned back in the direction of the staircase.

“Wait! You can’t just leave me here!” The dungeon shook violently and bits of the ceiling crashed to the ground. “What is going on up there? Come on, don’t leave me here! I don’t want to be crushed when the ceiling comes crashing down.”

Shining Armor shook his head. He actually did feel a bit bad leaving the Changeling locked in a cell while Canterlot was falling apart. Nevertheless, if there was ever going to be one part of the city that survived, the dungeon would certainly stand. “There’s enough destruction going on without you being free. I have to go. I have to find Cadence.”

“I’m begging you! Don’t leave me here! Look, please just listen to me! I know we’ve had a lot of fun seducing and antagonizing each other in the past, and yes it probably got out of hoof at one point, but I’m serious if I don’t get out of here, I’ll probably die. It’s chaos up there!”

“I don’t have time for…. What did you say?” Shining Armor’s eyes widened.

“I said it’s chaos up there, you dull witted foal.”

Shining Armor’s jaw dropped. “Oh… no….”

“No! Wait! Where are you going? The exit isn’t even that way you moron!” Queen Chrysalis continued shouting as Shining Armor raced off into the darkness.

He skidded to a stop at the edge of the pit at the end of the hallway. Shining Armor leaned over and gazed into the abyss. He lifted his hooves up and down frantically, practically dancing in place. “Oh, horseapples!” He glanced back down the hallway towards the staircase. The ground trembled again from what he could only guess was another building crumbling outside. “Buck it, no time for fear!” He kicked the lever on the wall and lift began its slow descent. It rattled against the side of the pit as it moved and occasionally a tremor would cause the pulley to slip and it would fall a few feet faster than it normally did. The lift stopped abruptly a few feet from the ground, apparently stuck on something. Shining Armor jumped down and squinted his eyes in the darkness. Seeming to sense his presence, the large floor light came to life and illuminated the room. “Oh thank Celestia! You’re still here.” Though a wave of relief swept though him, he suddenly noticed that Discord even in his statue state still held a certain air about him that made Shining Armor’s hair stand on end. As he stared into the eyes of the statue he felt a compulsive and spontaneous need to join in the destruction that was taking place above. He was thankfully jolted out of his thoughts when another tremor rocked the area. “Right!” He turned back to face the lift with a heavy sigh of relief. “I better find Cadence now.”

Fizz-crack!

Shining Armor felt his spine tense. He reluctantly turned around to see a set of golden glowing runes lining the wall of the pit. “Celestia’s wards….” Fizz-crack! One of the runes glowed brilliantly and then exploded with a tangled mess of lightning. “Oh no….” The room rumbled again. Fizz-crack! “Oh no, no, no!” He raced to one of the runic shapes and focused magic in his horn. The glowing of the rune subsided. Fizz-crack! Another rune to his left exploded. “I’ve still got this one! Wards are just protection spells; this is what I was born for! I can stop it!” Fizz-crack! “It only takes one! I’m still good!” His voice reeked with worry. The rune glowed despite the magic he was pouring into it. Another tremor nearly made him lose his balance and he could feel the ward caving through his magic. It was suddenly a very tiring process and the magic fizzled out from his horn. Shining Armor glanced upwards and shouted. “Bucking Storm Dancer!”

Fizz-crack!

The room rumbled again. Shining Armor felt a feeling of dread the depth of which he had never experienced before. “It’s fine…. Those were just auxiliary seals placed by a very paranoid princess. Twily’s seal will hold. It has to hold.” Ca-crack. “Please hold….” Crack. Shining Armor whispered, “No….” A low toned laugh echoed throughout the pit. Fracture lines trailed around the statue’s arm until a small fragment of stone, perhaps no larger than a grape, fell to the ground. “No… why now?” The claw on the statue slowly rotated and its digits curled. The claw snapped its fingers and the lights in the pit went out. Shining Armor, stranded in the darkness with a feeling of dread gnawing at his hooves, could feel his heart racing.

“Oh. It’s the brother.” The room flooded with light. Discord was hanging from the ceiling, his face mere inches from Shining Armor’s own. “So how was the wedding? You know I was just dying to come but you know how it is. I was just so terribly busy being encased in STONE!” The lights flickered and Discord vanished. Shining Armor felt a heavy weight on his back. The draconequus was leaning against him. “You know I know just the way to make it up to me. I’ve got a great wedding gift that I think at least one of us will find very entertaining.” Discord snapped his fingers. A colorful explosion of smoke burst out of the hallway at the top of the pit. A scream echoed around the pit as the Chrysalis slammed against the floor.

“What in the hay was all of…?” The Changeling looked up at the form before her. “You’re that guy… the one they keep talking about. The grotesque psychopath.”

Discord laughed. “Now that’s just not true. I am not grotesque.” The draconequus snapped his fingers. Chrysalis erupted in a green flame. Shining Armor winced. In the spot where the Changeling used to be, now only a small Earth pony filly sat. The filly glanced down at her body and gasped. She stood back up and opened her mouth to yell. Instead of words only a rasping cough came out. “That’s right. I morphed you and took away your powers so you can’t change back. Wait what’s that?” The filly let out another fit of coughs. “I’m sorry I’d a tad deaf in one ear; try once more but with volume.” Discord laughed. “Actually so we’re not here all day I’ll just cut to the chase. I also took away your voice. Why, you ask? Because I can’t stand all that blasted signing you do day in and day out. For the past four months you have made my life as a statue even more unbearable than even I thought possible.”

Discord snaked around to Shining Armor. “Oh my dear Shining Armor, I present to you your wedding present. Look I even wrapped it for you.”

“My sister will stop you!”

“Yes, yes, but first… your gift. You see that little filly over there? That’s the being that caused so much pain and suffering to you and your family.” Discord chuckled as he stroked Shining Armor’s chin. “She kidnapped your bride-to-be, threw your sister in a cave and left her for dead. She then attempted to destroy the city you live in and tried to turn you into her personal snack.” Shining Armor’s eyes lost their focus. “Now I’m not one for revenge but if I were you, I would seriously consider taking a look at the opportunity you have here.” Shining Armor’s color drained from his coat. “After all, it’s not often you have your mortal enemy sitting powerless in front of you. Trapped.... Vulnerable….” Shining Armor chuckled. Discord clapped his hands together. “Well then, I’d love to stay and watch, but there is some delicious chaos going on up there and it has my name on it. Arrivederci!” Discord snapped his fingers.

24: Succession

“EVERYPONY JUST SHUT UP!” Twilight screamed. The ground seemed to shake slightly around her as magic faded from her horn. Such a monumental source of anger welled inside her. Celestia and Nightmare Moon clashed overhead. She glanced upwards and hoped that one of the sisters would see her on the ground, conversing with Discord himself. This was not how she had seen her day going. Perhaps I should have listened to Luna when she said she didn’t want to tell Celestia. Would we not be here now? Would we not be seriously contemplating making a deal with Discord? Discord! He’s not a statue anymore! How did he break out? Was it all this chaos from the fight, the fight that was no doubt over Luna and I’s relationship? Was all of this my fault? How was I supposed to know I was breaking some ancient Alicorn law? She tapped her hooves against her temples. What do I do now? Take the deal and possibly put Equestria in danger or let my mentor and my fillyfriend destroy my hometown and each other? Perhaps there only is one option here…. “Alright!” She shouted as she shook her head clear. “I’ve made my decision…” She inhaled deeply, mentally preparing herself for the reactions she was going to receive from at least two of her friends. They aren’t going to like this. But they are the ponies closest to me, right? They won’t abandon me will they? She gritted her teeth.

Discord gave her a wink. “I certainly couldn’t get them to turn on you even with hypnosis. So that should tell you something.”

Twilight shook her head. Was it possible he could…?

Discord snickered. “Well, a couple months of dream surfing gives one an excellent insight to the bronze gears of thought turning about in the dreamer’s head.”

She shook her head and straightened her posture. “We’ll take the deal.”

“What!?” Fluttershy shook her head. “Are you sure about this, Twilight?”

“Rainbow Dash and Rarity are right. If we don’t deal with this now the city won’t be salvageable. Hay, I don’t even know how much longer it will stay attached to the mountainside at this rate. This is the city I grew up in and I’ll be strolling through Tartarus before I’ll see it destroyed. Then there are the princesses! I don’t know what madness has taken over Celestia and I can’t stand the thought that Nightmare Moon thinks she’s doing me a favor right now. We need to put an end to this now!”

Pinkie Pie scoffed. “We’re going to regret this, and I don’t need my Pinkie sense to tell you that.”

“Don’t think I don’t know the risks! But I just don’t see any more options at this point and we’re running out of time!”

“Enough! The vote has been cast!” Discord bowed and extended his claw. “Just a formality, but if you would be so kind, honest Applejack…”

“Twilight?” Applejack glanced back to Twilight who gave a small head-bob approvingly. The orange pony shook her head as she slowly extended her hoof. Discord’s grin widened. “Very well, Discord. We have an agreement.” Discord’s eyes flashed as he grasped his claw around Applejack’s hoof. Shining chains swirled around the union of hoof and claw. Discord smiled widely as the chains crisscrossed and tightened around the handshake. The chains faded away with small clinking sounds and Discord jumped backwards into the air.

“YES! We do indeed, honest Applejack!” Discord laughed and did a small dance in the air. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Freedom at last!”

Twilight stopped her hoof. “Our deal?”

“What? Oh yes, of course. One moment.” Discord snapped his fingers and disappeared with a flash of light.

“Yield, sister. This destruction has gone on far enough.” Celestia’s hoof pressed against Nightmare Moon’s neck, slowing the Alicorn’s breaths. Celesita looked up at the sun; it looked out of place, surrounded by Nightmare Moon’s storm clouds. Despite it being directly over head, the area was cloaked in a gray shadow as the moon was fighting for the same spot in the sky. “Do you know where we are now, sister?” Somehow during the battle they had made their way up to the balcony of Canterlot Castle’s highest spire, which by no small feat of pony engineering was still standing despite it missing several sections on its lower levels. Nightmare Moon grunted underneath Celestia’s hoof. “This is the observation terrace. It was the very first tower built when Canterlot was constructed.” A small tear rolled down Celestia’s cheek. “It is the highest tower in the city and without a doubt one of the most stunning parts of the whole city. Do you know what it built for, sister dear?” Celestia narrowed her eyes as she increased the pressure on Nightmare Moon’s throat. The moon began to retreat down the horizon. “It serves… served… only one purpose and that was to provide a staircase close to the heavens. The tallest tower in a city built on one of the highest mountains in Equestria. All so I could stand here with my head turned to the sky… just so I could be even slightly closer to the moon, where my sister was.” Celestia spread her wings as she loomed over Nightmare Moon. “Perhaps I was wrong to let you come back. I figured a thousand years would mellow your heart, quell you desires to something less harmful, but it seems I was wrong. You still have not learned how to control your Affixed.”

Nightmare Moon gasped, “You blame Luna for this? It was you that made us into this monster. A monster just like you.”

“Do not blame this on me. You have wrought your own fate.” Celestia focused magic in her horn. As she was lit with the soft glow the magic, Nightmare Moon closed her eyes and chuckled. With a thunderous clap, Celestia blasted a ray of light into the sky.

“All this time and you still can’t do it? What happened to your killer instinct? You know, the one that got us into this mess in the first place? You are weak, sister.”

Celestia stared at the sky as the clouds began to clear away from the blast, her eyes wet with tears. “Perhaps you are right. I used to consider my inability to do away with you to be a strength. A barrier that separated me from the monsters I so hated.” The clouds covered the sun, blanketing the city in darkness. “But now, as I watch the destruction you have caused once again, perhaps that mercy is a weakness after all.” A hole in the clouds allowed the moon to shine through, casting a pillar of light upon Nightmare Moon and Celestia. “Hear now thine acts of sedition and bearest witness to our ruling.”

“No!” Nightmare Moon gasped. With a pinging sound a glowing runic circle traced itself underneath Nightmare Moon.

“For thy devastating acts against our city and for breaking our most sanctified code…” The pillar of light solidified and Nightmare Moon felt herself start to lift of the ground.

“No! If you want to be merciful then kill us!” Nightmare Moon struggled in the air. “We will not go back, the sky will eat us!”

“We hereby banish thee from our fair world for the remainder of thy immortal life. Thy prison shall be thy own precious moon.” The runic circle broke apart and gave way to a rift. Nightmare Moon attempted to fly against the pull of the magic. “We hope the Ancient Sprits still show thou mercy for from this moment onwards THE SUN HATH…!” Snap! The pillar of light faded away and Nightmare Moon fell to the ground. Celestia gasped. “What?! What sort of magic could possibly…?”

“Oh it’s only the kind of magic that you are intimately familiar with, Celestia.” A voice rang out.

Celestia’s eyes widened as far as possible. Even her injured eye opened to reveal a bloody mess. She only could muster a small sound from her throat. “No…”

“Oh yes quite so!” With a flash of light Discord appeared. “Did you miss me, Celestia?”

“Discord! Look what you have wrought upon us now, Nightmare Moon!” Celestia raced past Discord and charged Nightmare Moon.

Discord laughed. “You’re still blaming her for all this? Allow me to fix that for you.” Discord summoned a roll of newspaper and thwacked Celestia on the nose with it. “Bad Alicorn. No using ancient artifacts to see into the future!” As the paper hit Celestia’s snout she immediately stopped in place. Her face turned to horror as she scrambled backwards frantically.

“What happened…? By Dagr and Nótt! Canterlot is…” Celestia gazed upon the smoldering ruins of her fair capital. “How could this have…? Oh no…! I remember now….” Celestia collapsed to the floor in tears.

“The Dome of Vision? Really, Celestia?” Discord chuckled darkly. “How many times must the lesson be learned? Don’t touch those Centaurian artifacts that you keep pulling out of Tartarus! Didn’t you learn the lesson well enough when you found that bell?” Celestia sobbed. Discord grinned widely. “You know, it was the time where you…”

“Discord! Enough!” Nightmare Moon stamped her hoof. “Leave her be.”

“My, what interesting behavior! You would defend the pony who only seconds ago was preparing to imprison you on the moon? I dare say I feel like I hardly know you two anymore.”

“Discord is back… And it’s our fault….” Celestia sobbed. “That may be true, but I won’t let you toss our world in to chaos again.” Celestia focused magic in her horn. “Not again!”

“Oh please, Celestia. Don’t think your puny magic will accomplish anything. It’s entirely the wrong alignment. You’d need positive magic to stand a chance against me and you have long since lost the ability to harness a power source so pure. Fighting negative magic with negative magic is just not possible!” Celestia bowed her head and let the magic fade from her horn. Discord turned around with a laugh. “Now then, Nightmare Moon… There was a reason I came up here besides taunting you and your sister, now what was…” A thunderous blast of golden light enveloped Discord. He sat with a exasperated look as the magic turned to confetti around him while the remainder of the attack struck the mountainside. With a large explosion, the mountain peak slid downwards and crashed to the ground, taking a good chunk of the city with it. Discord turned around and shook his head. “Now what did I just say? Honestly, I would easily mistake you for mortals the way to never listen to your elders.” Discord leaned over the edge of the platform. “Oh now look what you’ve done! The entire upper level district is gone. It lies at the foot of the mountain in rubble and you just don’t even care. What are all those ponies going to do for a home now? It’s a good thing only nobles live there, so at least they can afford a new place to live. Well that assumes they didn’t keep most of their wealth inside their homes. What a pity.”

“You monster!”

“Me? I haven’t done…” Discord slapped his head with his claw and ran it down his face. “I don’t have time for this. The point is… a certain pony is very scared and uncertain right now.”

“Twilight!” Nightmare Moon exclaimed as she took wing.

“Hold on for a moment!” Discord held out his claw. Nightmare Moon was pulled by an invisible force back to the tower. “Your fillyfriend probably wants to talk. A more terrifying phrase to hear in a relationship I’m not sure you could find.” Discord turned to face Celestia. “And you my little sun goddess, your student has requested office hours.” Discord held up his hand and snapped his fingers. “Andiamo!”

There was a low rumbling. Twilight Sparkle glanced upwards as the golden barrier that had blocked her path began to crack. Fissures of white light traced their way up the wall in erratic motions. The crevasses’ glow increased with a humming sound. Twilight gasped in awe. It was a fantastic sight to see, such a raw amount of magical forces interacting. If times had been more pleasant she would have pulled out a scroll and jotted down her observations on the matter. The shield shook and a piece already sectioned off by the fissures fell to the ground like a fragment of glass. Piece by piece the wall fell until a low rumble shattered the remainder into nothingness. A flash of light blinded Twilight Sparkle. Discord appeared in the air with Celestia and Nightmare Moon. Discord tossed his arms downwards and the Alicorns were forced to the ground by an unseen force. “Observe, Twilight Sparkle! I have fulfilled our deal! I present to you the sisters Alicorn!”

Nightmare Moon struggled. “Twilight!”

Celesita looked upwards. “Deal? My student, what does he…?” Celestia’s snout was forced into the dirt.

“Now now, that’s enough of that.” Discord said with a sneer. “Quickly, Twilight! Now’s your chance! Finish the agreement!”

Applejack approached Twilight’s side. “What now, Twilight? We have the princesses here, but what do you reckon we do with them?” Celestia and Nightmare Moon struggled against Discord’s magic.

“Well whatever you do, make it fast.” Discord said. “Even I can’t hold the power of an Alicorn forever. Actually I feel them slipping out. They’ll just go back to each other’s throats if you don’t do something! Quick, use the Elements of Harmony to pacify them!”

Twilight glanced back to her friends. “He’s right. We need to depower them. Nightmare Moon won’t stop until Luna’s desires are fulfilled, and Celestia won’t rest until Nightmare Moon is quelled. Elements of Harmony… fall in formation!”

“Gottcha! Time to be awesome.” Rainbow Dash landed next to Twilight’s right and dug her hooves in the ground. Her necklace glowed a bright red as she grinned wildly.

“You can count on us!” Applejack took Twilight’s left and adjusted her hat determinedly. Her necklace gave of a soft orange light.

“If you say so…” Fluttershy landed beside Rainbow Dash and attempted to stand up straight. Her necklace lit up a dull pink as she hid her face behind her hair.

“For Canterlot!” Rarity raced up to Applejack’s side and struck a pose. Her necklace flashed a brilliant purple as she adjusted its symmetry.

“You know ‘Elements of Harmony fall in formation’ is just such a ‘meh’ battle cry. We need something with a little oomph! You know, something like: ‘In the name of Harmony we call upon the might of all our powers combined to the limit of SPECTACULAR to smite thee evildoer with a rainbow of light!’ Something with a little pizzazz! Oh! Or pizza! We should go get a pizza after this! Who’s with me on the pizza? I’ll buy if we get half with….”

“PINKIE PIE!” The others screamed.

“Oh, sorry.” She mewed.

“Right!” Twilight closed her eyes and cleared her mind. She focused on all the things she liked about her friends. The small star on the top of her tiara began to glow. How they were always there for her and how they would stand by her no matter what troubles befell them. They certainly had a lot of troubles recently. She felt her hooves lift off the ground. She opened her eyes to see the Alicorn sisters struggling on the ground. A burst of rainbow colored light exploded in all directions. Discord snapped his fingers and vanished as a ribbon of multicolored light raced down towards the princesses. Celestia gasped. The rainbow impacted Nightmare Moon and tossed her form to the side. The younger Alicorn slammed against the ground and Nightmare Moon shattered. High in the sky, the moon began to fall. It dipped past the horizon and vanished from sight. Luna lay unconscious against a pile of rubble.

Celestia stood up. “No…!” The rainbow struck her squarely. A gale force wind tugged at her fur and mane as Celestia attempted to walk slowly forward into the blast. “No! I won’t go back…” Her tiara was blown off of her head and bounced off somewhere in the distance as she grunted. “…to being her!” Celestia’s mane began to dissolve into a light pink as she struggled against the force of the magic. The rainbow dissolved around her and the Alicorn screamed. The sun fell from its place high in the sky. It raced towards the horizon until it finally came to a stop just beyond the curvature of the surface. Casting a faint glow over the land, it had returned to its proper place in the sky for the time of day. “Helia… again…” The Alicorn fell to the ground with a scattering of dust.

“Is that… is that the end of it?” Twilight said as her hooves returned to the ground. Canterlot was covered in an eerie silence, almost as if sound had stopped. A few stray fires burned in the background, but they were too far away for their crackling to be heard. Twilight approached Luna’s side and glanced down at the pony. She was breathing, but clearly unconscious as was her sister. Twilight shook her head. From somewhere behind her the sound of wings flapping could be heard. Twilight turned around to see if the noise was coming from Rainbow Dash, or even perhaps Fluttershy, but both ponies were on the ground. In the distance an armored pink Pegasus stallion was flying in the air. The stallion put himself into a glide. As he came closer into view, Twilight spied several other Pegasus’s flying in formation. “Look! The royal guard!”

“Ho there, Lady Twilight!” The pink stallion shouted as he neared their position. “Well done! We saw the light show from in the air.”

“Commander Wind Strider!” Twilight said as the Pegasus landed.

“Perhaps I am not getting ahead of myself with congratulations. But is it over? Has Nightmare Moon been sealed again?”
Twilight shook her head. “Nightmare Moon alone was not res....”

“I know.” Wind Strider held up a hoof. He gestured to another member of the guard. The guard nodded and walked over to the princesses. “I saw most of it with my own eyes. You have to understand that most ponies won’t believe that Princess Celestia was involved in so much of the destruction. Nightmare Moon is a known enemy; they will find it much easier to accept that Celestia was merely defending her subjects from her.”

“That’s a load of horseapples!” Rainbow Dash said.

Twilight shook her head again. “Yes, but the Commander is probably right in this regard. Besides it is not our choice to make. That’s for Princess Cadence to decide. I would hate to be her right now; she’s got a lot of cleaning up to do.” Twilight glanced over to her friends. “But, Wind Strider, you can tell the princess that we will be willing to help in any way possible.”

Wind Strider sighed. “Actually, I hate to do so, but I must deliver some terrible news, Lady Twilight.” Twilight winced. “We cannot find Princess Cadence or Captain Shining Armor.”

“WHAT?” Twilight blinked rapidly. “What do you mean you can’t find them?!”

“The Captain went searching for the princess when she was not found among the castle refugees. He has not returned and our current search effort has not revealed his whereabouts.”

“Are you telling me… are you telling… me…?” Twilight’s eyes began to well up. Fluttershy wrapped her hooves around Twilight’s back in a surprisingly effective attempt to comfort her.

“Now we have found no evidence that suggests it, and until we find otherwise, we can only assume he located the princess and took her somewhere safe. He probably chose a location far away from Canterlot. They could be halfway to Manehatten by now for all we know.” Wind Strider sighed. “Lady Twilight, that brings me to our next order of business. With your brother missing, I am acting Captain of the guard again and as such I have a set of duties to fulfill should certain conditions be met. Today, such conditions have been.” The guard Wind Strider had gestured to approached and dropped an object on the ground that Twilight could not be bothered to pay any attention to its shape. “Both of the High Princesses are currently incapacitated. As I’ve said, Princess Cadence is missing. Now more than ever, a ruler is needed, Lady Twilight.”

“I don’t understand what you… why do you keep calling me…?” Twilight looked down at the object Wind Strider was now holding. “No. Absolutely no. There are plenty of other ponies for that!” Wind Strider held up Princess Celestia’s crown. Twilight took a step backwards. “There is a proper line of succession….”

“Yes there is, Lady Twilight.” Wind Strider attempted to polish the crown with his wings. “If Princess Celestia should be incapable of fulfilling her duties, Princess Luna shall take the leadership role. Then Princess Cadence, then Duke Dawning Road, then Duchess Dawning Road, then Prince Blueblood if needed.”

“Surely you don’t mean…?”

“Yes, they are all missing. We are searching but we have found no evidence that they are either alive or dead at the moment. We’re remaining optimistic.”

“But I’m not even in the line!”

Wind Strider sighed. “Next in line are nonfamily members. First Rivensilt, Celestia’s trusted advisor, and then Storm Dancer, Luna’s advisor. Rivensilt is missing and Storm Dancer is a traitor. After the advisors is the Element of Magic. Lady Twilight, you are the next in line for the throne.”

“No! I’m not fit to rule a kingdom! I’m too young!”

“Milady, it will only be until another member of the line is found. If you wish it, once they appear you can pass the throne to them. They will, however, have no power to take it from you.” Wind Strider nodded to a guard who removed Twilight’s tiara. Wind Strider raised Celestia’s crown above Twilight’s head.

“No! I refuse! Take it to the next in line!”

“That would be the Element of Honesty.” Wind Strider said with a slight sigh. Applejack took a few steps backwards and shuffled behind Twilight.

“Honesty? Are you sure it’s not the Element of Generosity next?” Rarity said with a pleading smile.

“No. It goes Magic, Honesty, Kindness, Loyalty, Captain of the Guard, and then Generosity.”

Rainbow Dash landed next to Twilight, “None of us are fit to rule, Twilight. But you’ve got the biggest brains out of all of us and you’ve spent a lot of time at the castle and know politics. Honestly you’re the smart choice here.”

Twilight glanced around. “I… I can’t…” All her friends and the guards were staring at her.

“Lady Twilight!” Wind Strider lowered the crown onto her head. He cleared his throat. “By the power of the royal guard, charged by the crown with the duty of naming successor should the need arise. I, of the Pegasus tribe, Acting Captain Wind Strider, of the Skyborn family, herby crown you, Lady Twilight, sovereign of Equestira!” Wind Strider took a deep breath. “From the plains of peace tended by the Earths to the skies of the Pegasi, the spirits of the ethereal, Unicorn lead, together our oath to you we pledge: Adored land of Equestria! Divine ground of the goddesses! May our hymns enlighten, and the glory of the sun brighten!” Wind Strider took a few steps backwards. “Never thought I, of all the ponies in all of the years, would have to say that.” Wind Strider dipped low to the ground into a kneeling position. “Hail! The Lady Twilight!”

Twilight glanced up at the heave and oversized crown that adorned her head. She frantically gave fleeting looks to all of the ponies behind her. One by one the Pegasi in the air landed and bowed. Rainbow Dash gave a brief nod and knelt as Wind Strider had done. The two guards who had helped crown her bowed their heads. Fluttershy dropped to a kneel with a soft smile. The other guards lowered their heads. Twilight recognized the poses from an old book she had read on royal doctrine. The bows were the ponies’ acknowledgement of her new status as their leader, while the keeling poses were often taken by knights. While her friends might have not realized what they were doing, it felt oddly right. Twilight held her head high as Applejack genuflected. She gave a small nod to Rarity and Pinkie Pie as they two dropped to a kneel. The feeling inside her she could not explain. It was a mix of worry for Luna, uncertainty for Celestia and Discord, but it was also pride in her friends and a new feeling, a sense of strong responsibility she had not felt before.

“Well then.” Twilight clenched her jaw. “Captain! Instruct no more than eight ponies to transport the Alicorn sisters to Canterlot Castle. Have them locked in the most intact rooms of the castle, separately and on opposite sides. Rarity, oversee this task and also assess the damage to the castle.” Twilight nodded thoughtfully. “Have your guardsponies split into four groups, and begin a liner search of the rubble for survivors. Tackle one district at a time, starting with the residential district. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, please assist them in this regard. Have another group evaluate the status of the railways. If the trains are not already ready to be up and running, make them. Once this is complete, send a train down to Ponyville and pickup ponies willing to help with reconstruction. Rainbow Dash, fly as fast as you can to Ponyville and gather volunteers for the relief effort: food… water… everything. Applejack, take ten guards with you and begin construction of temporary shelters out in the refugee area. Build a few large tents or something, I’ll leave it to you to decide, just something to keep off the mountain winds that will be howling tonight.” Twilight inhaled deeply. “Captain, I want you to gather whoever you need and find my brother and sister-in-law.” Twilight glanced around. “Now go!”

“Yes, your highness!” The guardsponies saluted.

“And somepony get me a clipboard!”

As the ground below was scattered with ponies rushing from place to place frantically, a figure was watching from high in the sky. Floating in the air and swing on the handle of an upturned umbrella, Discord was smiling wildly. “So, the Era of Twilight has begun.” Discord laughed. “Enjoy the power while it last, Lady Twilight, for soon the world shall be mine.”

25: Role Reversal

“Are you going to lie there all day?” The elder princess felt a sharp talon poke into her side. She had been having a terrible nightmare. Her sister had broken their sacred oath and her beautiful city had been destroyed. The worst part was that it had been all her fault. She lazily attempted to open her eyes. She found the left one would not cooperate at all, no matter how hard she tried, it refused to open. The right eye, however, did open and to a very unsettling sight. She was in a room in the castle. She was jolted awake and scrabbled to stand to her hooves. She could not help but unleash a rather animalistic growl of anger at the entity before her. She spit on the ground before whispering his name. A low laugh rumbled throughout the room. “There you go, sleepyhead. Glad to see you’re up and about again. It’s been almost a whole day since you were last awake. Not that anypony could tell with the way things are right now.”

“What do you want, Discord?”

“Oh it’s not about what I want but rather what I already have, Celestia. Oh wait, is it Helia now?”

“You’re here to gloat!”

“Oh you know me all too well, my sweet.” Discord chuckled. He pulled up a large trunk and sat down. “So! Shall we begin?” Discord crossed his legs and snapped his fingers. Nothing seemed to happen and Discord looked confused. He snapped his fingers again and waited for a moment. His expression had changed to something the Alicorn rarely saw, worry. His eyes rolled upwards to glance at his horns. “Hm…” He snapped his fingers again in rapid succession. Then he seemed to come to a sudden realization. “Oh! Right! The deal.” He said as he ran a paw down his face. He glanced around the room searching for something. Eventually he found a book and ripped a page out. He folded the page into a paper boat and placed it on top of his head. “You’ll have to excuse me. My portal to the hat-ether is currently out of commission.” The Alicorn attempted to stand up, but quickly fell back to the ground. “Careful now, you’ve just been hit with the power of the Elements of Harmony. This is the first time that’s happened to you hasn’t it?” Discord chuckled. “It’s about time you joined our little club! Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. It left a spicy taste in your mouth didn’t it? Never quiet understood why the elements did that. It must be the rainbow part of the spell.” Discord shook his head. “You should count yourself lucky really. You’re not made of negative magic like I am; you actually have a physical form. You have the luxury of only being depowered and not being turned to stone.”

“Enough. Spare me the feeble mind-games. Tell me your plan and be done with it.”

“Fine I’ll tell you, only because it was so ingenious and what fun is there in being clever if no pony can admire it? However, I can’t have you spoiling it so I’ll only tell you the parts up until now.” Discord snaked himself around the Alicorn. He placed his paw on her shoulder and stretched his claw out as if gesturing to the future. “Picture it only a few months ago… me… encased in STONE.” Discord gritted his teeth. “You know, because you had your student seal me in STONE.” He clenched his claw tightly. His arm trembled with anger. “Anyway while I was sitting in STONE, you know that thing you had me imprisoned in?”

“I get it.”

“Sorry, it’s a bit of a sore spot, if you didn’t know.” Discord exhaled to calm himself down. In less than a second he was smiling widely again. “Anyway, there I was, lost in thought on how I could possibly get my revenge for… well you know… that horrible thing you did….” Discord chuckled. “And I must admit I was stumped. You see, I wanted something that would really get at your very core, something that would bug you endlessly down to the soul. What could really get under your coat and twist the knife? Then it hit me. Two simple words: Role Reversal.” Discord laughed. “Oh yes. I thought to myself, what could be a more meandering way to get back at you than to have you cause the chaos and I cause the harmony. You would become that which you hate.” Discord swooned. “Oh it was just deliciously brilliant.”

The Alicon lowered her head and chuckled softly at the floor. “You? You create harmony? Impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible for me. I’m Discord!” Discord laughed. “Oh it was so terribly easy. You know creating harmony is just absolutely boring, uninteresting, tedious, dull, dreary, mind-numbing, unexciting, and most of all boring. However, I did manage to make some time for fun with your student. Your fair Lady Twilight! Although she has been most ungrateful for what I have granted her, I must say you have done a terribly poor job raising her.”

“Leave her out of this!”

“Once again, I didn’t bring her into this! You did when you instructed her to wield the Element of Magic against me!” Discord scoffed. “After all, when I was encased in… well… you know…” Discord let out a low growl. “When I was trapped, I had very little resources at my disposal. I had little more than the aura of dread and destruction I can emit at short distances and of course the tiny link to the Elements of Harmony.” He laughed. “Yes you better than most would know that when the Elements are used, a fraction of the target’s power is transferred into the wielders. Just a small bit of magic finds its way into their very spectral fibers. Now for someone who is literally made of negative magic, that means part of my consciousness gets to settle in inside their wee little minds.” Discord smiled devilishly. “But you already knew that from the last time you heralded their power.”

“Twilight’s dreams! My concern was not misplaced after all!”

“Oh yes, quite so. I didn’t start with her though. I went through each and every one of their minds looking for anything I could possibly use to carry out my plan. First I tried Rarity’s mind. She’s surprisingly intelligent for one that is so vain. Unfortunately not exactly what I was looking to use. Now Pinkie Pie’s seemed like an easy target but her brain is… how can I put this, tactfully? It’s soup. Just a sloshing stream of endless disconnected thoughts. And this is coming from me, mind you.” Discord tugged at his beard thoughtfully. “I surfed around for a bit trying to see if there was some possible inner consistency, perhaps a tide of truth that would explain how she manages to say anything intelligent, but I couldn’t find one. I honestly don’t know how she manages to breathe.” Discord seemed to go teary eyed for a moment. He let out a happy sigh. “When it came to chaos it was nirvana; I almost stayed in her soupy thoughts forever in endless bliss. But it was missing something: revenge.” Discord shook his head and stuck out his tongue. “The less time I spent in there the better. I was worried I was going to lose myself in its chaos and never want to leave. After all I needed to see your smiling face once more, my little pony.”

“Hmph.” The Alicorn said.

“So by then I decided to try poor innocent Fluttershy. And well…” Discord wrinkled his nose and stuck out his tongue again. “Yick and yuck! I’ll say this: that little pony needs to find herself a mate and soon. I have never seen thoughts so dirty. I was looking for something harmonious for my little role reversal project, but I wasn’t going to find in that pit of unrequited lust!” Discord shook his head as if he was trying to fling unpleasant images out though his ears. “Now Applejack and Rainbow Dash were reasonably interesting and I almost used them in my little plot. You see both of them harbored quite a bit of fancy for the other. I might have done more, but I had just taken a peek into Twilight Sparkle’s mind and I had found something much juicier. So I put an end to little Apple-Dash. It didn’t take much, just a few dreams in the farmer pony’s head. I showed her what married life with the flyer would be like and she rejected Rainbow faster than she could hogtie any bovine!”

“You are despicable.”

“That depends on your point of view. Now Twilight’s mind was perfect. What pony better to launch my attack from than your dear student? I won’t lie; the prospect of taunting her was a large factor as well.” He chuckled. “Lady Twilight was such a powerful mistress of magic with a lonely streak. Sound familiar? Oh yes, she is absolutely the perfect mate for that sister of yours. I’ll admit when I saw the faintest hint of a crush for Woona in little Twilight’s heart I was overjoyed. There’s a reason it’s called ‘falling in love’. You see, all it takes is a little push off the cliff and it’s as unstoppable as gravity.” Discord pantomimed a shove. “That push came from just a few simple dreams. I gave her mind such a show to watch! A dream or two with a romantic outing and one or more where she can heroically save the damsel in distress works wonders on nurturing affection. Just to be safe I even threw in a few more saucy sequences. Just to be safe, of course.” Discord spun in place on one hoof. “Then you went and threw that party. Finally I had them both in the same room! It took some work but I was able to use Twilight’s magic to jump my consciousness to Luna so I could start my work there.” Discord fell out of his spin and on the floor laughing hysterically. “But there was nothing to be done! You sister had such an unhealthy obsession with your student already!” He placed his head in his claws and looked up pensively at the Alicorn. “It is terribly sad what her banishment has done to her mind, actually. She’s so lonely and afraid of getting close to others. She latched on to Twilight far too quickly, all because Twilight was the first pony to show her compassion on Nightmare Night. It probably could have been anypony really.” Discord sighed. “You really should be ashamed of what you’ve done to her. That’s why I had no choice but to make her happy. She deserves it so much. I just had to nudge Twilight in the right direction.”

“Brainwashing is not harmony.” The Alicorn snarled.

“No, no. I simply gave them a little push, but it was they who made true love!” Discord laughed. “That’s the best part. They really do love each other with such innocence and passion! Then you tried to break them up. I guess that makes you the monster, huh?”

“I’m… I’m not… I’m not the monster here!” The Alicorn stuttered as the realization hit her.

“Oh but you are. That’s was the plan. You see, I knew you couldn’t help but try to control your sister’s actions, and when she defied you, you couldn’t help but try to punish her.” Discord pressed his face up against her snout. “Tell me, isn’t it fun to cause such chaos? Doesn’t it remind you of old times? All the destruction you wrought. It must have been thrilling to let all that beautiful entropic potential flow from your hooves. And how does it feel to know that all while trying to protect your beloved kingdom you were providing the fuel to set me free?”

The Alicorn fought back a tear. “I had to uphold the code…”

“See, that’s the problem with you and your precious rules… far too inflexible.” Discord pressed his cheek to hers. “Not like me. My plans can change any time. You need to learn to roll with the punches, my little saccharine princess.”

“I’m quite certain what I will punch next.”

“Oh that’s the best part! You see after I was freed, I was able to strike a deal of sorts.”

“What pony would be dumb enough to take a deal with you?”

Discord howled with laughter. “Why your prized student of course! You see the rules of the deal are such: In exchange for stopping your chaos, the Elements of Harmony cannot be used against me.”

The Alicorn gasped. “Then…!”

“Oh I thought you’d like that. And the cheery on top? I shook hooves with honest Applejack. Even if they wanted to, your little army cannot double-cross me. If they do then the element of Honesty won’t work. I’ve thought of everything.”

The Alicorn smiled coyly. “Not everything, Discord.”

“No I’m quite certain I have.” Discord returned the smile.

“You forget there are other powers in this world besides the Elements of Harmony.”

Discord patted the top of the chest he was sitting on. “Oh you mean these?” Discord opened the chest. “These little Centaurian toys you keep in your room?” Discord pulled out three necklaces from the chest. “I’ve taken the liberty of confiscating them while you were asleep. You know being in possession of a Centaurian artifact is illegal by order of Princess Celestia.” He twirled the necklaces around his talon. “While none rival them, I’m well aware that there were other Centaur artifacts other than those blasted Elements. I’ve made sure to dispose of the dangerous ones. The feather of Elysian? Burned to ash. Tirek’s drawstring pouch? Center of the planet. The ring of searing light? I ate that one. Face it, princess. You’re options are running slim. All that’s left from this trunk are these…” Discord dangled the three necklaces in the Alicorn’s face. “Two Amulets of Null and an Amulet of Silence. It’s true, if you somehow managed to get one around my neck, these Amulets of Null would turn me right back into stone, seeing as they are designed to neutralize both positive and negative magic. Too bad there are only three in existence.” Discord dropped two of the necklaces on the ground and stomped on them. “Woops! Well there’s still one more besides these two, right?” Discord laughed. “Oh wait! That’s right you shattered one of them earlier when you banished that Storm Dancer fellow.”

“I’m not going to give up! I still have my own magic!”

“Really?” Discord fell to the ground laughing; the remaining necklace was jostled around as he failed his limbs in a full guffaw. “Oh you’re serious? Just how exactly are you planning on doing so in your depowered state, pray tell?”

The Alicorn gritted her teeth. “I don’t care how weak I am right now… Discord! You’ll never claim my kingdom for your own!”

“Your kingdom?” Discord fell backwards in laughter. “Don’t you mean Twilight Sparkle’s kingdom?” The Alicorn’s eyes narrowed. “That’s right. While you were busy inflicting madness on yourself using forgotten magic, I was hard at work.” Discord examined his claw. “It was quite easy really. Poor little Wind Hiker… or was it Stalker? Anyway, that poor little pony was frightened out of his mind after seeing you banish that other Pegasus, you know the one with the thing for knives? Wind Whatever was all ready to invoke the right of emergency ruler once you went all ‘mad-goddess’ and destroyed the city. All I had to do was go down your list of successors and whisk them away until there was only one particular pony left.”

“Where are they?!”

“Not really sure on that one. Chaos doesn’t exactly work in a predictable manner.” Discord chuckled. The Alicorn stamped her hoof. “Oh, calm down now. I’m not like you, killer. They’re safe, wherever they are.” Discord scratched his chin. “Or at least I think they are… I’m having trouble remembering if I sent them to a place that had oxygen. No wait, it was the uninhabited island I sent them to. Hm… it was either that or the planet of smoke and mirrors. Anyway it’s really not important. What matters now is that you’re not in charge of your kingdom anymore.”

“You think you’ve won? I’m disappointed in you Discord. I honestly expected more. Twilight will make a fine ruler but it matters not, I’m up and I will take my throne back and then we will find a way to stop you!”

“We’ll see about that.” Discord chuckled. “I imagine that you’ll find it very hard to ask for your throne back soon.” Discord slammed the trunk shut and turned his back on the Alicorn. “I left the Dome of Vision in your room, just in case you think it’s a good idea to try that disaster again. Other than that, the only thing that could possibly get me out of your mane is the legendary Icosaflux. Too bad that’s hidden behind a door deep in the depths of Tartarus in a chamber that can only be accessed by the pure of heart.” Discord placed a talon underneath the Alicorn’s chin. “I don’t think we have to worry too much about you getting your hooves on it anytime soon.” Discord leaned in and dropped his voice to a seductive tone. “We both know it’s been a long time since either of us have been pure….”

“It matters not how pure I am. The Element Bearers are by definition able to access such a chamber.”

Discord giggled. “Are they? Are you sure your little Twilight’s not too selfish for such an honor?”

“My student is not selfish!”

“Oh but she is. And by the end of all this I intend to prove just how selfish she can be.” Discord twirled the necklace in his paw. “Oh, Princess! If you only knew what I have planned for us, you’d just be speechless!” Discord quickly turned around and clasped the necklace around the Alicorn’s neck. “Actually, why don’t you start practicing that right now?” Discord laughed as the Alicorn wheezed. “Don’t bother. That’s an Amulet of Silence. A bit of history for your little young mind: back during the start of the Great Centaur War, Amulets of Null hadn’t been invented yet. So the Centaurs had to come up with other ways to suppress the devastating magics of their enemies. Of course you know Centaurs invented magic and in their time it was such a young phenomenon. Believe it or not, there was a time early in the war where Centaurs actually had to chant to cast their spells. Thus the Amulet of Silence was born!” The Alicorn pulled at the necklace. “Silly filly. Just like the Amulet of Null, that thing can’t be removed by the wearer. You’ll have to have somepony else take that off for you. Good luck trying to tell them to do so without being able to talk.” Discord gave the Alicorn a pat on the head. “And don’t try anything clever. It works by disrupting the part of the mind that’s responsible for communication. You’ll find it quite impossible to write your little letters as well.” Discord laughed and held up his claw. “Well now. I’m going to go watch Twilight Sparkle make a mess of your kingdom.” Discord snapped his fingers and vanished with a flash of light. “Ciao!”

26: Nightmare Twilight

Rising Star looked out the window at the setting sun. She had been staring at the hauntingly beautiful sight for the past fifteen minutes from one of the missing sections of wall in the castle’s west conservatory. She sighed heavily as the actual implications hit her. Canterlot was a mere shadow of what it used to be, and it was much more sobering a thought than she was prepared for as she gazed upon the ruins. The hour of twilight felt eerily fitting for the scene. The faint orange glow lit the horizon with just enough light that one could see. As if the fate of Canterlot, nay, the fate of all Equestira itself was covered in darkness with just a glimmer of hope remaining. Rising Star leaned against the side of the brick opening and sighed. It had been a long day, if one could even call it a day anymore. She had been ordered by Lady Twilight to take census of the ponies in the refuge area. Many families were still missing including most of her own. She had found several of the more distant members of the Heartstrings family hiding under a table in the middle of a destroyed house, but most of her immediate family she had not heard from yet. Her brother had been away from Canterlot at the time visiting his fillyfriend in Appaloosa, so he was probably alright. Her cousin lived in Ponyville now, she had not seen her in town since the royal wedding, so she was probably safe as well. Her father was found under a pile of rubble in the market district, with three broken legs but alive at least. Her sister and mother were still missing, however. The young Unicorn shook her head. She did not even want to think about what all this destruction meant for her career. Technically, with Rivensilt missing and Storm Dancer banished, she should be next in line for the position of Celestia’s first attendant. But what did a promotion matter if Celestia was not even in power at the moment? Still, after what she saw happen to her old career rival, Storm Dancer, she wondered if the job was even worth it anymore.

She gazed down at the collection of ponies that were busy clearing rubble out of the base of the promenade. They had been lucky enough to find an old construction crane still in working order earlier in the day. She was pleasantly surprised at the morale of the citizens. Lady Twilight may have absolutely no idea what she was doing, but at least the citizens were rallying behind her reconstruction efforts. Rising Star shook her head. Well the nobles certainly were not behind her. That was going to cause an issue very soon unless something was done. It was such a shame that the Lady would not even listen to any advice from any pony except her friends. That was becoming troublesome. She was pulled from her thoughts by a voice. “You wanted to see me, Rising Star?”

“Wind Strider,” she said as she turned around. “We need to talk about Lady Twilight.” She approached the Pegasus. “You need to tell her to step down. She’s not fit to rule.”

“Not fit to rule?” Wind Strider let out a small gasp. “Don’t you think that’s a bit harsh? She’s only been in power for a day or so. It takes time for a new….”

Rising Star stamped her hooves. “Does it look like we have that time?” She pointed a hoof out the missing wall at the rubble below. “The capitol is in ruins! She’s got them rebuilding the residential district first!”

“Ponies need a place to sleep…”

“The nobles are up in arms about their houses being destroyed. They want their houses back. Who do you think is paying for all these repairs? We can’t afford to lose noble support right now. If Lady Twilight keeps ignoring them…” Rising Star shuddered. “Not to mention Griffica has somehow already received word that Celestia is incapacitated. They are building up soldiers on our shared border. We could be dealing with an all out war in a few days! Then there’s the sky! Ponies are scared and all she does is sit in the throne room and pace with her clipboard!”

Wind Strider shook his head in disbelief. “What’s this about Griffica? I hadn’t heard anything about soldiers!”

“That’s because the Lady has been running you around constantly looking for the captain of the guard and the princess.”

“And you think that’s a bad idea? Since you want her out of power so much, shouldn’t we find one of the other ponies in the line of succession?” Wind Strider pressed his hoof to Rising Star’s snout. “Or perhaps somepony is just getting power hungry and wants the job for herself!”

“I’m not claiming I’m the right pony for the job either, but I could do a better job than she does!”

“What do you suppose I even do? Celestia herself picked the line of succession. I’m sure it’s true she never thought it would go this far down the line, but we’re already here and we don’t have much of a choice otherwise.” Wind Strider shook his head. “The decision was made already. It’s out of my hooves now and I think you could be a little more grateful considering that Lady Twilight and her friends saved Equestria three times now.”

“Being a hero does not give one the qualifications to rule sovereign land. There are priorities that need to be handled. Running a country is not like organizing a picnic! Either she needs to learn that or she needs to be removed from the throne.”

“Lady Twilight is trying her best to deal with the situation at hoof.”

“She’s been sitting in the throne giving stupid micromanagement orders! I don’t think she’s left that room since this all started. If she can’t see the important things then you need to convince her!”

“Convince me of what, Rising Star?” Twilight Sparkle said in a harsh tone from across the room. She walked across the room, Celestia’s oversized crown and armor bouncing with each of the small pony’s steps. Pinkie Pie bounced along next to Twilight. Twilight frowned at Rising Star before glancing back to Wind Strider. “Acting Captain, have you found my brother and sister-in-law yet?”

“Not yet, my Lady. I assure you we are looking furiously.”

“My parents?”

“They are being attended to at the medical camp in the residential district. They appear to be stable.”

“Good. Now Rising Star,” Twilight turned to the orange unicorn. “What is it that has you so upset?”

Rising Star stomped her hoof on the ground and gritted her teeth. “Isn’t it obvious? Take a look out there! It’s mass confusion. And what are you going to do about the sun?!”

Twilight’s face contorted into confusion. “Sun? What do you mean?”

Rising Star took a step backwards. “You don’t know? You don’t know! Un-bucking believable!” Rising Star slammed her hoof against Wind Strider’s chest. “Some pony you picked to be in charge, Wind Strider! Have you not looked out a window? How could you not know?!” Rising star gestured to the opening in the wall. “The sun has not moved IN THREE DAYS!”

Twilight’s pupils opened wide and her eyelids even wider. Her ears folded down and her mouth went slack. “What?” She approached the opening in the wall and stared at the horizon. “How could that be?” Twilight spun back around. “How come I wasn’t told?”

Wind Strider bowed sheepishly. “I… I thought you knew…”

“Inept! All of you!” Rising Star slammed her hoof against her forehead.

Pinkie Pie pounced forward. “Hey, don’t call us things I don’t know the meaning of! You’ll upset Twilight!”

Rising Star pushed Pinkie Pie away. “Enough. I don’t have to time to deal with the Lady’s jester.”

Twilight gritted her teeth. “Leave her alone!”

“Why? What’d she do?”

“She’d called you a name.”

Pinkie scratched her head. “What name? Jester? I am a jester! That’s what Applejack and Rarity told me to do. They said I should keep you happy and keep all the bad news away from you so you wouldn’t get upset and make bad decisions! That’s why I didn’t tell you about the whole sun thing. Because it would make you all sady-wady and I was doing a great job until this party-pooper spilled the beans!”

“Wait, what? You knew about the sun not moving and you didn’t tell me?”

“Well, yeah. I’ve been intercepting messengers and complaints for like two days to keep that under wraps. It would make you sad.”

“WHAT THE HAY, PINKIE?! You didn’t stop to think that, ‘oh perhaps maybe Twilight should know that the bucking sun decided to stop moving’. You didn’t tell me because you thought it would make me sad?! Well how about angry?!” Twilight screamed in her pink friend’s face. The pink pony crouched down underneath the noise. “Is angry better?!”

Pinkie Pie’s eyes watered. “But… Applejack said….”

“I highly doubt Applejack said anything along the line of keeping some of the most important information about the heavens since the advent of Nightmare Night from the acting ruler of Equestria! Do you have any idea how stupid you’re making me look right now?!”

“She’s not making you look anymore stupid than you already were.” Rising Star said.

“You shut up!” Twilight turned back to the sobbing Pinkie Pie. “Get out of here! I’m so angry at you I can’t even describe it.” Twilight stomped her hooves loudly and Pinkie Pie raced away crying. “You!” Twilight thrust her hoof towards Rising Star. “Tell me everything that’s wrong. It’s my job to fix it.”

Rising Star let out a snort. “After that display of incompetence, I sincerely doubt you have the capability to fix anything.”

Wind Strider stamped his hoof on the ground. “Watch your tongue, Star. Like it or not you are still speaking to the ruler of Equestria at the moment. Don’t blame all this miscommunication on Lady Twilight. You’re a royal advisor and attendant. If she didn’t know what was going on, you’ve clearly failed at your job as well. Now, answer the Lady’s question.”

“Oh very well, your majesty!” Rising Star said in a childish voice. The Unicorn inhaled deeply. “The nobles are ready to riot. The castle is still falling apart and there are no building supplies left in the whole city. Repairs to the city are screeching to a halt because there’s no food or drinking water. The Griffins are preparing to go to war with us because the sun hasn’t moved and they’re scared. The cities surrounding Canterlot are closing their gates and cutting off supplies because they think eternal twilight is upon us. The army is in shambles because of lack of supplies and morale so the Griffins will wipe the floor with us, should they invade. Oh and the sun hasn’t moved so everypony is scared out of their minds. Looting is worse than ever in the streets and the guards aren’t stopping them because they’re the looters half the time. As we overturn each piece of rubble there’s the fear that we’re going to uncover the body of somepony we know. The number of seriously injured is far beyond our capacity to treat and care for. Amazingly so far, no pony has been found dead, but the number still missing is astronomical, it’s more than half the city! As if they’ve just vanished. Oh and the sun hasn’t moved for three days, did I mention that? Many ponies saw Nightmare Moon rampage through the streets and Celestia has been locked in a room of the castle so many ponies haven’t seen her at all. All the citizens in the streets assume she’s dead and that the sun will never move again. The ponies that have seen the princess are frightened that some evil spirit has taken over her mind and won’t go near her. Oh, and no doubt because the sun hasn’t moved, the temperature has begun to drop. It’s already twenty degrees cooler than it was yesterday.”

Twilight looked at the floor. She had known about most of the issues, she had not been completely uninformed it seemed. Still, hearing it all at once was startling. “I see….”

“Oh good, I’m glad you ‘see’. When you get to fixing it, let me know.” Rising Star pushed passed Twilight and began to walk away. “Not all of us are oblivious as to what the princesses were fighting over, by the way. Some of us are smart enough to piece together the clues.” Twilight shuddered. Rising Star glanced over her should before exiting the room. “Many of the ponies are calling this whole disaster ‘Nightmare Twilight’. It refers to the sun’s current position in the sky… for now. Soon it could refer to the name of the ruler during this tragic time if you’re not careful.” She left the room and slammed the door closed with her magic. Twilight sighed.

Wind Strider bowed his head. “Milady, I’m truly sorry for not informing you. I honestly thought you knew….”

“She’s right. I shouldn’t be in charge. I don’t know what I’m doing at all.” Twilight shook her head. “But it’s too late for that now.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Madness or not, I’m going to talk to Celestia. The sun’s not moving because she’s probably still unconscious. This should be easy to fix, right?”

“Let’s hope so. For everypony’s sake.” Wind Strider sighed. “I’m going to assign some of my more trusted guardsponies to watch Rising Star. She’s angry, scared, smart, and feeling helpless. That’s not a good combination. If we’re not careful, we might end up with a coup on our hooves.”

Twilight shook her head and pushed the door open, Celestia’s crown bobbing with each movement. “That’s probably the least of our worries right now.”

Twilight hesitated outside the door. Her hoof hovered over the wooden framework for at least a half an hour before knocking. The sound of hoof on wood echoed throughout the castle. Twilight attempted once more. When the echo fell silent again, she heaved a sigh and pushed the door open. “Princess Celestia! We need to…” The words became lodged in her throat as her eyes caught sight of the room before her. The eastern conservatory was torn to pieces. Books were strewn about amongst the rubble and the broken furniture. In the center of the room a white Alicorn with a pink flowing mane was laying on her side. The Alicron’s eyes were wide open but they were unfocused, lazily staring off in a random direction. Despite Twilight’s loud entrance, the Alicorn did not react to the Unicorn’s presence. “Princess…” Twilight approached the side of the mare and glanced downward. A sense of shame overcame her thoughts as she suddenly felt the full weight of the crown on her head. The Alicorn’s eye rolled upwards and peered at Twilight for a brief moment. The Alicorn was tapping her hoof repeatedly against a necklace she was wearing. The quiet sound of the Alicorn’s hoof clinking against the metal of the necklace echoed in the room. Twilight inhaled deeply. “Princess Celestia, you haven’t moved the sun in three days.” The Alicorn glanced back at Twilight and glared. “Listen… I know you’re mad at me, but you can’t just let the sun sit on the horizon.” The Alicorn’s eyes fell back to intensely staring at something in the distance as she frantically tapped her necklace. “Are you listening to me?”

Twilight knelt down next to the Alicorn. The room was silent with the exception of the clinking noise created as the Alicorn’s hoof tapped against the metal amulet. The young Unicorn peered into the Alicorn’s eyes. The princess had a glossy look about her. She appeared disconnected with the world; in a hazy state of mind. Her jaw was clenched tightly shut into a frown. Twilight attempted to trace the line between what the Alicorn’s eyes and the object they were ogling. The princess’s behavior was puzzling to Twilight. She had never seen her mentor in such a state before. Celestia had always kept her head about her, even in the most dire of circumstances. Then again, if recent events were anything to go by, Celestia was certainly fallible. Twilight’s eyes reached the end of the Alicorn’s gaze. The object the princess was staring so intently at was nothing but a bronze bookend, shaped like a pony. Twilight shook her head. Something was not right. She began to think that the silly rumors about Celestia having gone mad might have some truth to them. This odd behavior could not be from anger alone, could it? There had to be some underlying cause to Celestia’s actions outside of Luna simply breaking some ancient covenat. “Princess… please. You need to raise the sun. Ponies all over… not just ponies, even…. Donkeys, Zebras, and Mules… Dragons and Griffons…. All of them need the sun.” Twilight lowered her face to the Alicorn’s level and blocked her line of sight with the bookend. “All of them need your sun.”

The Alicorn frowned and furiously tapped the amulet that was wrapped around her neck. Twilight inhaled deeply. The intake of air was sputtered as her eyes watered slightly. “Are you so mad at me that you won’t even speak to me anymore?” Twilight turned her back to the princess and took a few steps to the far end of the room. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know about the Code of the Alicorns. Luna didn’t tell me about it until you already found out about us. And I’m sorry I hid us from you. To be honest though, we weren’t even a couple for that long… just a few days.” Twilight looked upwards at the ceiling. A small hole allowed her to gaze at the cloudy sky. “Oh my gosh, a few days ago Luna and I were simply walking through the forest laughing and chatting peacefully. Now my hometown is in ruins and you’re sprawled out on the floor giving me the silent treatment.” Twilight turned back to the princess. “I don’t know if you’ve heard, but they put me in charge while you recover from whatever is causing this.” Twilight looked down mournfully at her mentor. “I hope something is causing this. This can’t just be because you’re mad at me, can it? When I saw you fighting with Luna… that was like nothing I had ever seen before.” Twilight levitated the tiara off her head and let it fall to the floor with a loud clang. The princess flinched at the noise, but otherwise ignored the action.

“I don’t want this job. I don’t want this burden. It’s not mine to bear.” Twilight’s ears drooped. “Rising Star tells me that most ponies think you’re dead; that you died fighting Nightmare Moon. Those that don’t think you’ve died, are certain you’ve gone mad. But the bottom line is: they’re all scared because the sun isn’t moving.” Twilight pushed the crown towards the Alicorn’s snout. “Please. This is your kingdom. Take the crown and raise the sun.” Twilight waited for a reaction, any kind of subtle indication that the princess was listening. She was not disappointed in that regard. The princess’s eyes narrowed and she let out a low, angry grunt, accompanied by her tapping her hoof against the necklace she was wearing. Twilight whimpered. “F… Fine! Perhaps it’s time the student to take the place of the teacher after all! If you won’t raise the sun, then I will! I’m the bucking element of magic! I’m a powerful Unicorn, and if you can do it, then so can I!” Twilight picked up the crown and replaced in back on her head. She stormed to the door and kicked it open. “I don’t need you! I don’t need you anymore!” Twilight exited the room in a huff and slammed the door shut. She stood outside the door motionless for a brief moment before breaking out into a loud sob. She heaved and sputtered as she walked away, tears streaming from her eyes and her chest shaking with sorrow.

Inside the room, the princess continued to tap her necklace as the eyes flashed on the bronze bookend she had been staring at. A low whisper crept into the room from the bookend. “And who says silence isn’t golden?” Discord’s chuckle echoed softly throughout the room.

Twilight Sparkle sat on the throne. She was crouched in a slight slouch as several books, levitated by her magic, spiraled around her. Pages flipped in sequence as her eyes darted back and forth between each one. From time to time she would shake her head and mumble to herself about how each idea suggested in each book would not work for what she wanted. Several, or at least three, quills floated high above the throne backing, drawing and writing any key notes she found in any of the tomes. Her expression was a sour pout; almost the expression that of a tantrum throwing foal that was just told to go to bed despite her assumed entitled rights. The room was empty, save for Twilight. She had sent away the one guard who normally watched the throne room, even in times as dark as this. She had not seen head or tail of Rising Star or Wind Strider, and for that she was grateful. Rising Star would accuse me of incompetence, and the as the evidence piles up, the description grows closer to truth. It is beginning to sting my pride a bit. Wind Strider would only keenly make me aware that my brother and sister-in-law are still missing. Which now that I think about it, the thought of him itself has just made me keenly aware that my brother and sister-in-law are still missing. So thanks for that, brain. She sighed. Even the act of studying was not doing much to distract her from the situation at hoof.

Every book she cracked open pertaining to the sun would only describe at most the different lengths of a day throughout the year. She had found a couple of books that provided theories on how the sun and moon were raised, bust most of these were written by authors who were widely off the charts for values of stupidity, crazy, unscientifically, and wackosity. She was not even sure if those were all words, and if they were, if she was using them correctly, but she could not find any other way to describe authors who suspected that Celestia had made an ancient blood pact with primordial extraterrestrial saucer-ponies in order to raise the sun every day. She had brought with her from the library many books on Hearths Warming Eve, in an attempt to find out how ancient Unicorns raised the sun before the princess, but there was never any more description than “The Unicorns raised the sun every day through their magics!” Literally that was the closest to a description she could get! As if the book was written for foals! Come to think of it, Here Comes Saddle Claus might have actually been for young fillies learning how to read. Why had she grabbed this one again?

“Twilight! We need to talk!” She was pulled from her thoughts by a familiar voice. She was pretty sure she had instructed the guard not to let any pony inside the room, but here there was a voice disturbing her studies. She would have to remember to have the guard locked in the dungeon for that. Where did that thought come from? Perhaps the weight of power was beginning to get to her? She shook her head and allowed a small window frame to form in the wall of floating books so she could see the source of the voice. “Applejack…”

The orange Earth pony sighed. “I just found Pinkie Pie crying her little head out of tears down in the courtyard. You upset her worse than a dapper mouse in a cheese factory without a napkin. It was hard to understand through all the sobbin’, but she’s mighty upset about you yellin’ at her. Fluttershy is comforting her right now, but if you’re gonna start turning on your friends you and I are going to have a bone to pick.”

Twilight turned away and let the wall of books close up back around her. “She was actively sandbagging my attempts to run this place. She was keeping from me the tiny little fact that, ‘oh by the way the sun isn’t moving anymore, ok thanks bye.’”

“Now, in retrospec’ it probably was a bad idea for us to put Pinkie on as somepony to watch over you, but you gotta know she had the best intentions. I mean, shoot, when does Pinkie ever have bad intentions?”

“The sun isn’t bucking moving and I’m responsible for it! Literally the whole world is looking at me right now and wondering why I’m so stupid that I didn’t notice it three days ago!”

Applejack chuckled uneasily, “Well, sugarcube, ya kind of been in here for the past few days and windows are all boarded up. And to be honest, even us ponies that were working outside didn’t notice the sun hadn’t moved for prolly the first day or so. It wasn’t until somepony found a clock amongst the rubble that we noticed. When you’re rebuilding a city, everypony’s tired and you just think you’re doing really well on time when you keep glancing up at a non-moving-sun. Besides, it’s not your job to raise and lower it, that’s Princess Celestia’s job.”

The books around Twilight fell to the ground in one large crash. Twilight’s face was streamed with tears at the mention of her mentor. “She won’t even talk to me. She hates me! I… I think she’d rather let the whole world freeze than help me at the moment. I’m not sure if she’s gone mad or if it’s just pure anger for me that is making her do this.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t hate you, sugarcube….”

“She was almost catatonic when I went to talk to her! The most she did was growl at me when I entered the room. She wouldn’t say a word to me and she wouldn’t…. she wouldn’t…” Twilight heaved a heavy sob. “She wouldn’t even look at me….”

Applejack raced over to the Unicorn and wrapped a hoof around her shoulder. “There, there. It will be alright.” Twilight mumbled something incoherent through her tears, but it was clearly a rebuttal to Applejack’s attempt at soothing words. “Now I don’t know what’s going on in that royal head of hers, but this is Princess Celestia! She’ll come around eventually. I ain’t never seen a pony more forgiving than the princess.”

“It’s like she’s fallen into some dark depression. And you know what happens when Alicorn’s fall in to depression, right? Things happen like Nightmare Night… or…” Twilight pulled away from Applejack’s hoof and curled into a small ball. “Or… Nightmare Twilight….” She pulled her tail up with her hooves and began petting it. “My decedents will be forever remembered as the spawn of Twilight the Horrid. If there even is a population to outcast them. For all I know the world will freeze over without the sun. The world will probably be covered in ice and giant polar bears will become the dominate species. They’ll live underground to get closer to geothermal hotspots through a complex series of tunnels. Every year they’ll venture to the surface to collect pony skulls so they stack them together to build an effigy of Twilight the Terrible and thank her for destroying the world by lighting the statue on fire with a taboo ritual powered by the pure flammable hatred of the ponies that once ruled the planet!”

Applejack gently tapped Twilight’s temple with her hoof. “Is that quitter talk I’m hearing?” Twilight’s eyes glanced upwards at her friend. “Come on now, Twi, you gotta pull yourself together and solve this thing.” Applejack lifted Twilight back into a sitting position. “If Princess Celestia won’t or can’t raise the sun then somepony has to do it for her.”

“But you don’t understand! I’ve looked through countless books! None of these even seems to suggest that another pony could raise the sun! Even those that follow the tale of Hearths Warming Eve simply skim over the fact that normal Unicorns used to raise the thing!”

“This is simple, Twi. Why not have Princess Luna lift the sun? Heck she’d probably already start trying if she knew. She probably doesn’t though. The guards locked her in some room underground. Have you talked to her yet?”

Twilight closed her eyes and buried her face under her hooves. Her response was muffled by her hooves covering her mouth. “No. I’m not going to.”

“Celestia took over raising the moon when Luna was gone. Why can’t Luna take over the sun? Come on let’s go talk to her.”

“And say what? How am I supposed to talk to her after what happened?” A book floated up near Twilight’s face and it mimicked the movements of a mouth. “Hey there Twilight, sorry about that tiny little tantrum there, but we’re cool, right?” The book was magically thrown across the room. “There’s nothing in any of the dating books about what to do if your fillyfriend destroys your hometown in an effort to prove your right to be together. I’ve checked.” She pointed with her hoof at a large pile of books that were sitting in a corner of the throne room. “What I’m I supposed to say?! That I forgive her for playing a major role in the destruction of a city and possibly the death of my brother?! What the hay I’m I supposed to say to her?!” Twilight curled back up in a ball and sobbed. “What the buck happened this week? Why did everything suddenly break apart? What am I supposed to do? I just want to go back to the way things were a few days ago, where we were just lying in bed, I was underneath her wing, and she was half-awake mumbling through a story about Starswirl the Bearded. What should I do? How can I fix all of this? Why do I have to fix all of this?”

Applejack pushed her hat down on her head. “Come on, we need to go talk to her. I’ll come with you. I ain’t about to abandon my friends now…” The orange pony picked Twilight up and pushed her to a standing position in front of the throne. “Now I don’t know what to do about the whole relationship thing. I’m not too good in that area myself, but what I can help you with is fixing this mess. Because I’m tired of seeing you yelling at your friends and seeing you curling up into a little crying ball. I’ll tell ya what we’re going to do: we’re going to march down to where Luna’s locked up and we’re going to get the sun moving again and then we’re going to get Canterlot rebuilt and find all the missing ponies. That’s what we’re going to do, and I don’t care if it’s improba-possible or impossibraly… or whatever the word is. See, we don’t even know the word because we don’t need it!”

“Impossible…”

Applejack tapped Twilight on the forehead. “Nope it ain’t ‘cause we don’t even know that word anymore. We’re just going to fix it no matter what!”

Twilight sniffled slightly and wiped the tears from her eye. “Iresponrbobaly?” The Unicorn smiled weakly.

“That’s the sprit!”

After the events that lead to the destruction of Canterlot, the royal guards had, at Twilight Sparkle’s instruction, carried Luna and Celestia back to what was left of Canterlot Castle. The elder sister was locked inside one of the conservatories on the upper floors. While Luna was locked in one of the old literature restoration rooms on the lower level. Twilight had often been to this part of the castle when she was living in Canterlot. Ancient tomes would be pulled from the library on a schedule to the temperature controlled restoration room. There, specially trained ponies would apply various mixtures to preserve the pages of the tomes and also scribe new copies to prevent the knowledge from being lost. Many parts of Canterlot made Twilight feel at home: the classrooms of the School for Gifted Unicorns, the Masonhoof Promenade on the west side of the city, the grand library, her own private quarters in Canterlot Castle, and most prominently the literature restoration room underneath the castle. Now that she stood in front the door, knowing that Luna waited on the other side, she found this to be the most uncomfortable place in all of Canterlot. “You ok, sugarcube?” Applejack placed a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.

“Yes… I mean I think so…. I still don’t know what I’m going to say to her.” Twilight raised her hoof to the door and prepared to open it. “It’s strange. She’s been a part of some terrible things in her lifetime. Nightmare Night, her return a thousand years later during the Summer Sun Celebration, and now the destruction of Canterlot. Yet, despite all that, now that I’m outside the door I’m not as angry at her as I expected to be…”

“That’s a good thing right?” Applejack smiled.

“No, I don’t think so at all. The fact that I can’t seem to muster the expected amount of anger against her… does that mean I’m a terrible pony? I know she’s hurt a lot of ponies but I just can’t seem to visualize her doing that…. I’ve seen her destroy Canterlot and I still can’t seem to reconcile that memory with my image of her.”

Applejack patted Twilight’s back gently. “It’s not like it was entirely her fault. Nightmare Moon was to blame for most of it.”

“But Nightmare Moon and Luna are still, in many ways, the same pony.”

“But not completely, right? I don’t quite understand how you explained it during the train ride, but Nightmare Moon has a mind of her own right? She may act on Luna’s wishes, but it’s still that demon that doesn’t know when enough is enough.”

“Perhaps….” Twilight sighed. She pushed the doors open. They creaked much louder than she expected them to, and this was no doubt due to the fact that they were now sitting slightly unaligned from the destruction that had hit the castle. Twilight let out a small gasp as her eyes saw the room. She had not meant to, but it had escaped her lips far faster than her thoughts were running. Luna was covered in chains. She was stretched flat against the floor with a chain attached at each leg, trailing off to the four corners of the room. Luna’s mane had changed; no doubt from her encounter with the Elements of Harmony. It had lost its ethereal look, giving her the appearance that she was now much younger. Twilight took a few steps into the room, followed by Applejack. Luna’s ears perked and she lifted her head. When the Alicorn saw who her visitors were, she lowered her head in shame.

“Twilight…” The Alicorn said with a bit of a whimper. She lowered her head as a misbehaved puppy who had just been reprimanded would. “Twilight I…”

“Save it.” Twilight said, avoiding eye contact with the pony. “I’m not here to discuss that. I’m here because of the sun.”
Luna’s eyes widened. Her expression of shame mixed with one of worry. “I see…. The sun…. I was hoping that wasn’t the case….”

“The sun has not moved from its place on the horizon in three days. Your sister is refusing to move it.”

“No. You are mistaken.” Luna said as she glanced upwards at the ceiling. “If she could, she would be still controlling the sun. Every fiber in her being is screaming out to move that life giving orb, I promise you but Celestia is powerless at the moment.”

“Powerless… How could that...?” Twilight furrowed her brow.

“The Elements of Harmony neutralize Alicorn magic. Both my sister and I are incapable of magic at the moment is seems. I had hoped my sister had not been hit with the blast, but...”

“I see… so that is true the power of the Elements of Harmony. They neutralize magic?”

“Not all magic, just negative magic. Positive magical sources like that of Unicorns or the energy that resides in strong emotions like friendship and love are unaffected by the elements.”

“Wait… why is Alicorn magic negative aligned?” Luna shook her head dismissively. Twilight clenched her jaw. “Then you would be incapable of moving the sun as well, I take it?”

Luna bowed her head. “Yes. That is… correct.”

“When will the both of you get your powers back? You’ve been hit with the Elements before, and your powers eventually came back. How long did that take?”

“Almost a full year.” Luna said quietly.

“A year?!” Twilight screamed. Applejack nearly dropped her hat from the sudden, startling outburst. “Fine! Then tell me the spell to move the sun! I’ll take over from now on.”

Luna blinked a few times in confusion. “Spell?”

“Yes! The spell that allows a pony to move the sun. I don’t care how difficult it is; I’ll master it and somehow find the power to cast it! Celestia won’t talk to me, so you’re going to tell me how to perform it!”

“There isn’t a spell. Even if there was… I wouldn’t know it.”

Twilight shook her head. “Now’s not the time for secrets. Ponies are scared and I’m now responsible for them. Tell me how the Unicorns before Celestia raised the sun everyday!” Twilight shook Luna with her hooves. No small feat, considering their difference in size.

“That was a myth. Unicorns never raised the sun.”

“What? But… history says…”

“Pre-Equestrian history was all fabricated by Celestia. Celestia has been the only pony to ever have control over the sun. And I honestly haven’t the slightest clue how to raise and lower it. Only Celestia is linked to it and only she can control it.”

“But… it’s just like the moon right? When you were banished, Celestia took over control of the moon. So… surly there is a way to take control of the sun.”

“I don’t know how my sister managed to move the moon in my absence. By all reason it shouldn’t be possible. That’s not how the magic works. It shouldn’t have been possible. It was always something that baffled me, but once I returned Celestia would never tell me how she managed to gain control of the moon.”

“That doesn’t…” Twilight pressed her fore-hooves against her head. “I’m tired of secrets! I’m tired of being kept in the dark about all this! You and your sister made a terrible mess and I have to clean it up now, so I’m done with all these horseapples.” Twilight pointed at Luna. “You’re going to tell me everything! How you and your sister came to control the sun and moon and stars. In detail, from the beginning!”

Luna looked down at the ground for a moment. “If you’re truly sure you want to hear it, I will tell you. I warn you though. This tale is not a happy one. And once it has been told it cannot be unheard. By the end of it, I suspect you will hate us.”

“Lives are at stake! Tell me!”

Luna sighed and her eyes watered. “Very well. You want to start at the beginning? Then I suppose we should start where all tales with a horrible ending begin, with an omen….”

27: Timelines: The Omen

Princess Luna sighed. “This was a long time ago. Somewhere in the range of four thousand years ago, but perhaps more. Back when these parts were young and ponies spoke in the language of the ancients. Back when the world was a strange place: the land was untamed, demons and mechanical abominations walked freely, and an inherent magic was strewn through the ether of the landscape. Back when the world was newly reborn from an unfathomable time of chaos and war. Back when the three pony tribes were segregated and it was forbidden for the tribes to intermarry. Those who were caught were banished from the land, forced to walk the world in exile. And as any pony who was wise could tell you, there is never any rest for the iniquitous. Thus several small groups of outcasts roamed the land, pulling their shelter in the form of wagons. These were the laagers, nomadic clusters of mixed tribes that were doing their best to survive in a harsh world full of demons and monsters. Their only defense was the ability to be on the move, ever leaving lands behind when they had outstayed their welcome. This is the story of the ill omen that brought things to what they are today. The rise of a country, the rise a utopia, and the fall of gods….”

It was late evening. The sun was getting ready to set on the horizon casting the most splendid sun set any pony had ever seen. In the distance a small unicorn filly stood on the edge of a small mound of rocks with a weighty tome. The wind blew gently through her mane as it crept over the field of wild grass the sunlight was lounging on. Such a strange thing the wind was back during this time. It was unbridled, unguided by hooves and painting currents in the air that even the most artistic could not dream to imagine. The evening held a certain majestic tranquility to it as the world settled itself, on its own volition, to rest. The amazing sunset was certainly one thing to behold, but it was not the focus of anypony who was watching the skies that evening. The moon had decided to rise early this evening and it was hung in sky near the sun, as it fighting for the same spot in the heavens. The young filly glanced over to her side, spying another pony of the laager, a small earth pony colt by the name of Conestoga. He was sitting on a small incline of dirt nearby. He had one of his hooves pointed at the heavens and he was spouting some speech about how he would be the greatest hunter in the entire laager. The unicorn chuckled to herself. A small distance away, back where her wagon was parked, a loud ruckus was spoiling the beautiful sunset.

“Alright! Alright! I’m leaving! I’ll just be out here if you need me!” A sky blue pegasus scrambled out of the back of one of the covered wagons. The pony seemed befuddled and absolutely exhausted as he let out a snort. “Phft. Mares, huh?” He mused to an onlooker as he leaned up against the wagon. He adjusted the angle of the peppermint stick clenched between his teeth. Because the laager moved around so much peppermint was a rare treat, but today was a special day. It was a special day in many ways indeed. The pony had a regal look about him despite the slight guff slouch he possessed. His jaw line was strong and well cut, and his figure was without flaw. His wings were muscular, strengthened clearly from intense training and dedication. While he may have been lounging nonchalantly against the wagon at the moment, to any observer, keen or even inept, it was obvious that he could win any race and hold his own against the terrors of the world. His eyes held a certain spark that would inspire those around him. Those eyes, they whispered a subtle message that no matter what, this was a pony that would sacrifice everything to protect those he cared about. A pony that…

Twilight Sparkled coughed. “Is this stallion important? What does this have to do with anything? Why are you describing him so much? And making him sound so… well… perfect?” Luna, despite the tightness of her bonds, held up a hoof to silence the unicorn. Twilight leaned around the hoof and continued. “Oh for pony’s sake, he’s not an old coltfriend is he?”

Luna stuck her tongue out. “No! That’s disgusting! I don’t even like stallions…. Just listen…”

Yes, one could say that this stallion was perfection. That is really the take-away message from this. He was perfection in physical form and enlightened in wisdom. He exuded an air of confidence and esteem that made possible threats quake and rallied those who would call him friend. He was levelheaded, yet passionate. But even somepony as calm and collected as him was frazzled at the current moment. A few pained sounds emanated from the wagon and the noise was beginning to attract bystanders. In the distance a short dark blue pegasus came galloping to the stallion’s side. “Welkin! I just got back.” The pony set a large basket full of berries down on the ground. “How is Gaia?” The shorter pegasus asked.

“Nightsky! I was afraid you would miss it!” Welkin held out a hoof to block Nightsky from entering the wagon. “Don’t go in there.”

“Shouldn’t the foal’s father be present at the birth?”

“She kicked all of us out, except the midwife. She said I was breathing too loud and I was making her nervous. I suspect she’ll want me back once it is closer to time.”

“Is everything alright? It’s been a while now.”

Welkin chuckled. “You know my Gaia, she’s the toughest pony Gratis ever created. It will certainly take more than foaling to do her in. Still… she’s having a lot more trouble with this one than the last….” Welkin cast his gaze over at the small unicorn filly that was watching the sunset from the mound of rocks.

Nightsky leaned up against the side of the wagon, mimicking the other pony. He gave a heavy sigh as he turned his gaze to the sunset. “Well it’s not hard to fathom why…”

“Not you too…” Welkin spit the remaining stalk of peppermint out of his mouth. Nightsky let out a small gasp as he watched such a rare and sought after treat go to waste. “I can’t believe my own brother is buying into that superstitious nonsense. There is no such thing as this omen….”

Nightsky sighed. “Well take a look around you. The tribal lands are covered in a blizzard; the moon and sun are fighting for the same place in the sky. A covering of the sun, an eclipse, Tabor was calling it; just another sign at the unluckiness of all this.”

Welkin rolled his eyes and chuckled uneasily. “Oh, and we all know the great Tabor is never wrong. Pfft. He’s just easily spooked. Remember when he thought that one rock formation was a golem? Poor little unicorn nearly ran his family’s wagon into a river.”

“I’ll admit he’s a bit, well, skittish. But he is the leader of the laager and he did take us in after you got us exiled from Olymponyus. Not to mention he’s kept the laager safe and well fed for years. We owe it to him to heed his wise words. He says this birth is a bad omen.”

“There is no such thing as a newborn foal that’s a bad omen. You know why laagers consider second births such an issue? It’s a food supply thing. Every wagon puller knows that food comes when it comes for us and too many mouths make things difficult. The whole bad omen thing is an old pony’s tale told to discourage population increase. We have plenty of food and if we don’t well then the best hunter this laager has ever seen will have to go and find some.”

Nightsky shook his head. “Right, because your skill at monster fighting works so well at finding berries. You wouldn’t know editable food from a rock. And let’s face it. The only reason Tabor hasn’t kicked you out of the laager for brining in a second foal is because you frightened off that horde of imps.”

“I can’t help it if I’m irreplaceable as the laager’s main source of protection.” Welkin smiled softly. “As for the sun and moon, well it just looks like my new little foal is so special that Dagr and Nótt both wanted to see the birth. Just you wait, Nightsky, I bet even the Gray Dragon himself will show up.”

“Heh. Show a bit of humility, Welkin, what would Dagr, Nótt, and Gratis want with a bunch of laager exiles?”

Welkin stood up straight and tall. He pointed his hoof out at the horizon and pulled Nightsky in close. “What wouldn’t they want with us, little brother? Take a look at what’s out there. Over there is the mountain range of the three tribes. The sky city of Olymponyus, the unicorn kingdom, and the Earthen Plains, that’s where we used to be. And look what they have now! A terrible blizzard covers the mountain range whilst we laager exiles, as you call us, are out here free! We roam all this beautiful land in Dagr’s day and we breathe the open air in Nótt’s night.” He pointed his hoof upwards to the sky. “And we never stop moving! We pull our wagons until we reach a new wondrous sight each day!”

“At least the tribes don’t have to deal with the demons like us wagon pullers…”

“And they never know the thrill because of it! Only through strife can true happiness flourish, and because of the hardships we can grow! Why, I’d give that boring city life up again in a heartbeat if I had the choice. To spend time out here amongst a group of ponies that truly care for one another!”

Nightsky chuckled; his brother’s speeches always brightened his mood, even if they were mostly idealistic puffery. “Well, of course you would. You actually had a choice. Some of us were exiled by proxy.”

Welkin placed his hoof on top of his brother’s head and ruffled his mane. “You always could have tattled on me. You made a choice too.”

“And abandon my big brother? Hardly a choice.” Nightsky smiled.

“Well good. Because my foals need their uncle. Who’s going to foalsit them while me and the missus are out having fun?” Nightsky laughed and tackled his brother.

A yellow unicorn poked her head out of the back of the wagon. She gave a small chuckle when she saw the two ponies playfully wrestling. “Sorry to break up such brotherly love, but Welkin, it’s about time.”

“Well, alright then.” Welkin pulled the canvas back and entered the wagon.

Nightsky attempted to follow, but the unicorn held up a hoof. “Uh, Welkin only, Nightsky, sorry.”

“But…!” The pegasus attempted to protest.

Welkin poked his head back out of the wagon. “Could you do me a favor, little brother, and go check on the little one? She’s over there playing on the ridge with the other younglings.”

Nightsky sighed. “Fine…” Feeling slightly defeated, the pony trotted over to the ridge. Because the laager moved around so much, there was not really a designated placed for the younglings to play. There was, however, a designated direction. The wagons of the laager would form a curved wall shape in the evening or whenever they were at rest and the younglings were directed to play opposite the curve of the wagon so that they were protected should an attack occur. Unfortunately, these attacks were not uncommon for life in the laager. Only a few days ago, a feral bugbear had wondered into the camp and had destroyed one of the wagons, but luckily the only injury sustained was a broken leg for one of the gatherers. Nightsky could not help but think it might have been Gratis punishing his brother for and sister-in-law for deciding to have another foal. He loved his family, but sometimes his brother could be so bullheaded. He approached the ridge and was nearly knocked over by a swarm of young colts that were running past. Once he regained his balance his eyes found the small filly. She was sitting onto of one of the rock mounds with her hooves curled underneath her. She was bent over a large book. Now books were a rare sight for wagon pullers and it had been….

Twilight Sparkle gasped. “That’s terrible! No pony should be without access to a good library, it’s a crime against nature!”

Yes… quite so. Now books were a rare sight indeed for ponies of the laager, and the tome had been procured through no simple task by the pony’s mother. It was an old tome and one the young filly carried with her always. The book contained…

“What was the book called?”

Luna sighed. “I don’t remember. I’m not sure it even had a title. It’s honestly not that important to the story. It has a place but you needn’t dwell on it.”

Its title may have been lost to time but its subject was not. The tome had covered several artifacts of the ancients and detailed descriptions of the magic they contained. It was, by all accounts, unreadable as it was written in a language used in a time long past. However its sketches were quite detailed and eye fetching and it was for that reason that the small unicorn filly coveted the book so. Nightsky leaned over top of the unicorn and smiled. “Hey there, little Helia.”

“Hello, Uncle Nightsky.” The filly’s tone was polite, but largely lacking in interest. She was busy studying one of the diagrams of a small bell-shaped artifact.

Nightsky lowered his head to Helia’s level and smiled. “Are you excited about your new brother or sister?”

“I guess.” Helia said in the same uninterested tone. The small pony’s face scrunched up in a complex expression. She was not quite sure how she felt about the whole ordeal. Having a sibling would be nice, but she wondered if her mother would still have time for her after the birth. It was cliché but it was what she was feeling. “I hope I get a sister and she’s a unicorn like me so I can teach her magic.” She decided against voicing her concerns at the moment. It was not as though her uncle would help with them anyway. He was a rather useless pony in her opinion. Helia turned a page in the tome with her magic. “Anything else you need?” She attempted to bury her head in her book and appear uninteresting so the pegasus would leave.

“Why aren’t you playing with your friends?”

“Friends?” She asked quizzically. Nightsky pointed to the group of ponies playing some sort of tag related game. Helia looked over at the group of colts running around the rock mounds. “Oh, Conestoga and his gang don’t like me. Besides I have my book. I don’t really need any friends.”

“Now that’s just not true. I bet if we went over and talked to them you could…”

“I’m really very busy reading. I think I’ve almost deciphered how this alphabet works. Soon I’ll be able to actually read this book instead of just looking at the pictures. Now if you don’t mind I’d like to…”

Helia would have continued but she was interrupted by her name being called. Back at the wagon, Welkin stuck his head out from the canvas. He called out to the ridge. “Helia! Nightsky! Come here!” Nightsky pushed Helia to her hooves and lead her over to the wagon. Helia galloped to the wagon with speed. She quickly skidded to a stop just outside of the wagon. Welkin chuckled and patted her lovingly on the head. The young unicorn poked her head inside the wagon and glanced around. Her father, Welkin was standing next to another unicorn, she was one of the mares of the laager but Helia never really paid much attention to other ponies so she did not recall the pony’s name despite how small the population of her laager was. She took a few steps forward, her hooves creaking against the wagon’s old floorboards. Her mother, the beautiful Gaia, was sitting in a pile of hay curled up in a tight ball. Nestled against her mother’s neck a small foal sat shivering. The foal was whimpering in a long drawn out warble.

Gaia whispered gently to her eldest. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Helia, my sweet, what do you think of your new sister?”

Helia leaned over and carful inspected the foal. Her eyes traced the outline of the new life with an almost scientific skepticism. As far as she could tell the thing as a whole seemed useless. Its legs seemed too short. Its head was far too big. Its eyes, when they were bothered to be open, stared off in random directions. She was not completely certain, she would certainly have to run a few tests, but the life form seemed to be quite unintelligent. Most importantly it did not possess the one quality she had been looking for in a sibling. “It’s a pegasus. How am I supposed to teach magic to a pegasus?” Helia wrinkled her snout in distaste. “She’s useless.” The little unicorn poked the foal with her hoof. Helia recoiled as the foal whimpered at the sudden contact.

“Gently now!” Her mother scolded. “She’s just a little thing.” Gaia smiled down at her new daughter. Welkin was smiling too. “She’s got her father’s good looks and beautiful coat color.” She nuzzled the foal. “Don’t you, Selena?” Helia turned away from the group that was fawning over the foal. “Helia! Wait. I have something to ask of you.” Helia turned around. Not that she wanted to stay, but it was not in her nature to disobey her mother. Disobey her father perhaps, but never her mother. Gaia turned to her eldest with a gentle smile, but stern eyes. She spoke in a commanding, almost regal tone. It was a tone that gave heavy weight to her words. “Helia, my oldest daughter, from this day on you are now an older sister. It is your job to look after this little filly. You are the one she will turn to for guidance when she feels lost and you are the one who will be her example when she feels unsure.” Helia nodded as if she was in a trance. Her mother’s voice having some sort hypnotic effect on its listeners, even Welkin and Nightsky, known for their rowdiness, were silent and observant of the wisdom of the mare.

“Yes, mama.”

Gaia sighed thoughtfully. “Ah, I have such lovely daughters. Look at how their eyes…”

“So the start of our dark days has arrived!” The group was startled as the canvas to the wagon was thrown open. A gruff elderly unicorn entered the wagon in a huff. This unicorn was imposing, despite how advanced his age was. His body may have been failing him, his joints giving out with each step and a slight tremble in his left foreleg, but his stern expression lit a fire of uneasiness in other ponies’ hearts.

Welkin smiled. “Tabor. Are you here to see our little splendor?”

Tabor spit on the wagon floor. The midwife unicorn let a small sound escape her lips. To spit inside another's wagon, such an act was not a pleasant one among wagon pullers. “No. I’m here to see the little bearer of bad luck that has just arrived to our poor wagon train. Have you looked outside? The moon is eclipsing the sun!”

“Now wait just a moment there, Tabor!” Welkin said as he pushed Nightsky out of the way to get closer to the elder unicorn.

“After we took you and your brother in out of the kindness of our hearts, you go and bring this foul curse on us!”

Gaia looked over at her daughters. “Helia, my sweet, can you take little Selena outside for a moment?”

“Uh…” Helia sized up the newborn. “Yes, mama.” Gaia leaned over and lowered Selena in the young filly’s direction. A soft yellow glow enveloped the newborn and Helia carefully stepped out of the back of the wagon. She sat down on her haunches and gently lowered the infant to her hooves. She tried her best to cradle the slightly fussy foal as shouting continued to escalate from the wagon. Helia looked at the small creature, which compared to herself was actually relatively large. “So. Sisters, huh?” She stared blankly at the foal as it returned the same blank expression. Its eyes were rather large for its head it seemed. “Mama says I have to watch over you and stuff.” The foal let out a small yawn and then a whimper. Perhaps the newborn was scared she was leaking air? Helia could not quite seem to wrap her head around this baby business. “So… what am I supposed to do here?” The foal did not respond. “Oh! I like books. Maybe you like books? Since we’re sisters and all. Do you read?” Helia gave a quick smile. Selena blinked a few times. “You can’t can you? Well we could talk about stuff. Like, I don’t know… what do we have in common? Oh parents. We could talk about mama and papa.” Selena tilted her head and lazily closed one eye. “So, you can’t talk either. You can’t talk, walk, fly, do magic, or read. Well. Your life seems to be off to a great start.” Helia said with an annoyed tone. Selena blinked absentmindedly. “How do you think this is going so far?” The young foal hiccupped.

“This unicorn, Helia, sounds very much like me a few years ago.” Twilight Sparkle said. “Is she very important to the story? Does she ever find friends? Why is she so ignorant about foals? What’s up with the moon and sun? Did you and Celestia bless this foal’s birth? What does this have to do with how the sun and moon are raised anyway?”

Luna nodded thoughtfully. “All in time. You said you wanted the full story, and so I am telling you it. And yes, Helia is important to the story, the most important in fact. She doesn’t understand foals because she was very young. It might be hard to tell as she acted much older than she was because she was unnaturally intelligent. Very intelligent, but uneducated; formal education was unheard of for the nomadic wagon pullers. She taught herself to read, even though no pony else around her could in the slightest. Yes, this time was an interesting period, but perhaps, since time is a factor, we should skip ahead a few years or so….”

It was early in the morning. Dew was creeping over the blades of crabgrass that hugged the tree line. It had rained the day before, to the surprise of the ponies of the laager. Helia was sitting on her haunches, her snout burred in a tome. She stared intently at the characters, attempting to understand something about the metaphysics of magic ley lines. Next to her a very annoying sound was testing her nerves. Selena was bouncing a small ball against a nearby rock. There were not many toys for wagon pullers and Selena counted herself lucky for having procured the little rubber sphere from one of the brief encounters with another laager. “Helia, look!” She said as she bounced the ball in front of the unicorn. “Look what I can do!” She bounced the ball upwards and caught in the bridge of her snout. It took some careful balancing and much teetering to keep it in place as she spoke. “See?”

“That’s nice, Selena.”

“You’re not even looking!” Selena said, slightly hurt. Helia picked up her book and turned to face the other way.

“Not now, Selena, I’m very busy.” Helia waved a hoof dismissively. “Go play over there.” Selena let the ball fall to the ground and bowed her head in disappointment. The young pegasus slowly walked over to where the ball had rolled and picked up in her mouth. Not really watching where she was going, she trotted over to the other side of the ridge where a group of the older colts were playing some game she could not comprehend. She recognized the leader of the little gang, an earth pony by the name of Conestoga. Normally she would have chosen to play somewhere else, but the colts had already noticed her presence and were making their way over to her. She backed up slowly and attentively. Conestoga raced forward and towered over her small form.

“Well, well, well. What have we here?” Conestoga spit on the ground. “It looks like the littlest of the freak sisters, don’t it, Prairie Schooner?”

A large brute of a colt next to him chuckled. “It sure does, Conestoga.” Now Prairie Schooner was not the brightest, which was why he followed Conestoga around. Conestoga was reasonably intelligent and normally would not have bothered with such an empty head, but Prairie Schooner brought a certain value to the table that Conestoga would be hard pressed to find somewhere else, and that was raw muscle.

“What do you think this little weirdo is doing in our area, Schooner?”

The brute stamped his hooves to punctuate his sentences. “Yeah! Our area! We don’t need any blank flanks here in!” Conestoga swiped the ball from the young pegasus and balanced it on his hoof. He inspected it carefully, appraising its value. After a moment he determined it to be worthless and tossed it to the larger pony. Schooner placed the rubber sphere on the ground and stomped his hoof down on the toy with malicious force. The ball cracked and broke into small rubber pieces. Selena’s ears dropped and her eyes watered. The small pegasus bit her lip to avoid letting a sound out, but after no more than a few seconds of the feeling welling up inside her she let out a terribly loud sob.

Conestoga belted out a laugh. “Look at her! The little blank flank is crying! Oh that’s great!” Conestoga pushed Selena over to Prairie Schooner. “Woops, sorry, hoof slipped.”

Prairie Schooner pushed the pony back in the opposite direction. “Yeah, hoof slipped!”

Selena staggered back and fell to the ground. The little filly attempted to stand and her wings flapped helplessly at her sides. “Look, Schooner, I think we’ve spooked her. She’s trying to fly away but she can’t!” He pointed to her frail and tiny wings as the beat against the air. “What good is being a lightweight pegasus if you can’t even fly?!” The colts roared in laughter. “You’re such a useless little thing.” Conestoga kicked the filly.

“What do you think you two are doing?” A voice startled the two colts.

Conestoga spun around. A white unicorn mare was levitating a tome next to her and giving the two colts a stern look. “Look what came to play! It’s the other blank flank! What a freak!”

“Words are only as valuable as their speaker. Yours mean nothing.” She said in a convincing tone. Truth be told, the title of blank flank…

Luna looked up at the ceiling for a moment. “Well not ‘blank flank,’ it was actually ‘latus gracile’ as they were speaking in the ancient tongue. For the sake of story comprehension I’ve taken the phrase and translated to something more modern….”

Truth be told, being called a blank flank was one of the only things that could upset the stoic Helia. She was years past the normal age of acquiring her Cutie Mark and everypony had been quick to point out that she was still missing hers. While she showed little emotion around other ponies, save for that of insufferable annoyance, she would often be seen galloping home crying. Her mother, Gaia, would then cradle the young pony as best she could and comfort her. This day however, she was in no mood for Conestoga’s antics and she was wearing a brave mask. “You may call me names, especially if they are true. I can’t fault you for that. However, I draw the line when it comes to my sister.”

“Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?” Conestoga laughed. Helia simply shook her head. Her horn glowed with magical might as the ground trembled beneath the two earth ponies. “What the hay is this?” Conestoga said as he jumped back in fright. The ground crack and heaved upwards. Large rocks slammed into Prairie Schooner and he was flung to the side. Two more sections of the ground tore apart from the earth and formed a maw like shape as it clamped down against Conestoga. When the stone receded back into the ground Conestoga was cursing and limping away hurriedly. “Ah hay! I think she broke my leg! What the hay is wrong with you two? By the Gray Dragon himself! My leg! It’s broken. Oh Gratis, it’s completely broken!” In a moment, the two colts were gone from sight.

Helia knelt down next to her sister. “Are you hurt, Selena?” Helia carefully inspected the small pegasus.

Selena looked up and “Just a little bruised. That was… you… thank you.” Helia used her magic to help Selena to her hooves. Helia looked as though she was going to say something but decided against it at the last second. Selena looked down at the ground. “I thought you didn’t like me?”

“I promised mother I would take care of you, Selena. My disposition to you is irrelevant. I have no intention of disappointing mother.” Helia gave a weak smile. “Besides, us latera gracilia need to stick together, right?”

“Yeah.” Selena returned the smile. Helia held up a hoof as she heard a noise.

“They’re down there!” Prairie Schooner’s voice came from over a ridge. Helia and Selena glanced over to where the noise was coming from. “There they are!” Up on the ridge Prairie Schooner and a group of the older ponies from the laager were spouting angry looks.

“And now we have to run.” Helia said as she pushed Selena into a trot.

“Wha…? Why?” Selena shouted as she flapped her wings rather uselessly in a failing effort to gallop faster. Helia raced ahead of her and made a quick turn into the trees nearby.

“Because apparently breaking somepony’s leg is frowned upon for some reason.” Helia dodged past a few trees. The shouts of the pursuing ponies were not growing fainter dispite the fact she and Selena were making a few quick turns to shake them.

“Helia! Wait! Over here!” Selena skidded to a stop in front of the mouth to a small cave. “Could we use this place to hide?”

“Excellent thinking, sister. There’s promise in you yet.” Helia chuckled as she raced inside the cave. The sisters pressed themselves up against the side of the cavern wall, hiding themselves in the shadow it cast. The fading sound of galloping hooves overhead told them that the chasing party had moved their search to another location. “Well, we’ve bought ourselves some time; perhaps their tempers will settle eventually.”

“You never know. They might forget.” Selena chuckled.

“Unless something goes rampaging through the laager, I doubt they will forget about the whole leg thing.”

Selena chuckled as she looked around the cave interior. “Where are we?”

“I don’t know. I think this is the first time the laager ever parked around here.” Helia glanced over her shoulder at her sister. “Want to look around for a bit?”

“Not really. It’s dark. I don’t like the dark.”

Helia’s horn glowed with a soft yellow hue. With a buzzing flash, a small floating globe of light hovered around her head. “Better?”

“Yes.” Selena clapped her front hooves together. “You’re so good at magic, Helia! I wish I could do magic like you!”

The unicorn began to walk deeper into the cave. “Yes, well light spells have always come naturally to me. I’m not sure why.” She paused for a moment to observe the cavern walls. They were made of some strange red colored stone she could not name. The fact she could not name it bothered her slightly.

Selena caught up to her sister and stuck close to her side as the cavern floor dipped downwards. “I’m surprised you haven’t gotten your Cutie Mark in magic. It seems like even old Tabor can’t cast spells as good as you!”

Helia’s eyes narrowed in irritation. “Yes. I should have a mark in magic. Perhaps I just haven’t learned the right spell yet or maybe I need to….” Helia glanced back at Selena. “Why’d you stop?” She asked. As she followed Selena’s gaze she got an answer quickly. The cavern path had ended in a large spacious room. At the center of the room sat a large stone statue. Selena and Helia leaned backwards so they could view the statue all at once.

“What is it?” Selena said with a mix of wonder and fear. Helia’s mouth fell open as her eyes trace every inch of the statue. Selena pressed her side against her sister’s side. “Is it… some kind of pony? I don’t… What is this thing?”

“It’s beautiful.” Helia whispered.

“It’s hideous and scary and I don’t like it! What is it?” Selena shuddered as she looked at the fanged mouth of the statue.

A large smile crept across Helia’s face. The corners of her mouth slowly upturned as her eyes widened. Selena tried hard to remember other times Helia had worn a genuine smile but she could not seem to recall any. Helia chuckled. She pointed to the statue. “He’s a centaur! That’s a kind of creature that’s a half-ape half-pony hybrid that lived a long time ago. They invented magic, according to my book.”

“Centaur…” Selena whispered.

“By Dagr and Nótt!” Helia pointed to a small twinkling object around the statue’s neck. “Look at that!”

“Is that a bell?”

“I’ve seen that before!” Helia’s book, which was always levitated beside her, flopped to the ground. “It’s in my book!” The pages flipped rapidly. She placed her hoof gingerly on the tome. A rough sketching vaguely depicting the bell shape hanging around the statue’s neck was on the page. “Shilah’s Bell!” Helia practically swooned. “A real centaurian artifact! I’ve read about them since I was small, before even! And now there’s one right there!”

“I don’t like this place, Helia. Can we leave?”

Helia glanced back at her sister and noticed the timid look upon her face. “Alright.” The unicorn turned back to face the statue. “But not without that bell.” Helia took a few steps closer and tilted her head. “Do you think you could fly up there and get it for me?”

“Sure thing….” Selena’s face went deadpan. Her wings flapped repeatedly against her sides producing a buzzing sound. Despite how much flapping her wings did, her hooves stayed firmly on the ground.

Helia gave Selena an embarrassed smile. “Oh right. Tiny wings. Sorry, I forgot.”

Selena put a slight whine to her voice. “Maybe you can you use your magic….”

“Good idea!” Helia said with a chuckle.

Selena felt herself become enveloped in a strange warmness as she floated off the ground. “I mean on the bell! Not on me!”

“Hurry up, you’re heavy. Can you reach it?” Helia shouted upwards as Selena floated near the neck of the statue.

“Almost… move me closer.” Selena looked upwards at the face of the statue. Its eyes were closed shut giving the statue the appearance that it was sleeping. “Hurry up, this thing is creeping me out.” Selena’s snout bumped into the stone. “Oof!”

“How about now?” Helia said, squinting to try and see better in the darkness.

“Yeah. Hold me still.” Selena reached out with her hooves and clasped them around the bell. She gave the object a quick tug and the small metal chain it was attached to crumbled in to dust. “I got it!” A low rumbling sound shook the cave as the statue’s eye flicked open. “Ah! Helia!”

Helia wrinkled her snout as she lowered Selena back to the ground. “Interesting, it must be on some sort of counterweight system. Can you imagine the engineering that would have to go into such a system? The centaurs must have been amazing.” Helia reached out with her hooves. “Gimmie the bell!” Selena barely lifted the bell in the slightest direction to her sister when the unicorn snatched it. “Amazing… Shilah’s Bell. In my hooves. Just like my book…. Imagine all we could learn from this wondrous item, Selena.”

“Can we go now?”

“Yes, of course.” Helia turned around and levitated the book and bell alongside her as she walked back towards the cavern entrance. As they approached the outside light Helia let out another giggle. “Absolutely intriguing.” She rotated the bell as her eyes feasted, or rather as her eyes engorged themselves on the image of the object like voracious dragons.

“So… what does it do?” Selena asked as they emerged into the sunlight.

“I don’t know. I never translated that part of the book yet. But it’s got to be fantastical. Ancient magic and all that. I wonder how you activated it.”

“Well… it’s a bell right? Wouldn’t you… well… ring it?”

“Huh. Yeah.” Helia clasped the bell’s handle in her mouth and gave her head a quick shake. The bell gave off an alluring ring which Selena could only describe as a choir signing a lullaby. “Well if it was supposed to do something, I guess it’s broken.” Helia gave the bell another ring. “I wonder if time and exposure to underground climate could have an effect on magical auras…” Helia started to continue but she was interrupted by a low rumbling. The sisters exchanged nervous glances before directing their attention to the mouth of the cave. The cavern entrance exploded as a large stone figure emerged. “It wasn’t a statue…” She said out the side of her mouth. The stone centaur towered over the two ponies. “It’s a golem! We… need to run… now!”

Helia turned and broke into a canter, gripping the bell tightly in her mouth. Selena was racing not far being her sister’s tail. The golem took slow lumbering strides, but it managed to keep up moderately merely due to its long legs. Helia weaved around the trees in an attempt to shake the monster, but the golem simply pushed the trees down with ease. Selena’s wings buzzed against the air as she tried desperately to takeoff. She tripped on a rock but somehow recovered back into a gallop. “Helia!”

Helia glanced backwards. “We need to make it back to the laager! The hunters will protect us!”

“Help, I can’t run that fast!”

“Oh for Nótt’s sake…” Helia skidded to a stop and levitated Selena up onto her back. “Hold on. I’m not coming back if you fall.” The golem’s fist slammed down next to the sisters and Helia broke into a frantic gallop. “It’s times like this I wish I spent less time reading and more time practicing running!”

“Faster, he’s gaining on us!” Selena said, closing her eyes tightly.

“The dead weight could do with shutting up now, please!” Helia’s book floated in front of her. It opened and started flipping through pages. “Maybe there’s something in here on how to stop a centaur golem…”

“Helia, watch out!” Selena shouted. The book floated upwards to out of her vision. A large tree trunk was blocking the unicorn’s path and she was approaching it fast. Helia focused magic in her horn and with a flash of light she teleported herself and her sister past the log.

“Thanks for the warning.” Helia said, winded.

The book floated back down but Selena snatched it out of the air with her mouth. “Less reading, more watching where you’re going!”

“Look! I can see the laager up head.” At the top of a small hill a large wagon was parked and a unicorn mare was tending to some sort of cooking pot. “Run! Golem!” Helia shouted as she raced past the unicorn. “Get the hunters!”

An elderly unicorn held up a hoof and stopped Helia from bolting past. “Now hold up here a moment. What is with all this screaming and hollering?”

Selena climbed down from her sister’s back and trotted off in the direction of her wagon. Helia was breathing heavily but she managed to get a few words out. “Tabor! Golem! Chasing us!”

Tabor scoffed. “A golem? Preposterous. There hasn’t been a golem sighting in years. Young filly, you need to stop trying to cause such a panic. I thought I already had a talk with your parents about all the trouble you and your sister get into. I’ll have you know young Conestoga is quite hurt. And what is that bell thing you’ve got in your mouth?” The ground rumbled. “By Dagr, what was that?”

“It’s the golem!” Helia said as she pranced in place nervously.

“Wait? You said it was chasing you? That means you lead it right here!” Tabor watched in horror as trees were flung into the air and the wagon closest to the tree line was crushed by a large stone fist. “May Gratis have mercy! Hunters, armor yourselves!”

Helia sprinted away, galloping in the direction of her own wagon. She raced into the hooves of her mother, Gaia, who was waiting at the back of the wagon. Her father, Welkin, placed a crude bronze helmet on his head and took to the sky to join the other two hunters as they attempted to distract the stone monstrosity. “Goodness, what could have awoken a golem with such a vengeance.” Gaia said as she quickly picked up the crying Selena and placed her inside the wagon. The teal earth pony strapped a harness around her body and began to pull the wagon. Helia attempted to strap her father’s part of the harness around herself but her mother shook her head as Nightsky pushed the unicorn aside and began to hook the harness to himself.

Meanwhile Welkin flew circles around the stone creature. It appeared the tactic was working well. The golem was busy swatting at Welkin in the air while the rest of the laager slowly began retreating. Tabor guided the family whose wagon had already been flipped by the creature. He instructed the ponies to climb inside his family’s wagon as his sons began to pull it away from the golem. The golem turned its attention to the sister’s wagon. With a thunderous stomp the ground around the wagon heaved and cracked. Selena and Helia fell out and they both quickly scrambled underneath the wagon. Welkin turned around to see his family laying on the ground. The golem swatted the relatively tiny creature out of the sky. Helia’s horn glowed with magical might, but whenever she tried to cast a spell on the golem she lost focus and her spell fizzled.

Selena watched the chaos unfold as the ponies ran in every direction trying to avoid being squashed by one of the golem’s hooves. Then something caught her eye. Her sister’s book, her favorite thing in the world, was sitting out in the open amidst all the commotion. Selena could only guess that Helia had dropped it when they had first dived into the wagon. Feeling an unprecedented spurt of bravery, perhaps stupidity even, the young pegasus crawled out from underneath the wagon and trotted over to the book. The golem immediately turned around and lifted its hoof to smash the tiny creature. Welkin raced forward and slammed his own hooves into the massive stone one. “Stay away from my Selena!” He shouted as the golem recoiled. Welkin raced around again and delivered a powerful kick to the golem’s face. “Just who the hay do you think you’re dealing with here?” Fracture marks riddled the golem’s upper body as it swung its arms. Welkin took a solid hit to his side. He slammed against ground. Welkin looked over at his family and exhaled painfully. “Nightsky… brother… take care of Gaia.” Nightsky attempted to remove the straps from the wagon harness as quickly as he could. Welkin rose to his hooves and raced forward. He picked up great speed as outstretched his front legs. With a sickeningly loud crunching sound, his hooves impacted the golem’s face, shattering the head of the stone creature. The golem staggered backwards as its head dissolved into rubble. Welkin chuckled as he fell to the ground, the injury from the collision with the stone too great for his body to handle. He laid on the ground breathing heavily; Gaia screamed his name as she raced forward. The golem broke into chucks and tumbled forward. The mess of gravel and boulders came tumbling downward. Welkin closed his eyes and chuckled. “Heh. Never thought it would be a golem.” Nightsky grabbed Gaia’s tail as the rubble crashed into the ground, scattering the air with dust and rock chips. The panic of the laager calmed as the clouds of dirt began to settle. As the dust cleared it was… clear that…

Luna was silent for a few minutes. Her expression was hard to read. “That’s well… all I really have to say on that.”

Twilight Sparkle frowned. “Wait… what happened?”

“In the following few days the laager worked hard to repair the damage from the attack. Injuries were treated and burial rights were preformed… for those who needed it.” Luna inhaled deeply with a labored breath. A few tears rolled down her cheek. “But despite the hardships, the ponies of the laager were strong and Tabor was determined never to let such an event happen again….”

Tabor pointed a hoof at Helia. The young unicorn, despite being almost fully grown, was trying her best to hide behind the legs of her mother. She was crying and her mother’s hoof was wrapped around her neck, tightly pulling her into a hug. Gaia had been staring at her daughter’s beautiful pink mane when she shook her head and looked up to lock eyes with Tabor. “She’s just a filly. What should she have done but run home when chased by such a beast?”

“I’m not questioning the mare’s judgment. I’m concerned with the curse she and her sister seem to be carrying. The laager has lost too much…”

“You speak with paranoia. Looking for conformation on what you believe and drawing only conclusions that do not contradict what you think. What would you have me do? Abandon my daughters to the wilderness? I will not abandon my family. You know nothing of loss. You lost a hunter to protect your precious laager. I lost a husband. I say again, I will not allow you to separate me from my daughters.”

Tabor closed his eyes and shook his head. “I wouldn’t dream of separating your family. All of you are cursed; therefore all of you must go. You, your terrible daughters, and Nightsky, all of you are banished from the laager.”
“You can’t just strand…”

“I’m not a monster. Wishing Well’s wagon train will be passing through here in under two weeks. If you stay put by the edge of the forest they will take you in. Gratis help them though.” Tabor turned around and sighed. “Such a shame about Welkin, he was the best hunter I had ever seen.”

Helia burst into a loud sob and wrestled out of her mother’s embrace. Gaia reached out with her hoof as the unicorn raced into the forest. Selena trotted after her. Gaia, who had somehow managed to refrain from crying since the incident, collapsed to the ground and sobbed. Helia galloped as fast as her legs would carry her. She raced past countless trees and countless vines that crept around the forest floor. She was not sure where she was running to, only that she needed to run. Perhaps the other side of the forest would be a better place. It was doubtful. A better place or not, it still could not turn back time. She tripped on a jutting root and tumbled forward. The world spun as she rolled down the ravine and at some point during the roll she bounced up into the air. As she flew through the air she was hit with the weird sensation of weightlessness, if only for a brief moment until she crashed back onto the ground. Finally she came to a stop against a crooked tree.

She attempted to stand but found that she could not. Her hind leg was bent at an unnatural angle and she had a splitting pain in her head. A trickle of some kind of red liquid rolled down her snout and dripped to the leaf covered ground. She rolled to her side and let the blood pool in front of her eyes as she sobbed. She muttered a string of incomprehensible gibberish before taking another labored breath and letting out a second sob. A deep voice rumbled around her. “Oh, you’ve met with such a terrible fate, haven’t you little one?”

Helia scrambled to get to her haunches. The crooked tree she had rolled into was not a tree at all, but the leg of some monstrous beast. She limped backwards trying to get a full glimpse of the creature that had spoken. To her surprise and horror, it was a dragon that had apparently been napping in the woods. The large beast lifted its head and looked down at the crying, injured unicorn before it. Its silver shimmering scales caught the glint of the morning sun as it let out a puff of smoke from its nostrils. Helia held up her hoof. “Stay away!” She was no match for a dragon, if only her father was nearby. Perhaps if she shouted he would… She shook in place for a moment. “Or sink your claws swiftly and be done with me….”

28: Timelines: Gratis

Twilight Sparkle’s eyes narrowed. “A dragon? What do these ponies and this dragon have to do with the sun and moon?”

Luna shook her head. “Everything, Twilight. Everything. Just be patient, please. Now as you recall the young unicorn was in a wooded area when she stumbled upon the most fearsome beast she had ever seen. A silver dragon of immense size….”

Helia attempted to back away from the silver dragon slowly. A sharp pain in her hind leg told her she was attempting to accomplish something that her physical form could not. She fell to the ground and scooted backwards by pushing with one of her hooves. The dragon’s voice was a deep and sultry silk. “Oh, you bring such tears into my forest.” The silver dragon snaked its long neck around the pony. As it encircled her, she nearly mistook it for a serpent rather than a dragon. “Your sorrow, dripping with such a mournfulness and regret, it wilts the flowers and makes the kudzu vines creep up and strangle the bark of the trees.” The dragon lifted its head up high, towering over the pony. “Such an… intriguing aroma your emotions saturate the ether with. Why the crickets string ballads and nocturnes, your sadness as their muse.” The beast grinned as its face passed by her again. Had its neck detached in her confusion and morphed into a snake? “Why are you crying, young one? What could possibly beg such a powerful reaction? Is it your injuries?” The beast waved his massive claw overtop of the pony. She felt the pain in her leg subside, but it only allowed her mind to focus on her dour mood without any distractions. “No? Then why do you make so many tears?”

It was only at this moment that Helia glanced around and became aware of her surroundings. The woods she had run into were ever so much alive and its trees ever so free in their growth. She was in a small clearing, but instead of the sky being visible up above her head, the leaves formed a ceiling. This gave the clearing the impression of a cave. At the end of the area, past where the dragon was sitting, a quiet waterfall flowed down a large stone rock. Presumably it was a spring of some kind and its water simply flowed into a small sparkling pool and vanished without overspill. Flowery vines dangled from the leafy ceiling, swaying ever so slightly after being disturbed by the dragon’s movement. A few plants with large flat leaves slowly waved, unaided by the wind. The whole area appeared to breathe. The trees with sway towards Helia as the forest inhaled and it would give her breadth when it exhaled. Helia’s attention was forced back to the dragon as the great beast approached her and lowered its massive head to her eye level. Helia glanced away. She mumbled as inaudible as possible. “I don’t want to talk about it.” The dragon appeared to shrug and sat down with its body encircling her. The large beast set its head down on the ground and exhaled loudly. The dragon closed his eyes and appeared to fall asleep. Helia shifted slightly in her place. It was such an odd exchange that had just occurred that her mind was brought to a halt. At first the dragon had prodded her with a barrage of imagery showing concern for her plight, but now the creature simply fell asleep. She was caught so off guard by the events that she had, for a brief moment forgotten that she was crying. “What are you doing?” Her voice cracked sharply, as if she was using it for the first time.

The dragon’s eye opened for a brief moment. “You said you did not wish to discuss matters.” The dragon closed his eye again. “So I am not discussing it. However, you have entered my forest. If it was solitude you sought, you would do best to leave and seek out a new location.” The dragon chuckled and then fell silent. Helia stared for a good while at the beast’s snoozing form. She attempted to wipe her tears from her face. While she had stopping sobbing, her eyes were still watering and blurring her vision. She whispered something inaudible as she bowed her head. “I’m sorry young one. Your lips formed a word but your voice failed to breath it life. But perhaps you are ready to answer my question?” The dragon lifted his head up and faced the pony. “I must say I am curious as to what would cause you so much grief.” Helia looked up at the dragon. “Well then, will you tell me, young one?”

She gulped loudly before answering the creature’s question. “I’m a monster. I lead a fearsome creature back to my laager. It destroyed our homes and… killed my father.” Helia sobbed quietly. “The other ponies… they call me a monster. That I’m detached and heartless….” Helia crouched down and covered her face with her hooves. “Normally I would ignore them… but… my actions led to… the death of my own father….” Helia shuddered. “I’m a terrible pony. I’ve gotten my family banished. Eveypony hates me…”

“Not everypony it seems…” The dragon lifted a leg and waved its claw overtop of a cluster of bushes. The shrubs rustled and swayed off to the side revealing a small blue pegasus filly, hiding her face behind her hooves.

“Sister!” Helia gasped. “What are…? What are you doing here?”

The small pegasus shuddered. “You ran off….” Selena bowed her head. “I… well… you said us blank flanks need to stick together.” The pegasus smiled sheepishly. “And you forgot this….” The younger pony slid a weighty tome forward with her hooves.

“My book…” Helia’s face contorted into a scowl. “This… thing. It has brought me nothing but trouble. Perhaps it is this book’s hold over my thoughts that lead to such a miserable life!” Her horn glowed with magical might and a fire erupted over the cover of the tome. The unicorn fell down in tears and attempted to draw breath but could only manage a stuttering gasping sound.

The dragon’s eyes darted in confusion for a moment. This being had brought fire into his forest and such a weighty negative aura. “You have quiet the talent for magic.” His tail brushed across the book, dousing its flames and tossing it off into the wilderness.

“I have a talent for nothing.” Helia fell to the ground and rolled to her side. The grass was hiding half her face from the world and she wished it could manage to hide the rest of her. “Except for being a monster….” Helia let out a loud and short laugh, a twisted smile adorning her face. “Perhaps my cutie mark will be that of a monster!”

The dragon swayed its long neck in the direction of the small pegasus. “This word, ‘monster’. What does it mean? Its use reaches my ears many times but I do not understand its true meaning.” The pegasus tilted her head slightly. “Some call the demons monsters. Some call each other monsters. I see little that connects the two beings as the same. How could both share a name? A flower has a name of its own that is separate from that of a tree. Nay, a flower has a name of its own that is unique from other flowers. When they call a flower a saponaria then a vine cannot be a saponaria.” The dragon looked confused. “In my experience one may have many names, but names themselves only have one one. What does ‘monster’ mean then? If it is not a name then what is it?”

Selena looked at the ground and spoke quietly. “It is what our father calls… called things that others need protected from. It was a title that he gave to things that caused others pain and hardship.” Selena’s eyes welled up. “Father’s job was to stop the monsters. But….”

“These ‘monsters’ sound atrocious.” The dragon looked down upon the crying unicorn. “Cheer up little one for you are not atrocious and therefore cannot be a monster.”

The unicorn uncovered her face partially. “How can you possibly know I am not a monster?”

The leaves of the trees opened around her, filtering streams of light upon the pony’s cheeks. “I can see into your past. I see the lonely filly absorbed in a book with unreadable characters and beautiful pictures. I see a filly who loves her parents, her mother most of all, but can’t seem to relate to others around her.” The dragon swayed from side to side as the trees bent around him. The view to the sky was blocked and the forest was unsettlingly dark. “I can see into your present. I see a young mare that is scared and distraught, but not an evil thing. I see remorse for an accident and I see misplaced guilt.” The light returned as the branches bent far away from the clearing. The sun illuminated Helia in a brilliant glow, giving her almost an angelic aura. “I can see into your future. I see power. Your ultimate destiny, while still a mystery even to me, will be great. It will be greater than any could imagine. I see an unbreakable will and devotion to others, a selfless pony with determination.” The branches closed again, focusing the light to a small beam aimed at the pony’s chest. “And I can see into your heart. Such good intentions lie dormant within. Such love for your mother. Even for your sister, though you do not understand her.”

Helia leaned upwards. Questions riddled her mind, now that it was thinking a bit clearer. Only one of these questions managed to bubble its way up to the surface and out her lips. “Who… are you?”

“I don’t know about ‘who’. But as to what I am… just as I have said before, one may have many names... and I am one.” The dragon looked up thoughtfully. “In the beginning they called me the end. For a time some have called me the silver serpent, the source of all magic, the prime, the center of the ether, and first life since the cataclysm. I have been named the creator and the father of the heavens. I have been the one with no name and the one with the first name. And I have let them call me as such… for at a time, all have been true in their own right. Nowadays however, I hear many refer to me as the Gray Dragon.”

Selena gasped. “Then you are….”

Helia spoke with wide eyes. “Gratis….” She looked away from the dragon, judging herself not worthy of being the presence of such a creature. “Gratis, the divine god.” She bowed her head in reverence. A quick glance revealed that Selena was not bowing alongside her. She felt a mix of shame and anger well inside her at the audacity of her sister not to show even the tiniest bit of respect for the god. In a sense she admired her sister’s boldness. After all, the gods of old, mentioned in stories of the Centaurs, were known for their tendency to smite. She supposed it was true, however that Gratis himself was never known to do such things, he was never known to do much of anything after the creation, actually.

Selena looked up at Gratis with wide-eyed wonderment. She had never seen such a creature before. It was the shape of a dragon, to be sure, but now that its name had been revealed, it took on a different light. It was indescribable to say the least. As her eyes gazed at the god, she knew she was looking at a dragon yet her mind registered it as simply Gratis. No matter how much she tried, the form before her could not go back to being what it was only moments before. Perhaps she had been enlightened by this revelation? She did not know and was too preoccupied to dwell on it further. The only thing that seemed to interest her at the moment was Helia’s behavior. She had never seen her sister bow in the presence of anypony before. It was startling, to say the least. Even in the presence of her mother, probably the only pony she ever treated with respect, Helia would never genuflect.

Gratis lowed his head to Helia’s level and smiled. “Now then. Dry those tears. Such weeping is most unbecoming of such a beautiful mare.”

Helia sniffled. “I’m… I’m not sure that I can….” She stared at the grass. “I mean no disrespect, oh holy one. I know you say I am not a monster. But in my heart I feel otherwise.”

Gratis remained silent for a brief moment as he contemplated the words the small mare had spoken. The trees swayed as the dragon inhaled and as he exhaled they shook their branches, scattering the light from the sun in dancing shadows. His lips curled into a smile and he a chuckled deeply. The large creature turned around slowly. His tail lifted into the air, enveloping the two sisters in its shadow. His steps were soft, even though his size and girth should have made then thunderous. As he faced his back to the ponies, he glanced over his shoulder. A look of disappointment adorned his face. “Well that certainly is a shame.” With a deafening flap, his mountainous wings spread forth from his back. “I’m afraid I must be going now.” The forest moved out of his way as his wingspan increased to its maximum. “Come with me, little one?”

Helia’s head jerked upwards to face the dragon’s form. “Come with you?” Her tone was riddled with confusion.

“Yes. Come with me.”

Helia’s voice cracked and stuttered. “I don’t understand. You are… Gratis… the god! Why would you want me to…? Where exactly?”

The dragon smiled a devilish grin. “You have offended me.”

Helia recoiled. “What?! No, I…!”

“No?” Gratis turned around. “Now you disagree with me, the great Gratis?” Helia attempted to shrink down to occupy as small of space as possible. The dragon looked upwards at the sky and let out a small chuckle. “Heh. I declared you not a monster and you say that I am wrong. In all the eons I have existed. After all of the things I’ve seen: the darkness of the void of space, the light of the first new dawn, the great war of chaos and the celestial destruction it wrought. I have never been wrong. If today shall be the first day that this is the case, then I shall revel in this brand new concept. But I desire my fair chance to defend my statement.” The dragon’s tail lifted into the air and came to rest near the unicorn. “Come with me, and we shall see if your world really is so bleak.”

Helia shook her head frantically. “But…! I…” She laid eyes on Selena. “My sister! I couldn’t leave my sister behind in this dangerous forest.”

“Then she shall come as well.” Gratis smiled. “Grab hold of my tail.”

Helia shook her head again. “I…” She was startled as Selena raced forward and wrapped her hooves around the dragon’s tail. “Selena! No!” The young filly, in all honesty, did not have the slightest idea what had come over her at the time, but she felt that going with the dragon was simply something she was destined to do. Even against her sister’s wishes. Helia lunged forward to grab her sister. She had promised her mother she would protect her at all costs. She had already lost a father, she was not about to let her sister vanish with an ancient god. Once Helia’s hoof touched Selena’s own, there was a strange sensation.

“Then we shall depart!” The dragon’s wings crashed downwards in a cascade of wind. In a flurry of demure green the whole world seemed to rush past. In fractions of seconds, less than perhaps, the forest was gone. Helia’s face was staring at the field of green below her as it shrank in her view. The world twisted around her. No, perhaps she was twisting in place instead. A spiraled climb into the air, she figured. The thought registered in the mind somewhere, but she could not bring it to the surface. Something white obscured her vision for a moment. Smoke licked at her fur. No, it was not smoke. It was not smoke at all, it was a cloud. She knew clouds were in the sky. What was that doing down here? No, wait. What was she doing up there? Then it hit her. She was flying. Her! A unicorn! Was flying! Never in her life had she ever expected to soar through the skies. She cast her gaze upwards. The blue sky had never looked so clear. The glint of the sun off the clouds dried her tears. She could not help but feel the worries of the world leave her as she soared. Up in the sky her troubles could not reach her. The climb halted and with a flick of the dragon’s tail she found herself flung away from the very thing that had brought her up so high.

She was floating in the sky. Again, the thought was there but not completely. What did register in her brain was the fact that she was now free of the very thing that had made her capable of flight just moments ago. She spied Selena tumbling freely in the air. Her tiny wings fluttered endlessly and an attempt to propel her forward under her own power. The filly’s mane was flowing in the wind, a positively joyous smile on her face. The feel of freefall was something different entirely. By all reason, she should have felt terrified. Instead she felt exhilarated as the blue sky below and green land above did summersaults. Selena was giggling. She could barely hear it over the sound of the wind, but it reached her ears nonetheless. She had not heard her sister laugh since the incident. It suddenly stuck her that her sister laughed quite a bit, and that was something she had missed since the golem attack. Helia could not help herself any longer. A bubbling urge rose in the unicorn’s chest. She attempted to cover her mouth, but it was too late. She laughed alongside the pegasus. Her! Laughing! She could not remember the last time she had laughed. Now that she thought about it, this might have been the first time she had ever laughed.

The two laughing ponies were joined by a deep bellowing chuckle as they landed on the back of the dragon. Safe again, Helia found herself watching the clouds fly by from the dragon’s back. She was amazed at the speed of the clouds, or rather the speed of the dragon. Selena shouted as she pointed with her hoof. “Look, Helia! I can see our wagon from up here!” Indeed, when Helia looked down she could see the wagon parked on the edge of the forest. Selena cheered, throwing her hooves in the air. Somewhere in the back of the unicorn’s mind is sadden her to see that her sister was not old enough yet to fully comprehend what had just happened to their little family, but the look of exhilaration on the young filly’s face warmed her heart. The dragon banked a turn and began to climb. Selena slid down the dragon’s back and came to rest in front of Helia’s hooves. “Oh, how dreadfully rude of me.” The dragon bellowed. “I forgot to ask what you are.”

“What we are?” Helia said as she tightened her grip on the dragon’s back. “I’m just a unicorn…” Her face twisted in confusion. Was that not obvious to the dragon god?

Selena waved her legs in the air as they flew through a cloud. “And I’m a pegasus! And I’m flying! Wooo!”

Gratis chuckled. “Yes, I can see that. But what are you?”

Helia looked puzzled as they burst through the cloud layer. “I’m a pony… A laager exile, I guess. I don’t understand the question….”

Gratis glanced backwards at the small ponies riding on his back. “That’s what describes you. But what are you?” The pony simply stared blankly at the dragon. The dragon chuckled for a moment. “Perhaps I should restate my question. I am Gratis. What are you?”

Helia did a double take, thoroughly confused by the dragon’s choice of words. “You mean my name? You mean who am…?”

“Not who. What. What makes you… you? As the same as I simply am Gratis, what are you?”

Selena giggled. “Oh! I get it. I am Selena!”

Gratis laughed. “That’s the spirit!” The dragon did a quick roll, the ponies barely managing to stay on his back as he righted himself. “Now then, my little pony, what are you?”

“I’m… Helia?” She said with a slight tilt to her head.

“You’re uncertain?” The dragon smiled coyly.

“I’m Helia!”

“Yes. And don’t forget that!” The dragon reared up and the ponies almost slid down his back and fell. “Hold on tightly, we’re almost there.” Helia could sense it. Some sort of magical build up was saturating the area.

“Almost where? Where’s there?” Helia’s questions went unanswered as the dragon lurched downward.

As the dragon’s speed increased they passed through a cloud barrier. They burst through a cloud layer onto the most majestic sight Helia had ever seen. A pocket in the clouds was about the only way she could describe it. Below them a floor of snow white dunes blocked the view to the ground. Not too far above them a ceiling of perfect fields of fluffy white wisps blocked the view of the higher sky. This part of the sky seemed ethereal; off-limits to most creatures. The sun and moon, aligned just right to be visible in the pocket, cast haunting glows over the cloudy surfaces. The entire area was covered in a pale orange light that gave the impression of sunset despite it being nearly noon. Helia stared in awe, perhaps the laws of the sun were did not apply to a place such as this. Of course that made sense, this being a place shown to them by Gratis himself. The dragon's flight leveled out. In front of them was a sphere made of clouds. A swirling mass of dusty storm clouds that twisted in currents of wind was such an imposing sight to behold for the young ponies that even Selena, who had been cheering during most of the flight, fell silent at the spectacle. The dragon glanced around the area as they circled the storm sphere. “Now then, where are those two?” The area was soon coated a flash of light followed by a wave of shadow. “Ah. There they are. They always arrive late when you want them and early when you don’t.”

“Who? Er... or what, I guess?” Selena asked as they circled around the storm again.

“Why… the sun and the moon of course.” Gratis chuckled as a brilliant streak of golden light spiraled out of the cloud ceiling and raced up next to the flying trio. “Dagr you are so very slow to answer my summons.”

Helia trembled. “Dagr… the spirit of the sun.” She shielded her eyes as the mass of light corkscrewed around them in flight.

“Where is Nótt then? Late as usual?” Gratis asked. No sooner had he finished speaking than a swirling mass of pitch black smoke slid up and began to spiral around, endlessly chasing Dagr. “Ah. There he is.” Selena and Helia shuddered as they watched the corkscrew of light and darkness revolve around them. “Oh. Dagr… Nótt… you are scaring our guests. Perhaps you could slip into something more appealing for the little ones, hm?” The gilded light formed itself into the shape of a large ethereal bird. “A phoenix? You are such a showoff, Dagr. And you, Nótt, perhaps you care to be a little more creative?” The shadowy mass sprouted four legs and a pair of wings. The shape of a flying pegasus gradually began to form as layers of smoke peeled away in the wind. The face of the shadow turned and glanced at Helia. Seeming to sense that it was different, a horn grew from its skull shortly after. “Ah, nothing helps put the mind more at ease than familiarity. I would have a hard time imagining that the young ones will fear you now. The trees bear fruit in your honor today, Nótt.”

Helia fixed her eyes on the phoenix. “Dagr and Nótt. And Gratis himself. Today I’ve flown… flown with the gods themselves….”

Gratis laughed. “Hardly something a monster would get the opportunity to do, is it not? But alas, we have had enough flying for one day’s time. Now we shall plant our hooves and claws on land… well… so to speak. Dagr, Nótt, would you get the door, please?”

The phoenix nodded. “Certainly, father, with haste.” Helia and Selena nearly swooned at the melodious sound of the creature’s voice. It rang like a bell choir playing a muted waltz. The sisters’ minds shared the same thought at that moment; they would give anything for the creature to speak just once more. Even if it only spoke a single syllable, their lust for the sound would be sated. The phoenix did not utter another word, instead only flying off to the swirling sphere of storms. The shadow pony with wings and a horn followed the bird with just the same burst of speed. In a moment they were circling around the sphere and the storm clouds began to dissolve. Underneath the fading clouds an imposing silhouette came into view.

Helia’s mouth dropped open. “What… is it?”

“My home. The Keep in the Sky.”

29: Timelines: Heaven's Fall

“The Keep in the Sky? Are you implying that it was real?” Twilight Sparkle shook her head in disbelief.

“Oh? You have heard of it?” Princess Luna glanced up with a confused look.

Twilight nodded and droned on in a monotone. “Certainly. It is mentioned in many fables, the mythical and magical castle that floats in the sky much like modern day Cloudsdale. But unlike Cloudsdale, the Keep in the Sky was made of stone and wondered the sky on an unexplainable journey. Imagine something of that mass floating casually through the air. The sheer magic it would take to get such a weighty structure to levitate at all, let alone move it around, would be astronomical. And what about this gap in the clouds you mentioned? Is this some sort of pocket dimension where the sun and moon exist in close proximity? Hm… perhaps it’s a hyper-compressed compartment of space-time bounded with mana-kentic dipoles? This would suggest a development in magical competency millennia ahead of our time.” Twilight shook her head dismissively. “Simply impossible. I thought this story was supposed to have some historical truth to it? Oh, is this story supposed to have some sort of metaphorical meaning? This whole thing is an allegory?”

Luna shook her head. “No, this story actually happened. Please just listen and all will be explained…”

“But I don’t get it! Who in the hay are these Dagr and Nótt things? And what’s with the unicorn and the pegasus?”

“Ain’t it a mite obvious? Why, it’s as clear as a harvest day that they are….”

“Ah!” Twilight jumped back in shock. “Applejack! Don’t sneak up on ponies like that!”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “I’ve been here the whole time….”

“Twilight’s right, fair Applejack, it’s impolite to creep about. Now where was I? Oh, yes… The Keep in the Sky….”

Large walls of stone slowly pressed together in space the behind them, closing off the entrance to the strange sky realm they had just came from. The enormity of the structure was unlike anything Helia and Selena had ever seen. It was a castle, obviously, but they had never imagined a castle would look so grand. Soft columns of colored light streamed in from a collection of stained glass windows. Gratis chuckled as the two ponies descended from their place on his back. The unicorn spun in a circle, her hooves clacking against the gray stone floor. The Keep in the Sky was prevalent of many myths and many stories that Helia was privy to, but she had never imagined in her wildest dreams what it would look like. The roof was a high spanning archway, and while such a spacious interior so high in the sky should have welcomed the wind to howl, the atrium was still and silent. In the background the walls of the keep seemed to move slightly. Carvings of vines and trees slowly swayed in an ethereal wind. Helia had seen moving stone before, the incident with the golem still fresh in her thoughts, but this was not the same. It lacked the menacing or sheer magical presence she had seen before. These moving carvings simply swayed majestically. The subtle movement of the castle walls made it seem like it was alive. As if the castle was a living, breathing entity and the sways of the vines were the subtle shifts of a creature just settling down in a comfortable spot to read a book.

Even with all the grand spaces or even the moving stonework, the thing that stuck with her most were the colors. The entire castle interior, or at least the entire interior that she could currently see, was cast in a dull, but comforting pale gray. The stone slabs gave the impression of old bones, blanched by the sun. Despite how dull the shade seemed, it was easy to see why it was chosen. The gray stone floor was the perfect canvas for letting the sunlight, streaming through a marvelous display of tinted glass, paint vibrant colors. Helia’s mouth hung open slightly as she surveyed the sight. “So beautiful. I’ve never seen something like this before in my life. What are they?”

Gratis approached behind the pony and placed a claw on the unicorn’s back. “They are stained glass windows.”

“They are marvelous. I… could live in a house with just one of these and stare into its beauty forever.”

“They are more than just beautiful, my dear Helia. They tell stories of the world’s past.” Gratis gestured around. “See how they cast their light upon the floor? It is so we may walk in the path of history and understand it. It is built in glass so that we may understand how fragile the tales of old are, and what it takes to preserve them. Should this castle ever fall from the sky, these windows would shatter and history would have to begin anew from that point.”

Selena tilted her head. “Is that a meadow-four?” Nótt looked at the young pegasus and chuckled softly.

Helia stared intently at the projection on the floor. “It means that history lights the paths that we walk upon. Without knowing where you have been you cannot see where you are going.”

“Very good, little unicorn. You’re quite clever. Brilliant, in fact.” Gratis smiled widely.

Helia’s eyes narrowed and a slight smirk adorned her face. “But if these windows shattered, could they not be replaced with new ones? New ones containing new tales, depicted in the vision of whoever crafted them.”

Gratis frowned. “The one who would do that… now there would be the monsters of which you speak…” The dragon gestured with his arms, showing off the enormity of the windows. “To us immortals, history is our only asset. Destruction of history can only lead to one thing…” The sisters leaned in closer to hear the dragon. “But that is another tale for another time. Come, walk the hall of the world’s history with me and we shall go about dispelling this belief that you are a monster.” The dragon shook his head. He pointed to each window in succession. “This one here shows the machinations of the past, the wagons moved by boiling water and captured lighting.”

“Captured lighting? Such powerful magic, correct?”

“No, not magic at all. A foreign power of what was then nature, once studied and then understood, soon harnessed by the centaur’s hands and hooves. The first steps towards mastery of the world and its universe.” He lifted his claw to the next window. “Here, in this frame, is the discovery of magic, the forbidden power of the universe for it is both wonderful and dreadful. A power sourced from the balance of diametrically opposed poles: creation and destruction, positive and negative, earth and sky… order and chaos.” Gratis gently pushed the sisters to the next window. “Then this one depicts the centaurs and their war. The great Centaur War, a war that would claim the very fabric of the world as its final battlefield. It was here that opposites combined and it was here that opposites split apart. It was here that the lost lights of the future was birthed and then forgotten, swallowed by chaotic hearts.”

“Lost lights of the future….” Selena repeated, with a subtle twinkle in her eyes.

“This next one shows the cataclysm and exodus of the centaurs. Such a war only could have lead here, to this result. The land torn asunder, the very sky burned and floated away, leaving only the cold embrace of the stars to cradle this small rock. The keeper of the tides was broken along the very lines drawn in one of its monthly shadows. The giver of light was pierced and its eternal flame died out. A time of mystery, as the masters of the world left this land in the care of fledglings, mere children.” The dragon began a slow walk down the hall. Dagr and Nótt stepped ahead and pushed open a grand set of doors.

Helia let out a small gasp of amazement. “It’s like a hall filled with stories. Stories told in glass pictures….” Helia stopped in front of one of the windows and stared at the familiar shapes.

Gratis stared for a moment at the window; he appeared to be lost in thought as he spoke. “This one is the rebirth, when new gods were born. Not gods born of machine and magic cultivated by the centaurs but gods born out of necessity from the misdeeds of them.”

“And this one?” Selena pointed to the next window in the line.

“That is the cowardliness of the gods. Fearing that the universe might invoke retribution for their acts, they fled and hid amongst the clouds, so that they may avoid their true purpose.” Gratis spread his arms wide and sighed. “Now that you see this world’s storied past, now that you see the troubles it has been through at the command of arrogant fools.” Gratis lowered his head down to Helia’s own. His eyes inches from hers, he smiled mischievously. “What right have you to call yourself a monster?”

Helia shook fearfully in the god’s presence. “I… I…”

“Have you tried to claim the laws of the world for yourself so that you may use them selfishly?” He whispered.

“No… I…”

He raised his voice slightly. “Have you taken that which was hallowed and forced it to bend to your will and your will alone?”

Helia struggled to keep eye contact with the dragon. “I…”

Gratis began to shout. “Have you campaigned to shape the world in your view?!”

Helia shook her head. “No… I only…”

He was outright screaming. “Have you set the world aflame and taken the lives of those you would call friends?! Have you burned the sun so brightly it turned to ash?! Have you used the moon until it fractured and wept?! Have you thrown the world into despair and left mere children to clean up after your cataclysm?!” As he finished shouting a deathly calm crept over the castle hall. For a solid moment in time Helia simply stared into the eyes of the dragon and watched their inner fire burn into her soul.

Finally she spoke up. “No…” The voice was quiet, but it was not without strength.

“Then how can you claim to be a monster? How can you claim to be the worst the universe has to offer when there are so many more worthy of that title?”

“I… killed my father.”

“No. The golem killed him. The great love he had for your family killed him. Maybe even his pride killed him. But you, my dear sweet Helia, did not.”

“But….”

“True your actions may have set the stage for this tragedy, but you alone are a victim of circumstance.” Gratis turned around. “And you…” He leaned down towards the small blue pegasus. “Young Selena, what of you in all of this? Do you think your sister a monster? Are you a monster for helping her retrieve that bell?”

Selena suddenly shook under the weight of the dragon’s gaze. “My sister…” Selena glanced over to Helia and a small smile grew on her face. “I love my sister. She is certainly not a monster.”

“Well there you have it, sweet Helia.” Gratis smiled. “History, myself, and your own sister discount your claims. I can provide you no more evidence. Now, with all this known, call yourself a monster once more.”

Helia looked at the ground. She stared at the colored light cast by one of the stained glass windows. She stared at the brilliant reds and blues. Her lower lip quivered as she brought her attention back to the dragon’s face. “No. I can no longer call myself that term.”

“Very good then.” Gratis chuckled softly.

“But,” Selena’s ears drooped as she spoke. “I still miss father.”

Gratis scratched at the long beard on his chin. “Hm… I see. Perhaps then we should honor him with the mark he had on history.” Gratis waved his claw over a blank section of the hallway. The stone bricks dissolved and left a large gap in the wall. The bizarre golden light that reflected off of the clouds in the sky pocket flooded into the hallway.

Nótt raised his hoof and blocked Selena from glancing over the edge. Nótt managed to sing with a hauntingly beautiful voice despite smoke pony’s lack of a discernible mouth. “Careful hoofsteps, lovely Selena. The clouds far below are not as soft as one might imagine to a pegasus.” Selena nodded back to the shadow and cautiously backed back into the safety of the castle.

“Now then…” Gratis waved his tail across the opening. Shards of colored glass rose up and covered the hole. As the crystalline structures finished forming a distinct picture appeared. “There,” Gratis began, “now Welkin of the pegasus tribe is forever set in the path of history.”

The sisters approached the newly formed window and stood atop the stone tiles it cast its light upon. The cyan shades of the pony’s coat fell across the sisters’ faces. Selena reached a hoof up and touched the window pane gingerly. Selena opened her mouth to say something, but no words came. Helia was mesmerized by her sister’s actions. Deep in the back of her mind she could feel a prodding thought, telling her to speak on her sister’s behalf. “Selena,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry.”

The young filly swallowed a sob. “It’s not your fault.”

Helia looked up at the window and sighed. “Mother always said death was a natural part of the world. He may be gone, but we can remember him in our hearts.”

Selena inhaled deeply. A tear began to fill her eyes as her hoof traced the outline of the picture’s wings. “He was going to teach me how to fly.”

“Was he now?” Gratis’s gentle voice startled the two sisters. “You’ve been banished from the laagar and now there no pony is left to teach you. Well… a pegasus is a creature of the sky so what better place to learn how to soar than the Keep in the Sky?” Gratis smiled and gestured down the hallway with his claw. “Come, let me show you what it means to be a pegasus.”

Selena looked up at the dragon and wiped her tears with her hoof. “You…? You would teach me?”

“But of course! Follow me to the terrace. Come along, Nótt.” Gratis turned his back to the windows and began to walk down the hallway. “Helia, we will give you some time to pay your respects. Speak to Dagr when you are ready.” With that final line, the gray dragon disappeared around a corner with the shadowy pony and her sister.

Helia walked slowly around the hallway examining all of the windows. She studied the images intently for a moment. The one in particular she was studying Gratis had described as the great centaur war. She stared into the brilliant orange tinted glass that made up the magnificent flames that engulfed the subjects of the image. On some primal level she felt the image of the fire reflect into her eye where it flickered endlessly. How long she had stood there, gazing into the window was unknowable. It was certainly a few hours. The sun’s change in position told her that. But exactly how many hours passed escaped her. She was pulled out from her trance by the nagging feeling that she was being watched. She spun around to see the spectral phoenix, gazing at her.

“Something the matter, little Helia?” The brid’s voice once again astounded her. It’s calm, lyrical tone flowed through the air as silk streams of sound. The voice sounded young. It was a sprit full of fiery passion laced with an echo of ancient wisdom.

“No…” Helia said, a bit intimidated by the creature’s presence. She then shook her head and spoke again. “Actually, something is on my mind.”

“Voice it, and I shall do my best to answer.”

“Why are we here? Why were we brought to the Keep in the Sky?”

Dagr glanced out the window quickly before turning back around to face Helia. “Father has interest in you. Therefore you are here. I know nothing more than that.”

Helia glanced back at the window depicting her father. “Wait a minute…” Helia spun around and locked eyes with the phoenix. “Gratis and my sister, where did they go? Can you take me to them?”

“Of course, sweet Helia.” Dagr bowed slightly before extending his wing. He gracefully motioned for her to follow. They proceeded down the hallway and into a grand ballroom of some sort. Helia had heard tales, of course, of the great unicorn kingdoms in the tribal homeland. They had castles there as well, but she somehow doubted that they were neither as fantastical nor as mysterious as what she was seeing now. They passed through ballroom and courts, hallways and the tops of ramparts. They strolled through art collections and a large caged courtyard filled with birds. They walked through a hall full of statues and a stargazing observatory. Each room was more fantastical than the last. Finally they came to a large room lined with wooden shelves. Helia looked around the room with wide eyes. From the ceiling hung a chandelier filled with glowing crystals, providing a harsh light to the room. Several desks sat with candles, long dripped down.

“What is this place?” Helia said.

Dagr glanced upwards at the chandelier. “It is the library of the Keep.”

Helia stared at the empty shelves. “I’ve not been to a library before, but…”

“She’s never been to a LIBRARY BEFORE?” Twilight Sparkle interjected.

“Do you mind? I’m in the middle of a story here!” Princess Luna donned a pout. “Honestly, you’re making this take a lot longer than it needs to be.” Luna shook her head. “Now where was I? Oh right….”

Helia stared at the empty shelves. “Well, I’ve never been to a library before now, but don’t libraries have… books? There’s nothing here but empty shelves as far as the eye can see.”

“An empty library?!”

“Twilight! Please!”

“Sorry….”

Helia stared at the empty shelves. “Well, I’ve not set hoof in a library up until now, but I was pretty sure libraries have… books or tomes, right? This place is nothing but empty shelves as far as I can see.”

The phoenix walked to the far end of the room, towards its exit. “It has always been empty. No books have even been retrieved from the surface to place upon the shelves.”

Helia shook her head in confusion. “Then why build a library if not to fill it with books?”

Dagr sighed. “Sometimes, father makes little sense.”

“Well it certainly doesn’t make….” Helia began to cough loudly. She fell to the ground and clenched at her neck.

“Are you alright, little one?”

Helia cleared her throat and stood back up. “I’m fine.” She shook her head. “It must just be dusty in here. Can we find my sister now?”

Dagr opened a door and gestured to exit. “This staircase will take us to the roof, where I suspect your sister is.”

“Alright.” Helia began to climb the stairs. The cobblestone steps twisted upwards around a central pillar. Helia could not be certain, but she assumed they were climbing up of the Keep’s many turrets that adorned its sides. Helia tried to count the stairs as she climbed but lost count sometime after four hundred. After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the top of the staircase. Dagr pressed the tip of his wing against the wooden door in front of them. The door creaked open slowly, flooding the area with a soft orange light.

Helia stepped into the outside to a grand vista. In every direction she could see, a landscape of clouds curled around like crashing waves frozen in time. The clouds, bathed in light from sunset and moonrise, played a symphony of pastel colors that serenaded her eyes with rich pinks and oranges. Helia tried to comment on what she was seeing, but no words could describe the sight. In the distance a small light blue blur was falling. A shadowy collection of smoke whisked the blue dot back to the top of a cloud only for the dot to leap off once more. These events repeated endlessly as Helia approached the silver colored dragon that was perched on the end of the castle roof. “Gratis…” Helia said.

“Lovely day for flying, wouldn’t you agree, Helia?” Gratis chuckled. “Of course every day is like this up here in the cloud pocket. Dagr, would you go help your bother? Young Selena is doing quite a bit of falling and I imagine he’s getting awful exhausted catching her.”

The phoenix bowed before spreading its wings and leaping off of the roof. “Certainly, father.”

Gratis looked down at the unicorn with the pink mane. “Besides, I sense Helia would have some words with me.”

Helia clenched her jaw as she watched the phoenix fade into the distance. She did not look up at the dragon as she spoke, but even from that angle, Gratis could see the fire in her eyes. “I know what you’re doing.”

He frowned. “I’m sorry, but I only know everything. I cannot read minds. You will simply have to be more specific.”

“Why did you bring us up here? What is the rationale behind showing us all of this?”

“Rational? Who said anything about being rational?” Gratis chuckled.

“The reason we’re here, tell me it.”

Gratis sighed. “My garden…. The forest you entered is a special place. One might say a fixed point in magical flows. You were the first pony to ever enter it, and by circumstance you managed to enter at the only time in three hundred years that I was visiting. You a pony of your age without a mark, a blank slate with no defined destiny somehow wound up in a contrived circumstance that lead to our meeting. I’ll admit I was curious.”

“Are you saying it was my destiny to find you there in that forest?”

Gratis scratched his chin. “Some say that every living thing everywhere is capable of having a special magical connection with others, possibly even before they’ve met. They call it fate, destiny, fortune, luck, or predestination.” Gratis shook his head. “Such things do not exist. At least not for mortals.”

Helia shook her head. “No such thing as destiny? But what about cutie marks? Don’t we ‘mortals’ receive it when we find out destiny?”

“No. You receive them when you choose your destiny, not when you find it. There is a difference.”

“Then what does a cutie mark stand for then?”

“Resolve.” Gratis leaned backwards and gazed up at the cloud covered sky. “When you decide what your place in the world is, not because it was assigned to you, but because you chose it and acknowledged it. When you choose the one thing that makes you who you are. It is a choice. It is always a choice.”

“So I’m a curiosity because…?”

“Mortals don’t have a destiny. But you just might have the closest thing to it. A set of circumstances carefully crafted… but to what end… I do not know.”

Helia sat down next to the dragon. “You keep saying mortals don’t have a destiny. But myths speak of the fact that you are immortal. Does that mean you have a destiny?”

Gratis laughed. “Only if it can find and catch me.”

Helia looked down at the stone roof. “So we’re here because of curiosity? We’ve seen all these fantastical sights because you were curious….”

“When one knows everything, the unknowable becomes very interesting.”

Helia inhaled deeply. “We’re little things of interest to study, and you expect us to stay here… forever… don’t you?” Helia locked eyes with the dragon and spoke with a determined tone. “That’s why you’re teaching Selena to fly! Like father was supposed to! You can’t just replace him. You can’t just abduct us and replace our lives so you can satisfy your curiosity.”

“No, I cannot replace him. Nor can I bring him back. The only thing I can do is attempt to provide a distraction from that sorrow.”

“A distraction… just forget about him? How could you even think such a thing?”

Gratis waved his claw in the air and one of the clouds floated over. “Because I’m capable of being pragmatic. Do you think your father would want you to morn his death for eternity? What use would that have?”

“The concept of sadness is hard to grasp for you, isn’t it?”

“Maybe. But take a look at where you are! A pocket of serenity where the sun and the moon dance endlessly in an ocean of clouds. I can show you many things. All of this would be yours. You’d be a princess. The laws of the world are mine to bend and you could reap the rewards.” His claws ripped a chunk out of the cloud and he passed the fluffy substance to the pony. “Like this. Here, eat.”

Helia took the substance in her hoof. “Eat it?” She slowly placed her placed her tongue on the cloud. “It’s… sweet?”

“Clouds made of cotton candy.” Gratis chuckled. He looked thoughtfully up at the sky before continuing. “Would it be so bad?” Gratis asked. “Staying here, that is, in the Keep in the Sky?”

“We have a life on the surface. I have a mother I love dearly and an uncle who would worry.” A small tear rolled down her cheek. “I just lost one member of my family. I’m not about to lose the rest. I don’t think I can bear that kind of heartbreak ever again….”

“I see…”

“We are in two separate worlds, you and I. Mortals and immortals do not interact.”

“True.” Gratis said. “And here I was getting used to having someone else here.” Helia bowed her head. Then a small smile crept up upon the dragon’s face. “Although…” Gratis stood up and walked to the edge of the roof. He leaned downward and peered over the edge of the roof. “What if we were to inhabit the same world?”

“But… we don’t. You live up here! You said yourself you only come to visit my world once every three hundred years.”

“Ah, but you forget. I am Gratis. The impossible is mine to command.” Gratis raised his claw and snapped his fingers. A blinding pillar of light erupted forth from the ground, piercing the clouds below. The Keep began to rumble violently. Around them it began to rain. The cloud ceiling began to dissolve into a downpour. In the distance Dagr and Nótt snatched Selena from the air and attempted to bring her back quickly to the Keep’s rooftop, dodging cloudbursts as they flew. The wind picked up around them as the clouds below broke into strayed strings of fog. Like tendrils they whisked upwards, lashing out at the phoenix and the ponies. The clouds on the horizon began to rotate, the Keep in the Sky as the eye of the storm. The sun and the moon retreated out of view, the sun soaring upwards and out of sight while the moon sank below the horizon. The Keep in the Sky gave a sudden lurch.

“What’s happening?!” Helia screamed as the Keep shook violently. A gust of air blew her mane upwards.

“Paradise’s descent,” Gratis said. The Keep began to fall at an alarming speed. Selena and the brothers reached out to land on the roof but they were too late. The Keep fell. It fell and it fell. It must have covered the whole height of the sky and more. It fell past moonbeams and sunrays, through stars and storms. The clouds attempted to reach out and catch it, but they could not hold the mighty structure’s stone weight. Finally they broke through the cloud barrier beneath them and when their vision was no longer obscured by the mist they could see the ground below. It was nothing but a placid pond, a dead tree stranded in the center where the mists culminated. It must have been here that the sun and moon and fled to, for they were hiding on opposite sides of the pond. As the Keep approached the celestial objects fled once more as if either they were frightened by the Keep's presence or as though they were needed elsewhere. “Hang on to something!” Gratis yelled. “This might get a tad dramatic! Faster! Faster! I hope we get enough speed to make it!” The Keep crashed into the pond with the most unsettling sound Helia had ever heard. It was not a splash like she had expected. It was the sound of glass breaking. It was the sound of the universe shattering beneath them as they crashed downward. Light flooded the area. Soon Helia recognized the blue sky around her. They had fallen back to her world. And they were falling faster and fast with each passing moment. She glanced downward and could make out the dark green patch that was the forest she had met Gratis in. She could see the cave where she had found the golem. As they neared the ground she could even see the small dot that was her wagon home.

“We’re still falling!”

“Yes! That’s generally how one travels to the ground!”

“But my sister and I are mortals! We won’t survive the crash!”

“Then I suppose this would be a bad time to tell you I hadn’t considered that when I started this!”

Helia screamed and then it all ended. The Keep came to a lurching stop just a few hundred feet from the treetops of the forest. Helia's breath refused to settle. Gratis began to laugh. “A brand new day rises over the Known World.” Gratis smiled.

“All this because of… us?” Helia gasped for air.

“I’d forgotten how it feels to have someone to talk to.”

“But what about them?” Helia pointed out to the horizon where Selena and the brothers were safely flying, apparently following in the descent and also coming to a safe stop. “You don’t talk to Dagr and Nótt?”

“Talk? No. Celestial Angels can only sing….”

30: Timelines: Town Life

“So I suppose you’re going to tell me that Gratis, Helia, and Selena went off to have magical adventures and stuff? That they traveled through time and space in Gratis’s flying castle? Is that where this is leading?” Twilight Sparkle sighed. “Because perhaps you should be focusing on these Dagr and Nótt spirits they seem to have some connection to the sun and the moon. Wait a moment… is this whole thing just an elaborate way to tell me you two don’t control the sun and the moon? It’s been these spirits the whole time?” Twilight stood up and started to pace. “But if that’s the case then why isn’t the sun moving now? Princess Celestia’s incapacitation shouldn’t cause the sun to stop rising if she’s not the one controlling it, right? Is there something I’m missing?”

Princess Luna shook her head. “Yes, there’s a lot you are missing. Sit back down and I’ll finish telling the story. You are the most impatient mare I have ever known.”

“Because you’re not telling me what I asked to learn!” Twilight shouted. “And it feels like it’s taking months for you to tell this story! Can’t you tell this any faster?”

“If you want to learn, I’ve got to tell it right. And that takes time.”

“Speakin’ of learning, Twilight,” Applejack said with a smirk. “You should be quiet an’ let the Princess finish her story or you won’t pass the quiz at the end.”

Twilight’s face melted to pure the-sight-of-Pinkie-Pie-with-a-twenty-eight-gallon-barrel-of-genuine-Coltlumbian-espresso-and-a-swirly-staw horror. “QUIZ?! No pony ever mentioned a quiz!” Twilight sat back down and her ears pricked up attentively.

“Thank you, fair Applejack. I’ll have to remember that trick.” Luna nodded to the orange pony.

“What trick?” Twilight asked with a bit of confusion. “Did I miss something? Will it be on the quiz?”

Luna inhaled deeply. “Now, it is true that Gratis, Helia, Dagr, Selena, and Nótt did have many adventures and fantastic tales over the years, but this is not that story and perhaps you are right. So I will skip ahead about fourteen years to a particular set of incidents that I think you will find very interesting.” Luna nodded thoughtfully as she contemplated how to start the next part of the tale and after a moment of staring at the floor she sighed. “The Keep in the Sky would slowly float over many lands. To many it would seem that it was traveling with a divine purpose, but in reality it was simply following a small wagon that rolled along on the ground. Helia’s family traveled for a time around the area, looking for a stable food supply, which they finally found when they met up with another laager resting by a river near the forest. This laager had grown tired of running and they dismantled their wagons and began to build more concrete structures. Houses and barns, the first makings of a new town out in the frontier. It was the first true pony settlement outside of the tribal homelands. Progress, the mark of a changing world. As a whole, the town was excited to bolster its numbers with fresh blood. But individually, many ponies objected to such a strange family taking up residence in their midst. After all, while none in the town knew of it, two of these ponies had gained the favor of the gods….”

A shadow crossed over the unicorn mare’s face. The pony let out a large yawn and rolled on her back. Helia attempted to wave the shadow away from her snout but found it an impossible task. She clutched her hooves against the book she was using as head rest. She finally opened her eyes to the bright sunlight and blue sky above her. She smiled at the beauty of the day; it must have been late morning judging by the brilliant blue of the sky. She glanced around with another wide yawn, searching for the source of the shadow that interrupted her sun drenched sleep. It took a little while to spot the culprit hovering above her. Selena’s light blue coat blended in well with the clear sky, but Helia could not mistake the distinct sound of her sister’s wings flapping in the air. “Morning, Selena.” Helia yawned more than said.

“Good morning, sister. Nice mane!” Selena said with a giggle. Helia did not bother to try and check her appearance. She knew she woke most days with bed-head that could rival the appearance of a molting griffon. Helia stretched her hooves and back as magic flowed through her mane, fixing her appearance radically. Selena lowered herself down to her sister’s eye level. “How’d you get up here?” Selena glanced around at her sister’s chosen sleeping spot. Somehow her sister had spent the night on the top of one of the town roofs, specifically the roof of the bakery.

“Teleported.” Helia said as she shook the sleep from her eyes. “It was late and this looked like a comfy spot.”

“You and your magic…. Staying up reading for the library again?” Selena said as she tapped the book Helia had been reading with her hoof. “Does that one seem like a good book for the Keep?”

“All books belong in our library. But yes, this one is particularly….” Helia fell to the ground and began to cough violently. Selena quickly landed next to her sister and placed her hoof on Helia’s back. After the coughing subsided, Helia pushed Selena’s hoof off of her back and stood back up.

“Are you alright?”

Helia shook her head. “Yes! I’m fine! I wish everypony would stop asking me that!”

“You know sleeping on roof tops can’t be helping that cough….” Selena sighed. “Not that’d you listen to me. Anyway, just wanted to make sure you were up! You’re such a night owl I’m a tad afraid you would sleep all day if you were allowed.” Selena took back to the air and smile. “I’ll see you tonight, right?”

Helia smiled. “Of course, I’ve just got to do a few things first. Tell him I’ll be there this afternoon.” Selena nodded and zipped off into the sky. “Never lands for a second that one….” Helia chuckled. Helia yawned once more and stretched out her forelegs. “Well… time for another day in this boring town. Right, Dagr?”

Helia wrapped the book in her magic aura and lazily swayed off the edge of the roof. She hardly seemed to care about her safety as she plummeted to the ground. With a last second blink out of existence she teleported from the air to the ground halting her momentum. The young unicorn mare set her hooves down on the dirt road and sighed. She was fully grown now and was fetching to the eye for many colts around her, but she had no interest in those things as she gave a false hearted wave to the baker who was walking out of the building she had just jumped off. The baker was balancing a tray on his back, containing the same collection of rolls and loaves that she had come to see from him every day. The book spun inside her magic aura as she walked away from the bakery and down the street. She hummed a tune to herself to resolve her of some of her boredom.

The town was already bustling with ponies carrying out their day to day humdrum lives. As she sauntered down the lane she was oblivious to the ponies rushing in each direction, crisscrossing in front of her snout. Apparently they had the most important world saving tasks to attend to with such great haste that they could not be bothered to watch where they were galloping; such tasks as haggling of the price of six eggs and the task of purchasing a length of fabric ten yards long. She used her magic to open the book and buried her snout in it. Helia attempted to block out the sound of what was about to happen next. It was her least favorite part about walking through town.

“There she goes now, such a strange mare, that one.” One of the ponies mumbled. The pony smiled as she waved. “Hello, Helia!”

“No, no. They broke up again.” A pair of ponies passed Helia, too busy with their own conversation to notice her.

“Snout in a book again. Doesn’t she look so haughty just because she can read?” Another pony shook his head then raised his voice to make sure he was heard. “Good morning to you, young lady!”

“Oh look, the unicorn who thinks she’s a princess is here….”

“Such a cute mare she is. Surely she’s not single?” One pony said.

The pony’s friend leaned over and pressed a hoof to his mouth for a whisper. “Careful, that’s Helia. She’s not very nice….”

“Good morning! How’s your husband doing? Still have that rash?”

An elder stallion passed by. “Hi, Helia!”

“What an odd pony, that one is…”

An older mare pulled her young filly back from the street and whispered. “Watch out Blossom Belle, a mare that age without a cutie mark has no doubt something wrong her.” The mare smiled and waved. “Say ‘hello’ to your mother for me will you, Helia?”

“I don’t think that seems like a fair price for those, I could go as high as two rubies.”

A pony pointed at Helia. “Such a strange one… and her sister too…”

“Then I said to her, I don’t think that’s what that’s for!” A young stallion laughed.

“Looks to be a great day, Helia!” Another pony tipped his hat to her. He sighed then added in a whisper, “Head always in the clouds.”

“Cretins…” Helia said under her breath with a large belying smile. She turned the corner and walked past the metal smith. She peered out of the corner of her eye to catch the smith press his hoof against the bellows. Smoke billowed in the sky above the town. “Such a waste of time.” She mumbled. Why could they not simply transmogrify bio-matter into metal? After all, it was such a simple spell for her to perform. A merchant pushed a cart full of apples into the street. Another group approached from the other side of the street. She braced herself and pulled her book closer to her face, it seemed it was starting again.

“Special today, three for the price of one!”

“Then three apples please! No that one has a bruise could I have… Oh, greetings, Helia!”

“Hel…lo…” Helia strained out through her teeth as she passed by, pausing from humming her song for only a moment.

“Talk about a bad apple!” The merchant shook his head.

A stallion reached his hoof up to wrap it around the mare’s shoulder. “Hey, Helia, you know you walk by here often and after all these months I think I’ve finally worked up the courage to…”

“That hoof touches my coat, and you’ll need more than apples to stay out of Doc Needle’s office.” Helia said softly as she turned another page in the book. The stallion gulped and galloped away with a tear in his eye. She turned a page in the book and continued walking. She passed the loom house and turned the corner. She sighed again, only more street left. She let the book float downwards as she cast her gaze to the forest in the distance. The outline of the Keep in the Sky was visible above the woods. She gave a quick genuine smile until she was pulled from her thoughts rather quickly from a small colt. She narrowly avoided colliding with the young colt who was not watching where she was going.

“Hello, Helia! Sorry didn’t see ya there. What’cha readin’?”

Helia raised an eyebrow with a subtle smile. “It’s a text recovered from the tribal lands. It depicts unicorn linage down the third royal…”

“Sounds fascinating, have to go!” Without so much as a pause in breath, the colt raced away.

“… line within the Starcatcher family…. Fine… never mind.” Helia closed her eyes and shook her head. She glanced back up to the outline of the Keep in the Sky. “I hate this place. If only mother didn’t love it so much. But she’s just getting too old for wagon puller life.” Helia sighed once more and turned a page in her book. “One more street…” She said as she lowered her book to make sure she made the turn. She stopped in her tracks at the sight before her. She quickly skidded off to the side of the street and pressed her body up against the side wall of the ally. She peered over the edge of a barrel and spied on the event that was unfolding in the street crossing in front of her. “Mother…” She whispered.

A light blue earth pony smiled. “Well that’s too kind of you, young ones.”

A large stallion was circling around, much like a vulture circling prey. “No thanks are needed, Gaia, no, no thanks at all.” The stallion reached out and placed an apple in Gaia’s hoof. A second stallion approached the mare quietly and reached for her saddlebag.

“But surely you want some payment for it?” Gaia said as she reached for her saddle bag. “I mean, I can’t just take advantage of your generosity.”

“No no, you needn’t pay at all. Think of it as my treat.” The stallion said quickly, placing a hoof on Gaia’s shoulder. The stallion behind her hesitantly pulled his hoof back.

“Well if you’re sure….” Gaia said with a smile. The stallion hiding in her shadow quickly reached his hooves in to Gaia’s saddlebag and swiped a series of dull colored gems. Helia’s eyes widened and she let out a guttural growl.

The stallion smiled. “Well you have a good day now, Miss Gaia. Say hello to those lovely daughters of yours for me, will you?”

“I certainly will. It’s so nice to see such gentlecolts.” Gaia bowed and turned to walk down the street. “Good day!” She said as she glanced back and waved a hoof.

The two stallions began to laugh. Helia’s eyes narrowed as she watched the strings of saliva spray from their mouths as they bellowed their throaty laughs. She felt her teeth clench as the stallions tossed the gems in the air. One of the stallions chuckled. “Well smashingly pulled off, dear brother of mine, simply smashing.” The stallion took a bite of one of the apples he was holding. “You know the pegasi have an ancient saying that a sucker is born every minute.”

The other stallion slapped his knee. “Never more true in today’s times, ol’ brother of mine!” He grabbed the gems and tossed them up in the air. With quick reflexes he caught them and grinned devilishly. He flipped the gems up in the air again. He reached out to catch them once more but was surprised when the gems did not fall back down. He leaned his neck back so he could see the gems and found them enveloped in a soft yellow glow. The gems floated away quickly before he could snatch them.

Helia stood up from behind where she was standing and caught the flying bag of gems in her mouth. “I wouldn’t count your winnings just yet.” She said with a grin.

“Oh look who it is. It’s the mother’s little freak.” The stallion said with a smirk. “Now why don’t you be a good little filly and pass those gems back over here.”

“I don’t think I will, actually.” Helia smiled as she flipped the gems up in the air. A brief flash of golden light blanketed the area. When the light faded the small bag of gems was gone. “Sorry, guess that makes me a bad little filly, huh?”

“Where’s our gems?! What did you do with them?” One of the stallions asked through clenched teeth.

“No pony messes with my mother.” The unicorn said. Her eyes flashed with a primal fury and her horn glowed softly. It was just a flexing of her power. She tried to hold restraint, but it was difficult with the emotions currently welling in her chest. The ground underneath one of the stallions cracked and jolted upwards. The stallion was flung into the air and impacted against the wall of a building. The stallion groaned in pain while Helia smiled wickedly.

The other stallion dug his hoof into the ground, readying a charge. “Oh, you’re going to get it now, freak.” He broke into a gallop and prepared to tackle the unicorn. His hooves dug into the ground, kicking the dirt road up in swirling clouds. He picked up speed faster than any would have expected, fire obviously in his heart. He leapt into the air; the wind flung the dust clouds upwards around his body. As he approached, Helia did not flinch. She did not react at all, and if her flesh had been replaced by stone at the time, none would have noticed it. The stallion’s face crumpled together, his brow lowering as he braced for impact. His target may not weigh much, but he was tackling with such force that he would need to be ready for anything. Helia did not balk in the slightest, the only reaction she showed was a slight smirk of her mouth. The stallion’s hoof neared Helia’s muzzle, the full power of his charge behind it. Helia’s resolve to not move was unshakeable, and in the primal part of the stallion’s mind, this screamed a surge of fear. It would have looked like the mare was oblivious to the stallion’s attack as it connected with her jaw, if it were not for the bored expression worn on her face.

What happened next was a mystery to the stallion for the rest of his life. He would try to recount the tale to his grandfoals and he would stutter and shrug as he attempted to explain what had happened. Out of all of his future retellings one thing was constant, a blinding flash of light erupted from the area. The stallion was thrown backwards, his body bouncing haphazardly against the ground. Helia cracked a small smile. The stallion came to a rolling stop at the base of his brother’s hooves. He cried out in pain and held his hoof. A brilliant light shorn forth from Helia’s body and large spectral wings spread forth from her sides. An angelic voice boomed around her, “This one is under my protection, and no harm shall befall her!” Helia broke out laughing, her head thrown back and her mouth agape.

The stallion screamed out in pain. “Gah! I think you broke my hoof!” His brother helped him up. “Fine! Keep the gems! You’re not worth the trouble.” The stallion’s hobbled off into the distance as Helia fell to the ground laughing.

The angelic voice spoke once more, “You must be more careful, sweet Helia.” The spectral wings pulled themselves away from Helia’s body and took the form of a phoenix.

“Oh lighten up, Dagr!” Helia said, covering a laugh with her hoof. “It’s not like…”

A voice called out from around the corner. “Over there! There was… this… freak-thing! Down this way!”

Helia shook her head. “Well then… up for a quick run?” Helia laughed as she sprinted down the road. She leaned into a bank, her hooves skidding in the dirt as she rounded a turn. She raced past houses and through the streets. Dagr floated alongside her at what appeared for him to be a lazy pace. After narrowly squeezing into an alleyway, she focused cast a teleport spell to blink on top of a roof. She leapt from roof top to roof top, chased by the shouts of a group of angry ponies in the streets below.

“Helia!” Dagr called out, as he floated backwards in front of her snout. “We need to talk about this.” The phoenix shook his head and sighed.

“Can it wait for a bit? I’m in the middle of running for my life.” Helia said in between breaths. She slid forwards and jumped. Her hooves spread outwards as she sailed through the air. For a moment it felt like she was flying. An exhilarating wind rushed through her mane. She closed her eyes and pretended she had wings like her sister; a set of beautiful, pretty wings that she could use to soar through the clouds. Her daydream came to an end as she felt herself begin to fall. She focused magic into her horn and flashed to the ground with a fizzling noise. She laughed widely as she raced off into the depths of the nearby forest. She slid to a stop, her hooves kicking up a group of twigs and dead leaves.

“Now can we talk?” Dagr asked with a tilt of his head.

Helia laughed. “Yes, yes I suppose we…” She dropped down to her knees and started coughing.

“Helia!” Dagr shouted.

“I’m…” Helia wheezed. “I’m…” She fell on her side and shook violently. Sickening sounds echoed through the forest as blood trickled from her mouth. She shivered and then coughed a few more times, each time less violent than the last. When it seemed the coughing fit was subsiding Helia exhaled softly. She slowly closed her eyes and smiled. “I’m fine, Dagr.”

“You most certainly are not.” The phoenix said.

Helia stood up and fixed her main. She wiped a bit of blood from her mouth. “I am now.”

“You know, all that running cannot be good for that cough. You wouldn’t have to run so much if you would stop getting all that trouble.”

“I don’t get in that much trouble.” Helia chuckled.

Dagr shook his head. “Two days ago you set fire to…”

Helia stamped her hoof. “It was only one barn! And they we’re going to demolish it anyway!”

Dagr landed on Helia’s back and sighed. “I have been charged with protecting you by father. I will never let any harm fall upon you, but you must stop causing so much trouble.” Helia began a slow walk through the forest. She craned her neck up so she could admire the leaves on the trees.

“But it really isn’t important now.” Helia chuckled. “Oh, it feels so good to be out of that dreary town, full of its unchanging boredom. Monotony, repetition… that’s all that’s there in that place. Can’t stand it in the least.”

Dagr leaned against the pony’s back as the ventured deeper into the forest. “I wouldn’t say it’s entirely like that. Your mother did get robbed.”

“No, you’re wrong. Even its ruffians are predictable. It’s like the whole place is static. Unchanging, bound by some impossible law of order. Drives me insane.” Helia laughed. “At least it doesn’t feel like that in the Keep or in this forest, for that matter.”

“I suppose.” The bird said.

Helia walked past a small spring and kicked a pebble into it. The water splashed with a satisfying sound that made her grin. “I don’t think I’ve ever asked before, but do you know what this place is called?”

“The forest?” Dagr asked, more to himself rather than Helia. “I don’t think it has a name. It’s just father’s garden.”

“That’s too bad. I always feel so free here. Like, this is how the world is supposed to be. Wild and just a tad dangerous. Mystical and old.”

“Dark and chaotic is more like it. My sunrays cannot reach most of the ground here.”

She chuckled. “Well, trees are what trees are.” Helia looked up at the sky, visible through the trees. “It’s such shame….” She gestured up with her hoof. She pointed the Keep in the Sky floating lazily over the forest. “That he never comes down that is. Why doesn’t Gratis ever come down? The world would be such a splendid place if he did, I think.”

“He never comes down, even before we met you and your sister. He always stays in the Keep.” Dagr looked upward as the floating stone island. “Before he met you, he would stay in the cloud pocket. But I think he would get lonely, and every three hundred years he would make a trip to this forest. His garden he called it. Here he would spend the day, one single day doing nothing and then he would return.”

“Well at least we got him out the cloud pocket. That’s something I guess.” Helia nodded to herself. “Why did he hide in there?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t understand father even in the best of times. He’s magnificent and ancient, and he burned at the center of creation itself. He sees everything and nothing at the same time. I think it must be a tad maddening.” Dagr rolled on his stomach and draped his wings over Helia’s body. “I once asked him why he never left the Keep. Why he ran and hid in the cloud pocket.”

Helia glanced back over her shoulder at the creature riding on her back. “And?”

“He spoke a lot of words. I doubt they all had meaning. He spoke of destiny and the equilibrium of the universe, the laws of existence and balance. How negative magic seeks destruction psychic-emotive… and the scale of the… thing. Sorry, something about the… uh… wibbly-ness of the… uh… stuff.”

Helia chuckled. “That sentence started out well…”

“It… well… it’s very complicated....” Dagr inhaled sharply. “I think he’s just scared. I’m not sure of what though. But, must not have been too scary. He’s still in the Keep, but he’s left the pocket in the clouds. It doesn’t even exist anymore. I’ll never understand how you got him to do that.”

“Well you tend to be a bit thick.” Helia slid down a small slope. “Not too much further ‘til the sundial. I bet Selena is already up there, stuffing her face on whatever feast Gratis has conjured up.”

“She’s quite entitled to it.” Dagr chuckled. “It is her birthday, after all.”

“Fair enough.” Helia looked around. “Tell you what, while I take us there, why don’t you sing me that song I like so much?”

“It would be my honor.” The phoenix said as it opened its mouth to sing.

31: Timelines: Universal Laws

“Hey! Where are you going, Applejack?” Twilight Sparkle asked as she turned around. Luna paused from her story to glance up at the orange earth pony. She gave a small frown as the farmer held the door to the literary restoration room open with a hoof.

“Ah’m thirsty. This is taking a long time so Ah’m goin’ to go get someth’n to drink.” Applejack gave a tip of her hat and stepped outside the door.

“Food. Right.” Twilight said to herself. She turned back to Applejack and nodded. “I don’t think I’ve eaten nor had anything to drink at all since this Nightmare Twilight mess started. Could you get me some tea while you’re out?”

“Sure thing. This here place may be in ruins, but Ah bet there’s still somepony who knows their way around a kettle here somewhere. Be back in a jiffy.” Applejack quietly closed the door behind her and her hoofsteps could be heard echoing down the hallway.

Twilight turned her attention back inside the room. “Now Luna, could we skip to the part where Celestia and you show up?”

“I told you, I’m getting to that.” Luna sighed. “I’m sorry if I’m boring you.” She added in the royal sarcasm.

“Well what about this cough Helia has? Is that important?”

“I suppose we could skip to that part.” Luna looked up at the ceiling, she squinted her eyes, as if trying to remember something. “Yes. I think we can skip to that part. I remember that part well.” Luna inhaled deeply before continuing. “It was a bitter fall morning. The leaves were already all turned. They fell to the ground, swirling in little circles as they fell off the trees, one by one. A time of death, many would call it. Was it death? No, in some ways it was quite the opposite. The lives of Helia and young Selena would change forever on that day.” Luna shook her head. “In some ways it was death, the death of an era. An era that Selena would forever look back upon in fondness, and it would be a long time before she would ever feel so happy again….”

Grass, trees, and bushes, they were moving so fast she could not even tell them apart anymore. All the plants just looked like green and brown blurs. Her heartbeat was thrumming in her ears and adrenalin had saturated her veins. Selena had nearly collided with a tree. Her breath would not settle; it was not from the near collision, but rather from the reason she was flying so fast. It was faster than she had ever flown before. Selena had always been a fast pegasus. She rolled to the side to avoid slamming her outstretched wing into another tree trunk. She quickly glanced upwards, looking for a gap in the forest canopy where she could see the sky. She yelped in pain as her wing clipped one of the trees. She did not want to admit it, but she was lost. She glanced downwards at her shadow, racing over the brush and tangled roots. She gave a quick three toned whistle and the shadow began to shift and change shape. The shadow lifted off the ground and took full form, solid and lifelike. “Yes, sweet Selena?” The shadow spoke in a melodious voice. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Selena gritted her teeth. “Yes! I’m fine! Are we close enough now, Nótt? Can you take me to the Keep?”

Nótt’s wings spread wide, blanketing the area around Selena in shadow. He looked upwards thoughtfully. “Yes, we are close enough. Hold your breath.”

Selena inhaled deeply; cupping air in her cheeks. She braced herself as she flew into the shadows. The world melted away and merged with another. A place covered in shifting shades of various grays and blues that danced around. She was pulled by Nótt through a tunnel of some kind. Sound had decayed to humming and plinking noises. Every now and then a piece of the tunnel would break away and be pulled to the other side. With a sudden tug, Nótt plunged both of them into the side of the tunnel. As they hit the wall, they fell into what at first seemed to be a cool murky liquid, but the substance soon shattered into a series of disconnected lines. Light flooded the world. Selena squinted trying to make out the silhouette of the Keep in the Sky. Her head dizzily swayed from side to side as she scanned the horizon. She began to fall from the sky, the wind whipping at her mane. Finally she was able to spot the floating castle’s outline. She let out a sigh of relief, and it was only then that she remembered she had not taken a breath in quite some time.

“Thanks Nótt.” She said after steadying her breathing. She spread her wings to catch the air currents and pulled herself back upright, facing the Keep.

Nótt nodded. “See you later!” The pony chuckled as it reformed into her shadow.

Selena quickly adjusted her flight and sped rapidly off towards the Keep’s front, where the massive wooden doors and their iron lock stood. They had emerged from the Meld under the shadow of a nearby storm cloud and it was urgent that she made it those doors. The Keep had always been a magnificent sight to behold and it only was more fantastic up close. The turrets that pierced the sky, covered in creeping vines, caught the glint of Dagr’s sun. She pulled herself into a dive to pick up speed and swooped upwards as she rounded the corner of the floating island. She flew by the wall covered in stained glass windows. Suddenly she was overcome with a deep sadness. She fought back a stream of tears as she thought of her sister. Helia had always liked the stained-glass windows. She had always said when she had a castle of her own she would cover every outer wall with them. Selena choked back a sob as she rounded another corner. Finally the doors to the keep came into sight. She charged forward, hooves outstretched and braced for impact. Her shadow swept out from under her and pushed the doors open before she collided with them. She zoomed inside the castle and her hooves slid into contact with the stone floor in the atrium.

“Gratis! Gratis!” She yelled frantically. Her shadow returned to her, its hooves linking with her hooves on the floor. She ran deeper into the castle shouting at the top of her lungs, the fatigue of the flight seemingly lost, she was filled with boundless energy. “Gratis!” She repeated. Her voice echoed throughout the halls of the Keep. She had never noticed how still and quiet the keep was before that moment and the silence that was greeting her ears was unsettling and worrisome. She sprinted down one of the hallways. The Keep was an ever changing structure. Its stone interior would morph and twist around, making navigation impossible but still she knew every path, every hallway, and every crack in the castle. She had spent most of her life roaming its halls and its tricks and quirks never bothered her. She had gained an intuition about where each hallway led and could tell if she was heading towards or away from a room at anytime. She quickly turned down another hall and trotted across a red carpet. She called out once more to no reply. Finally her panic stricken mind seemed to clear enough for a thought to form. She skidded to a stop and looked down at her shadow. “Nótt, help.” She whistled a three note tune and watched as her shadow ripped itself out from under her hooves and off the ground.

“Yes, sweet Selena?” The shadowy mass had always greeted her in such a way. Every time she called him, and this time was no different. The expression on the dark pony was hard to read, Nótt did not possess a mouth, simply the vague outline of a muzzle. But the piercing green orbs that made up its eyes told her that it was worried. “How can I help you?”

“Gratis….” Selena sighed. Nótt was not stupid, but he was oblivious to the world around him. His only desire was that Selena was safe and happy and all other happenings were never even considered to be remembered. “I need to find your father. Quickly!” Selena glanced upwards towards one of the stained-glass windows.

Nótt flicked his starry tail. “This way, sweet Selena.” The stone wall behind him broke apart and the bricks began to slide revealing another hallway. “This shall lead to him.” Nótt chuckled loudly and faded back into Selena’s shadow.

She nodded to herself and took a quick moment to gather her thoughts. She inhaled sharply and then raced down the newly formed hallway. The hallway was narrow and twisted, but it was one she recognized. What it was doing sealed off behind one of the walls she could not fathom to guess, but she was glad Nótt could summon it nonetheless. She passed by several torches hanging from the walls, burning dimly. By all accounts they should have flooded the windowless hallway with smoke, yet they did not. After what seemed like an eternity of running, the hallway opened out into a large room. She approached a large pair of stone doors and let out a sigh of relief. “Found you….” She whispered as she lined her rear up with the doors. She gave a strong hind kick to the entryway. “Gratis!” She yelled as loud as she could muster, even with her shortness of breath from running.

The doors burst open from the force of the kick and slammed against the walls. The silver dragon was sitting on a wooden throne, looking fairly distraught. He turned his head slowly to face Selena. A tear in his eye which he tried badly to keep hidden, trickled down his cheek. The dragon took a slow, but deep inhale before speaking. “Selena…”

“Gratis! It’s Helia! She needs help!” Selena’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. Not out of fear of the dragon. No, he was perhaps one of the most trusted beings she had known during her lifetime. Her voice trembled because of her sister.

“I know,” Gratis said with a solemn tone.

Selena ignored the dragon’s mumblings and raced up next to him. “She can’t move!” Selena began to pace nervously. “She’s in the forest, and she’s in so much pain! Why are you just sitting there?! We have to go help her! She’s dying!”

“I know,” Gratis repeated in the same quiet tone.

“If we don’t…” Selena spun around with a shocked expression. “What do you mean ‘you know?!’”

Gratis looked away from Selena. “I sense Dagr’s presence and his emotional state.” The dragon stared at the floor.

Selena stood dumbfounded. “Well then let’s go! Come on!”

“Selena… there are some things that are the rules of the world, the fabric of reality. Every life must pass. This is the nature of the world. I wish I could help your sister, but I can’t. I wish it was not her time, but it is. I wish I could take away the sadness in your eyes, but it is out of my control.” Gratis turned and stared at the stained-glass window that lit the room. The window showed two young mares, a blue coated pegasus and a ivory unicorn, standing next to a silver dragon. “Mortal life is so fickle. A mighty river that ends in a trickle. With every path, a bend… and with every story, an end.” Gratis turned back to face Selena. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so very sorry.”

Selena stamped her hoof. “That’s not good enough! You are the mighty Gratis! There is nothing you can’t do!”

“I’m sorry.” Gratis closed his eyes and slowly shook his head.

“Then she is to die?” Selena fell to the floor, tears in her eyes. “Sister….”

“It is the way it must be.”

Selena heaved a heavy sob. “Then… then… can you at least see her go? She would want you there….”

Gratis shook his head. “It was already too dangerous leaving the cloud pocket… I should stay in the Keep, it is the….” Gratis winced as Selena let out another sob. He looked upwards in thought. He felt a small tear drip down his cheek and with a mighty sigh he continued speaking. “Alright,” he whispered. “We shall see her off together.” Gratis took a few moments to steady his breath before he reached out his claw. “Come, let us depart.”

Selena lifted her leg up to Gratis and as his claw wrapped around her hoof. He snapped his fingers and the Keep in the Sky vanished with a blinding flashed. Travel this way was instantaneous. So much changed in so little time and all of these changes assaulted her sense. The air pressure was different, the ambient smell in the air was different. The Keep smelled of gravel and stone, but this area smelled of wet grass, the dew must have been fresh on the ground. As her eyes adjusted to the brighter light of the forest, her heart sank. Lying in front of her was a nearly lifeless form of a white unicorn laying on her side, struggling to breathe. Motes of dust hovered in the air slowly signaling that the area must have been very still for a long time. In some ways it looked poetic to Selena; the area was a serene forest in the early light of dawn. The subject of the scene was framed in a soft pillar of light, peeking out from the upper branches of the trees. Perched overtop of the body was a ghostly phoenix, his neck craned to better view the mare’s face. Selena raced forward to kneel at her sister’s side. “Helia!”

The unicorn’s muzzle cracked to a small smile. Helia chuckled softly. “Selena… you came back.” Her eyes closed gently as she drew a labored breath.

“Of course I came back. Us blank flanks have to stick together.” Selena clasped her hooves around Helia’s neck. “Remember?”

“Ha…” Helia smiled. “Yes, I remember. How could I forget, it was the day father died…. That phrase seems to beg death.” Selena felt herself tremble as Helia broke into a rattling cough. The pegasus could do nothing but squeeze her sister tighter as the force of the cough shook them. Helia inhaled weakly. “It’s a shame….”

“No, it’s not. Because you’re going to be alright.” Selena said. Her tear spilled over Helia’s coat, leaving small lines of matted fur. “I promise you.”

“Selena… remember what mother told us the day father died?”

“Don’t talk like that….” She pulled her sister into an even tighter embrace.

“Remember, Selena….” Helia pleaded, her voice quavering with pain.

“She said….” Selena sobbed. “Please, not you too…” Selena stroked her hoof against the back of her sister’s mane. Helia gave her sister a stern look. Selena clenched her jaw together and repeated her mother’s wisdom. “She said that all things have their time. This is the order of the world. It is the way things are meant to be.”

Helia nodded. “That we are born. Then we live. And… then we die.” Helia chuckled. “Shame though… I never got my cutie mark.”

Selena shook her head. “That’s right! You can’t die now; you have so much more living to do, Helia!”

“No, there’s nothing more for me forward. But we had some great times, huh, Selena?” Helia coughed loudly. “Do you… remember that time… in the Keep when we got Gratis… to wear…?” Helia wheezed and then fell limp.

“Helia!” Selena screamed. Her cry echoed throughout the forest and frightened birds left the woods.

“I’m here….” She wheezed.

“I remember.” The silver dragon stepped forward and peered over the mare. “It was such a silly hat.”

“Gratis! You… came…”

Gratis attempted to fight back a sob. “Of course I came. You are… very dear to me… princess.”
Helia shook as though she was giggling, but no sound came out of her lips. “Must be… you came down from the Keep.” Her eye opened up and rolled to face the dragon.

“Yes…” Gratis broke eye contact with the young mare.

“Are you going to make funny faces to make me feel better?” Helia said with a soft smile. Gratis smiled and let out a quiet chuckle. Helia coughed heavily. “I guess it must really be my time then…”

“I’m afraid so. Every story must have an end. Your mother was indeed wise.”

“Can I tell you a secret?” Helia said as she gingerly lifted her head up towards the dragon. “I don’t mean any disrespect to mother, but I’m not looking forward to this story’s end.” Helia let out a laugh that quickly turned into a coughing fit. She spat blood out onto the grass and sighed. “Soon… I guess….” She closed her eyes.

Gratis nodded softly then stood up. Selena watched him as he paced around the area. She had never seen him look so small before. The dragon shook his head. “No.” Selena turned around to face the silver dragon. “You are right, Selena. I am Gratis. I am the silver serpent, the source of all magic, the prime, and the center of the ether. The laws of reality are mine to command.” Gratis’s wings spread froth from his back. His face twisted into a determined scowl. “I have long watched over this world and hid from it in my castle…. I had always been content in that fact. Yet here you are… my friends… and how can I still sit by and let this pass?” He turned to face Selena. “In truth Selena, one of the reasons I did not wish to witness this is that I was afraid. Afraid my heart could not withstand this. And now I realize that… yes… it cannot.” He held up his claw, revealing a swirling mass of light and shadow. “Dagr! Nótt!” He shouted.

“Yes, father.” The phoenix stood up and took flight. It circled around the clearing in the forest before landing next to the silver dragon. It stood with an unmatched regality as the light of the sunrise scattering through its feathers. Selena’s shadow slithered out from underneath her hooves and snaked across the ground. It hid among the shadows of the trees, shying away from the sunlight briefly before taking the shape of a slender pony. The shadow pony took its place alongside Gratis’s other side and waited for the dragon to speak. The dragon leaned down and whispered into both spirits’ ears. His eyes darted back and forth between the spirits and the unicorn. As he spoke, the spirits began to nod and a small smile crept across the spectral bird’s beak. “Yes. We can do that.” Dagr nodded as he approached the sisters. Nótt gently pulled Selena away from Helia, despite her protests. Dagr looked down at the unicorn. “Helia…” Dagr said as she looked down. “Let me sing just one last song for you….”

Dagr opened his mouth. He inhaled deeply and then began to sing in a soft soprano. The trees began to sway, their leaves dancing with his song. His voice slowly began to pick up in volume as Nótt’s mouth-less muzzle split in two. Harmonizing with his brother, Nótt sang for the first time either sister had ever heard. The forest shook and swayed with the rhythm of the song, and Selena could not help but let her eyes close so she could focus on its melody. Selena would forever remember the tune, though its words would be lost to her memory as time would pass. Perhaps it was a love song; a mellow sad tune of unrequited love. Nevertheless, whatever it was, it was beautiful. The tune picked up the sisters and cradled them in its sweet melody, the rhythm rocking her back and forth in a dreamy embrace. Selena’s eyes flickered open to find that she was actually floating! She was being lifted off the ground by a strange, shimmering light. A mess of colored bands surrounded Helia, lifting her limp body off the ground. She was wrapped in a symphony of pink, blue, and green. The ropes of color began to revolve around her with increasing speed forming a solid sphere of multicolored light. The unicorn inhaled deeply, as if her breath were returning to her in a forceful manner. The song reached its cadence as a flash of light blanketed the area.

The area fell deeply quiet. Helia’s hooves gently touched the ground with the soft sound of grass crumpling underneath. The mare blinked a few times in disbelief. She inhaled softly the followed with a gentle exhale. She let out a quiet gasp in surprise. Her breath was no longer labored and she could stand once again. She glanced around to see Gratis, Dagr, and Nótt smiling at here from the other side of the clearing. “I do not understand.” She took a step backwards in shock. “Oh! My voice… I sound so… melodious….” Dagr smiled and nodded. Helia shook her head. Her mane now long and unruly, it swayed over her face. “But, I do not understand. I should be….”

“Not anymore.” Gratis said with a large smile on his face. “Not ever again.”

Selena stared wide-eyed. “Oh my! Sister, look at you! You have wings!”

“Whatever do you mean by…?” Helia gasped once more. She nearly fell backwards when she noticed large feathered wings. Her wings. She had wings now. “What am I?”

Gratis laughed. “Arise, alicorns! For from now on, you are a new breed and you should revel in it.”

Helia turned around in place. “I feel better than ever! I’m so tall! Wings!” She looked back at the dragon and gasped. “But… but… but… how?!”

“How indeed, princess Helia!” Gratis chuckled, he spread his arms out wide to beckon Dagr and Nótt. “They gave up their voices so that you may live forever!” Gratis broke into a hardy laugh. “You too, Selena!”

Selena’s eyes rolled upwards. “Gah! Sister! I have a horn!” Selena squealed most un-mare-like. “Magic! You’ll have to teach me magic!” Her hooves danced up and down. “MAGIC, Sister!”

“But!” Helia stammered. “Mother said that… the natural order….! She was… wrong?”

Gratis appeared to be inspecting the shine on his claws nonchalantly as he spoke, “One of the perks of being part of my family.” The dragon looked over at the two alicorns and smiled. “Now we will always be together. Forever. No matter how much time passes, or much land the Keep floats over. We shall always have each other.”

Selena approached the two spirits. “Nótt…. Dagr… thank you for saving my sister… and for your gift.”

The two spirits nodded with smiles on their faces. Gratis placed a claw on Selena’s back. “I’m afraid they will never speak again. Immortality is a very powerful thing. Even I cannot give it away so freely. It must be taken from something. A sacrifice, if you will. I used my power to bind the power of their angelic voices into your forms. It was my power that allowed you to receive it, but it was their gift to give.”

Selena looked over at her sister. “Now what?” She asked in a hushed tone, as if she was sharing some dark secret.

Helia laughed. “Mother was wrong. We don’t have to be like she said. Rules can be broken and we just broke them! So now…” Helia spread her wings wide and took to the air. “For us there is no order! We are born. Then we live. And… then we live and live and LIVE!”

Twilight Sparkle gasped. “Wait… wait just a moment. A new breed?” Twilight stood up and began to pace. “Then this is it! This was the birth of the alicorns!” She shook her head. “Is that possible? To create a new tribe just like that?” She tapped the sides of her head with her hooves. “But there’s more here, isn’t there…?” She squeezed her head as if she was trying to force new thoughts to stay within the confines of her brain. “Two sisters… two alicorn sisters. Alicorns that are sisters. Two of them. Oh…. Oh my gosh…. How did I not see this before?”

Princess Luna reached out a hoof towards the purple mare. “Twilight….”

“Oh! How could I be so dumb and thick?!”

Applejack carefully wondered around the castle as she searched for some semblance of a kitchen. Even when the castle was whole, she could never find her way around. Now that it was lying in rubble she could not find where one hallway ended another began. It was not that she was unfamiliar with the castle. She had been on a few tours of the palace whenever she was in town for a rodeo, and being a personal friend of Princess Celestia had its perks. She was pretty sure she had been down this hallway before; there was a painting of Princess Cadence that she was sure she had seen at least eight times. At last, after what had been probably an hour she found the apothecary room. Now she had passed by this room one time when Twilight Sparkle had given her a tour of the castle, but she never ventured inside. Now Applejack was no idiot. She may not of had all those fancy book smarts Twilight had, but she was pretty sure the apothecary room had all kinds of herbs and spices, which should be perfect for making tea. With that thought in mind she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Who’s there?” A startled unicorn mare dropped a few dozen viles full of some unknown, multicolored, liquid. “Oh. It’s you… honest Applejack, right?” The orange unicorn said quickly.

“Ah, you’re that… uh… wait a moment… it will come to me…”

“Rising Star, lead adviser to the princess.” Rising Star shook her head. “Well… adviser to the Lady now, I suppose.” She shook her head once more. “Well… she doesn’t listen to me… so I’m pretty much useless right now.”

“Aw now you’re not useless, Miss Star.” Applejack said with a genuine smile. “Actually, perhaps’n you could help me out here? I was looking for a nice cold beverage. And Twi was hoping for some tea.” Applejack nodded. “Ah think it might do her a world of good, what with’n all the stress she’s been under.”

Rising Star’s eyes went wide. “Right… because it’s in my job description to be a….” She shook her head and sighed loudly. “Fine. I’ll have something whipped up and sent to her.”

“Thank ya kindly!” Applejack bowed. “We’re in the uh… literature… resta… something room. It’s where Princess Luna is.” Applejack waved energetically as she walked away.

“Noted.” Rising Star turned around back to face the shelves full of vials. “Idiot Twilight Sparkle.” She pulled down a few vials from the shelves. “As if a cup of tea will solve everything!” A small vial floated down, safely cradled in Rising Star’s telekinesis. “Or…” Her hooves started trembling as she read the label on the vial. “Maybe a cup of tea…” She rolled the vial over and glanced at the picture of a pony’s skull and crossed bones. “… Could fix everything.”

Princess Luna shook her head. “That’s not the point, Twilight. What matters is that the golem was defeated. It was not a revenge plot. Not to say that Helia and Selena did not feel a certain… catharsis when the stone crumbled.” The princess sighed. “But this next part of the story… I… Well...” Luna inhaled sharply.

It was the middle of the afternoon. Helia mentally cursed herself as she looked down at the pony in the bed. She placed her hoof alongside the pony’s face and tried desperately to give a smile. After failing to do so, she turned her gaze to the window. It was a cold morning; the sun was peeking out among a large blanket of clouds and it was looking like it was going to rain soon. The clouds were getting darker by the moment and while she had only been watching the outside for a few minutes, it looked like the weather was about to take a turn for the worse. She held back a sob as she watched a small sprinkling of rain patter against the window. “Don’t be so troubled, my little pony.” A soft and weak voice pulled her attention back to the bed.

Helia once again tried a smile but she could not manage one. “Don’t worry, mother. He’ll be here soon.” Helia glanced nervously at the door.

“Helia, my sweet…” Gaia whispered with a strained breath. “You’ve grown so beautiful. You’ve no doubt caught the eyes of every colt in town.” The blue earth pony chuckled. “I want you to have this.” Gaia lifted her hoof up and slid a small lapis lazuli bracelet off of her leg.

“Oh, mother. You need that. I can’t have it.”

“Dear, we both know it’s almost time.” Gaia closed her eyes. “This was given to me by your father… My engagement bracelet. By giving me this, your father cast off his tribal heritage in Olymponyus, because inter-tribal marriage is forbidden.” Gaia’s speech slowed in speed. “It was such a great symbol of his commitment to me, and my daughters to understand truly how great their father was, since there really isn’t enough lifetimes to tell that properly.” Gaia’s shaky limbs pushed the bracelet into Helia’s hooves. “I want you and your sister to have this.”

“Please, mother, don’t talk like that.” Helia’s face streamed with tears. “Dagr and Nótt… they’re fetching him… Don’t worry, he’s fast…. He disappears there and reappears here… it’s complex but I know he’ll be here. Once he knows….”
Selena placed her hoof on her sister’s shoulder. “Helia…” She tried to wipe her tears from her eyes, but they reappeared again shortly after.

Gaia exhaled slowly with a wheeze. “You are all you have left. Take care of…” Gaia smiled. It was a beautiful smile. “My wonderful two daughters, you’re destined for such great things….” Then… Then… Then…

Twilight Sparkle placed her hoof on the alicorn’s shoulder. “Luna? Are you alright?” Luna nodded but tears were forming on her cheeks. Twilight bit her lip and felt a sinking feeling in her chest. “Maybe we should skip this part?”

“No. It’s important.” Princess Luna said as she tried to pull her hoof to her face to wipe her tears, but the chains on her limbs prevented her. A small noise of pity escaped Twilight’s lips and she focused magic in her horn. With a sparkling flash of purple, Luna’s bindings were served. “Thank you…” She whispered. She raised her hoof to her cheek and wiped the tears but more flooded down. The princess of the night inhaled deeply before continuing. “Then… well… what happened next was unforgettable.”

It is a strange sight to observe. Some things can just be known, and no pony will ever know how or why they know them. This was one of those things. It is inherit to all living beings that they can tell when life leaves a body. It’s in the eyes. There is a subtle twinkle of life in the pupils that is always there. Then one day, it vanishes and it can be seen swirling out of the eye. The pupils become dull and they lose a subtle shade. Where they once reflected the glint of the sun they forever after only show a listless black abyss. Most of the time there is a small noise, the sound of the last bit of air rushing out of the lungs. It is the last sigh of life, some call it. This time however it was silent. In the bed, the cyan earth pony’s eyes simply went dull. A soft smile adorned her face, and why should it not have been? She was surrounded by those she loved. Those dull eyes began to invoke such sadness in Selena that she was compelled to lift her hoof up and close them.

“Don’t touch her!” Helia barked as she pushed Selena’s hoof away from Gaia.

The smaller alicorn sobbed. “Helia…”

“Don’t worry Selena… It won’t be long now.” Helia glanced back to the door.

“Helia…” Selena repeated with tears running down her face.

Helia held up her hoof. “Shh! He’s here!” The pressure in the room shifted slightly. A small gust of air rushed out of the doorway as Gratis appeared with a flash of white light. A ghostly phoenix rose up out of the sunlight and perched itself by the door to the room. “Gratis! Thank… well… you that you’re here! Quickly! Our mother… she’s…”

The silver dragon slowly cupped Helia’s cheek in his claw. “My princess… I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry.” The dragon gave a sympathetic smile. He looked over at the earth pony on the bed, seemingly sleeping peacefully. “She’s gone.”

“I know.” Helia frowned for a brief moment. “So bring her back.” Her tone was cold. The room started to twist slightly as Selena felt lightheaded. The stunning silence that seemed to echo through the room was maddening. Finally the dragon spoke.

“I’m sorry. I can’t.” Gratis’s eyes seemed to find something very interesting on the floor.

Helia looked puzzled for a moment. “What do you mean you can’t bring her back?” Helia’s jaw clenched tightly. “You’re Gratis! You can do anything! You made us immortal, do it again.”

Gratis sighed. “My powers are limited to this universe and I’m afraid your mother is no longer of this universe.” Gratis shook his head. “I cannot bring her back. I’m so sorry.”

“But… you made me immortal. You gave me wings and such power! Can’t you just bring her back?” Helia staggered. Her front hooves slipped against the ground and she nearly fell down. “I… I don’t understand…. You’re… too late?”

“Yes…. I’m afraid I am.”

Helia face contorted into a pained expression. “I… don’t…. But…” Helia let out a sob. “She’s gone? But she… she… she can’t be… gone.” Helia stood up from her slump and leered over the bed, staring at her mother’s lifeless face. “Mother….” She looked back at the dragon. “Is there really nothing you can do?”

“There are rules. A natural order to the world.”

Helia gently stroked the earth pony’s cheek. “Yes… she always says that… said… that…” Helia shook her head and turned her attention back to the earth pony. “That’s what she said when father died. That some things are just meant to happen and cannot be changed….” Helia scowled. “Then… why am I alive?”

Gratis took a small step backwards. “Helia, you…”

The alicorn’s head snapped back to face the dragon. With a look of confused anger on her face, she sneered. “My immortality, it’s against that natural order too, isn’t it? Why do I live on when she does not?”

Gratis bit his lip. “It’s… well…. Now is not the time to discuss this. Come; let us honor your mother by placing her image in the stars, for the whole world to see.” Gratis reached out with a claw.

“DO NOT TOUCH HER!” Helia screamed as she threw herself over the earth pony. Gratis, Dagr, and Selena backed up quickly. “Don’t touch her…”

Selena lifted a hoof in Helia’s direction. “Sister…”

“Leave…” Helia said with a sob. “Just leave me be…” Selena glanced over at Gratis. Helia clenched her eyes tightly shut as she screamed. “I… said… LEAVE!”

Twilight Sparkle bit the inside of her lip, her face crumpling to that of pity. “Luna… Are you...?”

Princess Luna shook her head and cleared her throat. “You need not feel bad, Twilight. This event happened long ago in Helia and Selena’s past.” Luna lowered her head and let it rest on the cold stone floor of the literary restoration room. “It’s rather funny if you think about it. Only the day before Helia was happy and so full of the wonder of life. When her mother died it would be an unthinkable time before she would ever outwardly appear that happy again. I suspect that internally, she never fully recovered. It was the start of something terrible….”

No less than a few months had passed since that day and Helia was sitting on the roof of the Keep in the Sky. She stared out at the pink clouds, caught in the glint of the sunset. The view was breathtaking. Had any other pony been witnessing that sight they would have been smitten with the view, entranced and perhaps content to spend the rest of their days staring out at that particular horizon. She was unaware how long she had been watching the clouds lazily roll by, but she vaguely remembered that the moon had been out at some point, so it might have been the whole day. She softly hummed the song Dagr used to sing to her as she watched a few birds fly in formation out in the distance. Her humming cracked and often went silent during the higher parts of the song, as she refused to give it enough of her breath. Her ear lifted upwards in response to a soft sound that echoed behind her. The wooden door that led to the roof of the Keep in the Sky creaked open. It appeared she had a visitor. Helia’s eyes rolled back to the sunset, not entirely eager to greet the silver dragon approaching her.

“Sweet Princess Helia, how are you feeling today?” Gratis said quietly. Over the last year, the dragon god had been plagued with guilt. It was an entirely new feeling and it gnawed at him. Every day he would visit her and everyday she would still have tears in her eyes. He had tried all manner of tricks to try and cheer her up and all had failed. Today would be different though, he could feel it. Today he would get the smallest smile back on her face. Then things could go back to the way they were. Back when they were the happiest, despite the strangest, of families. He could see it already. He’s snap his fingers and the send light the sky with fireworks. She and her sister would laugh until their voices gave out and then they would retire to the dining room where he would summon the most amazing feast. There would be candied sweets and pickled fruits galore. All he needed was a smile.

“Hmph.” It was only one syllable and, lacking a vowel, it was hardly a word.

Gratis smiled largely. It was more of a reaction than he had gotten all last week and he would take what he could get. This time he just knew he could cheer her up. No matter the cost. “Look, my little pony.” He raised his claw up in the air and pulled at an invisible thread. A fleet of pink clouds floated close. “Cotton candy clouds, your absolute favorite.” The clouds floated around the alicorn, encircling her head. “Don’t you like them? Are you not hungry?” Helia simply lowered her head. “No? Not good enough?” Gratis sighed. He snapped his fingers. All of the clouds in the sky turned a bright pink color. “Look! Now they all are your favorite! Isn’t that something special?” Helia turned away from the horizon, disgusted by the sight of the sky. He snapped his fingers. “Now look! Chocolate flavored rain!” Helia sighed. Gratis frowned again. “Alright. I didn’t want to do this one. But you’re leaving me no choice. I’m going to have to make the face.” Gratis snapped his fingers. His body slimmed down and his scales vanished into a coat of fur. His face elongated and changed shape. Mismatched horns spouted from his skull. His limbs morphed into strange unequal parts. He became a horrifying monster betrayed by a beguiling, single fanged smile. “Half-pony, half dragon, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Well? Funny right?”

Helia looked up at the strange creature before her. “Stop it.” She scowled.

Gratis was practically screaming with joy on the inside. She actually was speaking again! “Oh, but you like the funny face. I seem to recall this was a favorite when you were a little foal.” Gratis pulled his ears out to the side and his face stretched to accommodate. “How about a smile?”

“Why couldn’t you save mother? Why do I live when she does not?” The words echoed through the air and though they should have been lost to the wind with the altitude, they reached Gratis’s ears with piercing clarity.

“I was too late. I can’t bring a soul back once it is departed this universe. I am sorry, but that is the limitation of my power.”

“Too late…” Helia chuckled. By this point Gratis should have been ecstatic to hear such a sound, but instead he felt uneasy. “Funny how an all seeing being could be 'too late' to something.”

“Helia… There were rules…”

Helia stood up. “No. You seemed to forget those rules when you made me and my sister immortal. You could have saved her and you chose not to. So why then? Why am I supposed to live forever and she had to die?”

Gratis looked at the floor for a moment. “I’m… I’m sorry.”

Helia’s face streamed with tears. “How long will we live? Will we outlive all others we meet? Is there no reason to form attachments, because no matter what we will have to carry on without them? Will we have to watch the deaths of all those we hold dear? Will the world end, leaving us to sit in the darkness, floating for all eternity in nothingness?”

“Yes, all that is true…. I gifted you the power to live forever.”

Helia grunted. “Some gift.”

Gratis reached out with his eagle claw. “I… could take it away, if that is what you wish….” Helia looked upwards at him. He sighed. “The energies that keep you ageless are bound in a three point balance, the combined force of all three pony tribes. I could break one of the links….” He placed his claw on the tip of the alicron’s horn. “I could use my power to break your horn. The balance would be lost and your immortality would vanish. But… the sickness that almost claimed you is still within. It is frozen in time along with your age. If I break your horn, the sickness will claim your life.” Gratis’s voice trembled.

“Live forever, or die now. Not much of a choice is it?” Helia covered her face with her hooves.

“I don’t think I could do it. Even if you asked… I could not take away the gift knowing you would die in the process. I am sorry.”

“It is not that I want to die. I just don’t understand why you would give me the choice but not her…. Not anypony else.”

Gratis leaned over and smiled. “Don’t fret. There is so much to life!” He snapped his fingers. With a flash of white light, Helia suddenly found herself on the ground below the keep. There were standing in a nearby meadow. In the distance a group of foals were playing some rule-less game with a rock and twig. Gratis gestured to the area around him. “And while it is true others will come and go, we will always have each other. Forever.” Gratis smiled as he glanced at the peaceful sight before him. “So forget all about her and give me a smile. Come on now, my sweet princess. Give me a smile! Just a tiny one will do!” He snaked around her and pulled on his beard to make a funny face. “Please?”

“Forget about her?” Helia whispered as she watched the young foals play. “Just… forget about her…?” She broke into a sob and buried her face under her hooves. “How vicious of you…. How little you understand loss….”

Gratis bit his lip. He must have said something wrong again. He paused for a moment and tried to think of another gag, after a moment he snapped his fingers. The ground beneath them changed into a checkered pattern. “Look! The ground is painted your favorite color!” He leaned over her and gently patted the back of her head. “Isn’t that just silly? Don’t you feel like laughing?” He frowned. “No?” Gratis began to pace. His tail swished back and forth as he tried to think. He clapped his hands together as he had another thought. He pointed to a small rabbit that was hopping near them. Its legs elongated and it began to dash around in fear. “Have you ever seen a bunny with such long legs?” Gratis laughed. “I don’t know why they call them long-ears! They should be named after their legs!” Gratis’s laughter came to a crawl as he noticed Helia was still sobbing under her hooves. “Oh! I know!” He snapped his fingers and the dirt path nearby turned to soap. The nearby foal began to slip and fall. One cried out from the pain of twisting a leg. “Look over there! That’s just a riot of laughs, right?” He glanced down at the alicorn who was quietly sobbing. “You’re not looking….” Gratis ran his palm down his face in frustration. “Oh! You like dancing! Here look at this!” He snapped his fingers again. Thing threads appeared above the nearby group of foals. Their limbs lifted off the ground as they began a slow waltz. They began to scream in fear.

Helia’s head jolted upwards. “What’s going on?” Her eyes widened as she saw the horrible sight before her. The grass was replaced with some weird pattern, a few towering woodland creatures were tripping and rolling on the ground, and in the distance three little foals were screaming in agony.

“Fun!” Gratis said. “And all for you, my princess!”

“Fun?!” Helia screamed as she stood up. She reared back on her hind hooves and shoved Gratis. “You call this fun?! Stop this right now!”

Gratis looked horrified. “But… but I…. I was just….” He timidly raised his claw and with a snap of his fingers the young foals fell to the ground. In the background the foals quickly dashed away; crying out and whimpering.

“Is that what we are to you?! Are we all just puppets for your amusement?” Helia shoved the creature again. “Is that why you made me immortal? So I could entertain you forever?!”

Gratis stammered. “N-no… I just wanted to…. You were so sad….”

“Well how about mad? Is mad better?! You are disgusting. You think that life is just barrel full of laughs. Well, guess what? Everything can’t be fixed with funny faces and cute little rhymes and pretty windows!” Helia shoved once more, this time with enough force to knock Gratis down. “And it certainly can’t be fixed by tormenting others for your own amusement! You are a monster!”

“Monster? I was only….” Gratis cowered beneath the shadow of the pony.

“Yes, a monster! You are nothing but… but… chaos! And discord! You just think you own everything! You with your inconsistent rules that don’t make sense! I hate you!”

“H-hate?”

“I hate you! I hate you so much!” Helia’s wings flared out and with a mighty leap she took flight. “I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” She called back as she flew off towards the horizon.

Gratis was alone and he was stunned. He laid prone on the ground and watched the pink clouds float on by. While the area around him was tranquil and silent, his mind was noisy. The words echoed in his ears. She had never yelled at him before. No pony had ever yelled at him before. Why had she yelled at him? He rolled to his stomach and lifted himself up. He stared down at his mismatched arms. “A monster?” He asked quietly. He waited for an answer but none came. None ever would. There was no force left in the world that was above him. It should not have mattered. She was just a lowly pony he took a passing fascination with one day. Her words should not have stung so much. He could not understand. He tore his gaze from his paws and gave a dismissive wave. “Of course I’m not a monster. They are cruel and vicious. I am magnanimous. I gave her everything she ever wanted.” Gratis spun around and glanced at his swaying tail. How funny he looked in this form. “But that’s not true. I let her mother die. But it wasn’t my fault. It is the universe’s law… mortality… natural order…” He clenched his jaw and clutched the sides of his head. Something was pulsing in his mind. Something he had forgotten. “I could have broken it. It’s within my power.” He glanced down at his claw and rubbed his fingers together. “I could have….” His head began to hurt. The something that was pulsing in his mind had increased to a pounding. Something he was running from. “Sure I could have. I am Gratis! I have such power.”

Gratis took a few steps forward and the ground underneath him turned back to checkered. “Why, of course!” Gratis exclaimed. He lifted himself off the ground magically and floated down the dirt path. “Why not? I can change the rules! I have that right!” He spun gleefully around and spread his arms wide. The world began to shift around him. Trees became flat and the sky turned a sickly green. “This world could be whatever she wants! I could be whatever she wants!” He broke into a haunting cackle. He spun around and pointed at the ground. “Anything! No limit to the possibilities.” The dirt swirled upwards and strange geometries sprouted like plants. He laughed. He was not sure why, but he was laughing. “See? It’s not so hard, princess! You just crack a smile and laugh!” He floated upwards into the sky as the laughing continued.

“Sister! Help!” A cry rang out from below.

“Helia?” Gratis looked downward. At some point he had floated over a village, probably the one the young foals from earlier lived in. He quickly scanned the crowd of ponies below, looking for the alicorn that had called out.

“Sister!” The voice called once more. To his surprise it belonged to a small earth pony filly. Suddenly he became aware of the scene. The town was on fire. The flames danced from one roof to another.

“Somepony was careless.” He said. He raised his claw to stop it, but hesitated. The town was full of large candy canes and floating, upside-down huts. “Oh….” The realization hit him. “I was careless.” The ponies below ran around aimlessly screaming. He watched as they uselessly tried to put out the magical fires and restore order to their little village. “I’m always careless.”

“Look up there!” One of the ponies yelled. “It’s the monster that's responsible!”

Gratis’s eyes opened wide. “Monster? I’m not a monster! I’m…” He glanced down at the fires. “I’m… I’m… chaos?” He chuckled at the puny little pony. He could not explain why, the little timid thing just seemed so funny. “Yes, I’m chaos… I’m…”

“Discord.” Twilight Sparkled said with a shudder. “But how? I don’t understand.”

“He went mad. I don’t know what happened, but from that day on he became cruel. Helia and Selena tried to reason with him, but it was impossible. The world became his playground and its inhabitants, his puppets.”

“Then?”

“Soon the world was under his control. Lands were converted into his chaotic playgrounds. There was no resistance, not because everypony accepted it, but because there was no way of fighting it. How does one combat the ground from turning checkered? How can one fight the fundamental laws of the world being broken?” Luna looked upwards at the ceiling. “Oh, I wish I could tell you of the Chaos Wars. They lasted so long, I’m not sure I could tell it in its entirety before your short time on the world is up. It was fantastical and horrifying all at the same time.” Luna lowered her voice and began to speak in a rhythm heavy chant. “There were the mushroom walkers and the sliver talkers of the Rock-Lake dweller’s zoo, the terrible fall of Fort Trottingham, and the ship with eight thousand crew. The wyvern riders of the eastern marsh and the jungle fox and his fifty inch march. The King of Twenty-Five Lies and his court of Always-Maybe faced off against the pegasi in the Forest Shady. There was the dragon sage that was cursed with lotus-eating bliss and his sons that forged him the gilded cage atop the Leafy Cliff. The tales of the soapy road, and the salty tree, and the pen of Parchment Quill; the griffin rouge, poor Trick Knee, and the endless cider still. There were the vortex swimmers and the gate of the Future-Past where the vigil kept by the Timberwolves never did quite last. The armies of the alicorns and their gilded trumpet horns. The fanfare in the morning air when the Ruby Queen was scorned. Forging the armor of Chainlink Mesh and the great rock farmer’s test; the contest of the grassy west and the Falcon King’s ivory crest. I’ll never forget the sight of the Crystal Ones and the fallen clouds atop the inverted hill. The banshees’ everlasting lungs or the whereabouts of the popcorn mill. The Duple Stone that made changeling curse, the tale of the ponies cloned, and that silver dragon’s mirth. The rise of the champion of order and the fated duel. The ancient tomes, chocolate catacombs, and the sisters ever youthful. The Ocean Star seen from so far and the Bark Woven Bridge; the wagon pullers in the lakes of tar on the slanted ridge.”

“It sounds… wondrous.”

“I realize from the description it sounds like hero’s epic, but in all its glory it’s hard to forget there was so much suffering. That was why Helia and Selena had to end it. Once and for all….”

32: Timelines: Static World

It was dawn. It had been almost eighty years since the last time Helia and Selena had placed their hooves on the stone entry way of the Keep in the Sky. The floating castle had served as an icon of oppression during the previous years. It a madhouse of torment, and wherever it floated marked the next area of the world to be converted into a land of chaos. Discord himself would sit atop his throne and look over the edge of the ramparts, pointing and laughing at the misery unfolding beneath him. Many would try to reach the Keep. Pegasi, griffins, dragons, would fly up next to the entry way only to be literally swatted down by arms of stone that would emerge from the castle turrets. Unicorns would create mass teleportation runes to send their armies to the Keep’s front door only to be expelled by a wave of living hay. Even earthbound ponies and zebras would construct large catapults and spires that were designed to pierce the floating fortress as it passed over. Several sieges were marginally successful and many allies of order would breach the Keep’s outer wall. It was only when it was too late that they would find out that their success was not gained, but allowed by the master of chaos himself as amusement.

This time would be different though. It had to be. They were prepared. The alicorn sisters themselves were now alone for the final fight. They had flown through the sky with determination and now they had at last reached the Keep in the Sky. The doors of the Keep swung open and the candles lit the dark interior. It was welcoming them back home. A roll of red carpet came bouncing down the staircase at the end of the atrium. The doorway looked as a mouth, ready to swallow the two alicorns that now stood in front of it. Selena cowered behind her sister, and gave her quick tug on her mane. Helia glanced backwards with a menacing scowl. Selena should have known better that to try and get her sister to turn around now. Helia turned back to face the entryway. She smirked as the trotted inside.

The doors slammed shut with a loud echo. There was no turning back now. With any luck, they would not need to. Helia adjusted the tiara atop her head. They had a plan this time. It would not fail. It could not. Helia began a slow walk down the red carpet. Selena knew better than to fear that the path was a trap. It would certainly lead directly to him. He wanted them to visit. They knew he looked forward to their attempts. Helia broke into a moderate trot. The anticipation of the upcoming confrontation was almost too much to bear for her. For Selena, it had passed that point a long time ago. Selena matched her sister’s speed and fell in line behind her. The stairs seemed to have no end as the climbed. Helia sped up to a canter. The tiny candles that lit the hallway began to flicker. The hallway began to twist. The soon found themselves running on the walls. The stone creaked around them as they raced further down the tunnel. The stairs gave way to a slippery surface and soon they found themselves sliding down the hallway as it began to descend. They slid down a twisting tube and finally came to stop at the edge of a pit. “This is new….” Selena said. They had made this crusade many times, but the surprises never ceased it seemed.

Helia quickly studied the area around them. “This castle’s architecture is as chaotic as its master. Watch your glides as you leap from platform to platform. I suspect he’ll toy with us a bit before we reach him.” Helia gauged the jump ahead of her. She spread her wings and leapt across the pit. She fell into a glide as she narrowly dodged a section of the wall that had spontaneously decided to lash out at her. “Careful. Like I said, trapped.” Helia glanced backwards at her sister.

Selena steeled herself against the upcoming leap. “Hang on, give me a second.” The younger alicorn jumped forward. She spread her wings and prepared to glide to the second platform. The stone blocks broke off from the wall and lashed out against the alicorn. The blocks impacted Selena and tossed her off to the side. She was twisted on her side in the air. The wind left the underside of Selena’s wings and she quickly fell into the pit. Selena grunted as she bounced off of the sides of the pit. She landed at the bottom of the pit and groaned.

Helia leaned over the edge of the pit. “What did I say about being careful?” Helia looked down and notice that the alicorn had her leg bent at the wrong angle. “Are you alright?”

Selena attempted to stand but then quickly let out a whelp. “Ugh… I think I broke something….” Selena looked up to see Helia frowning at the mouth of the pit. “I’m sorry. Maybe we should turn back? This does not bode well for our assault.”

“NO!” Helia shouted. Her words echoed in the hallway. “We have come too far now to turn back. We can win this time! We have our secret weapon!” Heila bit her lip. “Stay here. I must press on.”

Helia vanished from view and her hoofsteps faded away as Selena sat at the bottom of the pit. The younger alicorn shivered from the cold and attempted to stand up. Her sore hoof gave way and she fell on her face. She muttered a few curse words that she was glad for the fact that her sister was out of earshot and then she focused magic in her horn to attempt to heal her injury. The light from her horn illuminated the inside of the pit. The shadows were washed out except for one stubborn one. Selena eyed the darkness before her. Her heart began to race as it started to take a menacing shape. In an instant Selena recognized what it was. “Oh. It’s you.” Selena said as she attempted to make herself look intimidating. “Stay back, Nótt! I’ll not roll over so easily as the other ponies you took into the darkness.” The shadow crept forward with a deliberate stride. Hauntingly beautiful green orbs peered at the alicorn. “Unless… you’ve come to make peace?” The shadow twisted into a fighting shape. “Ah, I see. What reason would you have to not side with your father?” Selena sighed. “Still, Helia is unstoppable. She won’t rest until Discord falls.” The shadow growled at the pony. “Just promise me this, I know we’re enemies, but can you stay out of harm’s way? I’m afraid. Afraid at what Helia will become to stop this mess.” The shadow roared as it engulfed the pony. She found herself enveloped in darkness flowing though the Meld. She was pulled and tugged down an endless series of smoky tunnels, bouncing off of misty walls and through a series of disconnected, floating lines. Finally she was slammed into one of the tunnel’s walls. She found herself suddenly in the throne room of the Keep in the Sky.

Helia was standing on a high platform, standing a few yards away from a large wooden throne where the master of chaos himself was lounging with a rather uninterested expression. Helia glanced over to see her sister on the other side of the room. “Ah, Selena, you made it. Your loyalty knows no bounds.” Helia nodded. “Very commendable, your loyalty.” The elder alicorn looked back towards the monstrous creature on the throne. “Discord! Look at what you face! You cannot continue to oppose the wills of all the creatures in the Known World. We stand united.”

Discord laughed. “Oh Helia, you are so droll. Do you really think you have any more of a chance today than you did countless times before? I think you’ve grown a tad insane in the last eight hundred years. I rather like it.” Discord curled his fingers and inspected his claws. “Do you have another wonderful, heartfelt speech prepared for me this time?”

Helia inhaled deeply. “Not this time, Discord!” She said, and then continued to make her speech. “You see I think I finally understand. All this time I’ve wondered why I would walk around with a blank flank and now I know why I've yet to receive my mark.” Helia stamped her hoof. “Mother always said that I've yet to find my destiny, and now I've finally realized: This is my destiny!” She growled. The alicorn looked down to the ground and lowered her volume. “I need to absolve myself of all this guilt. I will let the past be the past and I will return this world to its rightful state!” She looked back at the beast with determination. “Discord! This world is your playground no more. You fail to see what is right in front of your snout. This is the final time your tyranny will be seen by this world. I will create a new land for all of us. A land ushered under my guidance, but not my force. That's what a deity should be! You face not just me, but all of the ponies that are suffering in this world. For my determination is in their name! You cannot stand against my will. You cannot stand against my destiny! That destiny… is to defeat you!” She roared with vigor as she began to charge. Her horn glowed with magical might and her eyes turned into pupil-less orbs of white light.

Discord sat up in his throne. “Oh, are we starting now?” He placed his palm over his mouth and yawned. “Just a moment, I need to stretch.” He twisted himself into a knotted form. “Ah! Much better.” He uncoiled himself and turned back to face the alicorn who was charging rapidly towards him. He pulled on a pair of brilliantly colored glasses and smirked. “Alright then! Any last works?”

“Only from you! For we’ve learned a new trick.” Helia shouted as she skidded to a stop and lifted up in the air. Magical power radiated from around the pony. A low rumbling of energy erupted from her horn. “This spell I’m casting will banish you from this realm! It will cast you off from this place. My only regret is that where ever you end up, those denizens will have to deal with a terrible fate.”

“Oh yawn, yawn, and yawn! Anything else?” Discord said as he adjusted his sunglasses.

“Cast your eyes upon my horn, for it contains the light of the determination, order, and the future! A future without you! A light of order that can cleanse this chaos from this world! This horn of mine glows with that very light! And it compels me to defeat you!” Rays of light, rivaling that of the sun, shone forth from the alicorn.

Discord sat up from his throne. His face adored with the most sinister smile imaginable. “You know, Helia, sometimes I think the only reason I let you in my castle is to listen to these wonderful speeches of yours. But I must admit that this one was a tad tiring.” Discord curled his fingers and examined his claws. “Honestly, it hardly seems like you’re even trying anymore.” The strange creature belted a laugh. “However, I’m so magnanimous that I’ll make you an offer. I’ll forget the whole thing and you come back in about ten days’ time and we’ll try it again.”

“I won’t be ignored!” Helia screamed. A magic orb of brilliant light sped towards Discord. The orb lit up his face, reflected in his eyes. As the attack neared Discord’s face, he reached up and snatched if from the air. Helia gasped. She stood dumbfounded as Discord bounced the ball of magic on the ground.

“That was your secret weapon? Again, little one, you disappoint me. If you’re not going to take this seriously then I might as well just stop entertaining your little ‘attacks’. Goodbye now, mes petits poneys!” Discord snapped his fingers.

The castle groaned as the stone walls came to life. Spikes formed on the walls, sharp fractures of the stone bricks that jutted out like sinister teeth from the surfaces. The walls lurched forward at amazing speed towards the elder alicorn. Helia stood up straight as the horrifying toothy maws raced towards her. She stood with a regal dignity as the stone structures crushed her. Sickly red liquid sprayed all over the room, accompanied by a grotesque squashing sound. Selena raised her hoof to call out to the red-stained stone mass that occupied where her sister once stood. Her lip quivered as she watched the bloody mess of a pony fall limp in front of her. She inhaled deeply and braced herself as the sound of sliding stone raced towards her. Discord was laughing manically. The image of his cackle was soon over powered with immense pain and red. Then there was nothing.

Twilight Sparkle gasped. Behind her the door to the literary restoration room burst open noisily. Applejack gave a wave as she entered the room. The earth pony took a seat next to the lavender unicorn and tipped her hat. “Howdy. What did Ah miss?”

Princess Luna inhaled deeply. “Well I suppose I can backtrack a bit. Let’s see… Grass, trees, and bushes. They sped by so…”

“No! No! No!” Twilight interrupted as she placed a hoof over Luna’s mouth. “You leave, you miss it.” Twilight watched as Applejack raised an eyebrow. The unicorn sighed. “I’ll sum it up: Helia and Selena became alicorns at the cost of Dagr and Nótt’s voices. Gratis became Discord. And I think Selena and Helia… just died?” Twilight looked back at Applejack. “Wait… Did you find any tea?”

Applejack nodded. “No, but Ah found one of your attendants. Rising Star said she’d send some over.”

Twilight nodded. “Oh, good.”

Princess Luna chuckled. “May I continue now?” Applejack and Twilight nodded.

First, as always, came the breath. Pain surged through her body as air rushed back into Selena’s chest. Her chest rose and her form expanded as life flooded back into her lungs. Then, like always, came the coughing. Her body forced out the dried blood that had pooled in her throat. She shook violently with each raspy cough. Bones snapped back in place in small jolts. The sense of touch and pain were already back. It had always been the first thing to return after these little inconveniences. She knew she was lying on her side, and the heat of the sun was burning her coat. Sound flooded back to her ears, she could hear the subtle rustling of grass around her and the buzzing of flies swarming around her. Smell came next though she wished it had not. Death and decay lingered in her nostrils but also the smell of morning dew, which she had not smelt in over eight hundred years. Finally the world faded into view. It started at the center, reaching outward, as light poured over her open eyes. She found the strength to lift her neck slightly. Her sister was already attempting to stand, though her legs were not fully reformed and it was clear her wings were still snapping back into place. Helia was attempting to swat away the flies swarming around her.

Selena groaned as she rolled to a sitting position. She appeared to be in some sort of grassy meadow, but that should have been impossible. Discord had converted all the grasslands to checkered fields long ago. The younger alicorn glanced to her sister in hopes of some answer to the strange anomaly of normalcy before her. Helia, seeming to have noticed the oddity as well gave a wordless answer of confusion. Searching for answers, they scanned their surroundings. Helia A small wooden hut was nearby, and next to Helia a silver glowing crystal was humming. “Grass, Heila.” Selena said. It was such an odd sight in this day and age that she could not help but simply point and exclaim.

“Ah good, you’re awake.” A gentle voice spoke, startling the two sisters. Helia and Selena both spun around to face the source of the voice, finding it to belong to an elderly brown stallion with a dusty gray mane. “I’ve been waiting almost two months.” He said as he levitated a large bucket. “I was beginning to wonder if the rumors of your immortality were greatly exaggerated.” The unicorn levitated the bucket near the two alicorns. “Wash water.” He said as he placed the bucket down. “Clean yourselves up. To put it as tactfully as possible, you smell like decomposition.” He glanced over his shoulder as he began to walk away. “When you’re finished, I’ll be waiting inside. I’m sure you have questions.” Helia and Selena stared silently at the unicorn as he entered the wooden hut. The pony started to close the door but then hesitated. He reopened the door and poked his head out. “Oh, I apologize; I have neglected to introduce myself. I am Arcas, the great and wise.”

The unicorn, apparently named Arcas, gently closed the door to the hut and disappeared from view. Selena and Helia exchanged confused glances. In some part of her mind, Selena was wondering if she was dreaming. This appearance of this intriguing stallion mixed with the impossibility of a natural meadow still existing during Discord’s reign had all but shattered her mind. Helia seemed to be struggling with the concept as well. After a few minutes of staring at each other in silence, they turned their attention to the wash bucket in front of them. Selena peered over the edge of the bucket, eyeing the crystal clear water it held. She tentatively dipped her hoof in the water and noted its mild temperature. She glanced back to Helia, looking for some sort of guidance. The elder sister simply shrugged. Selena splashed the water atop her head and ran it through her coat. Helia soon followed suit and after a solid ten minutes, both sisters were satisfied with the lack of dirt on their coats.

Having finished washing, as the stallion had asked, Helia approached the hut, eager for answers. Selena knocked on the door three times and waited for an answer. Helia shook her head and rolled her eyes at her sister. The elder alicorn pushed the door open and entered the hut. Inside Arcas was flipping through a series of tomes that were strewn across a large table. The unicorn looked up from his work and smiled. “Ah good, you’re done. Make yourselves at home. My hut is your hut.” The inside of the hut was nicely furnished for the times. A few bookshelves lined the walls, full of large tomes that looked to be ancient.

Helia pursed her lips. “How… generous…” She said with a healthy dose of skepticism. Selena glanced around the room and noticed some large object under a white sheet.

“Hopefully less than you will be.” Arcas said with a chuckle. He flipped a page in the tome he was examining and then tapped the book with his hoof.

“What?” Helia said with a confused inflection. Selena placed her hoof underneath the object covered by the sheet and started to lift of the cloth.

“You’ll understand in time.” Arcas turned around and noticed Selena attempting to peer at the object under the sheet. “No! No!” He leapt forward; he was surprisingly spry for how old he looked. He shouted as he pulled her away from the object. “Don’t touch that.” Arcas pushed the younger sister over towards the table and sat her down. “The Dome of Vision is not a toy!”

Selena gave him a confused look. “Why not? What exactly is it?”

Arcas sat back down at the table. “A dangerous artifact, pulled from the depths of Tartarus, an ancient city, and under no circumstances should it ever be used.”

“What does it do?” Helia said, now interested.

“It lets one gaze into the future. But at a price.” Arcas pulled the sheet taunt over the object. “My father predicted many things with this device, and then he went mad beyond all recognition. That’s why it must never be touched. For no mind is able to contain all the complexities of time, even a mind as strong as my father’s.” Arcas turned to the elder alicorn. “Or yours for that matter, Helia. Luckily, method to activate it has died with my father, but I would still urge caution around such a device.”

Helia sat down at the table and began to gaze at all the books. She glanced upwards for a moment to lock eyes with the unicorn. “I see.” She said quietly. “I believe you said you would provide us answers. I have many questions, the first of which: why is it the land around us is untainted by chaos?”

“Yes of course.” Arcas sat down at the table and rested his head on his hooves. “The answer to that is simple. It is bait.”

“Bait? For what creature?” Selena asked.

Arcas chuckled. “Why, for you two, of course.” He sighed. “I needed something enticing. I wanted to make sure you two wouldn’t fly off if you should have happened to awake at a time when I was not near. It had to be something you hadn’t seen in a long time. In this era of chaos, what would be more out of place than a natural meadow?”

“But why?” Selena asked.

“How did you create it? How did you dispel Discord’s magic?” Helia said, energetically leaning over the table.

“That crystal outside is not entirely for decoration. It emits a wave of positive magic that cancels out the powers of chaos.”

“Extraordinary.” Helia said leaning closer. “How does it work? Could we make more of them?”

“Ah good, you’re interested in seeing if it can be used in your fight against the terrible draconequus?” Arcas leaned forward, his snout a minuscule distance from Helia’s own. “Tell me: how far are you willing to go to fight Discord?”
Helia’s eyes narrowed. “I will go past the ends of the Known World to bring his reign to an end.”

Arcas raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”

“Because it is my fault. Long ago I knew Discord before he was Discord, back when he was named a forgotten name; it was my wish that he come to this world from his place in the cloud pocket.”

“Ah good, responsibility.” Arcas leaned back. “And you’re honest about it. Not many would admit to responsibility for an age of chaos and suffering. Yes… very honest…. this was always a possibility.” Arcas clapped his hoof against the surface of the table. “Right then! We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, so let’s get started.”

“But who are you?” Selena asked. “You look familiar, have we met before?”

Arcas turned around propped himself up on two legs to reach to the top of one of the bookshelves. “I told you,” he said. His eyes scanned across the bookshelf. “I am the great and wise Arcas. It’s a self-given title, but one that I’d like to think I’ve earned several times. As for why I look familiar, I’ll just say that we’ve never met before. However my family has a long history with you, immortal alicorn sisters.”

Helia raised an eyebrow. “You know of us?”

“Of course I know of you.” Arcas chuckled. “Who doesn’t know of the two of a kind ponies that posses all three tribal gifts. Out there, fighting the good fight against a mad god. You’re kind of hard to miss.” Arcas walked over to another bookshelf. “Blast it. Where did I put it?” He muttered to himself. “You see, perceptive Helia and innocent Selena, my family has been by your side throughout all the years. My grandfather was at the battle of the Bark Woven Bridge. My cousin, three times removed, was there when the Ruby Queen fell. My brother himself was at the waterfall of sapphires when Discord enchanted the trees to imprison zebras. We all look alike. My mother said we all have the family snout. But you might remember my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather the most. He was called Tabor.” Arcas glanced over his shoulder to gauge Helia’s reaction.

The elder alicorn’s eyes narrowed. “I see. So you are the spawn of that horrid pony that kicked us out of our home.”

“Technically accurate, though I believe you are mixing your feelings for my ancestor and judging me before I have had time to prove myself.”

“Prove what, exactly?” Selena asked.

Arcas gave a wink. “That I am not a threat. You might consider me a boon, in fact. A boon to goal of defeating the god of chaos.”

Helia peered out the window and stared into the glowing crystal in the meadow. “This meadow you’ve made; the neutralization of Discord’s chaotic magic, is that your plan? Can we use that crystal to defeat Discord?”

Arcas laughed as he pulled a book from the shelf. “Defeat a mad god with a single gem? Impossible. No, no, no, no. We’re going to this.” He shook his head as he set the book down on the table. Helia’s jaw dropped open. “Ah good, you recognize it.”

“My book….” Helia said dumbfounded. She pulled the weighty tome to her with her hooves. “From when I was a filly…” She examined the cover. It was covered in scorch marks. Her hoof caressed the burn. “This is where I lit it on fire the first day I met Discord.” She opened the tome and quickly used her magic to flip through the pages. She stared lovingly at the sketches of each little artifact it depicted. “Where did you…?”

“Right where you left it, of course. Do you know what this book is?”

Helia shook her head. “I know it contains text on mysterious artifacts of great power. Other than that I’m afraid very little. I never got a proper chance to study it when I was little.”

Arcas patted the pages of the book. “What you have here is perhaps one of the rarest tomes from the Centaur era. It is Tirek’s catalog of ancient items. This book contains a list of all known articles of great power near the end of the Centaur Wars. Within this book, untold power is detailed.”

“But it’s unreadable.” Helia shook her head at the book. “It’s mostly gibberish.”

Arcas chuckled. “Well I happen to be somewhat of an expert in gibberish.” The unicorn flipped through the pages of the tome. “This book lists artifacts lost to history, lost to culture, and lost to time. But not lost to me.” He turned the book around and tapped the page. “What do you see here?”

Helia and Selena leaned over the book. They carefully examined the page. Helia finally looked up from the book and answered. “What is this place?”

Arcas gave a knowing smirk. “That is the Centauri Sanctuary. It’s located deep in the ancient city of Tartarus. It exists as a hidden chamber tucked away behind a gate of orichalcum and guarded by a fearsome creature of terrible power and intelligence.” Arcas flipped the page of the book. “This passage here is an account of what many treasures might be found past that gate of golden-copper.”

“And you think one of these treasures has the power to defeat a god?” Helia asked, possessing a healthy mix of skepticism and intrigue. “It hardly seems possible.”

“But what if it is? Can you risk the opportunity here? Can you risk letting that pass?”

Selena shook her head. “But if it is possible that this… sanctuary thing… has the answer to defeating Discord, then why haven’t you already gone there and retrieved it?”

“Ah, good. An excellent question, intelligent Selena.” Arcas nodded to himself a few times. “The gate, and its guardian, requires a specific set of circumstances to pass. Circumstances that I believe we, together, can live up to.” Arcas snapped the book shut and leaned forward. His face was adorned with an enthusiastic smile that was slightly off putting. “What do you say?”

Helia looked over at Selena. The two alicorns stared at each other for a long time and silence permeated the air. After a while Selena nodded and Helia reciprocated. The elder alicorn stood up straight and opened her mouth to speak. “I agree. This opportunity is too great to let pass. My sister and I will find and journey to this Tartarus.”

Arcas laughed. “By yourselves?”

“Of course. This is my burden.”

“I see.” Arcas said with a chuckle. “You are rash… That was always a possibility.” He leaned back in his chair and folded his front hooves across his chest. “But answer me this: just where would you start your search for Tartarus? It’s a mythical city of the ancient Centaurs. It was lost to time even before Discord plunged the world into chaos. Do you think you can find the place where fire and water intertwine? Do you think it any easier to find now?” Arcas glanced out through the window, contemplating something far away. “And once you find these mythical ruins. Where do you suppose would be the best place to look for the hidden Centauri Sanctuary, a place that was probably hidden from even the city’s own inhabitants during its heyday?” Arcas shook his head. “And what exactly is your plan for getting past the great guardian and the orichalcum gate, pray tell?” The unicorn leaned forward and gestured with his hoof. “Just do as I say. You seem no fool to me, great Helia, heroin of Fort Trottingham.” Arcas smiled. “Take this old unicorn, and your sister, with you on this great journey. I shall be your guide and I shall lead you to Tartarus and to the gates of orichalcum where the sanctuary lies. Together we shall face off against the great guardian and with my help we shall prevail. I know your heart. I know never before have you relied on others for your deeds. Along the way you might find many changes. Changes that shape you from what you are into who you need to be. And by the end of the journey you shall finally have what you seek.” Arcas chuckled. “You seem no fool to me, elder one. Take my advice and consider it.”

“And consider it she did.” Princess Luna smiled. “For three days and four nights Helia contemplated. Often in her life she had lead others. In the time of the Chaos Wars she had lead armies against the mad god. But she had never before being guided by another. It was arrogance at first and pride the next day. She considered simply flying away from Arcas’s hut and starting the search on her own. She even left her sister behind, but every night she would return and shake her head. Alas, she could not locate Tartarus on her own and on the morning of the fourth day, she asked Arcas to accompany her as her guide. It was that very morning that they set out to the south in search of the great lost city and the treasures it had buried within. Thus began their journey to the Centauri Sanctuary.”

Twilight Sparkle looked upwards at Luna. “And inside that sanctuary, the Elements of Harmony were found?”

Luna reared back in surprise. “How did you know that?” She said breathlessly.

Twilight looked down at the ground and contemplated. Images of Discord tapping a ruler against a chalkboard floated into her mind. “I guess I must have… read it… somewhere…?”

“Interesting.” Luna said with a nod. “Now then… their journey took them far and wide. They crossed hills and mountains. The alicorns, of course, wanted to fly. But the elder unicorn insisted they walk the land. He claimed the lessons it taught would be essential for the trials a head and they paid him mind. For thirty five long days they walked the terrain. Arcas pulled a small wagon that contained a supply of water, food, a modest collection of tomes, and a large tapestry he claimed would be needed to reach the end of their journey. On the thirty sixth day they were traversing the southern badlands of what is now Equestria….”

Arcas pointed with his hoof at the pit that was before them. “There... Like I promised. The lost Centuarian city, Tartarus.”
Helia peered over the edge of the pit. “How can you be sure? It just looks like a bottomless pit to me. Ancient myth says the gates to Tartarus are at the location where water swims in fire. I would imagine our destination would be volcanic in nature.” Helia looked down at the side of the pit, where a winding path sat. “Besides, it seems as somepony has been here before. This is hardly lost city material.”

Arcas smiled. “A keen observation, but give me a few minutes of your time and I promise to put your mind at ease. Come, follow me down into the abyss.” Arcas adjusted his wagon harness and started the walk down the winding path. The alicorn sisters watched Arcas and his wagon of supplies begin to fade from their sight and soon after, the alicorn sisters followed. The path encircled the pit, spiraling downwards at an increasingly steep angle. They walked in silence as they made their way down; their hoofsteps echoing in the darkness. When it became uncomfortably dark, Helia lit a torch with her magic. They squinted their eyes to try and see better in the dim flicker of the torch and it was only then had they noticed how foreboding the trail had become. The walls were a deep red color. The air pressure increased, stifling their breathes. Yet where they had expected cold, damp air, instead they were met with an unbearable heat. The trail dipped sharply and Arcas’s old legs swept out from under him. He began to tumble down the path, the weight of his wagon pushing him down farther.

“Arcas!” Selena called out as she took flight and raced forward. The younger alicorn used her magic to unhitch the harness from the old unicorn’s body and she caught him as he tumbled off the side of the path into the abyss. “I’ve got you! Are you alright?” She shouted a bit too loud in the elder unicorn’s ear.

“Well! I certainly meant to do that. That tripping thing.” Arcas laughed as he attempted to steady his breath. “Good catch though.”

Selena gently set the unicorn down back on the path. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Arcas smiled. “I’m old. Tripping was always a possibility. Yes, I am quite alright. Your concern is touching, caring Selena. Such kindness you have within you.” The unicorn looked around for his wagon harness only to find the Helia had strapped it around herself. “Elder Helia! You are going to pull my wagon? How generous of you!”

The elder alicorn looked down derisively. “Hmph, not in the least. The fact that you can’t pull your own weight is slowing us down.”

“Whatever you say, princess.” Arcas chuckled and rolled his eyes. He pointed with his hoof. “Take a look around you. We have arrived.”

“I don’t see anything.” Selena said. “Wait… what are those sparkling lights down there?”

“Take a look for yourself.” He said as they trotted forward. Soon the lights were seen up close. They were gems, catching the light of the torch. “Sapphires,” Arcas said. “Brilliantly shining sapphires, as blue as the ocean. And see? The wall, they are made of red sandstone invoking the image of fire.”

Helia smiled. “Where water swims in fire. Clever.” Helia looked around. She moved the torchlight so it revealed that the path had reached a dead end. “But there are no gates here? I don’t understand.”

Arcas began to dig through the contents of the wagon. “Ah here it is!” The unicorn levitated a large tapestry up to the sandstone wall.

As the tapestry unfolded against the wall, Helia laughed. “That is a picture of a gate. Do you expect us to walk into a cloth? How ab….” Helia’s mouth snapped shut as the tapestry ripped into and formed an entryway into the sandstone wall.

“You were saying?”

Selena looked up at the foreboding entryway. “Is it that easy? There is no lock for the gate?”

Arcas took the first steps into the gateway, followed soon after by the sisters. “Centaurs were fascinated with guardians. As long as the guardian was present, the gate cannot be opened. However, Tartarus’s primary guardian has long since vanished.”

Helia thought for a moment. “If it were replaced, could Tartarus be resealed again?”

Arcas turned around with a confused look. “I suppose… yes… that’s a solid theory. I mean… there’s no reason it couldn’t…” Arcas gestured for the sisters to follow him. “Come on, we still have to find the Centauri Sanctuary. This way….”

They ventured further into the darkness. Inside the city, if it could be called that after so many years of decay, they followed Arcas around countless corridors. Selena was awestruck by the enormity of the cavern system. She went to exclaim in wonder, but was quickly silenced by Helia. They proceeded to quietly trot down hallways, across bridges, and through grand vistas. Helia finally looked up at Arcas. “What makes you think this Centauri Sanctuary has a way to defeat Discord?”
Arcas glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “Ah good. I was wondering when you would ask that.”

Helia scowled. “No magic I have ever tried against him has worked. I am beginning to think he is invincible.”

Arcas nodded. “That is because you are trying to use the wrong kind of magic.” He inhaled deeply. “Discord is a product of the darkest time in our little planet’s history. Long ago, the Centaurs lived in peace. But then it all changed when magic was discovered. But it is not like the magic ponies use today. Centaurian magic is much different and it was powerful. The Centaurs were always a warring race. They thrived on conflict, and through that conflict each individual hoped to rise to challenges previously thought to be mythical. When they invented magic, suddenly conquest was easy. Any Centaur anywhere could rise to power and soon the world was enveloped in war. Magic used in this manner became negatively aligned, and as they fought the essence of that magic urged them further into chaos. Soon every Centaur was born, magically aged to maturity, taught destructive spells, and sent off to slay opposing factions in a matter of days. Generations of these creatures became as short as weeks and soon there was no cave, no island, and no meadow where war was not waged.”

Helia bit her lip. “It sounds like our war against Discord.”

“No, this… this was much worse. The Centaurs became more and more destructive. At that point, there was no turning back. The universe had become unbalanced and some might say certain contingency rules took effect. If the universe could not return to a center point between order and chaos then it needed to wipe the slate clean. The universe itself called for destruction on a scale never seen again, and as the laws of the universe forced the whole race to become champions of chaos, entropy became their lifeblood. The elimination of entire factions was not enough to satisfy their thrust. They sought nothing short of total annihilation of creation. That is when a few ambitious leaders hatched a terrible plan.”

Selena asked, “What sort of plan?”

“They spent countless lifetimes amassing magic. So much creative energy went into making something incredibly destructive. Creating to destroy, such a seemingly odd concept. They created the end itself and unleashed it upon the world. It burned out the sun, decimated the moon, and stripped off the crust of the earth. That was the end of the Centaurs, the magic seemed to target them exclusively as punishment for their folly. But it was not the end of their influence. You see, all the magic had to go somewhere. After the end of the world, the magic summoned by the war settled on the now barren rock that was this planet. That much raw magic in one location, it had to be tremendous to behold. Imagine a force strong enough to destroy the heavens, condensed into a swirling mass of reality-altering energy.”

“That much magic in one place…. How would nature compensate for that?” Helia asked.

Arcas laughed. “Nature’s funny when you think about it. Just when you think you’ve figured out how it works, it goes and surprises you in the most unexpected way possible. All that essence of destruction turned into creation. I told you that the magic amassed was a labor of creativity to wrought destruction. Such opposites combined into one result are unstable and the magic split into two distinct poles, that which we now call negative and positive magic. But that’s not all that happened. The magic solidified and began to change. The positive field fractured into uncountable pieces and took a very familiar shape.”

“What do you mean?”

“Us. The life that now inhabits this world, apart from the monsters and demons, is the remains of that positive magic. All of us are part of that event. That is how earth ponies are so strong, how pegasi can fly and walk on clouds, and how unicorns can manipulate reality. We are all bound by that event, and infused with its energies.”

“And what of the negatively aligned half? Are you implying that it became…?”

“Yes, the negative half did not fragment. And it did not take a defined shape either, but it certainly became alive. This was the being known as Gratis. All of this took place in mere seconds after the destruction of the world by the Centaurs. While the ponies and other new life forms were stunned at their new found existence, Gratis was the first to realize that without the sun or the moon the newly repopulated world would die again. After watching the suffering the newly born creatures experienced, Gratis could no longer sit idly. Possessing wisdom, no doubt lingering memories of the older, peaceful Centaurs, Gratis used his unfathomable powers to create new celestial bodies. Thus the spirits of Dagr and Nótt were born.”

Selena nodded. “I see.” They proceeded down a darker corridor than the last, and the younger alicorn shuddered slightly.

Helia shook her head. “Such an odd thing for a creature made of negative magic to do…”

“Indeed, sharp-eyed Helia. For a time, Gratis attempted to live with the new inhabitants of the world. But fate, it seemed, had other ideas. I stated earlier that the Centaurs through the universe out of balance. Now, even after the world was wiped clean, balance was not restored. The scales had tipped too far the other way when Gratis had defined his nature. Soon the universe demanded the balance be restored and Gratis felt something in him change. His sanity began to slip. So he ran. He formed a pocket of space that was hidden from the universe, where he would live life away from others; hiding from his destiny. If not for the loneliness he suffered, we might not be in this situation now. It happened clearly by chance, but your encounter with him awakened a need for companionship once more. Now that he has returned to this world proper, his mind was lost to chaotic tendencies.”

“It hardly seems fair. Why would the universe wish us such strife and pain?”

Arcas shook his head. “It only wishes balance. Too much order and the world becomes static and stale, incapable of sustaining life. Too much chaos and the world is… as you see it now. That is why we must stop Discord, before the world is too far gone.”

“But what power in the Sanctuary could stand up against Discord?”

“As I have said, he is a creature of negative magic. Negative Centaurian magic; as such only something made from the hands of the Centaurs themselves can stop him. When the Centaur War was coming to an end, a small group of battle-weary Centaurs, fed up with all the destruction, set out to create a different type of artifact. A last ditch effort to save their race from destruction. While they finished their labors, they never had a chance to save their race before all of the Centaurs vanished. If I’m right about my interpretations of ancient Centaur tomes, the Centauri Sanctuary should contain the last hope of their… and our… race.” Arcas stopped short of a glowing blue light emanating from the next hallway. “Hold, we are here.”

Helia peered her head around the corner and stared at the sight before her eyes. The blue glow was coming from a sparkling bridge of magic. It spanned a large cavern leading to a wall adorned with a large metal door. “That’s the gate of orichalcum? Not very subtle.”

“It doesn’t need to be. The guardian prevents all those who are unworthy. It is said to be a creature of heavenly presence and tremendous power. They call it the Arbiter. It looks into your very soul and judges you. Should it find you worthy, it lets you pass. Should it find you unworthy… let’s just say none of us will care about Discord after that.”

Selena shuddered. “What is it looking for?”

“Its purpose was to prevent the wonders of the Sanctuary from falling into the hands of the more destructive Centaurs. It will only let those pass that are pure of heart.”

Helia nodded. “Such a subjective phrase… how can one judge on that?”

Arcas sighed. “Ah, ever cynical Helia. Those who are pure of heart, according to the Centaurs, are those with good intentions, those who would perform a selfless sacrifice, and those who completely believe in harmony.”

“You think we are worthy enough to pass?” Selena asked.

“Just leave the Arbiter to me.” Arcas smiled as he patted the wagon Helia was pulling.

They cautiously proceeded down the glowing bridge. Their eyes darted back and forth, looking for any sign of the Arbiter. Occasionally they would pull their eyes back to the enormous gate before them, continually surprised at how large the door was. The large cavern echoed endlessly with each small sound they made. Helia looked worriedly at Arcas. “If we are not judged worthy, the Arbiter will attempt to kill us. My sister and I will most likely survive; we have been gifted with immortality. However, you have no such gift. You are putting yourself at a great risk. What could possibly motivate you to put your life in danger? Have you no fear of death?”

Arcas frowned. “Discord must be stopped. I have seen personally what terrible things he can do to a pony.” Selena gave him a caring glance. He inhaled deeply and continued. “Discord took my family from me. My whole family.”

“So… he finally stooped to killing…” Helia said with a worried frown.

“No. Much worse. If they were dead I would have no hope to tug at my heart. Instead he cursed me to never again meet them. As a joke he put me out of phase with them. I could be standing right next to another of the Lulamoon clan but we would never see or hear each other. It is though we no longer exist in the same plane. Never again will I see my daughters and son or my wife…. Worse yet is the thought that they are out there, unable to see each other. They are lost and scared. Of that I am sure. So no, I don’t fear death. Not if I have the chance to make things better for my family.”

Selena pointed with her hoof. “It’s a good thing you don’t fear it… look!” The glowing bridge raised upwards and took a horrifying shape. Soon looming over them was the form of a bear made of stars. Never before had such a creature been seen by the sisters and it was imposing to say the least. The celestial bear snarled as it lowered its head near the tiny ponies. Its mouth opened slowly, and a booming voice shook the cavern. Its lips did not move as it spoke and if it were not for the room shaking, Helia would have sworn it was speaking directly into her mind.

“What strange creatures approach the Sanctum gate?” This beast could be nothing other than the Arbiter that Arcas had spoken about.

Helia stood up straight and stared the beast down. “Arbiter, we seek to enter the sanctuary to fight a great monster, the master of chaos himself. Let us pass.”

“Words are nothing when spoken from the mouth. Let us see what song your heart sings.” The bear leaned in close to Arcas. “Great and Wise Arcas Lulamoon, your heart shall be weighed upon the scale of judgment. This one is simple. The heart is tormented, yet filled with hope and determination. But his motives are pure, selfless. He would sacrifice his life for his friends in an instant. Great and Wise Arcas Lulamoon is judged WORTHY!” The cave shook with the bear’s ruling.

Arcas chuckled uneasily. “Was there ever any doubt?”

The bear loomed over Helia. “Helia of the Alicorn Sisters, your heart shall be weighed upon the scale of judgment. This one is complex. Her heart is filled with such grief and sorrow. While she strives to improve, her motivation is the selfish absolution of guilt. Yet she is honest about her situation. But… fragments of her future are written. Curious.... She will serve the world and be its steward. She will touch the lives of many in the future in a nurturing way. Such a capability for generosity. How can this one’s future be written? Only those gifted with immortality are burdened with destiny.” The bear paused before looking up at the ceiling. “The stars of fate are imbedded within this one…. She must be immortal but she gives the scent of one born mortal. How then, shall her heart be weighed? Shall her past actions condemn her or shall her future vindicate her?” The Arbiter loomed over the elder alicorn and bellowed. “For bearing the destiny of the world’s caretaker… Helia of the Alicorn Sisters is judged WORTHY!”

Helia took a few steps backwards. “I… am?”

The bear then turned its attention to Selena. The younger alicorn laughed uneasily. “Selena of the Alicorn Sisters, your heart shall be weighed upon the scale of judgment. This one is innocent. But her future is dark. The stars of fate are imbedded within this one… she must be immortal but gives the scent of one born mortal. Again, such a curiosity. At present she shows such devotion and loyalty to her sister, selfless following out of love. Physically, her eyes are the shade of the night sky. However the scales of judgment reveal that their true color is green. Such a dark future. Torment and sorrow. Envy and loneliness. She will take her frustration out on the world. How then, shall her heart be weighed? Shall her future actions condemn her or shall her past vindicate her? For bearing the destiny of the world’s tormentor… Selena of the Alicorn Sisters is judged...” The bear’s night sky coat turned to a blood red glow. “UNWORTHY!”

“What?!” Selena stumbled backwards as the large creature raised its paw above her head. “I don’t understand!” The Arbiter snarled and bared its teeth. Arcas raced forward and blocked the creature’s paw from slamming into Selena.

“Arbiter! Wait!” Arcas yelled upwards at the towering creature. “Now, you whole job is to be a judge of character. A just and fair judge. And in the name of justice and fairness, I’d like to appeal against this ruling.”

“Judgment of the heart is absolute.” The Arbiter again raised its paw, preparing to strike.

Arcas waved his hooves in the air frantically. “But! But! You said she was innocent and selfless!”

“This one’s destiny is to bring darkness to the entire realm.” The red glowing bear snorted. “She is unworthy of the Sanctum and will be destroyed.”

“You can’t judge her on her future. How can she be held accountable for things she might do? You said she is both mortal and immortal and that she has only parts of her future written. Isn’t it possible that she might have even greater moments to balance out the bad ones? Is it possible her destiny is wrong? Please! I ask you to judge her once more.”

The red glow from the bear faded back to a calm blue and the gigantic creature lowered its paw back to its side. “Selena of the Alicorn Sisters, your heart shall be weighed upon the scale of judgment. This one possesses innocence and a kindhearted nature. Selena of the Alicorn Sisters is judged WORTHY!”

“Oh! Thank goodness!” Selena sighed. “Quick thinking, Arcas!”

Arcas clapped his hooves together in joy. “That means we’re all worthy of entering the Centauri Sanctuary! Come on let’s…!”

“Helia of the Alicorn Sisters, your heart shall be weighed upon the scale of judgment.” The Arbiter bellowed.

“What?!” Helia stood another step backwards in surprise. “But… I was already judged.”

“This one is motivated by the absolution of guilt and self-sorrow. As is precedent, those with the gift of the alicorn shall not have their destinies considered when being judged. Helia of the Alicorn Sisters is judged UNWORTHY!” The bear’s coat turned a blood red and it raised its paw, primed to strike.

“Well….” Arcas sighed. “This was always a possibility.” The unicorn reached into his wagon and pulled a small collection of marbles from underneath the covers. “Right then!” Arcas tossed the marbles on the ground. Smoke exploded from the ground and obscured even the large glowing bear. “Run!” He shouted. Brightly lit fireworks launched from the tip of Arcas’s horn as the bear swatted at the ground. The bridge shook with violent force as the ponies raced between the bear’s legs and on to the gate behind it. “Watch out!”

Helia called back as the pounded her hooves on the large metal lock. “The gate! How do we open it?”

Selena leaned her back against the gate and sank down to a sitting position. “We’re going to die. Well… Arcas is going to die, and we’re going to be trapped in here forever!”

Arcas raced forward and pressed a small crystal object up to the gate. “No we’re not going to die. Well at least not right now. Look! Skeleton Key! Opens any door anywhere!” The crystal shattered. “Well. Don’t worry. It’s supposed to do that. I think.” He placed his hooves against the gate. “Now push!”

Helia yelled. “I am pushing! It’s not moving! Your key is worthless!”

Arcas grunted. “Oh, because I’m supposed to do everything! Fat lot of use you two are. Some saviors of ponykind.”

Selena cried out in frustration. “Do we really have time for this?”

Helia and Arcas yelled back in unison. “Shut up, Selena!”

The bear’s voice bellowed. “You have violated the judgment of your hearts. The sentence is death.”

Arcas turned around and yelled back at the Arbiter as it slowly crept towards them. “As opposed to what the sentence was before?” The unicorn looked back at Helia. “Only the Arbiter can open this gate.”

“Well then, when he gets done killing us, why don’t you ask him to?!”

“Hang on, I’ve got an idea. It’s a mite dangerous, though.” Arcas launched a few magic fireworks up into the air in front of the gate. “Hey! Over here, you big… dumb… bear… thing...?”

“Judgment shall be cast!” The Arbiter bellowed as it began to charge.

“Big dumb bear thing?” Helia questioned.

Arcas chuckled. “I’m under pressure, alright? On the signal, run as fast as you can.” He pointed upwards with his hoof. “Here he comes!”

“What’s the signal?” Selena asked. The answer, however, was soon apparent. The Arbiter crashed into the gateway, lodging the metal doors open. Helia and Selena rushed inside. The Arbiter slammed his paw down next to Arcas and he bounced up into the air. He fell back down with a large thud. Selena stuck her head back outside the gateway and used her magic to levitate the old unicorn inside.

The gate slammed shut. The found themselves in a dark, cavernous room. The area was deathly quiet, save for the muffled banging of the Arbiter on the other side of the gate. The room shook slightly with each boom. Helia’s horn lit up and cast a simple light spell that illuminated the area. Immediately they were awestruck by the sight around them. The room’s walls were filled with fantastic paintings and skilled carvings of fields, the sky, Centaurs, fantastic cities, space, the moon, and abstract shapes. Selena gasped in wonder. “This place is… beautiful. Where are we?”

“The Centauri Sanctuary…. Argh!” Arcas moaned slightly in pain. “Go now, the next trial is yours alone to face. You must locate hope. I will be alright. I just need to rest my leg for a moment.”

“Right. We will bring back what we need to find to beat Discord.” Helia nodded. “Come, Selena.”

The two alicorns walked down a long hallway. Helia narrowed her eyes and lowered her head. She marched with determination towards the end of the hallway without looking around. Selena stopped every now and again to admire the artworks. The hallway ended with a set of large iron doors. Helia tapped her hoof against the door, perhaps attempting to knock or perhaps attempting to open them. The large doors to the chamber broke off and shattered from eons of rust. Helia peeked her head inside the room. It was dark, but there was a light source. A series of glowing gems sat in the center of the room, placed atop bronze pedestals. A voice was chattering endlessly in the background. It must have been a Sound Permanence spell. Like the one mother had shown her. The speech was repeating apparently the same short message again and again. Perhaps it was a warning. Helia hated to admit it, but she was a tad frightened. She had not been frightened in a long time. It was slightly exhilarating. The young alicorn with the pink mane walked around the room. A few more light sources sprang to life, recognizing her presence and honoring it by guiding her. She was now close enough to hear the voice’s message. At times, she could understand it, but in other moments it appeared to be speaking in a different tongue:

“Greetings, Friend! You are currently standing in the chamber of the future! What lies before you is a result of a collective collaboration of our society’s major governments.” Helia glanced at the walls. They were covered in glyphs she could not understand but they were also familiar. The book from long ago, back when she was nothing more than a mere filly, had spoken of them. The voice continued speaking endlessly, “Our society was based on the principles of mathematics and science. When our mastery of science and technology advanced beyond the laws of physics and time, it evolved into magic. The easy, widespread use of magic ultimately lead to the downfall of our very civilization.” Helia approached the center of the room. A few of the lights flickered and died out. The magic that had once fueled them faded, having waited too long for its use. “As our civilization fell into despair, a small coalition used magic to create a solution for future civilizations just like yours.”

Helia had once heard that the Centaurs had been the masters of magic Stories that they were the ancestors of the unicorns also had been told to her. Arcas had told her stories too, but she was unsure who to believe anymore. She wanted to call out to her sister; part of her mind was asking why she had not followed her into the chamber yet. But the mysteries of the place in front of here were captivating. “The crystallization of the distillation of emotions, a set of six elements designed to amplify positive psycho-emotive energies. These Elements of Harmony introduce a pacifying effect on the bounds of physics and create a neutralizing effect on large sources of negatively aligned magical energy!”

She stared at the gems on display in the center of the room. Each item bore a different color. She touched one out of curiosity. She fell to the ground in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. She felt giddy and warm on the inside. A feeling she had not felt in a long time. The voice continued, “If you are incapable of understanding the principles presented in this presentation, your society has not yet advanced to point of needing these tools.”

Felling temptation well in her, she tapped a different gem with her hoof. Memories of her mother welled up inside. She felt the warmth of her embrace and the pride she felt when her mother gave her a complement. Her thoughts turned to her sister. She would never abandon her sister, no matter how dark the battle had become. “Please feel free to explore the chamber but do not remove the elements! Be kind to future generations who may need to call upon their power at a later date.”

With a bit of hesitation she placed her hoof on another gem. This one felt much better. She felt as though she owed her sister a better home. She owed the world a better age. She owed the whole world so much. And she would give it what it needed most. “Go forth, future friends, and create your utopia of harmony.” Only two more gems had not been tested. She glanced at the remaining stones. They looked so foreign. Gems were always reflecting the light and sparkling, but these were actually emitting the warmth of a soft glow. The next gem’s feeling was hard to describe. But she felt content. Content, despite all the troubles that were burning in her heart.

Helia turned around. The message repeated again in a different language. At least she assumed it was repeating. She could not tell. She placed a hoof next to her cheek and shouted. “Selena! Come here. I found something.”

Selena entered the room. “What is it? Have you seen some of this art? The Centaurs must have been amazing!” The room seemed to react to the presence of the second alicorn. The gems lifted off from their pedestals. Helia and Selena lifted off the ground as well. They found themselves floating without the use of their wings. The gems began to orbit around the sisters. Around Selena, the green, blue, and red gems encircled her head. Floating around Helia were there pink and orange gems. Slowly they were lowered back to the ground and their hooves clopped against the stone floor. Selena shot a concerned glance towards her sister. “What’s going on?”

“I believe these… elements… have accepted us as their wielders. Arcas may be able to shine more light on the matter. Anyway, it looks as though we have acquired what we came for. Let’s get back to Arcas.” Helia turned towards the doors and started to walk away, the pink and orange gems still orbiting her form.

“What about that one?” Selena pointed with her hoof at the center pedestal, a purple gemstone still cradled in it. “Should we leave that one, just because it isn’t floating around us?”

Helia turned back and looked at the gem. She enveloped it in her magic and floated it next to her. “You’re right. It would be a hassle if we needed to come back for it. Good catch, Selena.” With those words, she galloped out of the room and down the hallway. Selena followed her, towing her own set of three floating gems. Soon they reached the gateway, where Arcas was sitting.

The unicorn rolled to a sitting position. “Ah good. You found them. The Elements of Harmony. That is precisely what you’ll need to defeat Discord. The only thing powerful enough in the world, I’m afraid.” A loud thumping sound shook the room. “The Arbiter is still a wee bit mad at us, I think.”

Helia smiled. “Yes, we’ll have to deal with that. But first… Arcas… Tell me the truth. When we first met I asked you why you hadn’t retrieved these artifacts by yourself already. You told me that you didn’t possess the ability to get past the Arbiter. Yet, out of all three of us, you were the only one who without question was eligible to pass. Why did you lie to us? Better yet, answer me why you needed us at all?”

“Ah good. You’re starting to think. That was always a possibility.” Arcas sighed. “Although I could get past the Arbiter, I can’t wield the elements. I’m too… solitary. The elements thrive on togetherness. Unity. Friendship.”

Helia laughed. “And you think we are better?”

“It looks as though they have already recognized you as such. You may not realize it, but you two are great. The sisterly bond between the two of you is a powerful thing. The sooner you recognize it, the sooner you will be able to defeat Discord.”

Helia stamped her hoof. “Then it is done. I recognize it.”

Arcas shook his head. “Simply saying it does not make it work. When the time is right, you’ll know.” The room shook once more with the sound of the Arbiter’s fury. “Well, what say you to getting out of here?”

Selena’s ears folded back. “It doesn’t sound like the Arbiter is going to let us go that easily. How are we going to get past it?”

“The Elements of Harmony neutralize negative magic. It will pacify the Arbiter and then we will make our way out of Tartarus.” Arcas lifted himself up and placed his hooves against the door. “On the count of three, I will open the gate and you will blast the Arbiter with the elements.”

“How do we use them?” Selena asked.

Helia smiled. “Do you not feel it, sister? Their activation is instinctive to us.”

Selena nodded. “Yes… I think I know what we have to do. It seems so natural now...”

“One….” Arcas leaned against the door. “Two….” He clenched his eyes tightly shut. “Three!” The gates slammed open. The large bear reared up on its hind legs and roared mightily. The ground trembled with the growl and Arcas tumbled to his knees. “Now!” He shouted as he scrambled to his hooves again. Helia looked over at Selena and nodded. They lifted off the ground as the elements spiraled around them. Helia’s eyes flashed into glowing orbs. The gems’ orbit’s speed increased. With a flash of light Helia and Selena crashed to the ground.

“It didn’t work!” Helia called out.

“I was afraid of that!” Arcas called out. “Yes… that was always a possibility. The unicorn focused magic in his horn and teleported out of the path of another bear claw. “We are officially on Plan B now. That’s ‘run’ if you were asleep when we went over it!” Arcas fired another set of fireworks up into the Arbiter’s face.

Helia galloped up next to the unicorn. “Why did the elements not work?”

“We’ll talk about your antisocial issues later!” Arcas pushed Helia out of the way of another attack.

“Antisocial?” Helia said as she rolled back to her hooves. In the background Selena was cleverly avoiding the ruckus by gliding underneath the bridge. They made their way to the end of the bridge. The Arbiter followed closely behind. They moved faster than they had ever before. The celestial bear slammed its paws on the bridge, shattering it. With the ground giving out underneath them, the three ponies fell. Helia took flight, and with a skilled swoop, caught Arcas as he was falling. She set him back down when they reached the other side. Helia turned to Arcas. “Look, I think it’s trapped on the other side of the bride! I think we’re safe.” She said. The bear curled up on itself and with a mighty leapt it cleared the impossibly large chasm left behind from the where the bridge was. Helia shuddered and turned to run. “Never mind, I’m terrible at judging safety!”

“Run!” Selena said as she zipped past them in the air. Soon they found themselves running through corridor after corridor in Tartarus. No matter how small a hiding place they found, the Arbiter would simply rip the walls apart to get to them. It was only matter of time it seemed. Selena looked over at Arcas with a panicked expression. “We can’t keep running forever. We need to find a way to stop it. Arcas, there must be a way. I thought you said the Elements of Harmony would work against it?”

“Judgment shall be delivered.” The Arbiter bellowed from across the hall.

Arcas shook his head. “They would, but the Elements haven’t fully accepted you as their bearers yet. Don’t worry. My father peered into the Dome of Vision. It may have cost him his mind, but his prophecy says you two have the capability to do great things.”

Helia stamped her hoof. “That’s all well and good, but what about our current situation? Do we have a way to pacify the Arbiter or not?”

“The Arbiter has judged us unworthy. Only a selfless act of great magnitude could placate it now.” Arcas sighed heavily. “This was always a possibility.” The unicorn looked up with a somber expression.

“What was? What was a possibility?” Selena asked frantically.

Arcas chuckled and nodded to himself. “You two seem no fools to me, so here’s what you need to do: I will distract the beast, and you will gallop out, through that archway over there.” He pointed with his hoof. “Then I will trap the beast so we can safely escape, once you have cleared the gate I will appease the Arbiter.”

“Appease it? How?” Selena asked.

“Like I said, a selfless act.” The unicorn nodded.

Helia gave Arcas a stern look. “How long have you known this would end up this way?”

“This was always a possibility.” Arcas gave a knowing chuckle. “Now, run!” Helia grabbed Selena’s wing with her mouth and pulled her through the archway. The Arbiter charged forward. Arcas fired a series of fireworks at the archway, collapsing it. The celestial bear slammed into the pile of crumbled stone, its route to the alicorns cut off. The bear turned around and loomed over the tiny unicorn. “Can’t get to them now, your honor. Sorry.” The bear raised its paw high above its head. Arcas smiled and looked back at the bear. “Arbiter… I throw myself at the mercy of the court.”

Princess Luna shook her head. “With the elements retrieved, there was only one thing left to do. Helia and Selena rested outside the pits of Tartarus for the night. At the first sign of Dagr’s sun, Helia and Selena began the new day. A day that would forever change the world. But for the better? I cannot say for certain.”

Again, it was dawn. It had been almost eight months since the last time Helia and Selena had placed their hooves on the stone entry way of the Keep in the Sky. Many sieges had taken place in the past and all had failed. This time would be different though. It had to be. They were prepared. The doors of the Keep swung open and the candles lit the dark interior. A roll of red carpet came bouncing down the staircase at the end of the atrium. The doorway looked as a mouth, ready to swallow the two alicorns that now stood in front of it. Helia imagined that Discord was a fan of imagery. The elements of harmony spiraled around their bodies, creating a soft humming sound. It gave them courage. Steeling themselves, they trotted inside.

They had done all this before. The doors slammed shut with a loud echo. There was no turning back now. With any luck, they would not need to. Helia adjusted the tiara atop her head. They had a plan this time. It would not fail. It could not. Helia began a slow walk down the red carpet. Selena knew better than to fear that the path was a trap. It would certainly lead directly to him. He wanted them to visit. They knew he looked forward to their attempts. Helia broke into a moderate trot. The anticipation of the upcoming confrontation was almost too much to bear for her. For Selena, it had passed that point a long time ago. Selena matched her sister’s speed and fell in line behind her. The stairs seemed to have no end as the climbed. Helia sped up to a canter. The tiny candles that lit the hallway began to flicker. The floor opened up, ready to swallow them. Helia gauged the jump ahead of her. She spread her wings and leapt across the pit. She fell into a glide as she narrowly dodged a section of the wall that had spontaneously decided to lash out at her. “Careful, sister, his game has begun.” Helia glanced backwards at her sister.

Selena steeled herself against the upcoming leap. “I’ll be right there.” The younger alicorn jumped forward. She spread her wings and prepared to glide to the second platform. The stone blocks broke off from the wall and lashed out against the alicorn. The blocks impacted Selena and tossed her off to the side. She was twisted on her side in the air. The wind left the underside of Selena’s wings and she quickly fell into the pit. Selena grunted as she bounced off of the sides of the pit. She landed at the bottom of the pit and groaned.

Helia leaned over the edge of the pit. “Again, Selena! What did I say about being careful?” Helia looked down and notice that the alicorn had her leg bent at the wrong angle. Helia sighed. “Are you alright?”

Selena attempted to stand but then quickly let out a whelp. “Ouch... this never ceases to hurt. My leg… I might have sprained it.” Selena looked up to see Helia frowning at the mouth of the pit. “I’m sorry. Maybe we should turn back? Our assault is failing before we even get to him.”

“NO!” Helia shouted. Her words echoed in the hallway. “We have come too far now to turn back. We can win this time! We have lost too much to turn back now.” Helia bit her lip. “Stay here. You’ll be safe.”

“All right, Helia.” Selena’s voice echoed up though the pit. Helia felt a pang in her heart. She shook her head slowly and turned around. “Helia?” Selena called back, noticing her sister had returned.

“We blank-flanks need to stick together.” She said. Unbeknownst to the alicorn, the third gem that was floating around her head began to glow a soft purple. Helia jumped down and glided to the bottom of the pit. She landed next to her sister and lowered her neck. With a bit of difficulty she lifted the younger alicorn up over her head and onto her back. “Ugh. You need to eat less.”

Selena giggled. “You still weight more, sister.”

Helia spread her wings and with great difficulty lifted herself out of the pit. “Don’t mock your rescuer.” She walked slowly, spreading her wings to help balance the pony on her back.

She peered over the pit once more and chuckled. “You really have a love for those pits, huh?”

Selena laughed. “I can’t help falling for them!” Selena gasped. “Helia! Look! The sixth gem is glowing now! What does that mean?”

“It means we’re going to win. Together.” Helia grunted as she walked down the hallway, struggling with Selena’s weight on her back.

The hallway was long. It seemed like forever before they reached the throne room. Nevertheless, it stood in front of them. The throne itself sat empty. Helia lowed Selena down to the ground. Both alicorns surveyed the empty room, looking for its king. While they could not locate him with their eyes, their ears soon burned with a familiar voice. “Wait! Wait! Don’t start without me!” The voice echoed throughout the room. “I’m terribly sorry. I wasn’t expecting you two back here so soon. I know the place is just a wreck. And I’m running late.” There was a flash of light and the throne was soon filled with the master of chaos himself.

“Discord…” Helia said.

“Terribly sorry about being late. I was just having lunch with the ponies in Bubblegum Marsh. Strangely, there was a lack of gum-based products there. And bubble based products. Well… not anymore.” Discord slouched in his throne. “Hang on. I’m still getting into character.” He adjusted his sitting position. “Do I have the bored evil dictator look down? What do you think? Right amount of evil? Too much bored? Too little dictator? Now don’t be afraid to speak up, I’m all open to criticism.” Discord chuckled. “Okay. I think I’m ready. Lay it on me! Let’s hear the speech! Wait! Actually, wait a moment. One last thing. I’m going to have to wrap this up as soon as possible. I have a meeting right after this with the… uh… the uh…. Okay. I have a meeting, and it’s very important. I’m not just trying to get rid of you. You can be sure of that. I just can’t remember the name because I’m so busy these days. With all the ruling the world and stuff. Windagos! That’s who the meeting is with. Now I remember. See? I told you I’m not just making stuff up to brush you off. So, come on. Out with it! Speech!”

Helia stood with a stern look on her face. “Not this time Discord.” The elements lifted up and began to orbit around her and Selena.

“Oh, but I do so love the speeches.” Discord stood up and walked over to the two ponies. His breathe was blowing against their coats. “Well if you’re not going to give a speech I’ll…” Discord stopped talking for a moment. He extended his claw and poked at one of the orbiting gems. He broke in to a sputtering laugh. “What are these things? HA! Floating jewelry? A bit tacky if you ask me. Why are they orbiting you two? Is it because…” He covered his mouth laughing. “No, I’m not going to do it…. It’s far too easy.” He burst out laughing. “Are they orbiting around you because you’re so… dense?!” Discord rolled to the ground laughing. “I’m sorry. It… HA! HA! It was set up perfectly! I couldn’t resist!” Discord rose to his hooves and wiped his brow. “But seriously, no speech?” Discord frowned. “Alright. Well if you don’t want to perform, I think I will.”

“Go right ahead.” Helia said. Her eyes began to glow as the elements spiraled around her.

“Yes, I know it’s a bit unorthodox, but I thought it wouldn’t be nice if I sang? I have the most lovely signing voice you ever…. Wait? Did you say yes?! Oh, wonderful!” Discord snapped his fingers. The room rumbled as a stage rose out of the stone. Lights dropped from the ceiling. Birds flew in from the windows and changed shape. Their limbs elongated and their feathers turned to dexterous digits. One after another, each was soon holding an instrument.

Twilight Sparkle placed her hoof on her face. “Please tell me you’re not going to…”

Princess Luna held up a hoof. “Shhh…”

Applejack shook her head. “Your coat don’t look pink but I’m beginning to wonder….”

Luna held up a hoof again. “Shhh!”

The first bird took hold of a bass and quickly laid down a walking baseline. Soon trumpets joined in. The castle began to sway and shake with the music. Discord jumped up on a pedestal and threw his arm out. His voice echoed across all of the Known World:

I will admit I find your visits appealing,
I'm touched, quite touched, to know how much you care.
I know by now your mental gears are reeling,
Trying hard to find the way to get me out of your hair!

Well you've tried magic; wasn't that a flop?
Raised an army of griffins from the mountain top...
Isn't it so tragic it won't get me to stop
Causing chaos for you?

All these contraptions aimed at my Keep in the Sky;
Then you formed that brigade of flying Pegasi.
So I hope my actions will not belie,
I'm causing chaos for you!

I’m causing chaos for you!

Now what have we here? Why are you so tight lipped?
I was looking forward to your little spiel.
I'm sad that you are veering off of our script;
I think our little war has lost some of its appeal!

Remember that day when you led the charge,
Across the marshes of Surenfendlemarge?
You called it cliché, when I saluted with: “Sarge,
I'm causing chaos for you!”

You had dragons; I said, “Please...
Why should I care? I've got power over cheese!”
So fire your cannons, 'cause it's still a breeze
Causing chaos for you!

I’m causing chaos for you!

Now I'm quite certain you've brought me some new trick.
Bet it has something to do with these jewels….
Well, let's see it; I'm always up for your shtick.
Your track record so far only makes you look like fools!

Now I worry you underestimate,
Just how many ways I am oh so great!
So can we hurry? I've got a lot on my plate,
Causing chaos for you!

My dear Helia, you don't have a clue.
And I think it's time that we bid adieu!
So Selena, please don't look so blue,
I'm causing chaos for you!

I'm causing chaos for…!

The room flashed with rainbow light. Discord was oblivious as his lower half turned to stone. The rainbow spiraled around the draconequus. It started with his feet. His body turned a light gray. Sounds of grinding rock echoed through the room as he became frozen in time. Discord fell silent suddenly. The remaining note hung in the air for a moment. In a single instant eight hundred years of chaos vanished. The band dissolved, down below the ground turned back to normal, and the clouds faded from pink to white. In a moment everything flashed back to its natural state. The tyrant was gone, and so was his handiwork. A rainbow colored wave swept over the world. The marshmallow fields became just a peaceful pasture. The upside down mountains righted themselves. The lakes of asparagus reverted to a clear blue. The time traveling bees were suddenly locked back into the time stream. The color violet existed again. The air in some parts of the world no longer smelled like burnt butter. The sound trees made when falling in the forest away from civilization when back to being unknowable. Ducks no longer had eight beaks and breathed multicolored grains of sand when sick. Moored boats no longer spontaneously broke in to song if the wind was blowing south. The wind no longer traveled exclusively in a southern direction. The stars no longer formed rude sayings about the gazer’s grandmother. Bears no longer looked like platypuses. Eight hundred years of chaos fell in one moment. It was that moment the world turned back to normal.

It was also that moment that Keep in the Sky began to shake. The stone floor trembled. Torches were shook loose from their wall mountings. With a wailing rumble, the Keep began to descend. Helia and Selena felt themselves lift into the air. Soon they were in freefall. They were jostled around every which way as the Keep plummeted. Selena screamed. Sections of the room began to fracture. Stone bricks came loose letting the sunlight shine through. The sound of the wind whistling picked up. Helia projected a barrier around the two of them. There was a crash, a crash like no other. The world shook and birds flew away from as far as the eye could ever possibly see.

The Keep finally stopped shifting. Helia’s shield spell faded with a soft whistling sound. Dust settled and they climbed out of the rubble. Discord’s statue form was lying on its side, but was otherwise intact. Selena dusted herself off. “What happened?” She asked quietly.

“I think we’ve hit the ground…” Helia climbed up to a nearby window. She stepped out into the sunlight. The castle had crashed somewhere in a wooded area. “Not just any ground….” She dropped down from the windowsill to the forest floor. A few fallen tree branches cracked beneath her hooves. “Mother is buried around here….” Helia said as she started to walk off in the direction of her mother’s grave.

“We landed in the forest where we first met him.” Selena commented, poking her head out of the window. She followed her sister, her wings flapping to make up for her sprained leg. The younger alicorn looked back over her shoulder at the stone castle behind her. “I don’t think the Keep in the Sky will be sailing amongst the clouds anymore. It’s not very fitting of its name.”

“Discord’s magic has been dispelled. I imagine it will not fly ever again.” Helia stopped walking in front of a small stone pedestal. Helia gingerly touched the small monument. “Hello mother. It’s been a while. I’ve cleaned up my mess now.”
Selena leaned against her sister’s side. “I guess it’s over now…. It feels weird. After eight hundred years….”
Helia peered at the top of the grave where a small stone sundial sat. She inspected its shadow position. “Noon….” Helia laughed. “Heh. I guess always had pictured this moment at sundown.”

“Sundown? Why?” Selena craned her neck to look up at her sister as she nuzzled into the elder pony’s neck.
Helia smiled. “The end to the era of chaos.”

Selena chuckled. “Funny. I would have thought sunrise. The beginning of peace and tranquility. Sundown would simply be depressing. The dawn of a new day is much more poetic, I think. What now?”

“We rest. I think we deserve it.”

Princess Luna sighed. “But rest did not come. Once Discord had been imprisoned, the sisters had thought their troubles would be over. The universe has never been kind though. They were oblivious to it at first. Days had passed, but they were not truly days. The sun was held at high noon and the world began to burn. It would be known far and wide as the Everlasting Sun. The air became stale and old. It lingered in the heat and no wind came to provide even the smallest comfort. No cloud hung in the sky and no rain would come. Plants began to shrivel and die. Their green stalks, once full of life, withered to dry, brittle brown stems. Shade became like currency. Those who owned it were the masters of the land and those who didn’t, died. Fires swept across the world, and lakes vanished. It became clear that the era of chaos had ended, and with that end came the era of destruction. The alicorn sisters, unaffected by the change in nature, could do nothing but watch as those around them began to die.”

Helia sat down next to her mother’s grave and stared contemplatively at the sundial that decorated the top. Her fierce eyes were fixated on the stone device. Its gnomon did not cast a shadow. It never had during high noon, and now it had been high noon for weeks. Selena approached her sister and nuzzled against the neck of the elder alicorn. It was the only form of comfort she could offer her sister, but it was a useless gesture. Helia had long since stopped paying attention to the younger alicorn’s presence. Time had stopped for the world. The sun had been slowly burning the land for days. Nights no longer existed and they had not for weeks. It would not be long before all the water in the world would dry up. Then there would be no way to stop the fires that swept through the landscape. She was trying hard not to cry. It was a difficult action to prevent. A few weeks ago the alicorn sisters had expected a glorious celebration for their triumph over chaos. What they found were whole towns of ponies gasping for water and villages bursting into flames. The little creatures begged for Discord to return. At least when he was in power, there was less pain.

Helia muttered something under her breath. Selena’s eyes opened. She had not heard what her sister had said, but she felt the word’s vibration through her sister’s neck. “Yes, sister?” She asked as she looked up inquisitively.

“Bucking Dagr and Nótt, I said.” Helia collapsed on the ground and sobbed. “Worthless spirits; they spend their time mourning over their father while the world burns.”

“What was the result of your discussion with them?” Selena tried to look hopeful but her eyes betrayed her true disposition.

“We have their voices… so they are nonresponsive. But I do not think they will help us. They care not what happens to the world; their only care is for their father.” Helia shook her head. “He hardly ever even acknowledged their presence. They will let the world die in fire, idled by sorrow.”

Selena looked down at the ground, her voice was tiny. “It is not their fault. You are just as much guilty of such an act.”

“It is not the same!” Helia grunted.

“Is it not? Was it so important that we defeated him? How much better have we made the world?”

Helia stood up, letting her sister fall to the ground. She trotted away from the sundial and clenched her jaw. “He was a monster. He deserves his eternal imprisonment.”

“You’re letting your grief speak for you.” Selena looked off into the depths of the forest without a name. She tried hard to peer through the solid trees to see where the Keep in the Sky now lay in ruins. “Perhaps we should free him. It may be the only way to save this world.”

“NO!” The alicorn’s voice echoed and all of the birds left the forest, terrified by the way her voice shook the earth. “Selena! We cannot give up hope now! Not when we have come this far!”

“Sister, we have come nowhere! We have done the unforgivable. They are dying. They are all dying in the name of your liberation. Your vengeance for perceived injustices. The worst part is the power we have. All this power and we can do nothing. And we will live on, won’t we? We’ll live on here in this dead world. This world where the wind no longer blows and the animals are lethargic to the point of dying.”

Helia nodded to herself. Her voice was calmer now, strong with determination. “Do not worry, my sister. I will make sure you don’t have to live in a dying world. We will find a way. We must. They are free now and so are we. We must lead them, Selena.”

“Your leadership is what got us into this mess in the first place. Chaos is better than certain death.”

The elder alicorn turned to the sundial and stamped her hoof. Her mind raced with thoughts. “If we are not strong enough we will become strong enough. We have the elements; we are alicorns! If the sun will not move, I will force it to!”

“Helia, you’re speaking like a madpony. Only Dagr can move the sun.”

“We will see!” Helia focused every ounce of her magic into her horn. She reached out to the burning orb in the sky. She poured her essence into its soul and pleaded for it to move. No, she demanded that it move. She forced her will upon it. But the sun was not to be trifled with. It did not wish to be tamed. Fire danced in the alicorn’s eyes. Helia’s body began to burn. It cried out in pain as the sun retaliated and struggled. Smoke rose from around her. Her insides melted under the heat. Selena watched in horror as her sister’s beautiful pink mane burst into fire. The sun silently screamed and hissed at the alicorn. It shouted lines of loathing into her mind. It clawed at her soul and it kicked at her thoughts. The fire consumed her tail from the tip as it burned away. The sun pleaded Helia to burn with it, to die alongside it. The sun twitched high in the sky, its last action before it perished. Its soul was extinguished and replaced by the alicorn’s own more determined one. In a moment of blinding light and an explosion of sound, Helia’s mane and tail were reborn as a billowing plane of the morning sky. Ponies of all tribes looked to the sky in awe. They rushed to the sundial and bowed before the Alicorn. Helia rose to the sky and spread her wings, her shape eclipsing the power that she had just vanquished. She was in control. “Oh, once great sphere your soul is not your own anymore! Your powers now are mine to command! Your voice and your body. You will bow before the she who controls the heavenly bodies!”

Selena gasped, “What have you done?! You have killed him! You have killed our friend. You may control the brilliant sun, dear troubled sister, but your soul is blacker than night.”

“No, do you not see? My will is unstoppable. I have saved them!” The elder alicorn’s wings eclipsed the horizon as the sun began to set.

“No! You killed him. He was our friend and you killed him!”

“If the spirit was truly our friend he would have helped us when Discord cast this world into turmoil.”

“Sister…. You have acted rashly.” Selena shivered. “And what will happen now? You will raise and lower the sun from here until eternity? You have placed yourself as the world’s keeper, though it did not ask for it. If the inhabitants of this world knew what you’ve done, do you think they would follow you? You have killed a god!”

“Then I shall be born anew. I shall let Helia die and become something greater. Something regal.”

“Like phoenix you killed…. Irony has had no sharper daggers than it does on this day.” Selena sobbed. “What have you done, Helia?”

“No, my dear Selena, I am not Helia anymore than this world is dying! I am the goddess of the golden sun now! I am she who commands the power of life and death itself! The Mistress of Order! I saved the world from chaos and delivered it from fire! I am the harbinger of harmony! I am the subjugator of the celestial world! Yes! I am Celestia, princess of the sun! Savior of the Known World!”

Selena shook her head. “And what of night? What shall you do about the moon? Shall you kill it too? Shall you steal power from our last remaining friend? What right have you to control the entire heavens?!”

“Perhaps you are right.” Celestia nodded thoughtfully. “Not even I should have that much power. Very well we shall from here on in live by a code. A code unbreakable and we shall swear on mother’s grave to uphold it. As soon as you take control of the moon….”

“No! I won’t!”

“You must, or the world will die!” Celestia’s gaze pierced the younger alicorn’s heart. She had never ignored a request from her sister, but now she was asking too much.

Selena felt her stomach turn. “This is wrong. The inhabitants of this world will never accept this.”

“Perhaps you should ask them yourself.” All around unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies bowed in reverence as the sun set behind Celestia. The world began to cool. The ponies cheered and showered her with gifts of gold and silver. “Rest now, my little ponies. For when the sun rises tomorrow, with the first new dawn in weeks, we shall toil until the world is restored! Yes, now the world is ours to command! We rule the clouds! We shall tame the earth to our bidding! We shall create a new world to live in! A world of harmony and order! A world where ponies are in command of their own destiny! It is possible! I have tamed the sun and together we shall tame the earth! Equines from everywhere shall join in my joyous kingdom! We shall call it Equestria! The time of ponydom is now! The time for our utopia is upon us! When the first new dawn breaks, our new age begins!”

Princess Luna inhaled deeply. “And that’s how Equestria was really made.”

33: Loopholes

Rising Star stared at the dark liquid in front of her. She tapped the side of the teacup with her hoof. The tea inside it sloshed around, leaving small stains on the inside of the cup. The orange unicorn bit her lip. Her magic swirled a small vial marked with a pony’s skull. The vial floated down near the teacup and then floated away. She leaned forward and the vial descended to the cup again. Once more she felt her heart cringe and the vial floated away. This cycle of events had been repeating for the past hour. Each time the vial would lower closer to the teacup. “It’s for the good of Equestria.” She whispered quietly. “For the good of all of Equestria.” The vial uncorked as the magic squeezed around it. The cork popped off lifelessly, no longer cradled by the unicorn’s magic, it bounced upon the tabled and rolled across its service. The small cork wobbled as it reached the table’s edge. It teetered for a moment then fell of the surface. As it fell through the air, so did drops of the liquid from the vial into the teacup.

The tea splashed lightly as the drops from the vial mixed with it. A single drop hopped out of the teacup and splattered on the table. The table hissed and steamed for a few seconds. The tea itself was bubbling loudly. After a few moments liquid settled down and soon Rising Star was staring at a placid cup of tea pondering things many should never ponder. Her hooves lightly gripped the sides of the tray holding the cup. She started to lift the tray up, ready to place it on a cart that she would then wheel to the Lady. The try seemed immensely heavy. She knew it was not the actual weight of the tray, but rather the weight of her actions. After a good long minute, she clenched her jaw and moved the tray to the cart. She braced her forehooves on the cart, ready to push it to its destination when she was suddenly started by a sultry male voice. “Oh little Rising Star… what have we here?” The unicorn glanced around looked desperately for the voice. Had somepony seen what she was doing? Could they possibly know what her intent was? “Tisk… tisk… tisk...” The voice clicked its tongue derisively.

“Who are you?” Rising Star asked quietly. She glanced around the darkness and shivered.

“Poison?” A devilish chuckled echoed throughout the room. “Really, Rising Star? Is that really the best solution?”

“Show yourself!” The unicorn was panting. Her teeth were chattering. She had never counted on getting caught. Now this disembodied voice was taunting her?

“Such a cowardly form of murder! Is that what you are? Are you a coward, Rising Star?” The voice seemed to spin around her head, panning from one ear to another.

“I’m… I’m not a coward!” Rising Start frantically looked in several directions. She felt the color drain slightly from her. Perhaps it was a lightheaded feeling, she was unsure. “Would a coward put her own morals aside to rescue a kingdom?”

“But poison? Really? Hiding away in another room while some mysterious liquid melts away your troubles? Coward!” A loud thud startled the unicorn. A large cooking knife had fallen from a high shelf and had imbedded itself in the cart. “Now a knife, that’s the murder weapon of choice when you want to be a real hero.” The unicorn approached the knife slowly. Her face was reflected in the polished blade. The voice chuckled. “Really if you’re going to take a life, at least have the guts to do it the proper way. Face to face. Personally.”

The unicorn felt her knees begin to give. “I don’t think I…”

“Exactly, you’re not thinking. None of you ponies ever stop and take the time to think. Honestly, you’re mindless little beasts. You think everything will magically work out if you murder Twilight Sparkle?” The voice sighed. “Oh, I’m surrounded by those with the intelligence of dirt.”

“But… the sun… the kingdom is dying!”

“Fine then… take that knife right there and drive it into the purple unicorn’s tiny little heart. Dig it in deep and give it a twist. Little Luna’s already done most of the work for you. All you have to do it make it tangible.” The voice chuckled. Rising Star lifted her hoof towards the dagger. “Come on, you’re not a coward are you? It’s just a knife.” She began to wrap her hoof around it when she again saw her own reflection in the blade.

“I…” Her eyes welled up with tears. “I… can’t…” The unicorn staring back at her in the reflection suddenly changed. It's bright orange coat turned a dull gray. Her determined expression became lethargic and a tad timid. She sighed and with her hoof, tipped the teacup over, spilling its contents out on the ground.

“There’s a good girl!” The voice chuckled. “Well then, we won’t need this anymore.” Clutching the handle of the knife, an eagle claw faded into view. Discord gave the now gray Rising Star a toothy smile as he tossed the knife out of view. “Ah, so nice to see a pony come to their senses.”