T H E A G E O F S T A R R Y S K I E S
Chapter 1: Hindsight
Five years.
Five years of waiting. Five years of planning. Five years of grief.
Was it worth it?
Twilight stood in the mechanical and magical synergy that made up the cockpit. The perfect combo of endurance, it could withstand almost everything. Almost. Many things could go wrong in space. Twilight spoke. Soon these words would affect all the planets nearby.
"Three."
Also in the cockpit was Princess Luna, the very guardian of space. Too much conflict had happened near the last year for Twilight to trust her fully. Too much had happened on that one fateful night. However, she had more pressing matters to attend to. These matters would soon shape Equus into a new world.
"Two."
The memories threatened to overcome her. Memories of when it all changed. Celestia's smiling face was becoming faded. An old poster in a locked off section of her mind. Luna sat beside her, free. of her guilt. How could she feel guilt, when she had been the murderer?
"One."
The title Luna had obtained mocked her. Princess of Liberation. Liberation from what? Happiness? Love? Friendship? Everything she stood for had been ripped away by this one mare. Yet, as with any authority figure, she had to smile, shake hands, and act like she liked her. Five years, for this?
It wasn't worth it.
"Blastoff."
Luna watched Twilight staring out the window. No doubt, she was thinking of what she had done. That horrible thing she had done. That horrible thing that haunted her.
Was it worth it?
Was it worth it to sacrifice her own family, in order to save herself?
Twilight was giving her a look. That same look Luna had given to Celestia on that night. The look of contempt, of confusion, of anguish. The look of sorrow. The look with a complete abscence of pity.
Was destroying nightmare moon really worth it?
Nightmare moon was a murderer, a demon, a villain. But Nightmare moon never murdered her own sister. She may have usurped power, but Nightmare moon never usurped power by such horrible means. If anything, nightmare moon was more moral. Yet Luna had killed Celestia anyways. She murdered her, just to be free of Nightmare moon. She had murdered her, and hadn't cared a bit.
It wasn't worth it.
Twilight stared out at the blackness of space. Every now and then clusters of light would interrupt the inky void, emptying their rays over the ship. At these times, Twilight would shrink back, and Luna would bask in the rays till the cluster passed. It infuriated Twilight's that she could absorb light like that. That was Celestia's thing.
Yet now she had the power of Celestia, and no one seemed to mourn. Vengeance would just put Twilight down to her level. Anything negative at all would be regarded poorly by the public.
But how could she be positive to a murderer?
It didn't make sense. Luna was supposed to be a good pony. She was a good pony at first. Twilight, however, had gone over this argument too much in her head. She knew her response instantly: She was a good pony at first.
Twilight sighed. In a time like this, there were no easy answers. No easy answers meant that the second you chose a side, you would be left with regrets. Those regrets would wear down on you, until you were certain you made the wrong choice.
Luna watched Twilight pondering whatever it was Twilight ponders. It was a sick irony. Her "Liberation" had only locked her away in a prison of guilt, leaving her to rot with her regrets. Some freedom that was.
Glancing out the window, she noticed a small planet puncturing the darkness. Luna sat bolt upright.
"Twilight!" She exclaimed. "I think we found what we're looking for!"
Snapped out of her trance, Twilight looked to the planet, and stopped the rocket. Slowly the ship began to descend, landing upon the surface. Blue jungles were surrounded by grey seas. Twilight checked the atmosphere, modified the air around her, and stepped out.
Twilight stared at the jungle around her. This land, upon several scans, had only one species. But knowing how precious life was in the universe, she couldn't seem to do much.
A rustle in the bushes interrupted her thoughts. A twig snapped to her side. Her magic sensed presence. Slowly, out of the bushes came a few elegant catlike beings. The lead one looked on and made a sort of snickering noise.
Twilight raised her weapon, a gun with three nozzles. She cast a shielding spell to keep them there. Slowly, and with a translation spell, she spoke.
"Who.. are.. you.."
The leader snickered again. It was revealed to be a cry of alarm. However, the beings themselves apeared to have no language yet.
Deciding this was a good thing, she held a few with her magic. She looked at the now panicked pack of cats. Twilight had been told she may have to do this. She had been told to free up room on the planet. However, she just couldn't do it. She shot the few on the ground, and took the rest back to Luna.
Luna looked up from her magazine. Twilight was holding a few catlike beings. Before she could ask anything, however, Twilight broke down.
"Luna, I had to kill these things! I had to kill innocent cats and it was supposed to be okay! I couldn't leave them, I'm sorry!"
"Then don't leave them."
Twilight looked up. "Huh?"
"Twilight, why do you think I kept my sister's magic? I wanted to commemorate her. I will never lose any of my guilt, but at least something of Celestia is left." Luna sighed. "I suppose that's more then I deserve."
Startled, Twilight sat there, not doing anything for a long time. Then she laid her head on Luna, and the two cried for all the things that, in hindsight, weren't worth doing.
