Canterlot was in ruins. The once shining city, standing as the very capital of Equestria and home to the Royal Sisters, now lay desecrated. The usually busy streets were barren of life and countless homes and businesses alike were now nothing more than ash and rubble. The few that remained standing were either steadily crumbling to pieces themselves or had been freshly set ablaze, painting the night sky a vibrant orange.
The castle had fared no better against the onslaught; entire sections of the structure had collapsed into the streets long ago, and more following them with each passing minute. Flames clung to the few walls still standing, and an acrid cloud of black smoke filtering out of every hole and window it could find. Yet, even in its dilapidated state, a battle still raged on within the castle’s halls.
Scorch marks from high bursts of magic dotted the floors and ceiling and priceless works of art dating back decades, if not centuries, had been reduced to little more than forgotten fragments on the floor. The doors to the grand throne room, often rumored to have been made to withstand even the flames from a dragon’s breath, had been blown clean off their hinges and lay useless just beyond the threshold.
Standing defiantly amongst the destruction was Princess Celestia, a single ray of hope standing out from the carnage and destruction that surrounded her. Her pristine coat of white had been marred by ash and soot, and the countless marks littering her body showed just how long she had been fighting as her city collapsed around her. A fresh cut on her left cheek dripped blood down her face, pooling into a small puddle at her hoof.
The fierce determination on the princess’s face masked untold anger as she locked eyes with the one who had wrought this destruction upon Canterlot. Though their body remained obscured in shadows, their figure was vaguely equine in form and the unmistakable horn of a unicorn topped the figure’s head. Their gleeful expression shone almost as bright as the sun itself, something that made Celestia’s blood boil, and their irises—as red as blood within a pool of sickly, almost otherworldly green—stared back at the princess with a perverted radiance that, even now, made her skin crawl.
“Your perseverance is admirable,” the figure hissed, their voice a garbled mess that was neither mare nor stallion, “but ultimately useless.”
“Why!?” Celestia bellowed, hints of the Royal Canterlot Voice making her voice resonate and causing the walls around her to shudder and shake. “Why have you done all this? What are you seeking to gain from such destruction?”
“Why, you ask? Isn’t it obvious?” The figure took a step forward, though somehow still remained hidden within the shadows that seemed to coalesce around them.
“It amused me.”
“You…!” Any restraint Celestia may have had left vanished as she charged the figure. Her horn was alight with magic as she tore a discarded spear from its resting place within a nearby wall, brandishing it against her assailant.
The shadowy figure easily sidestepped her chaotic strikes, already gathering pitch-black magic to launch another magical blast. However, whether due to a lack of judgement or an excess of pride, they had overlooked one crucial factor:
Celestia had wings.
Just as the figure released their magical volley, Celestia launched herself upwards, kicked against the air and brought her spear down, poised to impale the pony where they stood. A dome shield frantically burst up around the unicorn, though Celestia’s attack had barely been impeded by the hastily erected barrier. Cracks began to web across the magical barrier’s surface as the enraged alicorn bore her full might down onto the shield, the strain visible on the caster’s face as they put all their effort into stopping the attack.
It was all for naught though, as the spear pierced through the barrier like glass, sending dissipating fragments flying everywhere as the unicorn was knocked back from the backlash. They looked up in time to see the spearhead hovering a hair’s breadth from their throat, Celestia’s eyes burning into their very soul.
“Who…who are you?!”
As if to answer her question, a ray of moonlight shone through an opening left by the now shattered windows that had once overlooked the throne room. The shadows previously hiding the pony from view seemed to recoil from the light, as black fur gave way to light purple and a mane and tail of violet streaked through with a single stroke of magenta. Eyes that had once thirsted for knowledge now looked up at Celestia with only hatred and contempt.
“Hello, Princess.”
A gasp caught in Celestia’s throat, the spear clattering harmlessly against the floor as her magic fizzled out, her eyes widening in utter disbelief. She didn't want to believe it…she couldn't believe it! But…but it was…
“Tw-Twilight?”
Twilight smirked at her former teacher’s shocked expression. “So you do remember me. Well, don’t I just feel honored.”
“No…no, it…it can’t be...” Celestia involuntarily took a step back, as if trying desperately to distance herself from the truth before her.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of magic just before something smashed into the side of her face, sending her body crumpling onto the cold tiled floor. Forcing her head up, she was horrified to see Twilight now standing over her, the spear held inches from Celestia’s face.
“Oh, but it is.”
“Twilight…but…why?”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. After all…” Twilight raised the spear above her head, a hint of moonlight glinting off the spearhead’s surface.
“You have a lot to think about.” The last thing Celestia saw was Twilight’s gleeful face before she plunged the spear down—
“NO!”
A bloodcurdling scream escaped Celestia’s throat as she bolted upright, her heart thundering away in her chest as she desperately gasped for breath. The sound of rustling feathers reached her ears, but she paid it no mind as the image of Twilight standing over her remained burned into her mind’s eye. Her final words sent a stab of guilt through Celestia’s still frantically beating heart.
‘You have a lot to think about.’ That was—
The sound of a pair of heavy doors being thrown open caused Celestia to glance to her right, where two Night Guards now stood illuminated in the doorway.
“Princess Celestia!”
Hearing the guard say her name, the haze slowly began to recede from Celestia’s mind as she began to take in her surroundings. Instead of the crumbling throne room, she was now in her personal chambers, having retired here to rest after lowering the sun. The rustling feathers she had heard before had been Philomena, who had been sleeping peacefully on her perch before being rudely awoken by Celestia’s cries. Now, the phoenix stared questioningly at her mistress, as if wondering what had caused her beloved owner such distress.
The two guards who had rushed in shared a similar look between them, as they had assumed the worst upon hearing their beloved princess cry out. One of the guards (Lieutenant Halberd Clash if Celestia remembered correctly) stepped forward once he and his partner, fellow lieutenant Penned Brush, had determined there were no immediate threats to the princess. “Princess, we heard a scream. Is everything alright?”
Despite her heart still hammering away in her chest, Celestia did her best to put on her most reassuring smile, a feat she had mastered over the centuries. “I’m sorry if I caused you any needless worry. I was merely—”
“Sister!”
Both Night Guards were bowled over as Princess Luna came charging into Celestia’s room, a contingent of no less than eight Night Guards consisting of both unicorns and bat-winged ponies known as Thestrals trailing behind her. Though many of her guards would be hard pressed to admit it, the often fearfully stoic Lunar Princess was noticeable distressed.
“Sister, we heard thee scream! Is something wrong?”
Though she hid it well, Celestia was perplexed by Luna’s arrival. Had she really screamed loud enough that Luna had heard and come running across the castle to her aid? Dreading the explanations she would no doubt have to give in the morning, Celestia once more attempted to reassure everyone that she was alright, a task made easier by the fact that her heart had finally returned to its regular rhythm.
“As I was just about to tell these two,“ Celestia gestured to the two Night Guards Luna had knocked over in her mad dash, both of whom were being assisted back to their hooves by their fellow guards, “I was merely awoken due to a bad dream. As you can see, I am quite alright and I apologize for making you all worry.”
The group of guards seemed to relax slightly, glad that Princess Celestia was unharmed despite the scream they had heard from her moments before. However, the doubtful expression on Luna’s face showed that she was clearly unconvinced by Celestia’s words. Her eyes seemed to look straight through Celestia, as if able to sense that something still wasn’t right. The elder princess opened her mouth to try and convince Luna otherwise, when the Lunar Princess abruptly spoke up.
“Captain Currant.”
The thestral on Luna’s immediate left promptly stood at attention. “Yes, your Highness?”
“Ensure everypony here returns to their post with the utmost haste. I wish to have a moment to speak to my sister in private.”
“Right away! You heard Her Highness everypony, back to your posts! On the double!”
Before Celestia could raise a word in protest, the captain was already herding the guards back out into the hallway. Halberd and Brush paused for a moment longer to take one last look back at the Solar Princess, before taking their places once more just outside Celestia’s chambers. As the last pony filed out, both doors were illuminated by Luna’s magic before slamming shut once more.
Now alone, the two sisters stared each other down, as if waiting for the other to speak first. During this moment of silence, Philomena had drifted off to sleep and was once more dozing peacefully on her perch.
After far too long, Luna was the first to break the silence. “Now that they’re gone, perhaps you would be more willing to tell me what it is that is really bothering you.”
“Luna…” Celestia rubbed the bridge of her nose in mild irritation, “I told you, it was just a bad dream. Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
“I disagree. As Princess of the Night, it is my duty to look after our subjects during this time, to ensure that their rest is uninterrupted and peaceful until morning.” Ever the one for theatrics, Luna waved her hoof around triumphantly as she said this, before leveling it in Celestia’s direction. “That includes you as well, dear sister.”
“I’m sure it does, but really Luna, I’m fine. Just because you and a few guards may have heard me scream does not mean—”
“I would wager the whole castle heard you screaming, actually.”
Celestia groaned. Looks like she would have a lot more explaining to do than she initially thought come sunrise. “This is silly, Luna. I assure you, I can’t even remember what it was I was dreaming about.”
Luna didn’t say anything for a moment, instead keeping her gaze locked on Celestia. As the silence began to settle in once more, Celestia almost felt like she was being closely scrutinized.
“Were that true, you would not still be trembling so.”
Celestia’s eyes widened slightly as she looked down at her right foreleg. Indeed, a noticeable tremor had overtaken her. Grabbing it with her other foreleg, she tried willing the limb to stop shaking, but still it betrayed her residual terror and continued on.
Looking up, she saw Luna was still staring at her expectantly, no doubt awaiting an answer as to why she was noticeably shaking. But what could she say? That she was just cold and shivering? Even in the dead of winter, Celestia’s connection to the sun ensured she was constantly radiating warmth, a fact that Luna was all too aware of.
“I…I…”
Seeing the alicorn struggling for a response, Luna sighed as she stepped closer towards Celestia’s bed. “Celestia, you have always been one to hide your troubles from others. From our subjects I could understand, but I am both a fellow princess and your sister.” Luna put her hoof over Celestia’s and only then did its trembling subside. “Please, if what you saw was terrifying enough to elicit this kind of reaction, then I wish to help, and I can only do that if you tell me what you witnessed.”
“I…I can’t, Luna.” Celestia drew her hoof back, turning her gaze away from Luna as to avoid her judging eyes.
“Why can’t you? For what reason would you refuse my assistance in a matter such as this?”
“I just can’t. I’m sorry, but you wouldn't understand.”
Luna suddenly became eerily quiet. Chancing a glance out of the corner of her eye, Celestia could see that Luna had lowered herself to her haunches, eyes closed as if in deep concentration. For a moment, Celestia worried that her words had upset Luna, and was prepared to apologize when Luna spoke up once more.
“I thought the same thing once, that my troubles were something that nopony could understand. Not our subjects, nor our advisors, not even our own family. Thus I remained silent, letting my concerns grow and fester…until I no longer resembled the mare I once was.”
Opening her eyes, the look she gave Celestia was not scrutinizing like before, nor did it carry even the slightest hint of anger behind it. Instead, it was one of mutual understanding and concern. “Celestia, I do not desire you to repeat my mistakes. So I will ask, nay, plead with you one last time; please, tell me what you saw that has left you so shaken.”
Luna said nothing further after that, remaining in her place at Celestia’s bedside as she waited for Celestia to respond in turn. The elder princess seemed to struggle once more on how to respond, repeatedly opening her mouth as if to speak before closing it again just as quickly. It was almost a full ten minutes before Celestia finally spoke.
“I…Canterlot…Canterlot had been destroyed. I saw entire sections of the city consumed by raging infernos and the streets lay deserted. Whether it was because everypony had been evacuated or…or were dead, I do not know.
“I still remained in the city, fighting against the one who had perpetrated this destruction. I couldn’t make them out, except for their eyes. Their eyes, Luna…” Celestia felt a chill run down her spine at the memory, subconsciously wrapping her arms around her for warmth. ”Their eyes burned with such hatred, such anger. They took pride in the chaos they had wrought, especially when they admitted that their sole reason for attacking Canterlot had been for their own amusement.
“I managed to hold my own against them, but as they lay there, I demanded to know who they were. The shadows cloaking them from me in turn disappeared and I finally saw their face…and it was a face I recognized.”
Luna saw the fear flash across Celestia’s face. “Was it him? Was it…Sombra?”
Celestia swiftly shook her head. “No, it wasn't him.” Part of her breathed a sigh of relief at that fact, but that did nothing to make their true identity any easier. “It was…it was Twilight.”
Luna drew back, her eyes widening in surprise. Out of all the answers she had been expecting, that had not been among them. “Twilight? Twilight Sparkle?”
Celestia weakly nodded. “When I saw that it was her, I…I hesitated. She took advantage of my hesitation and struck, knocking me down. It was only as she was standing over me, ready to finish me off, that I fully understood.
“Canterlot’s destruction had been just unintended collateral. All her anger, hatred and scorn…all of it had been intended for me. Twilight…my faithful student…wanted nothing more than to see me dead. Then…and then…she…” As the final moments of her dream ran before her eyes, Celestia was unable to hold back her emotions any longer. A choked sob escaped her throat as she gripped her sheets tightly, tears steadily beginning to run down her face.
Before she could devolve into a sobbing mess however, she felt something drape across her back. Though her vision was becoming blurred by her tears, Celestia could still clearly make out Luna now sitting next to her, her wing wrapped around Celestia in a comforting manner. Celestia offered no resistance as she was drawn into Luna’s embrace, her tears staining Luna’s coat as she continued to cry.
They remained that way for some time; not as ruling princesses, but as a younger sister holding her older sibling close for support. Slowly but surely, Celestia’s sobs became less and less frequent until she finally pulled away from Luna. Her eyes were puffy and tear stains could just barely be seen streaking down her face, but the worst of it had clearly passed.
“Thank you, Luna. I’m sorry—”
“Thou hast nothing to apologize for. I have seen many a dream of this nature, so I understand why seeing such a thing has left thee in this state. I know how much you care about dear Twilight, both as your student and as a friend, and even more so now that she is a fellow princess, so seeing her in such a way would no doubt have left you rattled even after awakening.”
Celestia’s gaze suddenly shifted downward, her ears drooping against her head. “That’s not the only reason.”
“Oh?”
“Before she…before I woke up, she told me that ‘I had a lot to think about’.”
Luna tilted her head in mild confusion. “I fail to see the significance of such a phrase.”
“’You have a lot to think about.’ Those were the exact words I said to Twilight before…before I abandoned her at her brother’s wedding recital.”
Though Luna had not been present at the time, she had heard of the “infamous” recital, where Twilight had so brazenly accused Princess Cadance of evil doings to the point the princess had run from the hall in tears. Such unfounded accusations could have all but destroyed her relationships with her friends, her family and even Princess Celestia, had Twilight not been right in the end, becoming instrumental in repelling the invasion that had followed.
Even now, years later, the event still remained a sore spot for all involved and, though apologies had been made and all had been forgiven, more than once Luna had needed to intervene into the dreams of Twilight and her friends in order to prevent them from reliving the shame of that day.
“Sister, do not tell me you still harbor guilt for that day. You had no way of knowing that the Cadance you were happy to see get married was in fact an impostor.”
“But I should have! Twilight has always been my faithful student, yet when she needed me to trust her the most, I turned my back on her!”
“The fault does not lie with one single party, I’m afraid. Yes, perhaps you could have trusted Twilight in that moment, but to come barging into the recital hall with claims against the bride-to-be with nary a scant of evidence?”
“But I—”
“Answer me this then: if Twilight had been wrong, would you have been so quick to forgive her?”
Silence was Celestia’s only answer, so Luna continued.
“Having had the privilege of meeting Twilight Sparkle and her friends myself, I know fully well that she greatly admires and respects you above all else, no matter what. Twilight Sparkle is a kind and respected mare who couldn’t hold a grudge against anypony if she tried, and she has you to thank for that. No matter what happened on that day, I don’t see her admiration for you changing anytime soon.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
The words were out of Celestia’s mouth before she could stop them, and she immediately regretted ever thinking them in the first place. Chancing a glance up at Luna, she saw that Luna was confused at her sister’s words and rightfully so.
“I…I don’t understand. What do you mean by that?”
Sighing, Celestia looked across the room towards her vanity, where her regalia routinely sat when not being worn. Lighting up her horn, the collar piece floated towards her, coming to rest in front of the Solar Princess as if she were in the act of getting dressed.
“It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve ruined the life of somepony I cared about.” Passing the gilded collar to Luna, Luna reluctantly took it in her magic as she looked it over. By all accounts, nothing appeared amiss about the piece of jewelry; it looked no different than when Celestia was wearing it while performing her royal duties.
“I don’t see what this has to—”
“Look on the inside.”
Doing as instructed, Luna flipped the regalia around in her magic until it was facing away from her. This time, however, Luna’s eyes widened at what she saw, though her confusion only proved to increase further as she flipped the collar back around so it was facing Celestia once more.
“Sister…what is the meaning of this?”
Etched into the collar’s metal interior were several names, including Starswirl, Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Sombra, Cadance and even Luna’s own. Luna’s name had been written twice in fact, with the first having been crossed out apparently some time ago. Sunset Shimmer’s, Starswirl’s and Sombra’s names had also been crossed out, and, judging by the markings, Sombra’s had been the most recent change.
“Those are the names of all the ponies I’ve cared about…and the ones I ultimately ended up destroying because of my mistakes.”
“Y-you can’t truly mean that!“
“I do because it’s the truth. I lost you for a thousand years because I remained blind to your sufferings and allowed jealousy and resentment to turn you into a monster.”
“What happened to me wasn’t your—”
But Celestia went on, despite Luna’s attempts to dissuade her. “Starswirl had always been reclusive, but after I ignored his warnings about the mirror connecting the alternate Equestria, Starswirl refused all contact and secluded himself in his laboratory. Thus his final spell, his life’s work, remained incomplete because of my actions.
“And now…now I’ve lost Sombra as well, all because of my selfish actions!” If Celestia hadn’t already cried herself out, she would have started then and there. “I loved him, and yet he sacrificed himself to save both our worlds because of my folly.
“Even Sunset Shimmer, my beloved student, became astray in her pursuit for power because I refused to acknowledge the darkness growing within her. She fled Equestria more to escape from me than to see her dreams fulfilled. Just how long until I end up pushing Twilight away as I did her—”
“ENOUGH!”
Celestia flinched back in fear as Luna’s voice echoed throughout the room, very nearly causing her to fall off of her bed. Philomena let out an indignant squawk as she was woken up for the second time that night, glowering at Luna from her perch.
Luna passed the collar back to Celestia as she climbed down from Celestia’s bed, before turning to face her sister once more, her wings raised in an intimidating manner and a look of indignance in her eyes. “We will not stand idly by and listen to you disparage yourself any longer!”
The light knocking against the chamber doors almost went unheard, before slowly creaking open a crack to permit one of the guards standing watch outside to peer inside. This time it was Penned Brush who stuck his head in, though he appeared apprehensive about doing so. “Y-your Highnesses…is everything al—”
“Yes, we are fine,” Luna responded almost automatically to Brush’s inquiry without turning around. “Return to your post once more.”
Brush pulled his head back almost as if he was in fear of being bitten if he remained, closing the door behind him once more. The Night Guard’s brief interruption had allowed Luna’s anger a moment to cool, lowering her wings back to her side as her face took on a neutral expression.
“As you are well aware,” Luna continued once her anger had fully subsided, “I spent much of my time in the Royal Archives as I was slowly regaining my strength, reading up on the centuries that had passed during my banishment. In the many history texts I had the chance to acquire, I took note of how many of our subjects took almost poetic delight in painting you as an infallible and omnipotent goddess, perfect in everything she does and without fear at the prospect of making a mistake of any kind.
“It appears, Celestia, that even you have been led to believe their tales.”
Celestia was prepared to refute Luna’s claims, but Luna didn’t give her the chance. “Though alicorns and princesses we may be, we are not perfect, all-knowing beings capable of predicting the future at our leisure. We are still very much ponies, and as such we are still capable of making mistakes as much as anypony, a fact I know better than anypony else.
“While what happened to those ponies was no less tragic, if you continue to fret over past mistakes and only see unfavorable outcomes you have already convinced yourself to be inevitable, then by your own actions said outcome will have already come true.
“In fact, if memory serves, did Twilight Sparkle not write you a friendship report detailing just that?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then you have nothing to worry about. As I have already said, Twilight holds respect for you above all others and what happened at the wedding hasn’t changed that. So long as you continue to be there for her, as her teacher and her friend, then I can guarantee that your nightmare will never come to pass.”
As much as part of her wanted to deny it, Luna was right. Celestia had known Twilight since the mare was just a young filly, and knew just how strong Twilight had become since moving to Ponyville. But still, Celestia looked down at the collar resting in her lap and the names she had personally scratched into the metal over the years.
She had first started etching the names into it following Luna’s banishment, as to have a constant reminder close to her heart of everything she had lost. As more and more names were added, it had changed into a record of her greatest failures.
One name in particular stood out to her among the others.
“Sombra…” Even after all the crying she had done that night, a single tear still managed to roll down her cheek. She was startled when she felt something brush it away, catching the sight of Luna wiping the tear away with her hoof.
“Sister, I may not have had a chance to meet this pony who managed to catch your eye, but I do know that if he made you feel this way, then he must have loved you just as much as you loved him, if not more. He sacrificed himself because he loved you enough that he could not bear to choose between saving his world and saving you. Do not let his sacrifice be in vain by continuing to blame yourself for what happened. Instead, value it by cherishing the time you spent together.”
Despite everything that had happened that night, Celestia felt a genuine smile grace her lips, as a weight present ever since she had woken up vanished from the pit of her stomach. Luna smiled as well, glad to have managed to help put Celestia’s mind at ease at least somewhat.
Looking past Celestia, Luna seemed to suddenly take note of the moon visible from the balcony window. “The night oil still burns, and as such I have duties I need to attend to. With that, I bid thee a fond farewell, dear sister.”
As Luna turned to leave, Celestia again cast her gaze towards her regalia. With a bit more force than was necessary, Celestia picked the collar up in her magic and sent it hurtling across the room, where it unceremoniously came to rest on her vanity once more.
“Wait.”
Luna paused to look behind her, seeing Celestia climb down from her bed and wander over to her wardrobe. With a small burst of magic, her favorite personalized robe floated out and Celestia stood before her mirror as she began to slip into it.
“I think I’ll join you.”
Luna couldn’t hide the confusion she felt at that. “Are thou sure? It is still a few hours before morning and thou really should still be resting.”
“A few missed hours of sleep won’t do me any harm. Besides, I doubt I’d be able to get any more sleep tonight anyway. In some twisted sense, the Twilight from my nightmare was right about one thing.” Celestia took a moment to look at her reflection in the mirror, before turning back around to face Luna. “I do have a lot to think about, and I have you to thank for that, Luna.” At that, Celestia began to chuckle.
“Is something funny?”
“Nothing, it’s just that I thought it was the big sister’s job to be the voice of reason to her little sister, not the other way around.”
Luna huffed at the implication. “Well, one of us has to be the mature one around here, especially with an older sister as foolish as you!”
Celestia affectionately nuzzled Luna as she walked by. “And I appreciate that. Now, we best be going if you hope to finish before morning.” Throwing the doors open, Celestia caught the barest sight of Halberd and Brush snapping back to attention on either side, looking to all the world like they had not in fact been secretly listening in on the two sister’s conversation following Luna’s outburst. Not that Celestia said anything about it or anything.
Luna followed right behind Celestia as they stepped past the two Night Guards into the hallway. “Right, although I think a detour to the kitchens might be in order if you intend to accompany me as well. It would not do well for you to fall asleep because you skipped breakfast.”
“Good idea. Maybe I should try Dark Roast’s special blend while we’re there then. I have heard stories that it can keep a guard alert straight through a double shift.”
Luna made a face of disgust at Celestia’s suggestion. “I get the distinct impression that would be most unwise.”
Celestia giggled. “Yes, perhaps it would be. Oh, and before I forget…” She paused as she turned back around towards her room and the ponies still standing on either side of the doorway. “Lieutenants Halberd Crash and Penned Brush.”
Though the two Night Guards remained the very picture of unflinching duty, Celestia did take note of the beads of sweat slowly inching down their faces. Though, again, Celestia kept that fact to herself. “You have both done a fine job tonight. I hereby relieve you both of your duties for the rest of the day. Do with it what you wish, and I hope you enjoy yourselves.”
Neither said a word as they saluted in response. It was only when both princesses had disappeared from sight behind a corner did they finally allow themselves to breathe a long sigh of relief.
Back in Celestia’s bedchamber, Philomena was just happy to finally get some peace and quiet.
