In the Eyes of the Gods

I was having a pleasant dream. One where my sister and I flew along above the clouds in the starry night, trailing our hooves along the wisps of vapour and changing our magic so that sometimes we would pass through them, feeling the cold drops on our fur and sometimes we would feel them as solid like snow. But even as I gazed towards the moon, thankful that it no longer held the physical mark of my sister’s imprisonment upon it, I felt the dream slipping.

Luna was first to disappear, vanishing silently into the ether. I briefly wondered if it had actually been her with me, or merely my own mental projection. I had little time to contemplate however, as the clouds flattened out into a floor and the sky morphed into a mere mural of itself, becoming a roof with a chandelier where the moon was seconds prior. Then the horizon split in two, letting forth rays of light which burned with a fierce intensity where they struck me. I shielded my eyes with my wings as the dreamscape burst into shards of light around me and I awoke.
Shaking off lingering sleep with a well-practiced ease I pulled myself into a sitting position only to find myself staring at the back of my own head. Momentarily disorientated I tried to scurry back in my bed but realized I was standing upright. Or rather, floating as a disembodied entity. I was still dreaming. But wait… I felt my magic being used, flowing from every corner of my physical body lying on my real bed into a very powerful spell.
A prophecy!

My heart skipped a beat. It had been years since the last one, the one that showed me of Nightmare Moon’s return and my reunion with Luna. I quickly searched through the recesses of my mind, trying to remember the spell that allowed me to record my memories. I released a breath I hadn’t realised I had been holding as I cast the spell, weaving its complex magic into my eyes and ears. A faint golden glow descended over the world, informing me that it was working.

I was fortunate I hadn’t hesitated to cast the spell as it was only a moment later that I heard a door behind me slam open. I spun around quickly, followed more calmly by the Celestia in the vision. Luna stood there; wings flared and head held high. She was wearing coal black armour of an indeterminable metal. The other Celestia shuddered, her wings ruffling even as every candle in the room flickered and dimmed.
“Well?” Luna asked sharply. “What dost thou think of my armour?”

I willed myself to move to a position where I could watch the conversation unfold between Luna and the prophesy-Celestia unbridled.
“Let me see,” said Celestia with what I knew to be a fake smile, approaching Luna even as Luna walked towards her.

Luna stopped in the centre of the room under the chandelier which had once been the moon and waited while Celestia slowly walked around her, absorbing the craftsponyship of the armour, how well it protected Luna, how the joints fitted together. The armour was a complex construction but took Celestia less than a minute to fully comprehend, at which point she stepped back to half a body’s length in front of Luna, looking down on her with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“Divulge your thoughts.”

Celestia sighed. “I suppose there is no point in pretending otherwise: I hate it. I think it looks cruel and malicious. Perhaps even bordering on demonic. Functionally it is perfect. But I know that you didn’t chose it for its functionality.”

Luna visibly clenched her jaw. “Very well. I see how it lies with you.” She lit her horn and the armour disassembled itself. Every strap, brace, and buckle came undone and the pieces collapsed onto the carpet in a series of clashes that resonated with an unnatural quality. Without the armour on, I noticed how heavily she was breathing. Having not taken her eyes off Celestia, she slowly removed her helmet. It descended shakily towards the floor but had scarcely reached head height before Luna screamed. I scarcely had time to register the helmet being crushed into a ball and thrown through the enchanted outer stone wall like a sheet of parchment. “Thou always treat me so unfair! Why will thou not allow me to resume my duties as thou promised? You have already twice delayed me!”

The other Celestia had instinctively flared her wings and leapt backwards. But now she slowly approached Luna, and leaned towards her. She was now sitting with her head hung in amongst the piled armour. She looked up at Celestia and sniffled, blinking back tears. But as sudden as her outburst was, she stood up. Her eyes quickly dried, a steely look overcoming her.

“Apologies for my outburst, I know not what came over me.” Luna said through half-clenched tetth. She gave a half-bow in apology. “I had commanded the finest smiths to forge for me my armour. I presume that I was disappointed to see thee so unbetaken by it but I see now that thou art correct. The smiths only saw me as what I was and not who I am and so crafted my armour to that regard. Wherefore I didn’t realise this myself is unbeknownst to me, but I fear that perhaps I still seek some lingering connection to my past, if only to show how I have overcome it.”
“Oh, Luna. I too am sorry. I was insensitive. I know how much your return to your former duties means to you and how eager you are to recommence them.”

“I thank thee for understanding. However, I will begin with my duties tonight. I will undertake them unarmoured if it truly offends thee. Or at least I will for the present until I can find a more suitable option.”

Celestia winced. “Luna, I know how confident you feel but I’m unsure of your safety. You’re still recovering from your liberation. I will concede to you that you probably are capable of fighting, if not at your full strength, but I feel uncomfortable for you to do so without protection.”
Luna smiled. “Fret not for my safety, dear sister. Alicorn hide is as strong as any armour and I have my personal night guard with me. They will keep me safe.”

“I know. I just…. I worry.”

“I know thou dost. Your compassion is an admirable trait but one that is better spent on those who cannot fend for themselves and not those like me who surely can.”

“You’re right. Thank you, Luna. I’ll leave you to lower the moon. I have a dinner to attend with delegates from Maretonia anyway. I wish you the best of luck with your duties. If you find yourself in trouble I won’t think any less of you for turning away.” Celestia hesitated. “I will be disappointed though if you stay and fight and are hurt.”

“Do not worry about me. I am capable of handling myself.”

Celestia merely nodded. She gracefully walked towards the door, her tail bending around the frame when by all reason, it should have collided. As soon as the door closed, Luna dropped her smile and settled for an aggressive frown.

Luna stayed that way for a while before turning back to the hole she had made in the wall. She lit her horn again and the helmet came floating back to her, coming to rest directly in front of her. She looked its mangled formed, rolling it around slowly. Then, in a single burst of magic she reformed it to its original shape. She gazed into its gaping eye holes intently, as the empty metal had challenged her.

“You doubt me. I know you do. But I will show you.” Luna set the helmet gently by her side. “I will show you.”

Luna stepped towards the window, gazing out at the setting sun. Her time had come again.