Chapters After what seemed like hours, a proper search party found them.
"Starswirl! and Celestia! Thank goodness you found her! one pony exclaimed happily.
"Yes, thank goodness." another pony grumbled.
The first was a pony Starswirl had seen in the palace, but did not know by name. The second was an ambitious young unicorn, who, if some thing happened to the sisters, would technically be next in line for the throne. This would hopefully never happen, as he would be a poor ruler. Starswirl and the others ignored him.
"any sine of Princess Luna?" Starswirl asked, still cradling the now sleeping Celestia.
"No, nothing."
Starswirl gave a small nod. "i was afraid of that. well, some one will have to keep looking, tho i don't know if we'll find her. In the mean time, we need to get Celestia some where safe, any ideas?"
Steel Blade, Captain of the Guard Spoke. "Well, we could send her to Brackhill Castle, near Trottingham, It's not made for housing Royalty, but it's the safest spot I know.
Brackhill. a fortress made of stone. not the most comfortable place to live in, but it was indeed one of safest spots in Equestria, for century’s, it had withstood any thing they cared to throw at it, be it invasions, hurricanes, siege’s, it had withstood it all, tho it needed repairs after some of those. Starswirl agreed.
"all right then, let's go."
a few guards helped Starswirl with getting Celestia outside, where two Pegasi had found a royal Chariot that was in good enough condition to carry her and and one or two other pony's to Brackhill.
Starswirl got Celestia in Chariot with out a lot of difficulty. “I am going with her, anyone else need to go there?"
Steel Blade decided to go, saying it was his duty to protect the Princesses. After waiting for him to get in they took off.
After they had been flying for some time, Steel Blade spoke. “Starswirl, when you asked if we had found Luna, and we said no, you said you did not think we would. Now, you do not strike me as someone who gives up. In fact you are known to have done what other pony’s said was impossible, saying nothing was impossible, just improbable. And I saw you rush to go find the Sisters, and how you care for the two unfailingly, even if you don't show it the same way as most. So why do you say we will not find her?”
Starswirl sat in silence as the Pegasus next to him Ranted. Then he let out a long sigh and pushed some of Celestia's hair out of her face. “tell me captain, what do you think Celestia has been doing?”
“what? What dos that have to do with it?
“Just answer.”
“well, she was in that fight with Nightmare moon...... and she looks like she has been weeping.”
“Correct.” The blue-gray Unicorn answered. “when I found her she was Devastated, lying on the floor weeping, and she said to me, “Starswirl, shes gone, I sent her away!” now, Celestia is not one who weeps easily, and she would defiantly not be this upset if it was just Nightmare moon she sent away, which means something happened last night, something we don't know about. Now, I never said it was impossible to find her, but I fear something may have happened to Luna, and every fear is worse than the last, I can only hope I am wrong, but we won't know for sure until Celestia is ready to tell us, or we find Luna.” Starswirl finished as Brackhill came in to view. Steel Blade did not say any thing, apparently thinking about what Starswirl said.
As the Castle gates creaked open to let them in Starswirl turned his face to the sky and whispered, “Luna, where ever you are, be safe. Please.”
Starswirl sighed. he hoped Celestia would do as he said, but he had no Guarantee, especially as he had no authority over her, except maybe as a mentor. He shook his head, no, even then he had little to nothing he guessed. after all, it had been age's since the last lesson, no he doubted she saw that anymore. he shook his head again, this time to clear it. he had to meet with the other advisers, in fact, he was almost there now. as he opened the door all the other advisers turned to look at him, then he was bombarded with questions the other expected him to answer.
"ONE AT A TIME! " Starswirl Yelled to make him self heard over the sound of the other pony's. Silence fell, then he continued. "Milk and Honey, what where you saying?" he asked, knowing she was at least sensible, and would ask some thing besides "why is the castle in ruin?" and "how much money will this cost us?" granted, that was true of the others as well, (most of the time) but she had always seemed to him as the most sensible.
"What is going on with Celestia? and do we know what happened to Luna? the pale yellow mare asked, staring at Starswirl over her glasses.
Starswirl swallowed a little, he had hoped not to have to cover that yet, but that was foilish of him he knew. he spoke. "Celestia is very upset after the battle for reasons i do not quite understand yet, but i believe it has to do with Luna disappearing. and no, we do not know what exactly happened yet.
"What do you think happened?"
Starswirl swallowed again, glad his beard hid it when he did so. "i don't know. i have suspicions, but i do not want to spread rumors before we know for sure." this was true, but it was not all of it, he also did not want to get carried away thinking about it, after all.... no! he would not think of it at this time. after all, that simply could not happen, could it? thankfully, the other advisers did not press him for more info.
"well then, how are we going to deal with this? if the other nations find out what position we are in, they may decide to go to war!" that was Gold Spear, the military adviser. "as much as i would love to beat the stuffing out of our enemies, this is bad timing for it! Bartholomule commented that he was worried that the Griffons might, as Equestria was not in the best terms with them, nor with Saddle-Arabia.
Milk and Honey broke in. "that's all well and good to worry about the other nations, but what about ours? Equestria needs Celestia and Luna, and now they can't help keep it together, as one is Distrait, and the other Missing!"
Starswirl looked up from where he was looking over notes. "She has a point you know, if we can't keep Equestria together, who cares what Griffons are doing?"
"I Care!" both Gold Spear and Bartholomule cried at once.
"which is good, but Equestria has it's own needs, that need looked at first."
They spoke some more, then Money Bags Spoke up, "how about the Castle? it's going to cost a lot of money to pay for repairs."
Starswirl paused mid writing notes, "I was thinking we build a new Castle. it's expensive i know," he cut across Money Bag's complaint, "but so are repairs, and as Celestia's Friend and adviser i feel she needs to be closer to the citizens, and the settlement near it never took off as a capital. most ponys near it are ether brave, stupid, or desperate to be near the princess." he knew that this was not a popular opinion, but he thought it was accurate. and anyway, it was not a very good capital.
Milk and Honey pointed out that this was a decision they should not make themselves anyway, at least, not right away, as it would effectively move the capital, and this ended the discussion.
they spoke for a while longer, then left to go about there respective jobs. as Starswirl left, he ran into Stuffed Shirt.
"What's this? did the meeting just end with out me?
"Well, yes. we have no need to wait for you, any decision we made is temporary, and will change if Celestia sees fit."
"but i am the heir! do i not have a say?"
Starswirl shrugged. "you did not show up in time, and we have other work to do. speaking of, i need to get back, goodbye."
as he left he saw Stuffed Shirt turn and go in a huff, and rolled his eyes. "some pony's have no respect for the work that needs done." he sighed, and returned to his study.
Author's Note
hey! sorry for the delay, i just could not get myself to write, for which i am sorry. so, what did you guys think of the chapter? i would like to know.
Celestia landed on the ground with the Elements clattering to the floor all around her, but she payed no Attention to them. "Luna......." She choked out her sisters name. Looking skyward, she yelled, "LUNA!" Then she fell to the floor sobbing.
Starswirl was searching the wrecked palace frantically, looking for the Alicorn sisters, Hoping to find them both, but fearing he would only find one of them, or worse, only finding the mare calling herself nightmare moon, or nothing at all. Then, out of no where, some one yelled, "LUNA!" It was Celestia! Starswirl would know that voice anywhere! Breathing a sigh of relief that at lest one was alright, he set off at a gallop in the direction the sound came from.
Starswirl came to a stop at the sound of sobbing coming from the throne room, well, what was left of it any way. He slowly walked in and saw Celestia lying on the floor near the middle of the room crying. as he neared, he noticed the Elements scattered around her, but for the moment ignored them. He walked over to her and placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder, she looked up at him with tears streaming down her face, and threw herself at him in a hug. He held her for several minutes before ether spoke.
“Starswirl, she, she's, she's gone. I, I sent her away!”
“I know, it'll be okay.”
As he said this he wondered if that was true.
Author's Note
hey, so this is my first story! hope you like it. if you find any mistakes please tell me, thanks!
Celestia woke in a unfamiliar place. She sat bolt upright in bed, her eyes Darting around the gray stone room, and her Breath heavy. As she tried to figure out where she was, the door opened and a earth pony maid, who Celestia was glad to recognize, walked in with a tray of food. “Good morning your Highness, did you sleep well?”
“Morning Glory, where am I?”
“Castle Brackhill, your Highness, would you like some thing to eat?”
“…. HOW did I get here?”
“Starswirl brought you, your Highness. Now, if you my saying so, you really must eat, you have been through quite a lot in the past few hours, and must rest.”
Suddenly all that happened last night hit Celestia like a ton of bricks, in her confusion earlier she had temporally forgotten about it, but now it came rushing back. She started up, but Morning Glory gently but firmly pushed her back down. "please your Highness, you must rest."
Celestia started up again. "I have to go Back! I MUST! "
"Absolutely Not." Celestia looked up, Starswirl had Just walked in. "It's not safe, you must stay here."
"Try and stop me!" Celestia Answered, Stepping forward. as she stepped, pain shot up her bandaged front left leg and she collapsed with a cry of pain.
"Celestia!" the Maid cried running forward to help her.
"Case in point." Starswirl Remarked dryly. " not to mention the forest's many beasts who are always looking for a meal, so bringing a wounded mare is not the best idea, Alicorn or not."
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! LUNA IS GONE AND IT'S MY FAULT! I MUST GO BACK! I HAVE TO!" Celestia yelled Desperately.
"WILL THAT BRING HER BACK? WILL THAT CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED?" Starswirl thundered back. "I doubt it. now, i need to go meet with the other advisers, i hope when i come back you will be ready to tell me exactly what happened." he turned and left, closing the heavy wooden door behind him.
Celestia collapsed on the bed, tears forming in her eyes. after a moment the Maid spoke.
"Your Highness?"
"Leave Us."
"yes your Highness." she said, and, with a glance back at Celestia, left.
Celestia's lip trembled, "Luna," she choked out. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." and she fell to crying.
Author's Note
so, this is Chapter three, what do you guys think? also, this is sad
