5.Celestia's Final Option/Celestia's New Little Kingdom
I have lived for more than a thousand years now on this planet. Never aging and never slowing down in my rule. I was always seen as the kind and generous Princess of Equestria who loved her subjects and ruled alongside Princess Luna, my sister and Princess Cadance, my adopted niece. Then there is... ugh... fuck... my nephew, Prince Blueblood. He is very distant, in fact so distant I sometimes think he might be a friend of my real nephew who decided to fake his way into the family. He's such a prick, a prissy, prudish, priggish, prick that probably needs to suck on a banana. I'd help him but I’m not that kind of Celestia and even if I was, I would choose someone more likable like Applejack, At least she's honest. Moving away from him, we come to my faithful student, Twilight. She is one I respected the most despite her overreacting flaws. Aside from Sunset Shimmers, at least she could deal with the dangers of Equestria unlike Blueblood. Where does he go when our home is in danger anyway?
Now I move on to my own subjects. I said that I was always seen as kind and generous but even I know that they do that because of how powerful I am. They are scared to say anything but I know that they would like to see me gone forever. All those names they give me just for spite. If you don't know any of them well here's a rundown of some of the popular ones...
Sunbutt (Granted, I rather like this one.)
Sunplot (I like this one better.)
Overweight (Hate.)
Cocky (Who isn't?)
Tia (Only Luna can call me that and maybe Cadance.)
Celly (I'm not eleven.)
Molly (I'm not that banana molesting, mare and stallion raping, filly kissing, colt hugging, put my butt on anypony Molestia!)
Empress and Overlord Celestia (Won't even bother.)
Tyrantlestia (Okay. Merge my name with anything to get a stupid chuckle.)
Intolerable little pests that only wish for me to suffer just because I had to banish Luna to the moon. I didn't know the Elements of Harmony would even do that. I wanted them to cure her of her madness; however the elements mistranslated what I wanted. Nobody understands what I went through all those years ago. If it weren't for my nature of caring I'd probably would have lost my mind.
Those that serve in my castle understand more than anypony else. I can literally tell that they only worry about me; doing everything to prove it thus I don't harbor anything against them. Luna keeps telling me I’m being paranoid, that maybe I should take a day off. I would however that would incline everypony seeing me and showing me their fake, hardly subtle smiles and eyes that scream torture. If I had a choice to make, I would bur...You know what, I'll have to think on it for now but mark my words there will be nothing left to praise.
On a lighter note...I guess, Discord has been coming along quite nicely with his reformation, and it only took Tirek betraying him to get that through his chaotic skull. Sometimes I wonder what it must be like to have no regards for pony life but can't let that thought through, have to be noble and motherly for the sake of Equestria... hm... No matter how much I resent it.
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Canterlot had become more rowdy as of late due to the Summer Sun Celebration being only three days away. Most of the ponies were from Baltimare, Fillydelphia, and Manehatten. Coming to Canterlot to either visit family or rent out a place to see the celebration up close. Usually this would be a great time for everpony to be happy about their lives and know that another few months went by without a new evil hurting them. Everypony should have been happy; however that wasn't the case for their princess of the sun, Princess Celestia.
Celestia looked over the city of Canterlot from her balcony in the royal castle. She watched as many of her subjects trotted around, going from destination to destination as if they had somewhere to be. Her brows furrowed at the site of seeing them all care very little about what was really going on. For decades, Celestia had to play the motherly roll to all of her subject when the time of despair came forth. She protected them with all she had at her disposal and they praised her as their princess and hero. She was eternally young so she heard praises every lifetime, it was nothing new and she only did it because she genuinely cared for them like children.
Over time the ponies became more and more stubborn, wanting things to be different and for their princesses to be more determined. Celestia tried her best to keep up appearances, bearing a false smile and straining herself mentally to keep a soothing voice. She always did it to serve her subjects, never worrying that they may be asking for too much. If a false is what it took to calm them then so be it she thought.
"A thousand years and I’m forced to endure this matter as if I have no personality." Celestia sighed, allowing her thoughts to scatter in her mind for a moment. She closed her eyes to imagine the past ponies she remembered. "You all were my favorite -" Celestia thought as she inhaled fresh air "- Your personalities were more radiant than your coats and manes," she then exhaled. Memories clouded her thinking, the young ponies laughing and playing around Canterlot back when it wasn't the capital of the wealthy. Mares and stallions helped each other to get work done instead of working alone.
The memories processed quickly throughout her mind, the peaceful pictures slowly altered to the ponies of now. The happy young children became old and bitter entrepreneurs alone in their mansions while the ones who amass wealth over time died in their pile of gold. This torture of time didn't apply to all of her subjects though, there were some ponies that amassed their wealth but remained ever brightly among the bitter ponies.
Just as those selected ponies were about to be revealed in her mind, "Your highness, The six that requested an audience with you awaits for you in the throne room" a gruff voice broke her concentration.
Her eyes now open; she turned to see one of the day soldiers bowing to her. "It's that time already?" Celestia thought. She smiled and walked past the guard rising from his bow. Continuing her walking into her room, she turned her head to the guard, "Thank you Diamond Sail. You may proceed back to your regular duties -" Celestia gave a heartwarming smile to Diamond Sail "- Have my sister prepare the soldiers for the daily routine."
Diamond Sail saluted the princess, "Yes Princess Celestia."
Celestia entered the throne room minutes later to the site of three stallions and three mares. Seeing them smiling at her nearly made her choke on the words she was trying to say. Before her stood Fancy Pants, Filthy Rich, Fleur Dis Lee, Sapphire Shores, Ms. Harshwhinny, and Big MacIntosh in a row. "I see that one is not present. I hoped to see her here," Celestia made her way to the throne and sat down. They followed after, planting their flanks onto the floor in unison.
Clearing her throat, Celestia began to speak. "I'm glad to see you all again after so many years apart." Celestia watched as each of them looked at each other and then back to her. "I'm aware that Miss Granny Smith Apple could not make it today. What has become of our senior member?"
Big Mac's smile faded into a frown fast and his brightened personality died right then and there. "I'm afraid that Granny Smith was diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer's disease." The smiles in the room faded to worried looks. Ms. Harshwhinny placed a hoof upon Big Mac's shoulder to comfort him, seeing him holding back tears with a false stern face. "I volunteered to take her place while Apple Bloom and Applejack watched over her. It's a slow recovery but the doctors aren't sure if she will make it to the next Summer Sun Celebration."
"Immortality, this is what I get in return for living so long." The grim words etched themselves onto her brain multiple times, reminding her that only herself and Luna would live to see it all end. "She did nothing wrong. Loved by all and more importantly respected by all."
Silence quickly fell upon them, the six who requested the meeting stood in silence for a moment before Fancy Pants opened his mouth. "Princess Celestia, we came here today to see how you were doing," Fancy Pants tried to fashion a smile on his face however it was obvious to Celestia that he was faking it on her behalf. He walked closer to the throne, removing his monocle with his magic and placing it into the inner pocket of his tuxedo jacket. "We can tell that lately things have not been the most festive as you wanted," Fancy Pants said, still bearing the false smile.
"He still shows he cares even though he's faking a smile to make me feel happy." Celestia thought. Celestia lowered the rest of her body onto her throne, her eyes looking towards the cushion underneath her. The six in attendance could see the growing sadness in her and found themselves unable to help their immortal goddess.
"What's the problem, Princess Celestia?" Sapphire Shores asked in her usual pop pony voice.
Celestia directed her eyes towards the pop pony and sighed, "I've been around for a thousand years, watching all of my subjects live full and productive lives, become the mares and stallions they wanted to be and die with smiles on their faces -" Celestia raised her head "- I've done this for a millennium, acting as the mother figure for all of my subjects. Many ponies knew that myself and Luna may have been the active royalty for years however they never treated us too differently. I adored that they at least knew we grew up with them when our mother was the queen; they were the ones who treated us like we were regular ponies. It was wonderful but..."
"But..." The six ponies said in unison.
Celestia sighed, "They eventually died and their children took over. As time passed on, they became rude, spiteful, hurtful, and unkind. They didn’t care that all they did was hurt each other. All they wanted was more of everything and they didn’t care how they got it. It's as if there were mini King Sombra's running around."
"Or little Diamond Tiaras." Filthy Rich muttered agonizingly under his breath.
"I don't think I have the natural patience to keep up appearances for long. Many of the fillies and colts don't even care that I have feelings." the princess began to twirl her right hoof on the cushion; something a filly would do when they didn't know how to react to something.
"Diamond Tiara, again." Rich again muttered.
Big Mac moved over to Fancy Pants with Ms. Harshwinny. He cleared his throat and spoke, "Normally I'm the type to just say Eeyup and Nope, but I think I should clarify something. My sister and her friends admire everything you do. That's all they talk about in their clubhouse or when they explain their next plan to get cutie marks. I don't think any filly -" "Except, Diamond Tiara," Rich muttered once again "- takes what you do for granted. Some aspire to be like you." Big Mac prepared to finish his speech until Ms. Harshwinny planted one of her hooves on his mouth, shocking the big red stallion.
Ms. Harshinny had her usual stern face fixed onto Celestia's now scared eyes. She removed her hoof from Big Mac's mouth and stomped it onto the ground, "Princess! You are royalty and must and I mean must show professionalism when in front of your subjects!"
The room fell silent afterwards, the other five members looking at Harshwhinny with despondent expressions. She continued to hold her stern expression towards the princess to show how she really felt about the situation. Ms. Harshwhinny was known for using harsh words in her critique, mostly shouting "Professionalism" whenever need be. She was harsh with the Element of Loyalty and this would be no different.
Big Mac placed a hoof on her shoulder, "I think you made your point, Ms. Harshwhinny," he said in his usual calm voice.
Ms. Harshwhinny began to give MacIntosh a piece of her mind when a small whimper broke through to her. Their attention was directed towards Princess Celestia hiding her face in her hooves. Her eyes were only tearing up however the pain in her throat made it impossible to speak perfectly. The six ponies all shared the expression of sorrow as they looked upon their princess who began to mumble painfully under her breath, "P-please no more a-arguing." She slowly rose from her throne; faltering with each step as she made her way down to meet them.
The rest of the six moved closer to Ms. Harshwhinny as did Princess Celestia. It was apparent to them now that Celestia wasn't even looking at them. Her purple eyes stared at the floor as she made her way to them. Her body only stopping as soon as the small huddle of hooves was in her line of view. More importantly the only brilliant orange colored mare in the room. "I think she's going to be banished," Fleur Dis Lee whispered into Fancy Pants ear, to respond he simply shook his head.
"She does have a point" - Celestia's thought, her eyes fixated upon Harshwhinny's brilliant cornflower blue eyes - "despite how I may feel about the situation, I must show them professionalism" - Celestia forced a small smile to the delight of the six - "I have to be strong."
Fancy Pants whispered into Fleur's ear, "I think the servants won't have to worry about rebuilding the ceiling again." He looked over to see Filthy Rich nod back at him with a smile on his face.
The heartwarming moment was interrupted as soon as Big Mac saw their shadows from the sun moving east. "Sorry to interrupt, Princess Celestia but I have to get back to the farm. There are still chores we haven't finished and I have to check up on Granny Smith."
Sapphire Shores spoke next, "I have to get back to the hotel so I can prepare for the musical number for the celebration."
"As much as I wish we'd talked some more, Celestia -" Fancy Pants pulled out his monocle with his magic and placed it over his eye once more "- Me and Fleur have to get back so she can be on time for her modeling shoot for Equestria Unlimited."
Filthy Rich sighed and furrowed his brows, "I have my daughter to attend to."
"Maybe we can meet up after the celebration, before you all go your separate ways again?" Celestia asked nervously. She was still having trouble talking due to the pain in her throat but her now normal posture and joyful expression deceived those in the room. They all nodded in approval and began walking towards the door. Celestia watched them leave and was ready to go to her room to sleep until it was time to lower the moon; however what she heard from the six as they walked out excited her.
What most ponies outside the alicorn circle never realized was that the princesses of the sun, moon, friendship, and love can hear beyond the scope of Equestria. They hear everything a pony says whether it's about their lives or the lives around them. It was a side effect of the magic she had and now was a good time to put it to good use. She listened attentively to the dialogue between them, hearing mostly Fancy Pants and Ms. Harshwhinny.
"I wish we had spoken more nicely about things," Fancy Pants admitted. His colleagues with the exception of Big Mac nodded. No one thought of it since he never really knew what they talked about, it was usually Granny Smith who attended the meetings.
"I agree -" Ms. Harshwhinny adjusted her turtleneck "- but seeing the princess like that was too much for me. I love her like a mother but you can't show the public weakness, especially in our modern days."
"I understand that considering you have been everywhere and seen how most ponies put up facades, on the other hoof though she is our friend and I don't think you should have been that harsh since she knew our parents so well," Fancy Pants countered.
Celestia listened in until they reached for the doors leading out of the throne room, that's when he said it. "Perhaps it would be better if the ponies around here just started over, to better understand how great their lives were before the royalty," that sentenced came from Filthy Rich's excited face.
"Start over," the words engraved into Celestia's brain, seemingly rewiring her entire thought pattern with those two words. "As in reverting, regression," the thought turned more and more of the gears in her head. Celestia could practically see them walking out as little foals; a false vision that made the princess reveal a wide grin that normally would make all of Canterlot shiver in fear. "Turn them into foals. Yes, and then I can raise them as my own. My very own little kingdom to cherish truly."
Filthy Rich and Sapphire Shores were ready to open the door when they heard the princess yell out, "Hold on a second!" They turned around to see what the princess wanted, however they were met with a golden ray of light similar to the very sun overseeing them. Screaming turned out to be impossible for them, their mouths were forced closed and their eyes slammed shut. "You'll be the first of my new kingdom," Celestia watched gleefully as the mares and stallions began to shrink out of their clothes and farm equipment. The magic rewired their thoughts, memories, what they perceived as right and wrong, and who they considered friends.
"You'll see me as your mother, the one who raised you, the one who nurtured you, and the one who will protect you from any danger." Celestia observed the light fading off her products of desire. "Aren't you all adorable," Celestia cooed. She motioned her body towards the former adults with her usual gentle motherly smile.
The foals laid on top of their clothes and were looking up at their new mother with smiles on their faces and hooves waving in the air to signal wanting to be picked up. Celestia's wings expanded and scooped each one up into a gentle embrace with her. She used her magic to slide the clothes to the side of the door in order for no one to recognize them or discover they were there at all.
Celestia's plan was now in motion but more and more thoughts consumed her. These six foals were just half of her full desire. She wanted more foals to take care of and more foals to cherish for the rest of her life. "Perhaps it would be better if the ponies around here just started over," Filthy Rich's words consumed her brain endlessly, all reason and doubt about her actions were destroyed by her need to be more motherly.
"A new mother always wants more children -" She placed the children back onto the floor "-and I intend to do just that. However, most ponies now are too arrogant and care more about themselves than each other. Dealing with them will be easy once I get an idea forming" - Celestia began to trot around the six for their amusement - "Who else do I hate while I'm at it. There's Discord, but thanks to Fluttershy he's reformed completely. Prince Blueblood, I really don't like him for the obvious reason everyone knows. Need a way to erase them all and just start over." Celestia began to notice the two foals, Fleur Dis Lee and Big Mac playing. Big Mac raised his hooves and expanded them outwards while making a "Boom," sound, Fleur followed afterwards by falling on her back like a paralyzed sheep to the excitement of Harshwhinny, Filthy Rich, Fancy Pants, and Sapphire Shores.
"Boom -" Celestia rubbed her left hoof against her chin "- Boom, like an explosion. An explosion that will destroy everything that I want," Celestia felt the thoughts coming together, slowly merging together to form a perfect thought that could answer all her problems.
A half an hour later...
Twilight and her friends, including Spike were at the front door to the castle. Usually there would be guards ready at the door to open for them but the doorway was vacant. There was no sign of an attack, the area around them was perfectly well kept and the castle looked clean and polished all over.
"Suppose one of y'all know what may have happened to the guards?" Applejack asked, tilting her hat upwards.
"I don't know -" Twilight turned her head left and right, hoping to see a guard turn around the corners "- but Celestia said to just come right in. She never said if it was important or not and I'm supposed to bring Spike along."
Spike nodded proudly, "I guess she realizes that you guys leave me out of all your adventures and wanted to make sure I had a part this time." The six ponies sighed collectively.
"So, shall we go in?" Rarity wondered.
The doors slowly opened inward to the sight of an empty hallway. "Hello!" Rainbow Dash yelled out. It remained eerily quiet despite the hallway being illuminated by the rays of the sun shining through the windows. They advanced through the hallway inspecting every corner and corridor to see if one of the maids, servants, or guards might be around. Pinkie Pie, being her usual self in any situation popped up everywhere.
Her head popped out from a column, she was even outside for a moment before returning to the group. She found nothing which was obvious to all of them when she yelled out "I found nothing!" into Twilight's ear.
Spike started to hear small mumblings from the door straight ahead. He ran over to the door and opened it. "Huh!" was all he could say before being consumed by a golden aura and vanishing into thin air to the shock of the ponies that ran over to the opened door. The room was empty just as the previous with the same light shining from the windows.
"What was that all about!?" Applejack nearly dropped her hat from the sheer shock.
"Spikey Wikey..." murmured Rarity, tears sliding down her cheeks and her ears flopping down.
Fluttershy hid behind Pinkie Pie and used her puffy tail to shut her eyes from what just transpired. "I think we should leave before we're next," Fluttershy stuttered.
Twilight walked through the doors and said, "That was Celestia's magical aura, she has Spike and we need to see what is going on."
Despite the protest from Rarity and Fluttershy in the form of shaking their heads, the others agreed and continued walking through the next hallway. Unlike the previous hallway, sounds were emitting from the door ahead and bounced throughout the walls, ceiling, and floor. The sounds were low with the occasional high pitch yelling piercing their ears. They remained quiet for the rest of the walk, wanting to not scare off whoever or whatever may be behind the door. To them it was probably Discord doing this, he was known for doing the unthinkable and copying others magic style was no different. Whatever may be the cause of this quietness, one thing was for sure, the mane six swore they heard the sounds of foals.
The doors were now within reach and Twilight forced them open with her magic. A collective gasp formed from the six at what they saw next. It was the throne room of Celestia, however it was littered with nothing but foals and the princess herself. The more noticeable ones such as Harshwhinny, Big Mac, Fancy Pants, Fleur Dis Lee, Filthy Rich, and Sapphire Shores were nestled in the princess's wings once more. They were playing with each others hair, nibbling or rubbing but Sapphire Shores was clapping her hooves together.
"Glad to see you all here," Celestia said with the usual graceful and soothing voice. The mane six were about to speak up when they noticed to little foals bouncing up and down on the princess's back. One was a purple skin dragon with green ears and scales playing with a dark blue pony complete with a magically flowing mane and tail, a unicorn horn and pegasus wings. They realized that it was Princess Luna and Spike jumping on Celestia's back playfully.
"Just what the hay is going in here and why do you have my brother in your wings and why is he a foal, princess?" Applejack screamed out furiously.
Yelling at the princess would have been punishable by public humiliation if it were not for two things. One, Applejack was the Element of Honesty and this was to be expected and two, Celestia just continued to smile and was not fazed by the way Applejack asked her. "Please, allow me to explain," Celestia said warmheartedly. She cleared her throat and started again, "Immortality is a gift and a burden, Twilight. You now live with this burden just like me and you will soon learn what it's like to watch those around you fade into nothing."
"Princess, why turn them into foals? What is the reason for causing this mess?" Rarity asked nervously, afraid of what could happen if she stepped out of bounds.
"You have Filthy Rich to thank -" the mane six gave confused looks to each other and then Celestia "- The little bundle of joy right here" - Celestia nuzzled her face into Filthy Rich's chest in a playful manner which caused him to giggle - "He was the one who said that maybe if the ponies of Equestria started over they would feel a whole lot better. I took this as what if I turned the hooves of time for everypony and allowed them to live as their younger selves?" Two former maids, now foals were climbing on one of Celestia's long forelegs and a former royal guard was now nibbling on her ever flowing tail.
Pinkie Pie leaned over to Fluttershy and whispered, "And you all call me crazy but look at her -" the two ponies eyes darting towards a mismatched foal hybrid of pony, lizard, bat, deer, bear, and eagle snapping his fingers uncontrollably. He was summoning an anvil that quickly changed into a book, then a bowl of cereal, then a hay burger, then a Discord lamp to the amusement of a small crowd of foals. "- She turned Discord into a foal! How is that even possible?"
"Oh my," Fluttershy said in her usual low toned voice.
Celestia continued on her speech, "Living for a thousand years was wonderful for a while, but even that becomes dull when everypony around you starts to harbor hatred amongst each other. I loved when everyone worked together to accomplish a task without asking for much in return. Harmony flourished throughout all of Equestria for those years. Me and little Luna enjoyed it until she had her little accident and became Nightmare Moon. The older generation died out and the new arrogant generation took hold. Have you ever wondered why it was easy for Discord, Chrysalis and Tirek to wreak their havoc upon the lands for a while? Nopony was willing to help each other when the time called for it. They expected either the princesses or the elements to deal with it while they ran away."
"That is to be expected but this is too far, Princess Celestia. They don't know how to deal with situations that are out of control," retorted Twilight.
Celestia's smile faded, her eyes dilating a little with a slight twitch in her left eye, "You think I'm doing wrong, Twilight?"
Twilight was now literally afraid of her teacher. Twilight could see the manic look upon her face, the slight static erupting from her horn, and the painful biting of her lower lip. The erupting static turned into a magic aura which consumed all of the foals in a golden ray of light. Twilight and her friends shielded their eyes from the blinding light of their solar goddess.
"My head is hurting!" Pinkie Pie could feel a sharp pain striking every inch of her brain like needles from the doctors.
"This is really uncomfortable" - Rainbow Dash tried to open her eyes and move about, however her body became paralyzed like a statue - "I can't move at all!"
Celestia and the foals watched as the mane six began to regress in size and shape. Teeth were being forced back into their gums, their hair appearing the way it was when they were foals. Ironically, Applejack's hat shrunk with her unlike Celestia's previous times when the clothes did not shrink. Celestia allowed Twilight to keep her wings since she was still considered royalty and to her, was still her most faithful student.
The light faded seconds later, leaving six new foals near the door of her throne room. The six were met by foals that resembled Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo who wanted to play with them. Celestia watched in glee as all her subjects were playing happily with each other, not a single foal was fighting or yelling at each other. It was enough to bring her to tears, tears of completion. All of those she truly loved and accepted were now hers to care for until she was ready to let them live normal again. Rewiring their brains made it easier for her to train them properly to see her as their mother.
Amongst the foals were easily identifiable ponies. Shining Armor and Cadance stayed near each other, clapping their hooves together in a pattycake style game. Luna was now riding Discord as they flew around the pillars; gathering the attention of all the foals on the ground. Rainbow Dash took this as a challenge and flew past them with ease. Thunderlane, Flitter, and Cloudchaser followed after along with her personal Wonderbolts led by Spitfire. The room lit up with the pegasi flying around with a rainbow trail behind them, following every pattern they made.
"This is lovely but there's still something I must -" Celestia's face became stern but she turned away to avoid the foals being frightened by her expression "- no, have to do. I have to start from scratch with Equestria. I have to make sure that no bad ponies ruin our little kingdom and my happi -" a small hoof tapped Celestia head, causing her to stop her whispering and turn back around. Her eyes met the mismatched eyes of Derpy flapping her wings, holding a small crumbled flower in her smiling mouth. Celestia smiled "- ness."
Nightfall...
Celestia lowered the sun on time as usual from her balcony and because she altered her sister, had to also raise the moon just as she did when she banished Luna. Despite not doing it for a couple of years, going back to her double job was relatively easy to lean into. She was the stronger sister, with more experience, better understanding of things, and ability to adapt to change. This was nothing new to her since she knew she could always go into the castle to see her new ways of life sleeping in their newly constructed cribs.
Due to there being so many regressed foals in her new kingdom, she had no choice but to have all the cribs in the throne room. Discord would sometimes wake up sleeping on the throne, much to Celestia delight. She always did have a soft spot for the little chaos lord.
The moon was properly positioned in the sky to signal everypony to go to sleep. Celestia walked into her room and began taking her regalia off, placing them properly onto the dresser and preparing herself for sleep. She was nearly done when a letter appeared out of thin air on her bed. The stamp on the paper suggested that it was from royalty. Considering that Luna, Cadance, and Twilight were foals and were sleeping in their cribs, the only other royal in her life was, "Blueblood!" Celestia scowled at the mere thought of his name. "What does he want now?"
Celestia, removing all sense of pride and joy had begun to read the letter
Dear Auntie Celestia,
I know that I don't usually write to you because of my trips around the world but I wish to see you to discuss a matter of importance.
I hope to see you later on tonight near the maze. Also I would like to see the new princess, I hear she has been doing well in her days as a
princess but nobody is better than -
Celestia crumbled the paper with her magic before she could finish reading the remainder of it. She was not happy at the return of her nephew who she sent away in the hopes people forgot he existed. "That piece of no talented unicorn," Celestia walked over to the door leading out into the hallway and opened it with her magic. "He wonders why he never became an alicorn," she walked through and slammed it shut, leaving her regalia on the dresser.
Walking through the hallways leading to the maze was not an easy one for Celestia; the memories of Blueblood soiling their good name were nagging at her head like a parasite. The only memory to give her comfort was seeing Blueblood try desperately to clean off the cake in the royal shower. It was a thought that made her laugh in her own head and she wasn't going to let it go anytime soon.
Eventually she made it to the pathway that lead to the maze. She could see Blueblood standing near the opening of the maze in his usual attire of a tuxedo collar with a blue bow-tie, wearing his fake smile to greet his aunt. Celestia faked a smile to show she still cared about her nephew but her thoughts were different, "I wish I had banished him all those years ago. Maybe I can do away with him right now, it's not like anybody would care especially after what happened at the Grand Galloping Gala. He deserves to be humiliated for embarrassing our good name but I’m not that Celestia sadly."
"Hello, Auntie Celestia," Blueblood greeted.
Celestia had a few choice words for her nephew now that she was face to face with him but held off any negative thoughts since he was still family. The two of them walked over to a nearby bench and sat down to talk, much to Celestia's chagrin.
Blueblood began to talk about his travels around the world and how he met interesting griffons, dragons, and deer along the way; Celestia wasn't paying attention, she hated Blueblood right down to his very heart. Thoughts like, "I should have banished you years ago," and, "I know a place where I can hide your bones and no would care," were just two of the many thoughts running through her tired mind at the moment.
"So what do you think, auntie?" Blueblood asked.
Celestia snapped out of her thoughts and asked, "What?"
Blueblood raised his right eyebrow higher than the left, his mouth forming a frown and his eyelids half open. A loud groan could be heard coming from his throat as he spoke, "You didn't hear a word I said, did you?"
Celestia did a low groan sigh, "Look Blueblood, I've had a really hard day and I just want to go to sleep so please would you wait until the morning."
"No! You will at the very least here what I have to say." Blueblood demanded.
The gears began again inside Celestia's head after his demand, if he wasn't so into himself he would have noticed the twitching in her right eye. Her face scrunching up, her hair moving slightly faster as if to signal preparations to attack. The little thoughts telling her to stop were pushed aside with thoughts of pure hatred and revenge. "Alright Blueblood, what do you want to talk about?" Celestia asked, straining her voice to fake normality.
Blueblood started his mouth once more, "It seems you went out your way to make a commoner an alicorn princess while I remain as just a unicorn. Now why is that, auntie?"
"She has a long track record compared to you -" Celestia leaned in closer to her nephew "- Twilight and her friends stopped two gods, a queen, and a king. You on the other hand were defeated by a commoner, I think her name was Rarity," Celestia sarcastically proclaimed.
Prince Blueblood's cheeks turned red, his eyes staring straight into his aunt's twitchy eyes with his mouth agape. He couldn't find the words to counter her answer and he soon found that he couldn't move his eyes away from hers. He wasn't being hypnotized since Celestia kept quiet, yet he knew something wasn't right about the situation. He continued to stare like a snake to a charmer, unable to think of a way out.
Celestia leaned in closer to his ear and whispered, "I think I like you better as an elderly stallion."
Blueblood's eyes dilated.
Sunrise...
Celestia was sitting on the throne with Luna, Discord, Shining Armor, Cadance, and Twilight playing with each other. The rest of the foals were still sleeping in their cribs so this was a special privilege to the ones who influenced her in the past. She lit up her horn and summoned a two way mirror which connected to her bedroom. The foals stopped playing upon seeing somepony lying in the bed breathing heavily and slowly.
His coat faded to darkish gray with obvious patches of fur missing on his chest and legs. His once protruding chest and tone body was reduced incredibly to where bone outlines could be seen. Up close it was clear that his teeth had fallen out overnight, most were lying on his chest and some had fell onto the bed. His once handsome golden locks were completely gone, leaving a bald spot as proof.
He laid on his back, staring at the ceiling with tears trickling down his wrinkled and malnourished face. The thing is, he wasn't crying because of his new makeover, he was crying because attached the ceiling was a noose. It dangled above him however it was out of reach; his fragile body unable to grab it and end the new torment. It was a reminder from Celestia to never make her angry ever again.
Celestia deactivated her horn causing the mirror to vanish from her sight. The foals looked up to her with confused expressions and Discord scratching his head with his claw arm. The princess looked down at them and said, "Don't worry, if your cousin Blueblood behaves I might reconsider changing him back -" she turned her head near the door leading to her room "- might."
It was now the afternoon and all the foals had awakened from their sleep. Celestia looked onward as Lyra and Octavia nibbled their respective instruments back to back in view of Bonbon and Vinyl. Once again, Cadance and Shining Armor were playing pattycake, however Twilight Sparkle and her former parents were watching in awe at what most foals considered as some weird dancing. The rest of the foals in the room were gathered around to see Discord battle Pinkie Pie. They watched the two summon items from nowhere; Discord summoned his things with a snap of his fingers and Pinkie Pie pulled them out from behind her.
Celestia's observing was cut short when she noticed something outside her window. She walked over to see her subjects outside arguing at each other. Their yelling was a bit muffled by the windows therefore she couldn't interpret everything they said to each other. It was clear that they were talking about the disappearances of some of the high class stallions and mares like Fancy Pants and Hoity Toity.
"You were the last one to see them, Hailbreaker!" One mare shouted.
"I saw them talking to Diamond Crust and Shooting Stars," a stallion stated.
"What happened to Princess Luna, I don't see her in my dreams anymore," a little colt whimpered out.
The little colt's mother patted his back but continued to stare off into the crowd. "I received news from my husband whom was visiting The Crystal Empire and he told me that the Captain of The Guards and Princess Cadance have also disappeared without a trace," she explained.
"I also notice that mismatched pony isn't around anymore, what's his name again? -" Another stallion rubbed his chin with his hoof "- Anarchy, Chaos, Oh right it was Discord."
More and more ponies began to yell out their complaints, drowning out the ones the princess wanted to hear. "They're like little foals without parents," Celestia admitted to herself. Her attitude changed to pure anger, her original thoughts of the new generation rushing back into her head in mere seconds. New words forming from her lips as she watched them argue over whose fault it was for the disappearances, "Ungrateful, bratty, unintelligent, smart mouthed, foolish excuse for ponies!"
They continued their arguing amongst each other for the next few minutes before Celestia finally couldn't take it anymore. Her horn began to burn up in a reddish yellow hue, smoke erupted from her horns and her eyes completely turned white. "Enough is enough!" Celestia started collecting heat from the sun into her horn. Her body burning to the same temperature as the sun in mere minutes and steadily rising. The foals looked on in fear at their mother's expressions of anger and rage but Celestia reassured them with a strained smile before teleporting out of the castle.
The foals watched their mother reappear outside in front of the crowd with her body now simmering like the very sun she moves. The crowd of ponies could only utter, "Prince-" before everything turned white completely, making the foals in the castle cover their eyes with their hooves and hands.
The blinding flames prevented anypony from seeing the horror outside but some of the foals could somewhat see bloody, cooked hooves scratching at the windows, blindingly trying to pry them open like doors as their skin and muscle tissue deteriorated from the flames. Some of the victim's eyes landed onto the windows, trailing down onto the ground and leaving a trail of blood as a reminder.
After a few minutes of searing flames, burning ponies running around till death gripped them, and various items like glasses, a tiara, and a tuft of orange hair hitting the window, things finally calmed down. The foals removed their hands and hooves from their eyes to see that the outside was barren with the exception of burning remains of dead ponies and houses. The dead remains were either missing limbs or everything above the waist, most were in such bad shape that nopony could tell if they were once a pony. All of Canterlot was reduced to ashes in minutes and the foals were too young to fully realize the carnage that had transpired.
Celestia returned to the castle, to the delight of her children who all grouped around her collectively with smiles upon their faces. With her body cooled off, Celestia looked down at them and gave a sincere smile to her children.
"Now we can be together and start all over without all those mean ponies. We can make a new kingdom and when you all are up in age, you can live in harmony the way it was meant to be," tears began to run down her excited face; Celestia turned herself towards the throne, "When my time comes to give up my life, you'll all be ready to start anew," Celestia laid herself upon the throne once more, watching her children play with each other with a smile on her face. Her last thought before falling asleep, "Mother, forgive me."
