The Dawn of Darkness

The Dawn of Darkness

An original tale by Diiscord

Chapter 3

Sun:

        As sister rose the moon into the sky, I scrambled to get the last few bits of work done so I could have the midsummers meeting early. During the moon-set ceremony. Starswirl told me that if Luna said nothing during the meeting, the Nobles will lose confidence in her and the war talks will effectively be over.

The plan had also began to urk me. What would Luna think of me if I made her miss it secretly? How would she see me as her sister if I lied to her?

As I sat outside my room on the balcony, and I stared up at the moon. I couldn’t decide if I should just tell her, or if I should go through with the complex secret. I thought out all the steps, make Luna miss the meeting, give the attendees a potion to make their eyes fuzzy and keep them in the dark about the moon-set ceremony, use a magic hologram of Luna to give the impression of her being there. It wasn’t perfect, but it would work. And my country would be safe.

I looked out at the town surrounding our castle. It seemed calm, quiet. As if the world was waiting for my decision to either betray my sister or not. This deafening realization fell  hard on my shoulders.

A shout came from the castle gate, and my decision was postponed.

I flew down to the gate and saw Blueblood and a few others arguing with Luna’s guards to be let in. I walked up to them, “What is the matter? It is night time and ponies would like to get some sleep. Why must you shout?”

Blueblood stepped forward and stamped his hoof indignantly, “This is an outrage! Why am I hearing from my advisors that you are trying to pull the wool over our eyes on the moon-set ceremony?? I demand to know! Especially since we have an important meeting during the ceremony. Is Luna supposed to attend both?? Or is she supposed to choose between the Ceremony she deserves and the politics she needs??”

I was taken aback by all the questions. I didn’t know how word got to him, but I needed to fix this mess before it got to Luna’s ears. Either way, the old plan is down the drain. “Now now, calm down. She doesn’t have to go to every meeting. I think she should take a break and enjoy the adoration of the crowds today.”

He glared at me. “Cut the shit Celestia. I think everyone here has already learned that you hate war, so much so that you’d lie to your sister and sacrifice your country’s honor to prevent one. We were going to complete plans to restore equestria to full power in the region in this meeting. Luna was the sole royal contributor.”

I frowned and stomped my hoof, seething with anger, “You know nothing about being in charge of a nation! How much pressure is put on you by your citizens! Especially during times of war. Of course I’d lie and sacrifice anything to avoid one. Luna does not know how hard it is to run a nation at war. Which is why she spoke out at the last meeting. And she will never know! Ponies never see the night as royalty in equestria! It has always be the sun that must carry the burden of ruling!” I was furious with Blueblood at the moment.

“But I do know, sister.” A chill ran down my spine as I heard a soft voice behind me. Luna walked up behind me and frowned, looking at me with sad eyes. “And if I do not know the burden, I will learn it. I’m using my position as princess to take South Equestria. From Los Pegasus to Manehattan, my new kingdom will stretch wide. I am declaring Independence tonight.” She then turned to blueblood and spoke, “Blueblood, notify the citizens of the everfree castle that they are now under the jurisdiction of The Southern Federation of Equestrian States.” Then she turned back to me. “I suggest you move North, sister.” And her eyes became darker than the night.

……

After Luna had talked to me, she vanished. I turned to Blueblood and he grinned at me, then took off, running into the dark town to do his part for the “Federation”.

I stood, agape, along with some of the less radical nobles that came with Blueblood. What had just happened was the most unpredictable thing that could have happened. Equestria was about to be thrown into chaos. I need to unify the nation before it split.

I woke from my shock and quickly flew into the castle. I ran to Starswirl’s room, bumping into a few night guards along the way.

“HEY WAIT! YOU CAN”T BE HERE!” Some of them shouted at me, trying to usher me out of the castle. Somehow Luna had already informed her guards of the change in leadership. I just kept running though. When I made it to my advisor’s room, I pushed in the door and levitated a shelf in front of it so no guards can get in.

I nudged Starswirl. He was asleep, but he soon woke and turned to me. “Miss Celestia? What is it?”

“Luna seceded from Equestria and is taking the southern land with her in a new nation called the Southern Federation of Equestrian States and I need your help to stop her.” Starswirl just looked at me and thought.

“Slow down, slow down. I bet you are just overreacting.” He slowly got out of bed and looked at me.

“No, I’m not. We aren’t going to leave. Luna can’t separate herself  from Equestria if I don’t acknowledge her ‘country’. So I want you to help me find her and knock some sense into her!” I hurried starswirl to the door and began to move the shelf out of the way.

“CELESTIA, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY I WILL TELEPORT YOU NORTH IF YOU FAIL TO COMPLY!” Luna’s voice rolled across the town. “TO ALL OTHERS WHO THINK THE SUN IS A BETTER RULER THAN THE MOON, YOU MAY NOW LEAVE AS WELL!”

“Think I’m overreacting now?” I nodded to Starswirl as we rushed into the hall.

I looked both ways and saw no night guards. “C’mon, this way, there are a few items in the throne room that can fix her. She is just confused and mad at me.” I was more so telling myself rather than starswirl. He had begun to worry too. We started running to the throne room.

“I AM WARNING YOU SISTER. LEAVE THE NEW EQUESTRIA AND NEVER RETURN! ALL YOU WANT IS TO KEEP THE THRONE FOREVER! I CANNOT ALLOW THIS!” She yelled and it echoed through the castle.

Starswirl and I kept running. We burst into the throne room and stopped to catch our breath, then a pitch black shadow appeared under starswirl and he fell into the floor, “Celestia! Hel-.” Then his voice was gone as the hole closed back up again. I jumped on it and scrambled to find and trace of him, but he was gone.

Then I heard a loud crumbling noise as Luna burst through the walls behind the thrones and stamped. “THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE PRINCESS IN THIS EQUESTRIA! AND THAT PRINCESS WILL BE ME!!!”

…….