“Twilight, found anything useful yet?” The voice of my favorite dragon rang out from behind me.
I turned around to see Spike entering the library below me. Flying down and landing in front of him, I shake my head. “Unfortunately not. I had hoped to find a book or something out of the ordinary, but there's nothing here.” frustration ringing in my voice. I threw my hooves into the air, “There’s nothing anywhere!”
“Well, Luna thinks she found something in Celestia’s study. She thinks you should see it.” Spike nervously played with his claws as he spoke.
I grabbed spike and put him on my back before teleporting both of us into Celestia’s study. Luna was standing in front of Celestia’s desk, she had lit a couple of the candles scattered across the room. The fires lights danced across the walls.
Spike fell off my back and landed with a thud. “Twilight, how many times do I have to ask you to warn me when you teleport me!”
I smiled down at him and helped him up, “Sorry, Spike.” I turned back towards Luna who had since turned towards us.
Luna held up a piece of parchment. “Twilight, I found this report of yours was on Celestia’s desk.”
I gripped it in my magic and began flipping through the report. It documented everything I had learned about the Dragons and their culture, including the ritual they use in order to select a new king. But why would this still be on her desk, she normally files my reports the day after receiving them... “What does this have to do with Celestia’s disappearance?” I inquired as I looked up at Luna.
Luna sighed heavily and turned to stare out the window, examining the night sky. When she didn't respond immediately, my heart sank and my eyes began to burn. Something must be terribly wrong with Tia...
Quietly joining Luna by the window, I could hear her weeping. “The Elements of Harmony can't help us anymore and if my fears are correct…” She paused for a moment and looked down at me. Her eyes glittered like stars in her night sky.
What…?
There was no need for me to vocalize this thought. Luna could see how confused I was. “Long ago, back before Equestria existed and before the Windigos caused the Great Blizzard. Tia and I were still in our homeland of Romaneia, the homeland of Alicorns.”
She paused as if to think for a moment. “The dragons invaded our home... Tia and I were forced to battle on the frontlines.”
My jaw almost dropped, never in any books were there even mention of such a place, much less a war between the Alicorns and Dragons! I took a deep breath, my brain wanted to be excited while my heart continued to sink with the knowledge of what my dear Celestia has been through.
When I failed to respond, Luna continued to speak. “We won most battles, but the collateral damage to our country was too great and ultimately the Alicorns lost the war... Celestia and I were of a few who had survived. My dear sister…” her voice dwindled into a weeping whisper.
I felt Spike’s claws touch my side. I looked down at him, his eyes were full of concern but he didn't say anything. Instead, he pointed towards the door where Cadence stood. “Oh, Cadence! I’m so glad you're here.” I said as I walked towards her, trying to push all my questions away for now.
She and I shared a hug as we met. “So Celestia’s missing? Any idea of where she might’ve gone?” I asked her, trying to keep on task.
Luna joined us in the middle of the room. “I believe Celestia is fulfilling a personal mission. I just hope we aren't too late.”
Cadence turned to me for answers, giving me a questionable and worried look.
Luna looked at me, moonlit fire burning in her eyes. “We must leave now.” She didn't waste anytime teleporting past the glass windows of the studies balcony and flying off as fast as she could. Cadence and I followed her after I snagged Spike once again.
We flew as quickly as we could through dragon territory. Finally, we came to perch at the top of a large hill overlooking the dragon capital. Dragon's flew along carrying out their own daily lives. The lava rivers still moved sluggishly. The geysers erupted every couple of minutes. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.
Spike spoke first, “Maybe we should go see Queen Ember.”
“Perhaps we’re in time.” said Cadence.
I nodded to Luna, before opening my wings and flying down to Embers palace. A large stone fortress with a horde of dragon guard flying clockwise high above it. Several of them flew down and surrounded us.
It didn't take long for them to recognize us. “Princess Twilight Sparkle, Lord Spike.” He said with a respectful bow in mid-air. “Do you request a conference with Queen Ember?”
“Yes, we do,” Twilight said with a smile.
A saddened look came over his face. “Unfortunately, Queen Ember won't be available for some time.”
“How come?” Spike interjected.
“That is classified. I must ask you to return home, your presence here will only circulate suspicions.”
Luna’s anger overruled her senses, she grabbed him in her magic and held his snout close to her own. “We must speak with Ember, it's an emergency. You will take us to her, got that?”
When she released him he nodded vigorously before flying down towards the castle. We followed close behind him.
We flew into the castle through a large opening in the side of the castle. Inside was a long hallway with statues lining both sides. Past Dragon Lords? I thought as I examined each of them.
Eventually, we came to a throne room. The dragon stopped and quickly opened his wings and flew into the room. “Where is Queen Ember!” He roared as fire filled his jaws.
As we rushed forward out of the hallway, we found ourselves in a large circular room with giant pillars lining the room. Between the pillars were a number of doors and passageways.
A menacing laughter filled the room. Opposite the entrance we had used was the Dragon Lord’s Throne. A massive, finely crafted and beautifully sculpted stone and obsidian throne. In it sat a white alicorn, with a flaming mane. She wore gold-plated horseshoes and chest plate, all of which were accented with amethysts and sapphires. Leaning against the inside of her left shoulder was the Bloodstone Scepter. A chuckle continued in her throat, still vibrating off the walls around us.
“Where is Queen Ember? What have you done with her?!” the guard roared once more just before a fireball exploded across the side of his head knocking him to the ground.
“Say it is not so…” Luna whispered quietly, “We have come too late.”
“Celestia…” I whimpered quietly. How could you have done this? It's unlike you… my eyes closed and remembered the last stormy night Celestia and I spent together.
Her chuckle stopped and she stared at the dragon that stood in front of her. “You will speak when spoke to.” She murmured as her horn lit as he began to float, gasping for air and clutching at his neck.
After a moment she sent him flying past us, head first through a solid stone wall. Silence filled the chamber. I turned back to look at Celestia who had opened her wings. She stood, stepping off the giant throne.
“Twilight Sparkle. My faithful student,” her voice was angelic, elegantly smooth, and utterly terrifying. “I’m going to offer this to you once. Join me here and now, become a ruler of the new Solar Empire as the Princess of Magic…” her voice reached a high note but dripped with a catch, “Of course, if you don't want to... I could always turn you back into a unicorn and see what you can come up with, who knows, maybe you really are Starswirl’s legacy.”
My jaw dropped, suddenly Cadence shouted from somewhere behind me. “Celestia! Why would you do something like this? Doesn't it go against everything you believe in?”
Looking back at Celestia, she had stopped to ponder this before giving Cadence her full attention. “I was given an order by my father long before you were ever born. The King’s orders were given in his dying breath. The enemies of my father are my enemies as well.” I could see tears stream down Celestia’s cheeks as she spoke. “Dragons took my father, mother, and my country away from me. Now I’ve avenged him and expanded my Kingdom's borders.”
“Sister! This is not what Father would have wanted!” Luna shouted, desperate to reach her sister.
Celestia immediately barked back, “You were too young! He should have never even considered putting you on the front lines! Or even me for that matter! The bloodshed we saw as our friends and neighbors were slaughtered by these beasts! You weren't there when our father was killed by their king!”
I took a step back and looked around the room. I spotted the Bloodstone Scepter laying against the back of the throne.
Luna whimpered but didn't say anymore. Cadence was also quiet for the moment. Then a very pitiful wail filled the room. Spike was sitting on the floor crying into his claws.
Celestia looked at me for a moment. Finally, Spike spoke. “What have you done?”
Celestia sat on her haunches, “I’ve completed what I’ve come here for. I’ve killed Dragon Lord Torch and imprisoned his daughter. After that, I waited here for all of you to arrive.” She waited for a moment as Spike looked up at her. “None of the Dragon's here are in harm’s way unless they attempt to stand before me.”
Spike stood and walked towards her, tears streaming down his face. “Then release Ember. She hasn't done anything to you!”
“No.” She answered flatly.
When Spike ran at her I used my magic to reel him back to me. “Don’t do anything stupid. This isn't our Celestia, it's gotta be something like Nightmare Moon.” I whispered into his ear. Though the hope of that being the answer had already faded from my mind.
I looked up, and our eyes locked from across the room. Everything else faded from existence. Tia… Where are you… Finally, I stepped forward and stood tall with my wings open. “Celestia, what do you plan to do with Queen Ember?”
“Why does it matter?” She asked with a smirk.
Luna stepped forward to stand next to Spike and I. “Sister, you've completed the task Father left to you. There is no need to continue this.”
“You wouldn't understand my reasoning even if I explained any more to you. I truly am sorry it had to come to this.” She turned and walked backed to the throne. “Leave now and be spared, I’ll return to Equestria as soon and my business here is finished.”
Tears streamed down my face as my horn began to glow. A volatile blast of magic erupted from it aimed directly at Celestia.
Celestia used her own magic to grab the Scepter and block my spell with a forcefield.
I galloped to one side of the room, unfurling my wings and taking flight just in time to dodge Celestia’s focused stream of magic. I watched as the statue she had struck toppled forward and crashed to the floor.
I readied another burst of magic but Celestia grinned at me before she began glowing. A moment later a burst of radiant light exploded from her. Instinct kicked in and I clenched my eyes closed and tried hiding behind my forelegs.
After a moment and with some hesitation, I opened my eyes and peered at Celestia. Well, where she had been before she tried to blind me.
I heard Cadence shout something and when I turned towards her Luna appeared next to me. I caught sight of Celestia just as she released a powerful magical blast, hitting Luna between the wings.
Luna cried out in pain as her eyes rolled back and she fell. Cadence caught her before she could smash into the stones below.
I turned to Celestia who simply hovered in mid air seemingly unnerved by this turn of events. I flew towards her as fast as I could while Channeling all my magic into a single spell.
Celestia loosed an eerie laughter as she began to fly towards me, almost mimicking my actions.
Swiftly teleporting past Celestia, I flipped upside down and fired a small dense beam of magic straight at her.
Celestia’s barrier spell was still active, just as I predicted. My beam didn't deflect, this time, it stayed focused on a single spot until it pierced the shield. My spell hit Celestia in the side, cutting straight through her and coming out her back.
Blood spewed from both sides of the wound as the spell deteriorated. Celestia’s eyes went wide for a moment but then I caught a glimpse of her smirk as she used a simple fur cleaning spell. The blood that stained her glowing white fur pulled itself away from her and formed two fair sized balls that floated nearby.
Celestia began to laugh as the blood orbs exploded with flames. Them they began to spin slowly as they were moved into the middle of the room.their flames beginning to lash out as they rotated faster.
I quickly teleported next to Cadence and Luna before pulling Spike in close. Cadence began to channel a barrier spell and I helped reinforcing it. The blazes had begun to lash out wildly, filling the room with fire.
Stamping my hooves wildly, I looked over at Cadence who was struggling to maintain the barrier spell, even with my magic pouring into it. “Cadence, what should we do?”
“I don't know, Twilight… I don't think we have the combined power to take her on.” She said with a strained voice.
I felt Spike tug at my wing. “So what if we used her own power against her?”
That's it! “That's it Spike! Cadence quick, we have to trap her inside our barrier! On three we push our barrier against her fire.”
Cadence nodded, “Three.”
“Two.”
“One.”
Together we began expanding the barrier to the walls and floor before moving it and the firestorm towards Celestia. I began to sweat with the effort. I gave it me all, feeling the barrier slam shut with Celestia trapped inside.
The fire raged on for only a moment longer before the orb filled with black smoke. Cadence and I released the barrier spell releasing the black smoke into the room. Out from the bottom of it plummeted Celestia. Her mane wasn’t blazing, neither was her tail. Her fur and her wings were charred, even a few bald patches could be spotted. Her body hit the floor with a series of thuds, starting with her head.
As soon as I saw the color of her mane, I felt my entire perspective shift gears. This battle was over.
I stepped towards Celestia as she landed. I waited a moment, feeling two sudden fears wash over me… Oh Goddess, please let her be okay.
Running over to stand next to her I could feel tears streaming down my face as her body came into view. Tears dripped from my cheeks, landing on Celestia’s burnt fur. I leaned down and kissed her unmoving lips.
A long sad moment passed before I felt Celestia begin to breathe again before returning my kiss.
“PINKIE PIE!”
Pinkie looked up from her dolls. Miniature replicas of Cadence, Luna, Spike, Celestia and myself. “Oh hey, Twilight!”
I couldn't help but smile. She always was easily distracted. “Didn't you say you were going to help me organize the library while Spike was gone today?”
Pinkie nodded enthusiastically as she slept her tail over her toys, making them disappear from sight. “So where should I start? Can I start with the “I” section?”
I sat on my haunches and cocked my head. “Why would you want to start in me’s?”
Pinkie bounced over and landed right in front of me. “How about the “L” section?”
I smiled and kissed Pinkie's nose. “Don't even ask to do the “U” section. While you were fantasizing, I have reorganized “A” through “E”. How about you help me with section “F” in non-fiction.”
She smiled and kissed my nose in return. “Okie Dokie!”
