trot into the darkside and it's off with your head
trot into the darkside and it's off with your head
Princess Luna was finding a small amount of enjoyment in the quick resourcefulness of a Manehatten shopkeeper. The stallion knew this was a dream, but insisted the Princess join him for a spot of tea in thanks for the nightmare the princess chased off. Luna's leniency would have slipped away, but the stallion was quick to drop formality once past the introductions. One of the rare few that would treat her as a pony. These were the type she would waste all efforts to make them a friend. He finished pouring and started off with a off topic subject of her next visit to Manehatten. Luna was clearly disappointed to announce her next chance wouldn't happen till the following month after the Equestrian new year.
He took the news rather well adding the joke that she could always come for tea here, and get the real thing when she visited the city. Luna mused back that a princess visiting his shop would only cause problems. He only shook his head as his magic disipated from the cup he placed down.
"If it was Celestia I would have a problem. Her guards always intimidate or restrict who can enter, and its bad for business. You on the other hoof are like us, strong enough to wear your crown proudly, but common enough not to be choosy who gets to share your space with. I'd bet on it Luna, but I don't have a gamblers cutie mark."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "A bold one you are to make such claims. I am tempted to see if your tongue is this loose in person around your patrons." Luna watched him adopt a cautious look, before it melted away in a chuckle that crossed the table with Luna adding her own laughter to the moment. Luna went to respond but was forcefully yanked from her dream.
Blinking away the disorienting effects she set to figuring out what pulled her out. Glancing around the room she noted a set of runes glowing on the wall near her door. She smiled happily that the runes did their job, but smile faded as to the purpose. Someone was trying to break the lock on her door. Throwing a glance to the balcony and verifying those doors were secure. She rose from her bed quietly to walk towards her fireplace, her goal was the sword that hung above it, and she melted into the shadows of her room to wait for the intruder.
Whoever it was became frustrated and just overpowered the lock before shoving the door open. The light from the hall annoyed Luna for a moment, but the red glow in the eyes of the stallion spoke of dark power. The red glow on his horn stated he was ready to cast. "I sensed your spells princess, why don't you quit hiding in the shadows."
Luna stepped into the sliver of light, the glint of the sword caused her adversary to gain a cocky grin. "It is Princess Luna, and it seems you have made a grave mistake Conqueror. A fitting name if you didn't earn it being a petty thief, and that trinket you wear has a fatal flaw. So I warn you now to remove it before it is your undoing, and accept the punishment due."
"You speak of its corrupting ability, I am aware, but I will see my goals done before the time comes." He let loose his first attack, and Luna blocked it with a quick cast shield. The forces began destroying loose items in her room. By the time he released the attack, his grin widened at the devastated room, and the new distance between him and Luna.
Luna let the predatory smile grace her muzzle. "Sombra spoke as you do now, and while my sister and I were unsuccessful in defeating him completely he wielded far more power than you do now."
Conqueror needed Luna to attack and leave her guarded position. "If you are so great, then how were you so shamefully dragged from your own castle by changelings?" The jab worked slightly as Luna's smile vanished, her stance changed to that of attack. He licked his lips and prepared his spell, and his opponent began to gather a large amount of magic to her horn. Luna made her move spreading her wings she gave them a mighty flap to give her a speed boost.
Two point blank high energy spells blew the roof off Luna's tower. As the debris rained down upon the gardens and buildings below a bright blue light shone from the remains of the tower. Guard whistles were heard all over the city and more prominent in the castle. Celestia went to leave her room only to have the guards block her path again, and this time she was having none of this. She grabbed the lead and stared into his eyes.
"Take me to my sister, or become wall decorations!" She set the guard down and was content as he barked orders for escort. She ignored the smell as they began to move at a gallop until they reached the damaged sections of the hall to Luna's tower. They were already being cleared by guards, but Celestia threw her horn into the mix to clear the obstacles and shore up weakened areas in danger of collapse. Looking through the damaged sections of the roof she could see the bright blue glow at the top of the tower.
Luna was nose to nose with Conqueror, the glow of her horn had turned him blue despite his natural coat and mane colors. Conqueror's eyes were wide and his pupils small. The nightmare eyes that we was staring into coupled with the burning pain in his body spoke his doom. He couldn't even take any pride in the fact his attack had burned Luna's left wing off leaving but a stub on her back. He stumbled back and looked down to the sword buried to the hilt in his chest.
Luna took a step back and with a flick of her head to the left the blade was pulled out. "Now you see the fatal flaw of that trinket. All who have worn it have either been convinced or tricked to remove it themselves, or were killed wearing it. You failed Conqueror, but you still have a purpose for me. I have stood upon the blood of the defeated for over a thousand years. I will stand upon it once more for a thousand more. However, let us be rid of your false power." With a blinding fast speed the sword cut his head clean off. Luna watched the amulet fall to the floor no longer a threat.
"Y..Your highness, may we be permitted to treat your injuries?" Luna turned to the multitude of hovering guards, and the brave three who landed in the room. They winced seeing her eyes, but she raised a hoof while speaking quickly to arrest their fears.
"You do not need to fear the sight of me. I can manage my injuries, see to my door guards, and someone inform my sister that I am well before she does something rash." She watched a few land and assist in checking on her door guards. Two more guards dived from their hover to seek out the sun princess with the message. Luna turned to her ruined chambers and began to salvage what could be salvaged. Guards quietly landed and picked up the saved possessions and began flying them down to a safe area to be stored.
Luna tuned everything out as she moved and picked things out placing them in the ever shrinking pile. She stopped when a large warm body leaned into hers, and the feel of feathers across her back. "I am fine sister, you need not coddle me as a child, but your presence is welcome."
"It is for my benefit more than your own Luna." The glow of Luna's horn went out and the sword finally fell to the floor from its ready to use position at her unoccupied side.
"Tia, I'll be leaving for Manehatten tomorrow evening now that Conqueror has been dealt with. However, do you mind sharing your room with me?" Celestia gently turned her sister towards the stairs.
"I think a stop by the kitchens is in order before we retire, and Luna." Celestia bent her head down a it to catch Luna's eye, thankful that it had returned to normal, but when Luna finally turned to look at her Celestia finished what she had to say. "Mother never closed her door to us, I will never close my door to you ever, and you never need to ask from now on. If I have to say it a thousand times, I love you, and nothing will change that." Luna's only response was to lean a bit more into her sister.
Author's Note
Well I want to start by hoping this is better attempt than my first. Not saying I'm giving up on my first story, but I'm in a creative rut at the moment. This just popped into mind, and can't be any worse than some of the things I've read lately. It is unedited, raw, and i may add an epilogue. I don't know, but enjoy.
Hopefully i got the tags right this time
The throne room was packed to its limit with everypony important enough to be there plus spectators. Intermixed into the crowd were supporters of Conqueror curious to know the fate of their still absent leader. The last they heard was he had tracked down a Zebra in protective custody and got the alicorn amulet. The still vacant lunar throne had them frothing with questions they -like others in the crowd- wanted answers to. Celestia finally rose from her throne and all talk died instantly as all eyes and ears were focused on the solar princess.
"There are events in my life that i wish never came to pass. This event is one of those things as it represents a loss of something we all have struggled to get back from recent attacks. I have made every effort to those who denounce my rule, to come and be heard without fear of my backlash, so that I may learn why they feel that way, and take steps to correct myself or a law that has brought upon their discontent. I have stressed that in my teachings to Princess Twilight, and to Princess Cadance as they learned under me what it takes to lead a nation. Yet we still have those few who still believe so strongly in their ideals that no amount of discussion will sway them."
(During Celestia's announcement)
Luna stood facing a mirror that was spider cracked from a forehoof violently colliding with it a moment ago. The reflection a mockery of the pony she was not anymore. The thoughts of her subconscious coming to the surface and giving voice rather voices now to the hundreds of reflections of her in the mirror.
"You may have won the fight Luna, but you have let Conqueror win the war." Another shard spoke to the bowed head alicorn. "You may not like me, you may have settled our dispute with your sister, but I am the face of your anger." Another ten shards spoke at once causing Luna's breath to hitch and raise her head. "We will not see you shamefully driven from what is rightfully ours."
Luna spoke to the mirror in a dangerous tone. "You will not take me a second time. I would rather fling my moon into the cosmos with me on it then suffer the shame of becoming the demon I was."
The shards all laughed at the statement for a moment further pushing Luna's desire to strike the mirror again. The moment passed and the nightmare in the largest piece spoke something that derailed Luna's anger. "Our chance has passed, harmony's decree was spoken in the ruins of our old home, and you are once again being held hostage by your own justified actions. Old Luna would have stood her ground rather than stand here questioning herself in a mirror. Raise your head Luna and prove to your subjects you are worthy of their support."
Celestia went to speak on the topic of redistribution of the power with the lunar throne now vacant. Only to watch her audience react with gasps and increased camera flashes. Celestia, Cadance, and Twilight turned to see Luna approaching with a large basket floating at her side. Luna continued down the steps and set the basket at the bottom before speaking her voice firm but not overpowering. "I can tell you hundreds of dreams about ponies that would love to sit up there and rule Equestria. Everyone of them brings a smile, because they are the dreams of the innocent who have no idea what it really means to be a princess of Equestria. I see those dreams and I let them go on believing the lie because it makes them happy until reality shatters the dream."
Luna removed the cover on the basket revealing the severed head of Conqueror. The reactions humored Luna and the sounds of Equestria's youngest princesses turning green. "This is the reality that shatters the dream, ponies try to kill us, villains want to steal our power, nations want to take our kingdom from us since they ruined their own. I have lived longer than some of you can dream to, and I have no reservations in sharing the means to better another."
Luna extended her one wing. "Conqueror managed to take my wing, but it will grow back in time. The lunar throne is mine, and like the days of old it will seek threats in the darkness. I can promise the following of Conqueror two things. Help if they come forward, or a grave if they continue his work."
Luna's sword dropped out of the ceiling to impale the floor beside the basket. "Choose"
