Balance

Chapters

Chapter 0 - Prologue
Chapter 1 - Meeting Expectations
Chapter 2 - Making Amends
Chapter 3 - The Veteran's Game
Chapter 4 - Living and Learning
Chapter 5 - Enlightenment and Foreshadowing
Chapter 6 - Snake Eyes

Chapter 0 - Prologue

Words. Singular words or phrases are an equivalent to verbal wildfire. Words ring out and carry on the voices of many as if the wind willed to blow them itself. These words would fly and grow, thriving into full topics of conversation. War. This was the word that had carried dismay and disbelief across the kingdom of Equestria. For years it had dominated the voices of many through pain, through sadness and through hope; if only just a sliver. Words aren’t immortal though; they wither and die if not fed attention. Soon enough, another word took its place. Rightheart. Eventually this name took the place of its grim predecessor. This name inspired joy and happiness, caused tears of relief and brought a firm sense of security with it. Equestria had long been subjected to cruel, merciless war; the ideals of Everfree, the county of harmony waged against those of Treeshroud, the county of discord, the two halves of the kingdom. The once peaceful equilibrium was shattered and the entire kingdom was thrown into disorder. After decades of bloody battle came the result; the spirit and god of discord had finally been defeated at the hands of King Orion and Queen Sola. As harmony spread across the cities of Cloudsdale and Manehatten there were still some followers to Treeshroud who would gladly interrupt the newfound peace. Reports of innocent ponies taken from their homes into unwilling captivity came in thick and fast. That had been five years before.

~*~

The citizens of Everfree littered their streets, rejoicing over the news that had come to light; the war was over. Tales of a mighty stallion filled the single topic of conversation within the crowd.

“Private Rightheart?”

“That’s right, I heard he singlehoofedly liberated more than half the prisoners!”

“That’s incredible!” The conflict was over and the imprisoned had been returned to safety, seemingly thanks to this Private Rightheart. If these rumours were true then he would most likely be commended for his bravery and services to Equestria. In fact, Princess Celestia was sure of it; she knew that she would reward him in such a way befitting a hero and she had faith that her parents would do more or less the same.

~*~

Midday court was the daily meeting with Queen Sola’s subjects and Princess Celestia couldn’t say she was a huge fan of it. Usually she would just sit around and listen or watch her mother’s responses and actions (although she was occasionally put in the spotlight to offer her opinion) and today was no different, save that her father, King Orion, was hosting morning court in the Queens stead. Although she felt just as bored as she usually did, she couldn’t help but be amused by the various ponies’ awkward speech toward a king they didn’t normally have to address directly. When the meeting was finished and Orions attention had turned away from the court Celestia finally took the chance to engage with her father.

“Will you be at the midnight court father?” She asked sweetly. Orion looked down at her for a second before turning his concentrated glance back up to the audience hall in front of his throne.

“Yes, Celestia, I shall.” The kings answer was simple, even for his deep and commanding voice.

“Will you be meeting Private Rightheart then?” Celestia pursued, trying her best to hide her eagerness. Orion didn’t look back down again, instead keeping his face sharply faced forward.

“Hmm,” His eyes shifted to look at her while otherwise staying completely stationary. “You’ve heard of him?” Celestia nodded enthusiastically.

“Everypony is talking about him.” The Princess explained.

“Indeed. No, that’ll be tomorrow at the celebration.” Orions tone gave Celestia the idea that he had no desire to continue the conversation. She sat in silence for a few moments; usually she and her mother would be indulging in conversation by that point. Suddenly she started as the thought returned to her and she stood up, turning only to face her father.

“Erm-“ Celestia began to say.

“Yes,” Orion answered her unsaid question no less monotonously than before. “You are dismissed. Just try not to cause your mother too much hassle.” Celestia was all too happy to jump on the spot and give a speedy hug before running from the audience chamber excitedly. She dashed this way and that, dodging various ponies and sliding around corners as if they weren’t even there. She finally slowed when she came to a familiar reinforced oak door with an image of the sun carved with elegant and detailed strokes as a decoration. The filly slowed entirely to a halt and knocked on the door with her horn. A few seconds passed and she finally heard an answer, another second found her in front of the now-open doorway. Celestia trotted inside, making sure her hooffalls were much quieter than they had been as she charged around the castle. The room was a spectacle to behold as usual, doused in the orange radiance that could only be seen during dusk twilight. In the centre was a bed large enough to hold half a dozen ponies, covered by a majestic silk veil so as to provide the owner some privacy. Celestia moved to the other side of the bed until she finally saw the pony lying upon it. She was larger than normal ponies and had the same structure as any other alicorn, if not more grace than muscle. Her mane and tail seemed to flow softly in colours ranging from the deepest chestnut brown to the most vibrant scarlet, all of which complimented the fantastic white fur covering her body. Despite the low light in the room the filly could still just make out the alicorn’s folded wings and horn, the latter perched in the centre of her cocked head.

“Good morning mother!” Celestia greeted quietly with a sweet smile. Queen Sola looked up a bit and smiled back.

“Good morning, my dear.” Her voice was calm and relaxing to listen to, although she sounded very tired. “Has morning court finished already?” Celestia gave an overenthusiastic nod, much to Sola’s amusement. She indicated to the space beside her, rolling over slightly to allow her daughter more space. The filly happily obliged and hopped up to snuggle up beside her beloved mother. Celestia cast her glance to the side. There was a cot beside them; inside was a tiny navy blue foal with a tuft of aquamarine hair decorating the top of her head. The little filly was fast asleep.

“How’s Luna?” Celestia asked about her little sister. Sola chuckled quietly.

“She’s finally asleep.” Her voice seemed to have a hint of relief. “She sleeps soundly when it gets light, but the night sees her even more active than you.” She chuckled quietly to herself at her joke, but stopped when she realised that Celestia hadn’t understood it.

“Maybe she’ll be like father?” She suggested; Sola bit her lip thoughtfully and Celestia did likewise, revealing where she got the habit from.

“That’ll probably be the case.” The Queen thought aloud. She looked down adoringly at her filly nestled comfortably under her wing.

“After all, you seem to take a lot more after me.” Celestia beamed at the comment; she looked forward to the day that she’d be as beautiful as her mother. “So, Celestia,” Sola continued quietly after a few seconds of peaceful silence. “Are you looking forward to the celebration tomorrow?” She got an ecstatic nod as a response.

“Uhuh! Will I get to meet Private Rightheart?” Celestia’s answer had got straight to the point.

“Maybe,” Sola responded with a laugh, “If you’re lucky. I hear that he is very humble and quiet and likes to keep out of the spotlight.” She noticed Celestia’s widened eyes and suppressed a giggle. “He sounds like a storybook hero.”

“Ooooh!” Celestia absentmindedly sang. Her thoughts had suddenly been hit by a tidal wave of romantic thoughts; Rightheart sounded exactly like a storybook Prince Charming.

“Hmmm, how about...” The Queen started, although Celestia was clearly still lost in her fantasies. “What if you present the reward to Private Rightheart?” A moment passed before the filly registered what was said. She let her jaw drop and she stared at her mother with a look of disbelief.

“Really? You mean it?” She exclaimed, unaware of just how loud her voice had sounded. There was a stir from the cradle as Princess Luna began to wake up and Sola sent her older daughter a disapproving look. Celestia realised what she had done wrong and shrunk a little as the Queen gently nuzzled the filly, humming a soft lullaby quietly. Within seconds Luna had rolled over and fallen back to sleep. Sola turned her eyes back to Celestia and nodded.

“I don’t see why not.” She started; the young alicorn looked like she was about to squeal with excitement, but when she caught her mother’s eye she made sure that she contained herself. “That is, as long as I can be sure that you are capable of keeping your composure.” Celestia’s grin sank a bit so that it looked awkward.

“I promise mother.” Her tone was sincere and Sola realised this; she had faith in her daughter’s abilities. She returned a smile as warm as possible from mother to foal.

“Excellent, darling.” She whispered; Celestia could hear the suppressed yawn in her voice and upon closer inspection noticed the shadows under her eyes. She sighed softly and nuzzled her head into her mother’s side and reclined. Sola noticed and chuckled; Celestia had always had her little ways of telling her what to do, to wrap her around her hoof. It was usually demanding that she rested; it was a well known fact that Queen Sola had a way of overworking herself and forgetting to sleep. She got the hint and also reclined slightly more over the very large bed, blanketing the alabaster filly with one of her wings. It wasn’t long before Sola began to feel the pull of slumber.

“...Don’t you have work to do?” The Queen’s voice was starting to fade into sleep. Celestia shook her head gently.

“It’s Saturday mother...” She said, feigning lethargy. “There’re no lessons on Saturday...” By the time she had finished her sentence she could feel her mother’s breath calming even more. Opening one eye she glanced up at her; her head was draped across the bed, her mane steadily changing from shades of warm red to cool blue, soundly asleep. Celestia closed her eye again and nuzzled against her mother; it wouldn’t hurt to rest her eyes for a bit. She was royalty after all, so surely nopony would mind.

~*~

It had been a busy day. Princess Celestia had not only met and knighted Private Rightheart, now Sir Rightheart, but talked for hours and hours about topics that she couldn’t even remember. She had rejoiced with the many ponies, gryphons and even zebras that had come to witness the declaration of Equestria going from divided halves to becoming a single free kingdom. At long last there was no more Everfree and no more Treeshroud but instead just the one country. There had been fireworks, parties and performances and Celestia had enjoyed all of it. She now sat at her living quarters’ dresser, sitting as straight as she could manage. Her now untied salmon pink mane was gently brushed by an old yellow unicorn mare sitting behind her, an old friend of the royal family and Celestia’s nanny, Matron Child Mind (referred to as Matron Mind, even by the King and Queen).

“Sir Rightheart certainly was a wonderful pony.” She told the mare with a hint of wonder in her voice.

“Yes, I gathered that after the third time you said so, Princess.” Matron Mind said with a soft chuckle. Celestia giggled back. “I wonder whether I’ll see him often around the castle.” The filly thought aloud. Rightheart had been given an honorary place as a royal guard inside the Everfree castle, which he had been proud to accept.

“I should expect he’s probably been assigned a post of importance, so I can’t say my dear.” Matron Mind said calmly, gently pushing Celestia’s head to the side a little so to get a different viewpoint to brush the mane. “It would be delightful if so.” The filly chirped as Matron Mind finished her grooming, tapping Celestia’s shoulder to let her know. The princess almost instantly hopped off to her nearby bed, her mane waving freely in her wake. As she hopped into bed she chewed her lip in thought.

“Maybe!” She exclaimed abruptly. Matron Mind stopped to listen to the rest of the sentence that didn’t come.

“...Maybe what, Princess?” Matron Mind asked after a few seconds of waiting.

“Hmm?” Celestia asked curiously.

“You shouted maybe.” Matron Mind reminded her. Celestia looked confused.

“I did?” Matron Mind nodded. “Oh! I did! Maybe! Maybe Sir Rightheart could be my bodyguard!” Matron Mind chuckled at the Princess’ fancy.

“Well, maybe he will, you never know.” She said, correcting Celestia’s odd position in the bed and tucking her in. “You should ask your father about it. I imagine Sir Rightheart would be honoured to guard you.”

“Do you think he’d mind me calling him Charming?” Matron Mind laughed again as she moved towards the doorway. “I’m not so sure of that.” She said, her horn flashing and the candles in the room petered out.

“You’ll have to ask him that. Now good night dear.” Celestia pulled her duvet right up to her face and closed her eyes. “Good night Matron Mind.”

Chapter 1 - Meeting Expectations

By the time that Princess Luna had gone from a tiny foal to a ten year-old pony the world had changed quite vastly. Although the war between Everfree and Treeshroud had long been over, harmony never seems to be constant and it wasn’t long before trouble of some sort emerged into Equestria. Other than the occasional chaotic outbreaks (all of which were quickly quelled by royal peacekeepers) all was peaceful. Both Princesses continued with their lives, developing skills diligently for their future without much event. It was only a decade before King Orion and Queen Sola passed on their throne to their daughters and both Celestia and Luna embraced it almost instantly. Although they were inexperienced they still had their parents around to give them a guiding hand in their rule, while still making sure not to overstep their places. Naturally the loving alicorns brought about a new era of prosperity to Equestria and the citizens were thankful for it. Celestia had become the daytime deity while Luna had taken her place as the starlight sentinel, just as their parents had before them. All was well; or at least it was to everypony but Luna.

~*~

It was dusk; the time of day that neither day nor night controlled. Orange twilight blanketed Everfree castle as the inhabitants finished their work for the day, making way for the night guards. Far above the castle was the Equestrian Spire; a sacred meeting place for the royal family. Within the chamber were two ponies; one with a topaz tiara decorating her glorious pink mane and another with a cobalt mane and a similar tiara, except formed from sapphire.

“Good evening sister.” Queen Luna said politely, greeting the entering alicorn. Queen Celestia beamed back.

“Good evening Luna.” Celestia responded with a lot more enthusiasm. “You wished to talk to me?” Luna nodded in acknowledgement.

“Just before you set off to sleep.” Her words sounded serious but it didn’t daunt Celestia in the slightest; it wasn’t out of the ordinary for her. “I would just like to voice some concerns of mine.” The alabaster pony blinked before taking her seat on a nearby pillow.

“Then voice away sister.” She almost sang, her interest clearly piqued, Luna standing shortly after.

“It has been just over a year since mother and father abdicated their throne to us.” The dark filly said simply. “How do you think our reign has been judged so far?” Celestia tilted her head curiously.

"In mother and father’s eyes?”

“No. In the public’s.”

“Uh...” Celestia took a moment to think. “Well, we haven’t done badly. Our little ponies have visited and thanked us.” Luna shook her head.

“For what?”

“Well...” Celestia was cautious at what her younger sister was getting at. “They’ve said ‘peace and prosperity’.”
STAMP
The older alicorn jumped in shock; Luna had slammed her hoof heavily against the floor.

“No.” Another shake of the head. “They’re thanking us for what mother and father did. They were the ones that brought about the ‘prosperity’, not us.” Celestia lowered her head slightly; it was a slightly harsh truth, but it had only been a year.

“But we’ve upheld it, right?” Celestia pointed out. “And we haven’t been leaders for long.” Luna stared out of the transparent wall at the quickly darkening landscape ahead.

“Anypony can uphold traditions and expectations 'Tia.” Her voice had calmed when she finally caught a glimpse of stars among the purple sky. Celestia relaxed a bit; if Luna had used her nickname then surely she wasn’t too anxious. “But without something to define us we just fall into place among the other chapters of Equestrian history.” Celestia finally understood what she was saying.

“Luna, are you worried that we are seen as incompetent?” It was a blunt way of saying it, but it got the right meaning across.

“Not so much incompetent as untalented.” Her voice took a slight monotone, much like the one that her father was known for. “Queen Europa gifted us with the night sky and father filled it with suspended diamonds. Each had their purpose and I’ve no idea how to go about reaching that level of expectation.” Celestia could now see where she was coming from, but she merely laughed softly.

“Luna, we’ve been on the throne for less than twelve months.” She stood up and walked over to her sister, nuzzling her gently. “Mother didn’t give her blessing until years after she was crowned.” Luna looked up at her and the tough outer shell she donned usually seemed to melt away.

“If it worries you so much, try to think of what you have that none of the previous rulers had.” Celestia continued, looking out the glassy window that led to Equestria with Luna. There was a few moments silence. Celestia could see her sibling deep in thought; it felt good when she managed to bulldoze Luna’s serious defences and got her to spill the beans. It gave her an opportunity to actually be the caring older sister she had imagined for so long.

“You really think I can do it?” Luna asked sheepishly; her voice sounded nothing like its previous incarnation and had been replaced with the somewhat higher voice of a filly. Celestia nodded confidently.

“How about this?” She suggested. “We both revise the thought and come together each night to share our ideas with one another?” Luna stared out thoughtfully at the sky again, now casting a deep blue blanket over the room, seeming to dull Celestia’s fur. When Luna looked back up Celestia thought that her fur almost had a slight shimmer to it.

“...Okay, ‘Tia.” She smiled more confidently and chuckled as she was nuzzled lovingly by her sister again. Luna took a glance back at her flank; there was nothing there.

“It’s the same with all foals, Luna.” Celestia said, settling a little more, a hint of a suppressed yawn evident in her voice. “We may be Queens of Equestria, but we are fillies all the same. Our cutie marks will appear eventually.” Luna nodded almost sadly before standing.

“Father did always say that good things come for those that are patient.” Celestia smiled at the quote and nodded. “I guess the only thing I can do is be patient and live life like normal until my mark reveals itself; there’s no point in fussing over it.” Luna looked round at her sister. “Thanks for reminding me ‘Tia.” Celestia chuckled at her praise.

“In all honesty Luna, I just wanted to go to bed.” She teased. She laughed slightly louder as Luna blinked at the sudden change of tone before laughing heartily at the comment too.

“Oh! I’m so sorry my liege!” She joked as she bowed her head mockingly and took a few steps back towards the exit. Celestia laughed at her and stood as well. “Please, don’t allow me to waste any more of your time.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, my subject.” The white alicorn’s horn shone as the door magically opened in front of her and she stepped out.

“Sleep well ‘Tia.” Celestia stopped on the spot and turned, a small smile spreading across her face as she noticed the sincere look that Luna was giving her.

“Good night, my beloved sister.” She responded quietly and started descending the staircase. Luna turned back to the transparent wall opposite and stared out at the star-dotted sky watching over their Equestria.

~*~

Luna had never understood the need for courts of both day and night; ponies need sleep so nopony would attend one of them anyway. Day in and day out she found herself attending the event, waiting fruitlessly for even the slightest interaction. It was rare that she did get company and when she did it was always from either a sleepless sister or a guardpony.

“Good evening your highness.” Came a familiar voice. Luna looked around to see a cream-coloured earthpony stallion dressed in glorious gold and black armour.

“Rightheart!” She sat up straight immediately, beaming at the newcomer. Sir Rightheart smiled warmly back.

“I hope this night sees you well?” He asked politely, responded with an over-enthusiastic nod from the Queen.

“Well, I am now that you are here...” She stopped and the stallion curiously. “You are staying, right?” Rightheart laughed heartily.

“Indeed I am my liege.” He trotted up the altar and stood to attention a few feet from the throne. “I’ve been ordered to bodyguard you for the night.” Luna rolled her eyes exasperatedly.

“Number one, we’re friends Rightheart, please call me Luna. Number two; you aren’t a member of the guard anymore, so why do you still keep taking orders?” The points made the stallion chuckle amusedly.

“I call it ‘spice of life’, my liege.” He explained, ignoring the disapproving look from using another honorary. “I may be a knight, but if I’m left to my own devices I would soon lose interest in doing what I love.” Luna looked a little confused. “Being told what to do means that I always have a reachable target. It’s the same with a baker or an artist. We all need something to help us keep going. A baker strives to make finer bread while an artist would want to refine their style and constantly improve their quality of artwork.” He looked forward again having finished his explanation. Luna had understood what he had meant in the first place, but had just taken some time to straighten her thoughts out. She had been thrown back to her conversation with Celestia.

‘Is that the reason why I’m so eager to live up to those standards? Do I simply wish to become stronger?’ She glanced down at her undecorated flank and bit her bottom lip in thought. ‘Could earning a cutie mark prove my strength and competence to the world? Would it make me more renowned than father and Queen Europa combined?’

“Uh...my liege? Are you feeling alright?” Rightheart’s voice sounded concerned as Luna snapped her attention back to the world around her.

“O-Of course!” The Queen exclaimed, using her serious tone to make her sound more confident; Rightheart wasn’t convinced.

“Are you sure?” He asked again. “It is widely known that you are quite quiet, but I haven’t seen you so hushed in years.” Luna tilted her head in confusion.

“Hushed up?” She said defensively; it was ridiculous to get such a notion from such a short time without talking.

“With all due respect, my Queen, I do consider two hours without talking quite hushed up, even for you.” Luna gaped; ‘two hours?!’

“Is something on your mind?” Rightheart whispered. Luna blinked, managing to shrug off her surprise and thought for a second.

‘Well, if I was out of it for two hours without realising I guess it may be smart to voice it. It can’t hurt.’ Luna nodded slowly.

“I’ve been worrying a lot about my place as Queen recently.” Rightheart smiled with an almost relieved expression.

“How so your majesty? Is there any way I can be of assistance?” He asked curiously.

“It’s silly, really.”

“But can I help?”

“Well...I guess.” He had a way of grabbing conversation topics and not letting them go. “All of the kings and queens of Equestria supplied our little ponies with a blessing, like father and the stars.”

“I take it that you feel pressured to make a blessing as good as theirs and merely need some advice?” Rightheart was answered with a shake of the head. “I have no worries of that, but I do worry about not being able to surpass them like I’m expected.” Her serious tone seemed to melt away again without her noticing. Rightheart shook his head.

“You aren’t expected to outmatch your predecessors, especially so soon after your coronation.” He had obviously not changed her mind by the look of her frown.

“A year isn’t ‘so soon’, Rightheart! I don’t even look like a queen.” Her last comment had ended with a hint at her flank; Rightheart followed the signal and sighed.

“A foal must find their special skill before their cutie mark will appear to them. But you are an alicorn; a pony destined for greatness. Most ponies will have received their cutie marks by now, but your full potential is yet to be seen, which is saying something.” Luna was stuck for words; she had been told the same thing dozens of times, but it never seemed to make any difference. There were ponies half her age with their cutie marks in Everfree city.

“I know...” Luna muttered in frustration. “It just seems so ridiculous that a pony as ‘special as I’should be without a special talent.” Rightheart sighed exasperatedly.

“You do have talents your highness. You’ve proven yourself efficient and timekeeping, focussed and resourceful. Not to mention that your artwork and magical ability is spectacular.” He grinned at the young alicorn. “The list goes on.”

“Then why do I not have a cutie mark for timekeeping or art or magic?” Luna argued. Rightheart sighed once more.

“Like I said, your majesty, you have yet to reach your full potential.” He smiled lightly as Luna finally realised his point. “You have skills innumerable that will get even stronger as you grow, but you have yet to find the one skill that only you can do.”

“...My blessing?” Rightheart nodded in response to the suggestion. Luna looked up at the door for a second of thought before consulting Rightheart once more.

“Rightheart, do you think I could go?” She asked sheepishly.

“I don’t see why not Queen Luna.” The stallion had gone back to facing forward as he was supposed to.

“I mean, night court has not finished yet.” She continued, causing Rightheart to laugh.

“An advantage to being Queen is that you can do anything you want.” Rightheart said, visibly looking around the ornate, yet empty hall. “Besides, I have my doubts that you’ll have any other visitors tonight.” Luna grinned; that was as good an answer as she had hoped for.

“Thanks Rightheart!” She stood up from the throne and walked down the steps, looking back for a second. “You can go for the night.”

“Thank you your highness.” Rightheart said stamping one hoof and saluting with another as guardponies do. “Goodnight and sleep well.” Luna smiled back and waved her hoof before trotting off in the direction of her quarters.

‘Thank you indeed, now I have some ideas to share with ‘Tia.’ She thought as she walked up the castle halls.

~*~

When Celestia had finished reading through Luna’s list of ideas, she looked thoroughly impressed.

“Luna, did you spend all of night court on this?” She asked, still skimming through some of the more elaborate points.

“Rightheart gave me some advice.” Luna said, reclining upon the pillow beside Celestia’s bed.

“Rightheart thought it would be better for us to be princesses instead of queens?” She asked in disbelief. Luna shook her head.

“Of course not; that was my idea. Ponies are still accidentally referring to us as princesses; after all, I’m only ten.” She elaborated with Celestia listening intently, subconsciously reaching over to her dresser and levitating a brush over to quell her bedmane. “Plus, there are two of us. I’ve never heard of more than one king or queen at the same time.” Celestia chewed her lip and rested her head on one of her hooves.

“Well, okay, sure. I just wanted to clear that one away; it’s fairly irrelevant.” She said with Luna shrugging in response. “’We could derive our blessings from father and mother, but multiply the effect.’” Celestia continued reading. “How do you mean?”

“I drew an example on the back of the scroll.” Luna pointed out, turning the parchment over so that her sister could see. There was a dark blue sky decorated with numerous detailed constellations. The only difference to the night sky was what appeared to be a large orb in the centre.

“It looks...lovely Luna, but what is it?” Celestia said without looking up; her eyes scanning the image over and over, trying to decipher what it could possibly be.

“Well, father created the stars as guardians of Equestria. This is a similar concept, except larger.” She explained in hushed excitement. “It not only protects us from frights of the night but also collects wishes from the populace and sends them to me and lights the way for the lost or frightened.” By the time that Luna had finished explaining Celestia was staring wide-eyed at her.

“Wow...that’s...complex.” She pointed out. Luna nodded in acknowledgement.

“It is, but also entirely possible,” Luna stated matter-of-factly. “Although I may need to practice before attempting the real thing.” Celestia chewed her lip again.

“What if I were to help you?” She asked suddenly. Luna tilted her head in confusion. “What if I made something similar, but to light the daytime sky without magic?” Luna smiled at the idea.

“Sisters of Equestria’s throne giving a combined blessing?” She asked her to confirm, sounding almost poetic as she said it. When Celestia nodded the dark alicorn hopped to her hooves. “It’s perfect, Tia!” Celestia laughed at her sister’s excitement. “Tia, what if we did it tonight?” She almost shouted, gripping Celestia’s hoof tightly and hopping on the spot. “T-Tonight?!” Celestia spluttered, going wide-eyed again.

“Isn’t that a bit soon?”

~*~

From the very tip of Everfree castle’s pinnacle the two princesses could see the entire royal city. Lights littered it almost as much as the sky where ponies had come out to watch the spectacle that they had been promised while atop the castle the royal family had also collected to see. Princesses Celestia and Luna stood at the edge, looking down over their subjects. Both had dressed for the occasion, donning their most ornate attire. Luna stood with her mane whipping in the wind while Celestia had tied hers back (it looked less impressive at night); both wore their tiaras, differing only in colour and stood tall and proud. They were a sight to behold. Behind the princesses sat their parents, Prince Orion and Princess Sola waiting patiently for their daughters to begin.

“Woah...” Luna whispered so that only Celestia could hear. “This is scary.”

“I don’t know.” Celestia said, sounding more cheerful. “I think it’s less scary and more exhilarating.”

“M-Maybe I’m not ready for this yet.” Luna moaned worriedly, shaking a little bit.

“Of course you are!” Celestia nuzzled Luna comfortingly. “We just need to get started and you’ll be fine.” Luna glanced up at her sister nervously and saw her smiling with anticipation. Her eyes caught with Celestia’s and the alabaster unicorn nodded. Luna swallowed the butterflies in her throat and nodded back. When both alicorns jumped from the spire and hovered beside it a mighty applause rose from the city below. They took a second to collect themselves and fortify their composure before flapping their wings and moving in a clockwise circle, their heads pointed inside the shape that they had formed. Seconds passed and the applause of the ponies below began to vanish. Luna and Celestia both closed their eyes and focussed their energy into their horns. It was a few seconds more before they opened their eyes but once they did a feeling of success immersed them; an orb had formed in the centre, blue and yellow waves covering its surface. All was going to plan. As they continued moving in their spiral the sphere inside began to grow larger and larger. Before they knew it it had grown to a size barely containable within their range. Steadily they widened the area and the orb grew even larger. The effort was starting to give Luna a huge headache, but she kept channelling the energy through her body and up into her horn. Soon the orb had grown to an incredible size and Luna was glad they had started so far away from the castle; after all, their creation was very quickly growing larger than it. Both Celestia and Luna were feeling the strain that the spell was putting on them; Luna had started developing a migraine and was slowing her flight and wobbling from side to side.

‘No! I have to keep focussed!’ Luna told herself, but it had been strenuous even holding that thought. Within a few seconds she lost her focus and broke off from the circle, hurtling backwards and down toward the city. She managed to make out a large booming sound before her vision and hearing went blank.

“Luna!” Luna instantly recognised Celestia’s voice; her hearing had obviously returned. As she came to her senses she found herself lying back on the pinnacle of Everfree castle where they had started. Above her was Celestia’s tear-sodden face.

“Oh my Equestria!” Celestia pulled Luna into her a relieved embrace. “Luna, I’m so sorry!” Luna blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting before she looked properly at Celestia.

“D-Did I ruin it?” She asked, concerned with her sister’s choice of words. Celestia slacked her grip and shook her head, wiping her eyes with a hoof before pointing up at the sky behind them. What Luna saw drove her to complete silence. Suspended in the midnight sky was not just one, but two globes; one silver and covered in craters resembling a pony head while the other was covered in fire that illuminated the entire right side of the horizon, also covered by a pony head, this time from bright flames.

“W-We did it!” Luna broke out suddenly in a smile and pulled herself up to her haunches and hugged Celestia tightly. “We did it ‘Tia!”

~*~

“Our little ponies and citizens of Equestria! On this night we gift you with our blessing! May the Sola light your days with prosperity and peace and may the Orion watch over your nights and keep you safe for eternity! Long live Everfree! Long live Equestria!”

The night was filled with fireworks and seemingly endless celebration. Atop the castle Prince Orion and Princess Sola sat watching the celebrations, discussing the pride that was their daughters and suppressing the tears that had developed from the honour of being the inspiration for their blessing to the world. The princesses had already left the scene however; departing for Celestia’s quarters, they had almost immediately fallen asleep, their heads resting side by side. They felt accomplished by their work and wished for nothing more than to slumber in each other’s company. They slept so soundly that they didn’t even notice the images of their creations form on their flanks.

Chapter 2 - Making Amends

Celestia sat up by the window of her quarters, staring out at the Princesses’ creations. On one side of the sky rested Luna’s moon while on the other sat her own sun. The clock in the corner of the room stated three in the morning, but when Celestia had awoken she had noticed that half of the room was blanketed with daytime light while the other was covered by the inky darkness of the night.

‘Maybe they just need adjusting. We can find a solution in the morning.’ Celestia told herself repeatedly, settling down beside Luna again but failing to find sleep. By the time dawn had come the room looked no different. Celestia rose from her bed and approached her dresser, which was inconveniently placed in the darkened side of the room. As she sat at the dresser she touched a nearby candle with her horn and it set alight; it wasn’t a very flattering light, but it would do. She pulled the clip holding her mane up from the previous night and let it fall limply over her silver fur before running a hoof through it; there was something different about it. She turned her head and looked back to see her mane had long touched the floor.

‘How odd...’ Celestia thought. ‘It’s grown?’ She was right; it had grown by a lot. Maybe it was because she had given her blessing? She groaned, envisioning just how long it would take to calm her bedmane. Reluctantly she flicked the hair up to prepare for grooming but stopped; her mane was no longer hanging limply, but instead hovering beside her. It seemed to ripple like the waves upon water and as Celestia touched it with a hoof she could clearly feel a serene lustre that certainly hadn’t been there the night before.

“’T-Tia!” Celestia snapped her head round from her transformed mane to see her sister sat up on the bed, obviously having only just awoken. “Your cutie mark! You have it!” Luna was pointing at Celestia’s flank which was now decorated with the image of her creation, a gold ball of flame.

“Y-You’re right!” Celestia spluttered, unable to find more fitting words for the situation, staring down in wonder at the mark.

“My cutie mark! Mine has appeared too ‘Tia!” Luna screeched in joy, hopping off the bed and around the room, giggling uncontrollably and occasionally stopping only to stare hungrily at her silver crescent decorated flank once more before resuming. Celestia laughed and joined her momentarily.

“We did it Luna!” Celestia sang, forgetting her majestic composure entirely. “We’re finally proper queens of Equestria!” Luna stopped hopping and stared disapprovingly.

“Princesses Celestia, princesses.” She reminded as Celestia laughed again. Luna looked back at her cutie mark for a few seconds before turning back and when she did she noticed the difference to Celestia’s mane.

“Celestia, you look...radiant.” Luna told her sister slowly. “I mean, even more than usual.” Celestia took a step into the sunlit side of the room and her mane seemed to billow even swifter. Within a few seconds she noticed that her tail was even doing it.

“I wonder whether it was because of my blessing.” Celestia suggested, answered by a shake of the head.

“I don’t think so; I look no different.” Luna pointed out.

“That could just be because it’s daytime and you’d usually be going to bed around now.” Celestia countered. Luna was about to respond but looked around at the light-conflicted room.

“...Is it?” Luna asked; she had a valid point.

“I’m pretty sure.” Celestia said with a nod. “The clock seems to think so.” Luna suddenly looked worried; perhaps with good reason.

“D-Did something go wrong? Did I ruin it?” Luna whispered worriedly, referring to her inability to keep channelling energy into their creation the night before.

“I don’t think so, I expect it just needs some adjustment.” Celestia assured her. “We can do that later today if you feel up to it.” Luna nodded uncertainly.

“Good! I think for now though I should probably open morning court.” Celestia’s horn flashed and her breastplate and tiara flew from the dresser and took their places upon her body. Luna nodded and arched her back, stretching her forelegs out.

“I still have a headache, so I suppose I shall head back to my quarters to recuperate before we make adjustments.” She said, also magically pulling on her adornments, although slightly blunter in doing so. Celestia pushed open the door and waved to Luna before making her way down the nearby staircase while the latter of the two moved across the corridor to her own quarters.

~*~

“We’ve had no sleep!”

“Some blessing that was!”

“How can you expect us to work when one side of the kingdom is pitch-black?!”
Celestia could feel herself shaking uncontrollably; she hadn’t at all got the response she had envisioned. A wall of royal guards stood blocking passage to the throne where she was sat. It was a wall well-needed as irate ponies pushed and shoved vindictively against it. Celestia would try to answer one outraged shout but would immediately be interrupted by another. Her voice was shaking and she was struggling to hold back stress-filled tears. Beside her Sir Rightheart stood at attention, looking down over the crowd, waiting for and almost daring any troublemakers to resort to violence.

“P-Please!” Celestia struggled to shout over the crowd. “Please let me talk!” No response came and the din of complaints stayed as strong as before. Rightheart frowned and stepped down towards the wall of guard ponies.

“ATTENTION.” Rightheart called out, stamping his hoof, immediately followed by the guardponies, silencing the enraged mob. Rightheart looked around for a second, pleased to see that everypony was listening to him.

“If you would be silent, Queen- I mean Princess Celestia can address all of your concerns.” Rightheart shouted so that everypony could hear his words. He walked back up to the top of the steps and bowed his head to Celestia. She remained silent for a few more seconds so as to regain her composure.

“Thank you Sir Rightheart.” It took all her will not to stammer over those first words. “My little ponies, I thank you for your feedback on our blessing and I apologize if it has caused any unnecessary inconvenience. Princess Luna and I are currently working on necessary corrections and I ask for your compassion and patience until amends are made. I will be obliged to address any further concerns you have.” As she finished her speech a moulding tomato went flying over the crowd and guardponies and hit Celestia square in the face, forcing her head to jolt back in shock and collide heavily with the back of the throne. That was all that she could handle and tears finally rolled from her eyes. Sir Rightheart looked outraged at the behaviour of the crowd and stamped a hoof heavily again.

“In light of that dishonourable and treasonous action, the midday court is now dismissed. Please leave the hall at once, or you shall be escorted out by her majesty’s royal guards.” A few members of the crowd turned and left, but most continued their tirade, being pushed from the hall by the wall of guardponies. Rightheart took the chance to address Celestia himself.

“Your highness, please retire from court.” He ordered her, gently helping her up and assisting her out the hall and up towards her quarters.

~*~

“They did what?!” Luna shouted in outrage. “We provide them with our blessing and they thank us with that! I thought that gaining our cutie marks would be responded with respect, not this!” Celestia sat at her dresser, looking down at the floor, wiping mouldy tomato from her face and sniffling from the stress of the ordeal. Sir Rightheart stepped into the conversation to raise a quick point.

“Princess Luna, I recommend that you cancel the midnight court as well.” He suggested. “I see it as a wise decision to hold off all public audiences until the problem at hoof has been resolved or contained.” Luna nodded.

“I understand, but aren’t the courts important?” She countered.

“Midday and midnight court may be important, but your safety is, was and will always be my first priority.” Rightheart stated simply.

“If that is the case, you have my word that neither I nor Celestia shall attend court until we have made amends to the blessing.” Luna promised, looking deeply troubled.

“R-Rightheart...?” Celestia stammered, steadily gaining control over her tears.

“Yes Princess?”

“What are the main problems in Equestria?” She asked quietly. “Caused by our blessing, that is.”

“Complaints of lack of sleep, inconsistent temperatures and lack of light for crops have been reported so far.” Rightheart answered, almost as if he were reading it directly from a list. “The citizens are merely being melodramatic at this time; proper damage has not yet been done. But-“

“Sooner or later the crops will wither and the citizens will fall into ill health. Half of Equestria will be frozen and the other will constantly be covered in drought and pandemics will rise and ravage the kingdom.” Luna finished his sentence grimly. Celestia thought it was sad that even her younger sister realised just how immensely dire the situation was.

“The populace was merely being pre-emptive.” Celestia whispered. “Luna, we shall have to begin our corrections sooner than I had anticipated, but I ask whether you could first send for mother.”

“I understand Celestia. I can start preparations while I wait.” Luna’s expression was soft and sincere as she turned to leave her sister’s quarters. When both she and Rightheart had left Celestia trotted over to her bed and buried her head in the pillow, shaking as the full brunt of her stress shook her with tears.

~*~

When Princess Sola entered her daughter’s quarters she found her laid on her bed with her mane streaming out behind her, slightly dishevelled but still as elegant as it had been before. The curtains were shut and a candle had been lit on her dresser. Sola levitated the candle and moved towards the bed and sat beside it, resting the candle on the bedside table. Celestia lay motionless, save the beat of her heart in her chest, staring with puffy eyes that really didn’t compliment her appearance.

“Hiya ‘Tia.” Sola whispered softly.

“...H-Hello mother...” Celestia had to gulp down the lump in her throat before she could voice her words. There was a silence for a few seconds.

“I-I tried so hard...” Celestia murmured croakily. Sola smiled and nodded.

“I know you did, darling.” She said gently, sliding a hair out of her daughter’s eyes.

“But now I d-don’t know how to make it better...” She murmured, clenching her eyelids to suppress some more tears.

“Shall I tell you a story?” Sola didn’t wait for an answer and continued. “When your father and I were fairly new to the throne we lost half of the Everfree district to Lord Discord without making a single move. Lives were lost and others were destroyed beyond repair. Both I and your father were shamed by our lack of initiative; we nearly abdicated there and then, but a great friend of ours reminded us that we could still make a difference. What we did lost many more lives, but we still fought on to a victory that led on to peace far greater than even that which was before.” Celestia looked on, mulling the thoughts over in her mind.

“The moral is, Celestia, that things may look daunting beforehand, but once you begin you’ll find the strength to finish your problems.” Sola’s words had hit Celestia hard and she sat up on her haunches.

“I understand.” Celestia said her voice strengthened a little; she had told Luna the same thing the previous night. Sola leant over and wrapped her forelegs around her daughter in a loving embrace.

“Your sister is waiting for you.” Sola whispered into Celestia’s ear, kissing her cheek gently before letting go. Celestia slowly hopped off the bed and walked towards the door. As she approached it, she turned to face Sola again.

“Thank you mother.” Celestia said calmly. “I won’t let you down.” Her voice was sincere and serious and Sola smiled.

“I know you won’t.”

~*~

By the time Celestia had arrived at the spire where Luna had begun her preparations the wind had picked up and dark clouds had formed above them. Celestia approached Luna and turned so that her face was against the wind, her mane billowing ferociously behind her.

“Do you think that the protesters have gone after mother and father?” Luna asked raising her voice so that it was could be heard above the roar of the wind.

“I don’t see why they would; they like them.” Celestia answered, dismissing any fears they had. “Do we know what we’re doing?” Luna gave her sister a blank look.

“Not really,” She admitted calmly. “But we don’t have time to beat around the bush. Our best bet is to cast relevant spells and hope for the best.” Celestia nodded and stood to attention.

“Where do we start?” She asked intent on starting quickly.

“This is our blessing to Equestria, so we don’t want to remove Sol and Orion; after all, we already have our cutie marks, so it must be right.” Luna explained, although that was obvious enough. “We’d could try to animate them to move in a rotor.”

“So a telekinetic spell?” Celestia asked, responded only with a shrug.

“Your guess is as good as mine, ‘Tia.” Luna said simply. “I’ve listed possible solutions, so all I need you to do is focus your energy while I form the spell.” Celestia nodded in acknowledgement.

“Ready when you are.”
The two ponies took their places and concentrated their powers; Luna forming the body of the spell while Celestia fuelled it. Luna formed a telekinesis spell and reached out to the orbiting spheres. She felt the spell come into contact with the energy field around them and pushed further to try and reach in.
BOOM!
Celestia broke her focus as she was sent hurtling backwards. Luna reversed a bit too, digging her hooves into the ground to keep her standing. A black patch covered the stone floor where the spell had exploded. Celestia stood back up and shook her head to recover her senses.

“What happened?” She asked Luna, whose mane looked extremely dishevelled.

“What else? The spell failed.” Luna stated. “The magical barrier around those two was completely impenetrable and it simply bounced off.”

“So, will the same thing happen to any spell that doesn’t penetrate that barrier?” Celestia’s question was answered by a nod.

“I’m afraid to say it, ‘Tia, but we’d be wasting energy and time trying that again, even with another spell.” Luna said reluctantly. “We don’t have enough energy to even dent that shell.” Celestia sighed.

“Even so, we can’t just do nothing.” Luna knew Celestia was right, but she didn’t have a solution to put into action; they had already found a dead end.

“Hay, why didn’t I spend more time studying this?!” Luna groaned, cursing and condemning her previous actions. “I’ve no idea how to control the spell that we created!” Celestia shook her head in disapproval.

“Don’t take all the blame, Luna; I’m as much at fault as you.” Celestia consoled her younger sister. “But it does us no good to dwell on our past-doings. Maybe we can find a book to help us understand what we’re dealing with.

“We don’t have time for research Celestia!”

“And look at where it has led us; we can’t solve a problem that we know nothing about Luna!”

“Even so, where’re we going to find a book like that? Alicorn magicks and the like aren’t found in libraries.” Luna had raised a good point; it would take a lot of time to fully understand their situation and even longer to find the resources for doing so beforehand. Celestia stopped for a moment of thought.

“Maybe mother and father know where to find some useful spellbooks of this nature.” Luna couldn’t help but agree that this was the best solution at hand, not to mention the only solution. Both princesses paused abruptly as they felt drops of rain come into contact with their hides.

“We’d best hope so, hadn’t we?” Luna eventually broke the silence. “If the sudden change of weather has anything to do with them, we could end up with angry, soggy protesters.”

~*~

By the time the princesses were ready to leave for their parents’ abode (apparently having only just missed Princess Sola) the rain was falling in bucket loads. Tying back their manes and donning cloaks to ward prying eyes as well as the torrential rain, they quietly made their way to the palace gardens, escorted only by Rightheart. As they snuck around to the back of the grounds they approached the walls and prepared for their journey.

“I really don’t know about this your highnesses.” Rightheart protested. “Are you absolutely sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Both alicorns shook their heads.

“We want to move as quickly and stealthily as we can. I’m sorry Rightheart, but a royal guard such as yourself sticks out like a sore hoof and you can’t move anywhere near as fast as we can.” Celestia said almost apologetically. Luna laughed amusedly.

“I don’t see the worry; we’ll be back before you know it.” She said, stretching her legs. Rightheart didn’t look convinced and wore a frown.

“If you must, then I shan’t stop you.” He said slightly blankly. “But I urge you to return should you encounter hostility.” He was answered with nods.

“We promise.”

“Don’t worry about it.”
Rightheart took a step back and snapped a hoof to his head in salute.
“Then may fortune be with you.” Both Celestia and Luna shot their friend confident grins before taking wing assisted bounds, landing their hooves on the top of the walls before hopping over and landing daintily on turf on the other side, taking a few seconds to adjust their cloaks and make sure they hadn’t been seen. The rain was pouring down heavily and everypony had retreated to cover leaving the paddock deserted; all was well.

Chapter 3 - The Veteran's Game

Everfree City was completely drowned under a torrent of rainwater. Puddles littered the paved roads filled with ponies rushing hurriedly through the monsoon to cover, water splashing in every direction soaking everything in sight. Thankfully the commotion drew attention away from the cloaked alicorns wandering the streets. Neither was communicating, instead following the direction their horns were telling them without a word. Their heads were ducked so that they could see where they were going without being seen themselves; they had to trust in one another that they were still close together. Quickly they darted up and down streets and passages until they finally came across one large cottage in the middle of a somewhat deserted avenue. A large field of grass surrounded the cottage with a thin paved pathway leading up to the door. Finally risking a look both princesses looked up; they had found their destination. They trotted quickly up the pathway and knocked on the door. A few seconds passed before a response came; a familiar, soothing yet muffled voice. The oak door finally opened and their beloved mother stood before them.

“Hello?” She asked, lowering her head to get a better look at the ponies underneath the hoods. She beamed when they raised their heads, each keeping a hoof by their heads to keep the cover up.

“Hello mother.” Luna said quietly with a smile. “May we come in?” Princess Sola chuckled at the question.

“My beloved foals, you are always welcome here.” She stepped to the side and waved a hoof for them to enter. “In fact, you’re expected.” As they walked in Celestia looked up and then out at the rain again.

“Mother, was that you?” She asked even quieter. Sola closed the door after them and nodded, nuzzling both daughters gently as she did so.

“Wet protesters are reluctant; most went home after the wind and rain started.” She said softly. “We didn’t want you to encounter any more trouble than you had to.” Sola turned and led them into their living room where Prince Orion sat in wait.

“Father!” Luna cried out as she saw her reserved parent, taking a running leap and embracing him tightly. It wasn’t often that they got to see their parents anymore; they had decided to give them their children space to learn by experience.

“Good day my young mares.” Orion said, embracing both his daughters with one mighty reach of his forelegs. “We’ve been expecting you.”

“You knew we’d come?” Celestia asked curiously. “For the library?” Both mother and father nodded in acknowledgement.

“The weather was just to disperse the upstarts around the castle.” Sola started.

“But when your mother got home I reminded her that you would probably find assistance in our library.” Orion finished. “Chopper went out for the day, so we didn’t send anything straight to the palace. We knew that you’d come otherwise, so we increased the weather severity a bit.” Celestia remembered Chopper; their mother and father had hatched a young dragon a few years before and had trained him to send messages and the like to and from the palace.

“So you don’t mind if we use it?” Luna asked them to confirm.

“Of course.” They said in unison. Sola indicated to the door once more.

“If you’d like to follow me.” She said as she walked out to the hallway. Both Celestia and Luna did as they were told, magically unfastening their cloaks and hanging them carefully over the coat hanger. Celestia stopped for a few seconds and pulled her mane out of the bun it had been tied into; her salmon pink hair fell to her side before drifting out beside her. Continuing after their mother the two princesses trotted down the nearby staircase to the cottage. The oak basement underneath was just as basements would normally be, except for the large wooden door ordained with golden patterning and a large lock of the same sort. Sola approached and bowed her head, poking her horn into the padlock. In seconds it began to glow as sounds of gears shifting were heard echoing around the small room. The lock suddenly vanished and Princesses Celestia and Luna jumped back a few feet as not just the door but the entire wall opened up, revealing a huge room more than twice the size of the entire cottage. Princess Sola stepped inside and onto the balcony, looking down over the hundreds of columns of bookcases. Celestia and Luna followed timidly and looked down with their mother and their eyes went wide.

“Welcome, my daughters, to the ancient library of the alicorns!” She announced as enchanted blue candles lit all the way down the middle column casting a ghostly glow down every passageway.

“This is amazing!” Luna murmured, her eyes wondering back and forth over the collection of books.

“Not even the Everfree library is this huge!” Celestia gasped in amazement. Sola laughed and patted their heads.

“Do not forget the purpose of which you are here my young princesses.” She reminded them calmly. Luna nodded, remembering their objective.

“You’re right; we have a duty to uphold.” She turned and trotted down the staircase beside them and started her way down the columns looking for a book to start her research.

“I suppose I should get started,” Celestia said almost reluctantly. “But I would so like to come here again, but in light heart.” Sola chuckled and nuzzled Celestia gently, stroking her mane with a hoof.

“My dear Celestia, our home is your home.” She assured her daughter. “When this is all over you may come back at any time and read to your heart’s content.” Celestia smiled back and nodded before turning to follow her sister, looking up and down bookcases as she went.

~*~

Celestia and Luna sat close to one another, sat upon comfortable pillows with stacks upon stacks of books resting on every side, with their heads buried in their current tomes. Celestia’s eyes scanned back and forth over the pages of A History and Theory of Alicorn Blessings, learning of what exactly was gifted to Equestria and by which monarch as well as basic principles of how they cast the blessing. It was close, but not what they were looking for; after all, their original spell had been shrugged off by the magical force field. Luna had on the other hand engrossed herself in a copy of Advanced Telekinetic Spellcraft.

“Have you found anything yet?” Celestia asked her younger sister. Luna shook her head without looking up from the book.

“Vacuum waves, remote explosions and high velocity mental transportation doesn’t even come close.” She sighed, closing the book and tossing it over her shoulder, her horn flashing as the tome landed neatly on top of a large tower of books that had also failed at supplying relevant information. “How about you?”

“Nothing either; it feels like we could go on searching for a millennia and still not find anything useful.” Celestia said with an exasperated shake of the head. The two ponies had been sat in the library for hours and had dug into the contents of books varying from The Anatomy and Magical Theory of Alicorns to Blessings of False Royalty. Nothing useful had come their way at all. Luna sat up on her haunches and scratched her stomach lazily.

“I don’t get it ‘Tia, is it something exclusive to us? ‘Cos any situation like ours is sure to be important enough to get mentioned somewhere.” Luna quizzed herself in a rather disgruntled tone. “Maybe we just made a stupid mistake.”

“No, we can’t have!” Celestia argued with a worried edge to her voice. “We’re our parents’ daughters, right! So this must be a test!” It seemed almost impossible to try and convince herself otherwise.

“Then it’s one hay of a test.” Luna’s horn flashed again as the pile of books went hurtling roughly back up at the bookcase, landing heavily and causing the entire thing to shake slightly. Celestia got to her hooves quickly and used her own magic to steady the bookcase before shooting a disapproving look at Luna who had opened her mouth to respond but was cut short when a large book toppled off the top shelf and landed on her head.

“Luna?!” Celestia cried out before rushing over to see if she was alright. “Are you okay?”

“This day keeps getting worse and worse.” Luna groaned as she lifted herself back up to a sitting position, blinking off the dizziness that had overcome her from the sudden collision. She looked up and smiled at Celestia before looking back down at the book that had hit her.

“A Veteran’s Account of the Evershroud War.” Luna narrated before looking back up at Luna. “As vindictive as I feel towards the blasted thing, do you want to quickly take a look through it?” Celestia bit her lip thoughtfully, staring down at the battered black tome.

“I think we could do with a break.” She finally murmured, giving in to the temptation and sitting beside Luna who moved up so that they could share the cushion. Celestia’s horn flickered and the dusty old cover opened with a clicking from the binder. Turning to the first proper page she read the words aloud.

“’November, the reign of Queen Europa of Everfree. Our forces met by ‘accident’ outside the city of Manehatten. Battle ensued and hundreds of casualties were counted, mostly the fragile ponies of the opposing army. It was fun rounding up the wounded that hadn’t died after and challenging them to games that would offer them a life under my reign or instant death. Most went braindead before I had a proper chance to decide; shame, I wanted to toy with them some more. It’s surprisingly delightful when you see one pony forced to rip apart another with only their hooves.” Celestia stopped reading and was shaking slightly; what had she started? Luna looked just as shocked but not as shaken.

“’Tia?” She asked her older sister quietly, nuzzling her gently. “I don’t think it’s a good idea if we keep reading this.” Luna reached over and slid the book shut.

“W-We should get back to work.” Celestia whispered, standing up shakily, but Luna shook her head and with a flick of her horn the books surrounding them flew up, ordered themselves and took their places back on the shelf, including the grisly black war tome.

“No, I think we’ve done enough for today.” Luna insisted, shoving Celestia out of the aisles and toward the exit.

“B-But we’ve found so little...”

“And we’ll do even less if we don’t give ourselves time to rest up.” Celestia reluctantly gave in and followed her sister out of the library, watching the blue candles flicker out behind them. As they stepped out the door the wall that opened up to allow access closed automatically and returned to how it had looked before they had entered. Although this made the young sisters jump the distraction soon disappeared and they continued up from the basement.

~*~

Because it was so late when the princesses departed the library there was no surprise to find that preparations had been made for them to rest. The living room had been transformed into a bedroom and in the middle were two glorious beds, one white and yellow and the other black and blue, probably created through magical means. Upon one of the beds rested a scroll addressed to them and when opened they found that it was a letter from Rightheart responding to a letter likely sent from their parents to confirm their overnight stay; they would have to thank everypony and Chopper the next morning for their hospitality. Upon closing the door of the makeshift bedroom both Celestia and Luna silently removed their tiaras (which had been the only pieces of jewellery that they had brought with them) and sat on their individual beds. Luna laid back and rested her head on the pillow; it felt weird knowing that she’d be sleeping through the night instead of the day, but it couldn’t be helped. Celestia sat rigidly on her haunches looking down at the creases she had made in the duvet from sitting on it. The words she had read before haunted her still and had all but replaced the previous haunting thoughts that had clung to her mind all day.

“’Tia, are you sure you’re okay?” Luna asked her in a whisper. Celestia looked up and made a jerk that was supposed to be a nod.

“Yes Luna, I’m fine.” She pulled a fake smile. “I’m just a little tired.” Luna didn’t look convinced but decided not to pursue the question.

“You know, when I’ve had a rough night I usually end it with a bath.” Luna whispered cheerily. “It seems to wash away troubles and helps me relax before bed. Maybe you should give it a try.” Celestia raised her head with a now vacant expression and shook her head.

“I’ll wake up mother and father.” Celestia used as a bad excuse.

“They won’t mind.”

“I’ll wake up Chopper.”

“No you won’t, he’s a dragon. He can sleep through anything.” Celestia found that she didn’t have an excuse to lean on and instead just sighed and nodded before sliding off the bed and trotting towards the door and slipping through a small gap in the doorway. After watching her older sibling leave Luna leant back again and stared up at the ceiling.

‘Hay knows whether we’ll find anything useful to help us tomorrow, let alone in time to avoid the unmentionable.’ Luna thought to herself before closing her eyes.

~*~

Celestia opened her eyes at last after feeling the jet of water stream down her face and along her body and mane. Luna had been right; it did make her feel a bit better. But not entirely; the fatigue had dissolved but the stresses weighing on her mind were still completely present. Her thoughts revolved around all the problems that suddenly been thrust upon them while being illustrated by the imagery of the wartime journal entry.

“It’s not fair.” She whispered to herself, her voice was clearly wavering for the third time that day. “Why did this happen? What did I do to deserve all of this? Did I make a mistake somewhere along the line?” Celestia clapped her hooves to her face and suppressed a frustrated scream, tears rolling from her eyes under the camouflage of the water. It hadn’t really occurred to her before then that being a leader could be so difficult. As she ran through the images in her head once more she squirmed when she recalled the image of pony ravaging pony that her mind had generated.

‘The book said that the battle at Manehatten occurred during Queen Europa’s reign, so surely...she must’ve felt the same pressure,’ Celestia told herself. ‘If not more.’ She ran a hoof through her soaked pink mane and sighed. ‘And that war was the Evershroud War...’ Celestia stopped her massaging of her hair and looked down at the floor, but not focussing on anything in particular.

‘Mother and father were king and queen when that war ended.’ She closed her eyes as she suddenly remembered what Sola had told her that morning.

‘Shall I tell you a story? When your father and I were fairly new to the throne we lost half of the Everfree district to Lord Discord without making a single move. Lives were lost and others were destroyed beyond repair. Both I and your father were shamed by our lack of initiative; we nearly abdicated there and then, but a great friend of ours reminded us that we could still make a difference. What we did lost many more lives, but we still fought on to a victory that led onto peace far greater than even that which was before.’
It dawned upon Celestia that every king or queen would encounter such titanic stresses no matter how well they made their choices. She didn’t have a choice in the matter; she was born an heir to the throne so she was doomed to feel the unfair stress that she would inevitably be supplied. However, Celestia didn’t feel hard done by; she was an older sister. Luna had been born with the same birthright to the throne. She hadn’t had a choice in her fate either. With this in mind Celestia almost felt selfish having thought such self-obsessed thoughts. Expanding on that guilt she was reminded of the trouble that she had helped cause for Equestria. With one side of the sky covered in the night governed by the Orion and the other being constantly lit by the Sola. If they didn’t find a way to undo the danger they had created then thousands of ponies’ lives would be at risk. Celestia finally realised the irony of her previous words.

“’It’s unfair.’” She repeated under her breath. ‘No, what I have done is unfair. I drew the short straw and there’s nothing I can do about that. I, as princess, hold the fates of every pony in Equestria and that is my charge.’ Celestia sighed and reached up with a hoof and turned the showerhead off before turning and stepping out of the shower and levitating a towel over and drying her mane. After a few minutes of magical grooming she deemed herself dry and tied her mane back before leaving the bathroom. Stepping outside she was about to head off towards the makeshift bedroom but hesitated.

‘I did draw the short straw, but I still have some rights beside my obligations.’ Celestia thought as she edged towards her parents’ room. Pushing the door open she slipped her head inside to look around; her mother was fast asleep but her father was nowhere to be seen. Celestia didn’t worry about where he could be as it was during the night, his element. She took a few more steps forward and came to the side of the bed. Princess Sola‘s forelegs were stretched out in front of her and they looked incredibly inviting to Celestia.

‘I may be the ruler of Equestria, but I think I can be forgiven for wanting to be here.’ She took a step upwards and laid on the bed too before turning and sliding into her mother’s unconscious embrace. Celestia felt Sola’s forelegs close slightly as if she was being hugged and she closed her eyes. A small smile popped onto her face as she was reminded of the words that she had used to inspire confidence into Luna’s actions as well as the words that their mother had told her that morning. With those words comforting and reassuring her, Celestia quickly fell into a deep, relaxed sleep.

‘The moral is, Celestia, that things may look daunting beforehand, but once you begin you’ll find the strength to finish your problems.’

~*~

Not long after Celestia had left had Luna returned back to the library figuring and proving that she could open it with her own horn. She watched again as the blue candles relit as she strode down the aisles. When she came to the aisle that they had previously been sat in she reached out with her horn and grabbed the dusty old black war tome that they had previously read and levitated it into the main aisle and onto a reading desk. Sitting at the desk, Luna flipped open the cover and opened to halfway through the book.

“’July, late Queen Europa’s reign.’” She read aloud, slightly annoyed at the lack of an exact date, but continued regardless. “’These games really are too satisfying. For four months I have played dead so as to let the world ‘recover’. Queen Europa seems to have finally let her guard down; the perfect time to reappear. But for now I will send a warning; chocolate milk rain is probably bad in every way except for taste, but it will sweeten the game that extra little bit. They’d better not hold their tongues out for too long lest their taste buds be burned by tomorrow’s acidic monsoon. That’s the best part of being the supreme ruler of Equestria; I get to pull the strings to my heart’s content.’” Luna frowned down at the extract. Who was this 'veteran' of the war? He had referred to himself as being the supreme ruler of Equestria, but Luna had been taught that before her parents there had never been a monarch for a united Equestria. She held a hoof on the page and closed the book on it to check for an author’s name; nothing. Luna opened the book up again and flicked back a page to see an earlier extract.

“’March, Queen Europa’s reign.
The biggest encounter of the entire conflict finally took place today. Some hundred thousand oblivious ponies gave their lives fighting an equally large but disposable force of my creation by the city of Canterlot. I got the opportunity to watch pony tear apart pony once more before I finally took to the field. I didn’t have time for the fragile equine and therefore chose not to let a single one even come close; they weren’t my target after all. When I finally found Queen Europa she tried to slay me on sight. I underestimated her power, but that isn’t to say that she was anywhere near as powerful as I. I managed to bring her to her last leg without much trouble and then cast the curse that will play such an important role later on. The task was complete and I could begin my next little game. According to the opposing side I have died on that day. I hope that they savour the taste of victory while they still can for it has a particularly bitter following.’”

“’The curse’?” Luna whispered under her breath; it couldn’t have been vaguer. She flicked back through the pages and skimmed through the older extracts in hope of enlightenment but found none. The author clearly hadn’t been very skilled in literacy and may have been referring to something that had only been mentioned in his own mind.

“’Cast the curse that will play such an important role later on.’” Luna reread from the passage and set about looking through later extracts for a recollection of when the curse actually came into effect but stopped when she noticed an illustration at the bottom of one of the pages. She smiled slightly at the pleasant, yet cruelly drawn picture of a mother and two foals. It took her a second to realise just who they were.

“...Mother.” Luna murmured in realisation of the picture being that of Queen Europa and her own mother as a filly, but she couldn’t quite decide who the other filly was. Hastily she looked up at the short extract above but found herself somewhat dismayed.

‘I had been fully aware of Queen Europa’s pregnancy but even I was taken by surprise when she bore not just a single foal but twins. It is unexpected but changes nothing; it just sweetens the deal a bit.’ Luna almost seemed to panic at the extract and hurriedly turned the page over, almost ripping it from the seams in the process. She gasped as she saw the solitary phrase on the paper.

‘One down.’ Luna slumped as she read the words and looked down to see the same picture again but with only one foal. But then the full force of the phrase hit her; his wording indicated that he wasn’t done. She turned the page once more and her eyes went wide. At the bottom of the page sat a lonely filly with no sibling or parent to comfort it. Almost reluctantly she looked up at the accompanying extract.

‘November, the end of Queen Europa’s reign.
The Queen was finally taken by madness after the epidemic of illness killed not only thousands of her subjects but also one of her daughters. In her sadness she almost killed the other, Princess Sola. As much as I wanted to watch the tragic story unfold some more I knew that the games must go on. I awoke the dormant curse that I had laid on her and watched as she left her castle and travelled to the nearby city of Everfree to end the lives of innumerable of ‘her little ponies’. She finally fell to the attack of her own royal guard and with that Europa’s reign ended.’
SLAM
Before she had realised what she was doing Luna tore the first picture from the book and slammed the tome shut. She stared hatefully down at the black and gold cover and felt herself shaking all over. She slowly looked down at the picture of the happy family that she had parted from the hellish tome and felt a pang of remorse from having defiled a book of the ancient library.

“No!” She growled at herself, scolding her previous emotions of regret. “This abomination deserves no place in any library.” With an undignified movement she bit into the book and threw it at one of the magical blue candles nearby, watching it fly through and hit the floor on the other side. Without checking to see the damage Luna folded the picture up and pushed it behind her ear before stamping from the archives, not even looking back to watch the wall close up behind her. She quickly ran all the way up the stairs and back to the prepared bedroom and threw herself onto her bed. She didn’t even notice Celestia’s absence as she curled up and clenched her eyes shut and cried herself to sleep, doing her very best to cast the twisted words from her mind.

~*~

When Luna awoke the next morning she finally noticed that Celestia was nowhere to be seen. Her disturbed thoughts had left her and she rather dozily ran a brush through her messy bedmane before leaving the room.

“Luna!” Came the high-pitched voice of Celestia. Luna turned her head to see her sister sat in their parents’ dining room hovering both a book and a piece of toast in front of her. Her mane had been tied back so that she didn’t have to brush it as much and on her nose rested a pair of reading spectacles that seemed impossibly good-looking on her. As usual Celestia looked radiant; which was more than could be said about Luna.

“Did you sleep well?” Luna shot her sister a grouchy look.

“Does it look like I slept well?” She trotted into the dining room and sat on a pillow beside the table and levitated a croissant from the platter that Sola had prepared for them onto a nearby plate before biting a chunk out of it bluntly. Celestia took no notice of Luna’s ill mannerisms; she was a terrible morning pony.

“I’m sorry for not returning to bed last night.” Celestia apologized.

“Eh.” Luna grunted. She hadn’t noticed and frankly she didn’t really care either.

“But I did get up early this morning and look around for a helpful book.” She said cheerily. Luna glanced up at the book that Celestia was talking about.

“Dismissal and Distortions of Alicorn Magic?” She asked with a mouth full of toast.

“That’s right.” Celestia nodded. “I think I may have found something useful.” Luna swallowed her food and looked curiously at her sister.

“Really?” She asked shortly, her interest piqued.

“Yes...” Celestia said before flashing her horn and levitating an old black book up. “But I also found this on the floor. Do you have anything to do with this?” Luna scowled at the terrible tome.

“It should’ve burned like it was supposed to!” Luna growled at it. Celestia raised her eyebrows; it was amazing just how much hatred Luna was expressing towards the book.

“How did you get into the library again?”

“I do have a horn too.” Luna spat in distaste as Celestia lowered the book again.

“Luna, why did you go back for it?” Celestia asked softly, leaning over to be slightly closer to her sister but Luna simply moved up as well.

“You know me,” Luna muttered quietly. “I can never resist the urge to investigate the unknown.”

“But you know this book is bad to the bone.” Celestia reminded her. “Plus, we can’t take anything like this to be true. There’s no proof.” Luna couldn’t help but scowl at Celestia.

“Listen, I know.” She hissed angrily. “Can you just tell me what it is that you’ve learnt?” Celestia was taken aback slightly by the hostile tone in Luna’s voice.

“Alright...” Celestia murmured before flicking back through the pages of her first book and levitating it over to Luna to let her see.

“’The Arcane Lance’?” Luna read aloud, her harsher tone vanishing again. Celestia nodded in confirmation.

“That’s right; it’s the strongest counterspell in the book.” Celestia elaborated. “It bypasses magical barriers and shatters them from within.” She stopped and waited for Luna to finish skim-reading the page.

“Isn’t that a bit advanced for us?” Luna pointed out. “Neither of us has the power to cast such a spell individually nor combined.” Celestia bit her lip in thought as she usually did when thinking.

“But it’s still our best bet.” Celestia stated confidently. Luna frowned again; could that really be their best chance? They had only been checking for a day and she had her doubts that out of the millions of books and spells in the library they had already found the most proficient spell for their situation.

“Don’t you think there may be something better?”

“Maybe, but we don’t have time to keep searching aimlessly.”

“Equestria won’t be too affected by a few days without proper light.”

“Well, don’t forget that if we barely have enough power to power this spell than what use is there in looking for an even more powerful spell?” This time Celestia had won the argument; the spell at hand seemed powerful enough and if they would struggle with the complexity of that spell then what hope was there for anything better? Luna scowled in defeat.

“I just think that we’re rushing things a bit.” She admitted quietly. Celestia tilted her head.

“Actions speak better than thoughts Luna.” She almost sang. “As you said, Equestria can go a few days without proper light, so if this fails, which I don’t believe it will, we’ll have time to return and research and find some better solutions.” Luna hummed in frustrated thought for a second before being interrupted.

“I think you should do it.” Came the calm gentle voice of their mother. Luna snapped her head around to see Sola glide calmly into the dining room. “It can’t hurt to take a chance.” Luna didn’t look any more convinced by this.

“But it feels like something is missing, like there’s something we’re missing.” Both Sola and Celestia gave her confused looks. “I just can’t quite place it yet.”

“Well, either way, even if we are missing something it can’t hurt to take a chance.” Celestia continued. “If the populace see the effects of the spell they may realise that we’re actually trying to do something about it.” Luna shook her head in disagreement.

“No, if they see us cast that spell and fail then they’ll see us as incompetent.” Luna argued adamantly.

“Don’t be so judgemental of the citizenry Luna,” Sola stated softly as she lifted the platter of now devoured food from the table.

“...Fine.” Luna’s tone was almost sulky. “I guess it won’t cause any harm to try.” Celestia broke out in another smile.

“Alright then, we’ll depart for the palace at once and if a problem arises we can come back to address it.” Celestia chirped peacefully, standing and stretching her legs before levitating her own plate from the table to tip away the discarded toast crust before slipping away to collect her cloak and tiara with the copy of Dismissal and Distortions of Alicorn Magic trailing behind her. Luna sighed exasperatedly before rubbing a hoof through her untidy mane and following likewise. When Sola turned to see that they had left the room she smiled softly. As she crossed the room to the door she halted on the spot. On the floor was a creased folded square piece of paper. Levitating it up she saw the edge of a thin black drawing and decided to unfold it. After unfolding it entirely she sat on a nearby cushion by the table and stared at the scrap of ripped paper. It was an image of an alicorn with two little foals. She wondered whether Luna or Celestia had drawn it, who it was of exactly and why it had been dropped. Slowly she managed to pull her eyes from the image and turn the scrap over. She seemed to freeze as she saw the two words at the top of it.

‘One down.’
Sola frowned at the words before turning the scrap back over, taking a quick glance at the picture again and then folding it up and pushing it behind her ear.

~*~

Sola had made sure to keep the rain falling all through the night and into the morning so as to ensure ease of movement to her daughters upon their return. They had bid their temporary farewells and made their way back down the same route they had taken previously. Before long they had arrived back at the palace walls and they took their nimble leaps back into friendly territory. They stopped only to let Sir Rightheart know that they had returned before travelling again to the highest point of the castle where they had previously attempted their amends. Staring out at the open world in front of them, Luna opened the spellbook back to the Arcane Lance and began rereading it. Celestia pulled down her rain-sodden hood and stared up at the shimmering silhouettes of both the Sola and the Orion hidden behind the rainclouds yet still managing to stay completely visible, feeling almost like a reminder to the princesses of how dire their situation was. Celestia turned her head back to face Luna who was still reading some of the magical theory.

“Luna?” She asked, addressing her sister. Luna responded with a simple grunt of acknowledgement. “Do you have confidence in this spell?”

“No.” Luna said simply without looking up from the text. “I already told you that.”

“Why not?” Celestia pursued.

“I already told you that too.” Luna said curtly. Celestia shook her head in disagreement.

“No, you told me that you felt like something was missing, but you never said what?” Luna scowled and shut the book before looking back up at her sister.

“I can’t elaborate on what I don’t fully understand Celestia.” She stated. “Honestly, after feeling the power of that barrier before I don’t believe there is a spell that we can cast to make a difference.” Celestia thought to herself before deciding her next words.

“And why don’t you think that we can make a difference?” She continued, gently shepherding Luna’s responses as she expected them. Luna growled in frustration from her sisters’ tedious questions.

“Because nothing we’ve done so far has parted us from the starting line!” She shouted before turning to the open sky. “Are we going to cast this spell or not?” Celestia thought it was a shame that Luna would also have to be reminded of the advice that had been given to her only a couple of days before.

“Promise to give it your all.” Celestia said quietly as she took a ready stance. Luna rolled her eyes but nodded regardless.

“Ready?”

“Ready!” Luna focussed on the spell and shut her eyes to block out all distractions. At the centre point between the sisters’ horns formed a glowing sphere of magic as the spell took form as the fruit of their efforts. Celestia continued channelling her magic alongside Luna’s and steadily the orb of magic illuminated even more and covered the entire spire in alabaster light. Feeling the immense flow of power, Luna could feel her focus starting to slip and she levitated the orb higher up, aiming it in-between the Orion and the Sola.

“Celestia! On the count of three, I want you to release your grip on the spell!”

“Okay!” Celestia felt beads of sweat roll down her hide as the effort to hold onto their spell amplified.

“One!” Luna dug her hooves into the stone floor.

“Two!” Both alicorns ducked their heads, the muscles in their necks writhing through exhaustion.

“Three! Now!” In unison Celestia and Luna released their hold on the spell and it went hurtling like a cannonball up into the sky. It kept on flying and flying until it was entirely out of sight. Celestia frowned and gritted her teeth in anticipation.
BOOM
A flash of light spread across the sky and Celestia beamed, laughing at their success. Luna’s serious expression vanished as she squinted up at the glare. “We did it!” Celestia cried out joyfully.

“Look Luna, we did it!” Luna was about to laugh too, finally ready to accept that they had found the solution but the feeling was short lived. Before she could say a word an arrow of light flew back from the direction that they had thrown their spell and collided with the spire. Within seconds the top of the castle disintegrated and Luna could feel herself being tossed around through the air, unable to regain control of her movements; the glare finally vanished and was instead replaced by darkness as she fell into unconsciousness.

Chapter 4 - Living and Learning

When Celestia regained consciousness she could see the two globes still above her. As her sense of smell returned she began to feel the taste of and scent of smoke; shortly after came her hearing and with it the sound of raw fire and screaming. When she finally felt the strength return to her legs she sat up on her haunches and glanced around; she was on a large stone pillar, presumably one of the castles many great pillars. A few seconds of thought led her to notice what was different; it had crumbled and was covered in a black scorch mark. Looking down at the battered stone made Celestia recall the previous events; the searing white arrow and the intense light that had emanated from it. She remembered the spell and their desperate attempt to right the wrongs that she and Luna had caused.

“Luna?!” Celestia instinctively called out when her thoughts focussed on her younger sibling. “Luna?! Where are you?!” She got to her hooves and looked down past the pillar and then around at the castle. The latter halted her movements again. Where there had once been the monumentally high tower that was Everfree Palace stood a burned, ravaged ruin. The top had been entirely vaporised and even the bottom had been crushed by falling debris. Celestia’s breath turned harsh as she looked around frantically for her sister. She was nowhere near and had obviously missed the luck that had guided Celestia onto the pillar and instead hurtled unconsciously to the ground below. Ignoring the wreck of a castle that topped the destroyed palace Celestia threw herself downwards, only just managing to remember to pull up and land before the momentum ploughed her into the ground as she went. Jumping from one shard of stone to another Celestia searched frantically but finding no Luna in the process.

“Luna! Luna! Please, just answer!” She begged in a scream. After several minutes she was already starting to wear herself out a bit and she had barely checked a quarter of the wreckage as she wasn’t concentrating enough to notice that she had repeatedly circled the same area.

“Celestia!” Celestia heard her name being called and she snapped her head round, hoping in vain that it was Luna. She almost seemed disappointed when the might alicorn that was her mother landed gracefukly beside her, causing her to start and fall over.

“Celestia! Finally, we’ve found you!” Sola cried in a relieved tone, throwing her forelegs around her daughter.

“Mother! It’s Luna, I can’t find her!” Celestia cried croakily, a lump forming in her throat. “She must’ve fallen all the way from the top!”

“Celestia!” “None of this would’ve ever happened if I hadn’t found the spell!”

“Celestia! Luna is fine!” Sola gripped her daughter and shook her gently, shaking her out of her panic.

“Y-You did?” Celestia murmured for confirmation.

“We found her and she’s alive.” Sola said with a nod, resting her hooves either side of Celestia’s head to hold her eyes steady and focussed. “Come, I’ll show you.” Sola released her grip and turned away from the ruined castle and taking a few steps away. Celestia glanced back at her home with wide eyes before following her mother and turning her back on the flaming wreckage. Sola led Celestia across the rubble, her horning glowing to shift the stone out of the way to create a path. Soon they were clear and walked into Everfree City which itself had partly been crushed under the destruction. Celestia tried her best not to pay attention to the frantic ponies around her trying to find lost foals and reunite with other loved ones; none of them seemed to realise that she was there but she knew undoubtedly that when they finally did there’d be hostility. Eventually they came back to their little cottage where Orion could be seen out in the front yard.

“Ah, good; you found her.” Orion said, his voice tinted with relief. Sola nodded and walked up the paddock with Celestia trailing silently. After watching them enter the cottage Orion followed, making sure to close the door after them. Sola directed her eldest daughter into the living room where the makeshift beds were still placed as they had been earlier. Upon the black bed was a little blue filly that Celestia recognised as Luna.

“Luna!” Celestia cried out, dashing to see her sister, nuzzling her cheek softly. A second passed and there wasn’t a response from the filly. “L-Luna?” Orion approached the foot of the bed and looked down blankly at Luna.

“She’s unconscious, but otherwise fine. It looks like she fell much farther than you did.” He murmured quietly, leaning down and pushing a hair out of Luna’s shut eyes. Celestia exhaled heavily in relief before inhaling just as heavily again after.

“What have I done?” Celestia croaked. Sola shook her head quickly in an attempt to disprove Celestia’s suspicions.

“Celestia, no.” Sola almost begged her.

“I-I did this.” Orion frowned at Celestia’s reinstated panic.

“Celestia.”

“I made another stupid mistake that resulted in catastrophe!”

“Celestia!” Orion slammed his hoof on the wooden floor with a loud crack, instantly gaining the attention he had intended.

“Everypony makes mistakes.”

“This isn’t a mistake! It’s a disaster!” Celestia was frantic, tears of frustration forming in her eyes.

“Not only did I doom Equestria to this seemingly inescapable fate, but I also nearly let Luna die! This isn’t a mistake!” Orion tried to start a sentence but couldn’t seem to find a parting in Celestia’s rantings. Reluctantly he stamped his hoof again and silenced the room once more.

“There isn’t any damage that can’t be repaired” He assured Celestia but she would have none of it.

“I was already trying to repair damage and look how that turned out!” Celestia gritted her teeth before continuing.

“What good could I possibly do to change our situation? I know that it’ll just get worse so there’s no point in even trying, just like Luna told me!”

“CELESTIA!” Both mother and father called out to stop her again but that was the last straw for Celestia.

“I’m abdicating!” She shouted, bursting into tears at last and turning tail in the direction of the basement and the library. Even Orion couldn’t have fortified himself for that and he looked stunned.

“Celestia!” Sola called after, but Orion quickly held up his foreleg to stop her.

“Give her some time to think.” He murmured. “After an incident this immense she will need to make her decisions eventually, but we can afford to spare her some time to meditate on her situation.” Sola stared for a second before nodding in agreement and turning her head in the direction that Celestia had dashed off in.

“In the meantime we can attend to these injuries of Luna’s. Give Celestia some time and then go to her.” Orion finished almost despairingly before setting about tending to an injury on Luna’s neck.

~*~

Celestia stormed down the centre aisle and sat at a random cushion, dropping her head onto the table heavily. She sniffed, the tears having left her fairly soon after they had arrived and rested her chin on the surface, looking around aimlessly at the library around her.

‘I said it. I said it and now there’s no going back.’ Celestia thought to herself, trying to cover up the regret she felt for her abdication. She sat up and wiped a hoof over her muzzle bluntly, looking up at the library exit. She was wondering just when her mother would follow her; she usually did follow. Steadily her puffy red eyes fell back down to the desk and she froze. Not far aside from her sat an old black tome with dirty golden rims.

‘Is that...?’Celestia thought, holding her breath and slowly getting to her hooves. As she made her way closer she made out the words that decorated the front. A veterans Account of the Evershroud War; it was the same book. Before Celestia was aware of it she had walked so that she was standing directly down at it. She grimaced at the black bindings and felt an insatiable urge to spit on the book but managed to only just contain her composure.

‘I hate this thing!’ Celestia thought disgustedly. ‘If it didn’t belong to mother and father I would burn it without a second thought.’ As she thought the words she couldn’t help but glare up at the closest hovering blue flame. When she looked back down at the book she felt her brow furrow with disdain and contempt for the tome.

‘But it deserves to be burned.’ She thought, reaching out and gripping the book with her magic. ‘Mother and father will never read or want to read this.’ Celestia gritted her teeth and squeezed the book slightly as if she were strangling it. She stared back up at the torch and then back down again, then up, back down and up once more.

‘It would make the world a far better place and I would probably feel that extra bit better.’ Celestia levitated the book up and glared for a second before making her move; the cover opened. She had come to her senses; that was nothing like her. She had never felt such contempt or hatred before and she felt was uneasy feeling it now. She turned a few pages into the book and then flicked over half the book to a section nearer the end; maybe, she thought, if she read the contents of the book she would distract herself from the negative thoughts and stresses of the situation. She had no confidence that it would work and knew for sure that it made no sense at all, but on she went.

‘April, early Queen Sola and King Orion’s rule.
Even I was surprised at the ponies’ resolves. Never before had I seen so much determination to break my hold over Equestria. The ponies of the Everfree district have long been researching something that could stop me, but I never actually believed that they would manage it. But a rumour has spread that the king and queen have found something that could actually turn that dream into a reality; something that they call the elements of harmony. As the law of Equestria’s very reality states that disorder and harmony cannot directly affect one another I found that I was powerless to manipulate the area around the elemental extracts. I now regret not being more vigilant in my watch over the land as this now offers the ponies and alicorns of Everfree the chance to push my grasp back to Treeshroud and maybe even further. These elements obviously pose too much of a threat to my game; the blessings of the spirits of Everfree shall mend the damage of this mistake.’ Celestia frowned at the entry. Even past the cruel state of the writing it was difficult to understand because of vagueness. Elements of harmony? The laws of Equestria’s reality? It was obvious that the writer had been an extremely influential part of the Treeshroud district but past that she was completely befuddled by the paragraph. Rereading it again she understood that the alicorns of Everfree, such as her parents and herself, were the so-called ‘spirits of Everfree’ when she realised just what had been meant by ‘the blessings’. Taking a second to collect her thoughts, she reread the last sentence again.

“‘The blessings of the spirits of Everfree shall mend the damage of this mistake’.” She murmured to herself, wondering what was exactly meant. Without thinking, having forgotten about her dislike for the book, she flipped the page over to read the second part of the entry.

’Tonight sees the greatest display of my power. The stars are out and the night has taken its place over Equestria. Peace and quiet doesn’t please me so I changed it to my will. The stars rain down their power, intended to protect the ponies and the weatherclouds rage in the sky, gifting the kingdom with hurricanes, thunderstorms and torrents of rain. The latter cause’s puddles to decorate the surface and if you were to shine a great light upon it you would be blinded by the bloody scarlet reflection. It took all of the power I had accumulated through this endless conflict to manipulate the spirits’ of harmony’s blessings, but I got what I needed and the researcher ponies were wiped out and the elements buried with them. I imagine the citizens of Equestria might disagree with this statement but...’

“’...Disaster averted.’” Celestia’s words were filled with disgust; she now understood what had happened at the beginning of her parents’ reign that Sola had previously said had almost driven them to abdication. In an act of hate at the book Celestia swept her foreleg across the tabletop and threw the book onto the floor.

“Celestia?” Celestia snapped her head round to see her mother draw back in surprise at her expression. Celestia’s face was contorted with anger and hate, feelings that had never properly tainted the princess before.

“Celestia, are you okay?” Sola asked cautiously; seeing her mother hadn’t changed Celestia’s mood at all.

“No! I’m not okay!” She shouted, forgetting her instinctive library volume instantly. “Why would I be okay?! Look at what’s happened! Look at what I did!” Sola managed to keep her composure despite her obvious distress at seeing the hostile side of her usually placid daughter.

“Celestia, please, try to calm down.” Sola said confidently but calmly. “Just take a moment to catch your breath.”

“And what good does that do me or Luna or Equestria?!” Celestia screamed as loudly as her voice would let her. “How will calming down correct my foolish mistakes? Or protect Luna from more harm?”

“Calming down will help you think rationally, Celestia. My daughter, this is not you! It has never been you!” Sola tried again to convince her. Celestia’s hooves slammed on the table and she dropped her head onto them and let out a scream that was muffled by her fur but still managed to curdle Sola’s blood.

“Cele-Celesti-“ She just couldn’t seem to form her words over the frustrated cry of her daughter and soon her voice cracked. When Celestia stopped, her throat sore, she glanced back up to see Sola standing on the spot almost paralyzed. A few seconds passed and Celestia’s rage seemed to subside as she interpreted the sorrow on her mother’s face.

“M-M-Mother...?” Celestia asked croakily, realising what she had done and instantly regretting it. “I-I’m sorry! I’m- I didn’t mean to!” She stopped as she saw Sola make a movement.

“No.” Sola murmured with a slight shake of her head. “I know you didn’t. I know that that isn’t you. It never has been and it never will be.” Celestia sat in silence listening to her mother’s monotonous speech. “I know the stress that you’re going through and I understand.” Celestia thought back to the extract and the description of the night that Equestria was savaged by its own blessing.

“...I’m sorry.” Celestia apologised; she scolded herself for forgetting not just one lesson she had thought thoroughly taught, but two. “I’ve been so selfish; I caused so much trouble and all I could worry about was myself and the effect it had on my own life. I didn’t even begin to think about others, about the ponies that I owe service to, to Luna as both a sister and a partner to the throne and to you and father.” Sola’s emotions began to return to her face as Celestia returned to her usual demeanour.

“I forgot that you and father endured harder times than this and still managed to retain peace in Equestria and I forgot just how many lives could be ruined if the Orion and the Sola aren’t corrected and I forgot that abdicating meant leaving Luna alone to atone for my mistakes, mistakes that she may not be able to fix by herself.” Celestia continued uninterrupted.

“I never chose to have the burden of ruling Equestria, but just because I can abdicate and live a free life that doesn’t mean that I should, or that it would be fair to run away from all of my problems. I shouted earlier without thinking rationally, as you just reminded me and I’m sorry for not just that...but also letting you down.” Sola smiled weakly, a few suppressed tears glistening in her eyes.

“My dear Celestia, you could never and have never disappointed me.” Her voice was gentle and comforting and Celestia felt herself smile again.

“Know that I-”

“Celestia!” Orion’s voice broke off Sola’s speech and Celestia jumped when it boomed through the library.

“The Orion! It’s falling!” Celestia sat on the spot for a few seconds before registering his words.

“...Falling?!” Before they knew it both Sola and Celestia were up and running from the library. When they arrived outside the cottage screams could be heard from all around. Celestia looked up to their troublesome blessings and gasped; the barrier around them had smashed and the lack of magic had caused the Orion to start hurtling down towards Equestria. Celestia, Sola and Orion all reached up to grip the globe and slowly it began to come back to a halt, much closer to earth than it had been before. Celestia panted tiredly, still holding the Orion in place; if that had hit ground there would’ve been an instant apocalypse.

“Wha-What happened?” She thought aloud. “Was the barrier holding them in place?” Orion shook his head.

“No, the Sola is still in the same place.” He said thoughtfully. “It could be because Luna isn’t awake.” Celestia looked confused and sounded even moreso.

“So, if I was unconscious the Sola would fall instead?” Celestia inquired, trying to clear some facts up. Now that the world wasn’t in peril she realised that the Orion actually seemed to feel like Luna’s silky fur and give off the same aura that Luna did.

“It’s only a theory.” Orion answered. “But it is a possibility.”

“So if that is the case, then we can’t let go until Luna’s awakened.” Sola murmured to herself, but Orion merely shook his head again.

“This magic is quite similar to my own and I think that it is safe to say that I have more than enough magic to hold it until Luna awakens.” He stated; Celestia noticed that he had barely broke a sweat so far and imagined that it could well be possible to leave it under his care. “I think that you’ll be safe to let go.” Sola and Celestia glanced at one another uncertainly before releasing their grips. The Orion stayed rooted on the spot and they breathed a sigh of relief.

“Look what nearly happened?!”

“Are you trying to get us all killed?” The alicorns suddenly became aware of the crowd amassing around the cottage. Enraged ponies were everywhere, shouting their anger at their monarch. Celestia took a step back, gritting her teeth nervously as she stared at the crowd as they closed in.

“Stay yourselves, ponies!” Sola announced loudly, taking a step in front of Celestia defensively. “Princess Celestia is the only thing keeping the Sola suspended in the sky. If any harm comes to her it will fall just like the Orion did.”

“Then what about the Orion? Why did that fall? We didn’t do anything to Princess Luna!” Called a pony in the midst of the crowd followed by several murmurs of agreement.

“Princess Luna is unable to act through injury.” Orion continued announcing. “I shall be keeping the Orion afloat until she has recovered.”

“Good riddance!” Called a pony in the centre of the crowd; the mob applauded the outburst.

“ATTENTION!”
STAMP
The crowd went silent as ponies began to realise that there were multiple guardponies amassed behind their own ranks. A gap appeared as a lone guardpony walked towards the cottage. He wore armour of black and gold covered in deep scratches and dust.

“Rightheart!” Celestia called out when she realised the familiar stallion. “You’re safe!”

“I will not hear any more treason from you, citizens of Equestria.” Rightheart shouted so that all of the crowd could hear him, ignoring Celestia’s relieved call. “I am ashamed to hear such disrespectful comments from proud Equestrians.”

“What about you? Do you care about Equestria more than its foolish princesses?”

“My loyalty is to Equestria’s safety and the safety of the princesses is top priority to the kingdom’s safety.” Rightheart stated stopping and facing the crowd.

“If anypony so much as raises a hoof against her royal highness I will not hesitate to strike them down. Am I understood?” There was silence from the crowd. “This building is now under military protection. There is nothing else to be said; I would ask that you leave the area or be removed by force.” As his words echoed through the street the crowd started to dissipate and Celestia let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you Rightheart.” Celestia said, trotting over to Rightheart who was casting a stare.

“May I have a word, Princess?” Rightheart murmured without looking down at her. “All units patrol the area; no unauthorised pony is to be admitted access until further notice, am I clear?”

“Sir, yes sir!”

“Private Stonewall, Private Ironside, I’d like you to stand guard and ensure that the Princesses and I are uninterrupted.” Rightheart ordered two ponies who quickly snapped their hooves up into a salute before taking their places by the doorway. After watching them obey the orders Rightheart turned towards the doorway, signalling towards the alicorns to follow. Celestia shot an uncertain glance at her mother before following, tailed by her parents, Orion’s horn glowing as he continued to channel his magic into the sky, even if he was inside. Once Rightheart had seen all of the ponies step into the room, noting the unconscious Luna on one of the beds by the wall, he continued quietly.

“With all due respect Princess,” Rightheart asked cautiously. “What happened?” Celestia had had a feeling that that question would’ve appeared.

“Where do we start?” Celestia responded gingerly. After a few seconds of thought she explained everything that had happened since the blessing, although she had left out the book that had caused them excruciating anguish to read. Rightheart frowned as he listened to the end of the story.

“So...you’ve been unable to fix the problems that had been caused by the blessing.” He asked to confirm, answered with a nod.

“But when we tried advanced means of correcting the problems it recoiled on us and destroyed the castle as well as the barrier.” She summarised, almost half-heartedly. “So many ponies must’ve been hurt.”

“That may be so, but I’m afraid that you must still pursue a solution to the problem.” Rightheart continued. “It doesn’t take a genius to see that those two begin to fall if you’re incapacitated. Equestria has a natural order to uphold and if it isn’t, Equestria could seize to exist as we know it.” Celestia was taken aback from the comment; she hadn’t known all of that. When she turned her head to her parents she saw that they looked just as surprised as she was.

“Y-You mean that we could destroy Equestria by not finding a way to fix the blessings?” Celestia asked with a shrill, surprised voice. Rightheart nodded grimly in confirmation

“Where you and I see Equestria there will be nothing if this situation isn’t resolved.” He continued. “Equestria’s existence hangs in the balance of harmony and discord and as we speak the latter is spreading over the kingdom.” Celestia stared in disbelief; how could he know this? “If the chaos spreads too far it will become unstoppable and will snuff out harmony forever and break the equilibrium, thus erasing Equestria from the world.”

“Excuse my interruption Rightheart,” Orion said, finally breaking through the knight’s speech. “But how do you know this?”
Celestia seized up upon realisation that her parents had been aware of this too. It annoyed her greatly that she, a new ruler of Equestria had had this information withheld, especially at such an urgent time, but she held her tongue as she wished to hear the answer to the question as well.

“I was told.” Rightheart said simply.

“By who?” Orion pursued.

“By Lord Discord.” His words seemed to send a chill through the air.

“Lord...Discord?” Sola repeated in disbelief but Rightheart seemed unchanged by the words.

“You see, I was once a citizen of the Treeshroud district and a subject of Discord.” Rightheart explained adamantly. “All cowered from his rule; after all, he was a cruel and torturous leader, as the name no doubt intended to portray. Many were the ponies that wished for freedom, but few that would've risked their lives to receive it. I was one of the few. I, as far as I know, am the only successful escapee from his rule and upon seeing the state of the Everfree district I wished to see an end to his tyranny. I was there when he was struck down and he told me this truth.” Orion was almost completely speechless but managed to voice a few words.

“All the stories?” He barely managed to utter. “Of your freeing the captives?”

“They’re still true; I still bore the signs of a Treeshroud soldier and was unsuspected when the stragglers were silenced.” Rightheart smiled confidently.

“The lie only consisted of my past and my name.”

“Which is?” Celestia asked impateiently, eager to know the truth of her beloved Rightheart. The stallion sighed.

“Lackluster Polish.” He said blankly before tugging a belt and letting his armour fall away to reveal his cutie mark. “I was a designer of many different things in Treeshroud, but that past is long behind me. When I was knighted I stopped being Lackluster Polish and started being Rightheart.” Celestia looked on at his flank which was decorated with a set of sparkles that no doubt indicated a shine that came about from polish.

“It took years to finally achieve my place as a citizen of Everfree, the kingdom of harmony and freedom, and I have no intent to see it crushed by disorder.” Rightheart finished, sitting and refastening the armour back upon his flanks.

“I understand...” Celestia murmured before turning back to her parents. “...Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Her tone was hurt and her glance was even more so.

“We didn’t want to burden you with a pressure that may not have been needed to be known.” Sola explained apologetically. “At least, not yet.”

“But I’m a ruler; I should know the rules of my kingdom!” Celestia sighed.

“Our plan was to tell you what you needed to know as you needed it, while still letting experience set in and in time tell you all that remained for you to know.” Orion elaborated. “I see now that we may have strayed too far from thetruth and I am sorry for that. I suppose that it would be wise to explain the rest of what Rightheart has already said.” Orion looked up at the knight and then indicated to the door.

“If you could please give us some privacy, Rightheart?” The guardpony nodded and moved to leave the room before turning his head slightly.

“Your highnesses, I am sorry for lying to you for all of these years.” He apologized. Celestia shook her head.

“You did your best for a country you love, even if it wasn’t your own.” She murmured. “You ended the wartime by freeing the hostage citizens of Everfree and we all love you for it. You have nothing to apologize for.” Rightheart smiled at the kind words and left the room.

“Thank you my liege.” Were the words that called back through the hallway before Prince Orion and Princess Sola set about revealing the truth to their daughter.

~*~

Luna’s surroundings were full of darkness. As she looked around she could see nothing against the blackness. The only visible objects were clouds that shifted in the corner of Luna’s eye, causing her to snap her head back and forth. She felt uncomfortable being held suspended in the inky dark world; it was an evil darkness, not the gentle, caring darkness of the night. It almost felt unnatural.

“’Tia?” Luna called for her sister; recollections of the burning arrow returning to them and blasting apart the castle spire, catapulting away the two princesses. Maybe she was dead; it was plausible, but she found herself thoroughly disappointed in what she had been found.

“Tia, are you there?” Luna was reluctant to realise that Celestia couldn’t actually hear her.

“November, the reign of Queen Europa of Everfree.” Came a loud voice that shook Luna to the bone.

“Wh-Who’s there?” Luna exclaimed much louder than she intended.

“Our forces met by ‘accident’ outside the city of Manehatten. Battle ensued and hundreds of casualties were counted, mostly the fragile ponies of the opposing army. It was fun rounding up the wounded that hadn’t died after and challenging them to games that would offer them a life under my reign or instant death. Most went braindead before I had a proper chance to decide; shame, I wanted to toy with them some more. It’s surprisingly delightful when you see one pony forced to rip apart another with only their hooves.” Luna finally realised the voice was reading the first extract from the accursed Veteran’s Account of the Evershroud War; it was the monster that had written the words within.

“This game was going to be fairly simple, but I can see a new branch of possibilities.” The voice continued.

“Who’re you?” Luna asked aloud.

“I am somewhat disappointed in your intelligence Princess Luna.” The voice jeered at Luna. “There are two species native to Equestria that are found nowhere else on the planet. Can you tell me what they are?”

“Uh...” Luna was a bit taken aback by the comments.
“Alicorns and dragonequus, my dear filly, alicorns and dragonequus.” The voice continued without giving Luna much time to answer properly. “Both dragonequus and alicorns are known as spirits and each embodies the elements that hold Equestria in balance. Tell me Luna, do you know what a dragonequus is?” The tone of the voice was not just mocking but also fairly playful and Luna felt uneasy talking with it.

“It’s a subspecies of dragon, isn’t it?” Luna asked cautiously, answered by a tutting noise.

“I was wondering whether you could prove that you actually have some intelligence, but you’ve only shown me a mere iota of what I was expecting.” The voice sighed before elaborating. “A dragonequus is a dragon with the body parts of various other animals. The unnatural collection of fauna befits a spirit of disorder, don’t you think?” Luna remained silent; she couldn’t understand where this voice was going with all the talk.

“It doesn’t take a genius to work out that alicorns are the counterweights to the dragonequus; they embody the spirit of harmony. The unity of ponykind, pegasi and unicorns and earthponies, makes this even clearer.” Luna gulped down the lump in her throat and finally raised her voice.

“Just where are you going with this?” She asked curtly, but shrank a little as the unseen voice laughed.

“You are an impatient worm of a pony; you should have the commonsense to realise when you are opposed by a superior being.” The voice laughed maniacally. Luna frowned at the jeering.

“I’m a princess of Equestria! My family are the only others that share my power!” She shouted angrily, but the laughing merely increased in intensity until it sounded more or less like the character it came from was choking.

“Ah, this is why my grip has been so firm for so long.” The voice said after finally calming down. “More exposition and hints would seem to be a waste, so I shall instead give you a direction to head. Retrace your steps, try everything again. The slower you act the further along the line I shall continue and remember, our world is built upon balanced weights of positive and negative energy; yin and yang, harmony and discord, light and darkness. Dearest Luna, the day and night are bound by that law too.” Luna was deeply confused and opened her mouth to ask what the voice had meant, but by the time she had it was all over and she found herself back in her parents’ cottage.

“Wait!” Luna shouted out before realising that she was no longer shrouded in black mist, but blanketed by a navy duvet. She had sat up in the bed and looked around; nopony was anywhere to be seen.

“Wait for what?” Came a high-pitched voice that made Luna jump. The curtains had been drawn over the window to give her some privacy and an amber head with a long, thin snout and yellow quills either side of it was poked through the drapes staring directly at her.

“Oh, Chopper!” Luna said, pulling a forced smile at the baby dragon. “It doesn’t matter; I was just having a dream.” Chopper blinked for a second before responding.

“Hunh, lucky you; shame the rest of the world can’t say the same.” He said bluntly before pulling his head back behind the curtains. Luna frowned at the comment.

“What do you mean?” She asked, peeling away the duvet and hopping out of the bed. She moved towards the curtains and poked her head through beside Chopper’s. She looked around and raised an eyebrow; there were guardponies all over the place and high above the buildings nearby that made up Everfree City a spout of smoke could be seen. The memories steadily returned to Luna; the Arcane Lance, the feeling of success and the confusion and disappointment that was felt when the spire of Everfree castle exploded underneath their hooves.

“Chopper, where’s Celestia?” Luna asked the baby dragon urgently, answered only with a shrug of the shoulders. Luna turned tail and dashed from the makeshift bedroom, looking around for her family.

‘If they’re all here, then where would they be...?’ She asked herself before remembering her dream. ‘Retrace your steps.’ Luna thought back; the last place they had been was the castle.

“Oh no!” Luna cried out as the thoughts hit her. “Celestia must still be at the castle!” Luna had noticed the bruising under her fur and had a sick feeling that, if her dream was to be believed, Celestia could well be in much worse condition. Without a second thought she turned and ran to the door, her horn flashing as the wooden barrier swung open, letting her run through without hindrance. Taking a run-up and throwing herself skyward Luna willed herself onwards toward the smoke; she was away so quickly that she didn’t even hear the shouts of the guardponies patrolling the cottage’s perimeter. Onwards she flew, dodging the occasional frantic pegasus and making her way toward her home. As she approached, Luna’s heart sank; the previous monument that was Everfree Castle had been reduced to a smoking centre of debris. She found herself darting down and landing on an upturned and singed floorboard poking out from the ruin.

“Celestia?” She called out desperately. “Celestia, where are you?” Luna shook with worry, turning her head around in all directions to see if she could spot the figure of her alabaster sister. She saw debris and more debris and when she focussed a bit more also a few ponies. Dirty ponies, covered in burns and bruises, their limbs bent in grisly positions and their heads hanging limply upon the rubble. Other ponies became visible to Luna; ponies in the same situation as her, searching for or grieving over their loved ones.

“Daisy Chain?”

“Butterscotch? Please say something!” The calls were numerous and just as panicked as hers. All around pegasi were dashing through the air and unicorns were magically overturning slabs of concrete in desperate attempts to find their friends.

‘Retrace your steps.’
The words rang through Luna’s ears again and the image of the burning arrow of light that they had fired towards the Orion and the Sola returning with an explosive burst followed suit. Luna glanced around again and sighed.

‘These ponies’ lives have been ruined at our hooves. They, like I, have lost their relatives among the chaos, but that changes nothing of my duty.’ Luna looked up at the two globes in the sky and noticed an area in the centre where the image of the sky’s contents was clearer; a hole in the enchantment. Surely this would be the ideal chance to fix what she had caused. Taking a deep breath and glancing around one last time, hoping dearly that her sister would come walking out of the dust to greet her, before taking wing again. Steadily Luna shot up the side of the ruined castle until she came to a broken pillar of stone. She landed neatly on top and turned to face the sky and her creation.

‘The properties of both globes are beneficial, so it would do no good to erase them.’ Luna thought, calculating her next move. ‘If we were to move them into a rotor so that the Sola appeared and vanished as the day began and ended and vice versa with the Orion, then the crisis should be averted.’ Luna stood on the spot, wondering how she would go about the amends.

‘Retrace your steps.’
Those words again. Luna understood now; the spells she had already tried must be capable now, or so she theorised, hoping to hay that she was correct.

‘Celestia isn’t around to help you this time, so it’s all up to you to cast this spell.’ Luna thought, her horn flashing in order to cast a spell that would tell her the exact time. ‘Because Celestia isn’t here to move her Sola I guess that means that my Orion should be moved first.’ Luna decided to start with the original creation spell and lowered her head, bracing her hooves and body to cast the spell. She focussed her mind and channelled her magic into her horn. She could only just manage to see a navy blue orb appear at the tip of her horn. Luna’s head began to burn with the spell’s intensity but didn’t release her focus. She reached out to the globes and felt the hole in the enchantment. She felt her way through and focussed her mental grip on the Orion. She jumped in shock as she felt another grip around her creation; it was a familiar grip, the grip of her father. The force seemed to instinctively retreat away as Luna took hold of the Orion. As Luna took the full weight of the globe above them she felt her back arch and her legs spread further as if she were literally carrying it upon her back. Taking a second to collect her bearings Luna straightened her posture up and focussed further on her spell. As her headache intensified further Luna sent a command to the Orion.

‘Move under the horizon!’ She willed it, feeling the globe move sideways in an arc. As Luna continued the world around her grew silent; all ponies were watching the sky, some in admiration, some in relief but most in fear of what was happening to their beloved Equestria next. The Orion kept crawling downwards until it finally hit the edge of the landscape and vanished below the view of the kingdom. Almost instantly the entire sky cleared of stars and began to brighten. The Sola’s glare lessened over the side of Equestria that it had been focussed on and spread a much gentler wave of light across the entirety of the country. Luna’s head almost felt like it would explode from pressure, but she could feel the end of the effort approaching and, gritting her teeth, she sent one last command to her creation.

‘Maintain your balance, please.’ She told the Orion. As she finally released her grip she felt the globe move into a parallel position to the Sola. As her senses returned to her, Luna looked into the air and began to feel very weak, if not slightly accomplished. She sank to her haunches and breathed a sigh of relief; half of the job had been finished.

‘Retrace your steps.’

Luna sighed as those words rang through her head once more; she could feel the pull and she knew that it would be trying not to follow it. Groaning as she got back to her feet, she flapped her wings feebly, realising that her lack of strength meant that flying would be unwise. She looked over the edge and prepared to leap and glide from nook to cranny alongside the ruined castle to return to ground level. She took the descent slowly, occasionally tripping on her landing, none more so than the last jump to the ground where she literally lost her balance and hit the ground with a smack. She laid Luna laid on the spot for a second, running a hoof over her face in exasperation before she became aware her landing had attracted a crowd.

“Hey, are you o-?” The voice was cut off and Luna focussed her vision to see several ponies surrounding her. “Princess Luna!” “Are you okay?” Luna smiled and picked herself back up, covered in even more bruises than before. “I’m fine, thank you.” She assured the stunned ponies.

“I think that I’ve solved half of our problem, but I ask that you provide us with patience for the second half. I’m sorry if we’ve caused any...unnecessary...damage to you, but the sooner I return to my lodgings the sooner I can set about returning harmony to its rightful place.” The ponies moved away to give the princess some space and Luna thanked them quietly. She took a step and winced as one of her forelegs gave way under the pressure she had put on it and hit the ground again; she must’ve landed heavily on that leg after the fall.

“Princess Luna, you’re hurt!” One stallion said sincerely, but Luna merely shook her head in dismissal.

“It’s barely a wound.” Luna stated bluntly. “Please, do not shed your worry for me; there are many other ponies more deserving of it than myself.” The stallion didn’t look convinced and the look of worry for the injured alicorn in front of him didn’t even budge from his expression.

“Princess Luna, would ya perhaps like us to help ya home?” The stallion asked. He continued though before Luna could answer; it was clear what her answer would’ve been and he wasn’t going to take no for it. “Please Princess, put your uninjured leg over my back and we’ll help you back to your lodgings.” Luna looked stunned at the mercy of the pones around her; she had only heard bad things about the populace since the situation arose, but here she was being helped by concerned ponies. She smiled and nodded at last.

“Thank you my little ponies.”

~*~

“Luna!” When Luna had eventually been escorted back to the cottage Celestia was there to greet her.

“Celestia! You’re safe!” Luna called, her relief even more evident than her older sister’s. Celestia rushed over to the entourage of ponies and embraced Luna tightly. “We were so worried!” Celestia told Luna.

“I’m so sorry that I wasn’t there to greet you when you awoke; I’m afraid that I was researching solutions again, but...” Celestia let Luna go and let her sit on her haunches upon the floor. “I see that you’ve already cracked the case!” Luna nodded in acknowledgement.

“I had a sort of epiphany while I was asleep and when I woke I just knew what to do.” Luna explained. “I’ll tell you when we’re inside.” Celestia nodded.

“I have something to tell you as well.” She continued, her voice changing to sound grimmer. “I’ve learnt a lot of...important facts since the accident.”

“Hey, wait a cotton-pickin’ minute!”

“Unauthorised access is restricted, please desist!”

“Hey-But ah’ve got something ta say ta the princesses!” Luna turned her head to face the commotion; the guardponies had ushered away the ponies that had helped her but the stallion that had communicated with her most was struggling against a guard to stay rooted in place.

“Wait! Please!” Luna cried out to cease the struggle before it turned to violence.

“I would like to hear him out! This fine stallion and his friends were kind enough to offer me even in times where most ponies would doubt my intentions; the least I can do in return is listen to his requests.” The guardpony snapped a hoof to his head and stepped back from the stallion. “Good earthpony, what is your name?” Luna asked the helpful stallion.

“Me? Toffee Apple mah liege; of Ponyville.” The stallion named Toffee answered.

“Very well Toffee, please, continue. My sister and I strive to rule with compassion, not fear; don’t worry about your wording. You are a citizen of Equestria and have a right to speak your mind.” Luna carried on, Celestia nodding and smiling kindly beside.

“Well...” Toffee started, thinking through his words before saying them, despite what had been said to him. “Many ponies in Everfree have lived in fear of what would happen ta them and their home. Rumours have been everywhere an’ seeing what’s happened over the last few days ah can’t blame ‘em. But we from Ponyville still have faith an’ always have. King Orion and Queen Sola were swell rulers an’ all, but they still made mistakes, like you have. In the end you’re just ponies, like the rest of us. Sure, you’ve made some pretty bad mistakes in the last few days, but you’re new ta the job and what ya’ll attempted the other day looked like mighty hard magic. What ah really mean ta say is that I an’ everypony, especially from Ponyville, still have faith in ya.” By the time that Toffee had finished his speech everypony was staring at him. Both Celestia and Luna looked on at him with amazement. They felt amazing knowing that somepony (and if Toffee was to be believed, everypony) still had faith in them. Celestia gazed back up at her creation high in the sky; if Luna had made the corrections to the Orion even in her weakened state then it would be well within her power to do the same with the Sola. They hadn’t quite lost the love and trust of their little ponies; it wasn’t too late. Toffee coughed and tipped his head to the princesses.

“Ah’ll be goin’ then.” He said awkwardly, turning to leave, cursing his decision to attract the spotlight.

“Wait!” Celestia called out to stop him. “Knowing that there are ponies that believe in our intentions fills me with joy; we will do everything within our power not to let you and the rest of Equestria down. We promise it.” Toffee looked back at the alabaster alicorn and smiled happily.

“Long live Princess Celestia!” Toffee sang. “Long live Princess Luna! Long live Equestria!” Before the two sisters could say another word the guardponies all erupted in chorus with the same words. “Long live Princess Celestia!” “Long live Princess Luna!” “Long live Equestria!”

Chapter 5 - Enlightenment and Foreshadowing

It was dusk once more and the sun was hung low in the sky over Equestria. Celestia and Luna were sat on the balcony, eyes shut with shining auras emanating from their horns. Stars had begun peeking over the clouds as the daytime sky sank; as the Sola fell under the horizon the sky became even darker and made way for the rising Orion. The moon finally came to a halt in the centre of the sky and the two princesses relaxed a little.

“We’ve done it at last.” Celestia sighed with relief with Luna nodding beside her; after Celestia made her corrections like Luna she had found that the spell was much easier, although still strenuous, than it had been on the first attempt. Positive reports had come from the situation at the previously ruined Everfree Palace; although there had been minimal casualties not a pony had been killed and the Princesses had decided to personally visit and apologize to the affected ponies before personally leading the clearing of rubble by the ruined palace.

“I suppose we should consider ourselves lucky; I don’t know if we could’ve handled an ordeal of the magnitude that mother and father suffered.” Celestia murmured contently although Luna was shaking her head.

“I don’t think that it’s over quite yet though.” She responded. “I’ve got a nagging feeling that I’ve missed something. Plus, it isn’t like we were destined to be tested by some divine force or anything; the lucky mare just didn’t look our way.” Celestia frowned at the thought that the trouble wasn’t yet over.

“I don’t understand how we could’ve missed something; everything seems to have tied together nicely.” Celestia’s persuasion seemed fruitless as Luna gave her an odd expression.

“What are you talking about ‘Tia?” Luna asked grimly. “There were plenty of loose ends and I bet that if I retraced my hoofsteps now it would reveal them.”

“Then don’t,” Celestia said stubbornly. “What we don’t know can’t hurt us and everything has already turned out alright so far.” Luna gave her sister a look of disbelief.

“Celestia, that makes no sense.” Luna pointed out. “Ignoring the point wouldn’t do anything but blind us to a possible future. I personally think that I should retrace my steps.” The smaller of the two alicorns stood and walked away grumpily with the other watching in annoyance

“Luna!” Celestia called after, gracefully jumping to her hooves and turning on the spot to give chase, trotting at a slightly faster pace than Luna in an attempt to catch up, but it was to no avail; the princess of the night had broken into a run almost as soon as she had turned the corner and by the time that Celestia had made the same turn she was well out of sight, although it was completely obvious where she had gone.

Luna opened the same copy of A Veteran’s Account of the Evershroud War and flicked through the pages.

‘Keep going.’
Luna listened to the voice in her head spur her on as she turned page after page, stopping only when she heard Celestia’s voice ringing out from the other side of the library; it would take her a while to find Luna as the library was huge and could quite easily take up the entire subterranean size of the street above.

‘Keep going!’

“I am, I am!” Luna complained at herself quietly, resuming her page flipping. Eventually she found the page that she had previously been reading, where she had ripped out the picture of the alicorn family. Blinking before remembering where she had put the scrap of paper, Luna brushed behind her ear and sighed as she realised that the family had gone (although it was no surprise; she had been catapulted off of the castle spire with explosive force. The picture was probably carried by the wind far away from Everfree city or was under a large piece of rubble)

‘Is this it? Is this what I came to see?’ Luna asked the voice, reluctantly believing that she was being compelled to follow a trivial path.

‘Keep going!’ The voice spurred even more. Luna frowned and just decided to tip the book to its last page.

“There? Will that do?” She asked grumpily; there was no response. Luna looked down at the page and frowned even deeper.

‘July, the end of Princesses Celestia and Luna’s reign.
The ignorant foals finally corrected their blessings, all without picking up my trail. I must state my disappointment; I made it obvious, I even gave Luna the clues. The citizens have lost their faith after their blunder and now I believe I should be able to crush what little remains of it. There never needed to be a war; I just wanted some entertainment before my master game comes into effect.
The balance will soon be broken Princess.’
Luna felt her heart skip a beat as she read the last line. As she reread it Luna wondered whether the entry was actually talking to her and then remembered the top line.

‘The end of Princess Celestia and Luna’s reign.’ Luna drew back in horror as the book burst into flames and vanished entirely within seconds.

“Luna?” Celestia had finally found her sister; she had reversed out of the aisle and into plain sight. “Luna, what’s wrong?” Celestia had clearly noticed the shock on Luna’s face. Lost for words the younger alicorn simply stared at her older sister. “...You went back and retraced your steps, didn’t you?”

“...I was right; now we know what to prepare for.” Luna’s voice was blank as she uttered the sentence and Celestia tried to pull a small smile; knowing the future could potentially be a boon. “...But I kind of wish I hadn’t seen it.”

~*~

The following morning’s air was cold and bitter but at least seemed to have less urgency now that the corrections to the Sola and Orion had been made. Celestia and Luna, along with their entourage of guardponies had spent the morning visiting, apologizing and compensating the citizens of Everfree that had been directly affected by the previous disaster. It seemed almost a miracle that nopony had been killed in the current situation, although there were still ponies trapped inside the ruins of the palace, so it wasn’t definitive. Having received pardons from each and every pony, Celestia and Luna made their way towards their destroyed abode where workponies had spent the night shifting rubble from around the palace. Upon arriving the two sisters were relieved to see that most of the rubble had been moved by unicorns both in and out of the royal service.

“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” Came the surprised greeting of a saluting heavily armoured earthpony.

“Good morning Commander Claymore.” Celestia responded with Luna murmuring the words just after, both ponies snapping a quick salute back. “How is the situation?” Celestia had decided to take the head of the group as Luna had had a sleepless night; such was her nature and so was not as focussed as her sister.

“Most of the rubble has been cleared my liege but we have been unable to breach the large piece of debris by the main entrance where we can feel the presence of the ponies behind.” The stone grey guardpony told his princess, pointing to the main gate. “It wouldn’t be such a problem, but numerous unicorns have reported that they can feel enchantments upon the debris in question.” Celestia nodded in confirmation; she had no worries of such enchantments now that they had learnt how to use the Arcane Lance.

“Very good commander, leave the main entrance to Princess Luna and I; I would rather you cleared the area, got some medical assistance ready and formed a rescue party to collect the civilians from inside as soon as possible.” Celestia ordered confidently. “Have everything available to proceed in half an hour, am I understood?” Commander Claymore saluted. “Then you are dismissed Commander.” The earthpony stamped and turned away to put the orders into motion and the two princesses sat by the command tent nearby while awaiting the proceedings.

When news finally arrived half an hour later Celestia and Luna had put aside their royal adornments and had set off for the blocked main gate. Ponies had taken orderly places so as to go about their purposes as soon as possible and were ready and awaiting orders.

‘Retrace your steps!’ Hissed the voice inside Luna’s head as they approached Commander Claymore; most of her sleep deprivation the previous night had been because of this urging voice, but Luna had no idea where she was supposed to retrace her steps to.

“Commander, you wouldn’t have per chance seen Sir Rightheart have you?” Celestia asked the earthpony, but was only responded with a shake of the head.

“Not at all your highness; Sir Rightheart hasn’t checked in with me this morning.” Celestia frowned; that hadn’t been the answer she had been expecting and she wondered where the knight had gone.

“Okay, thank you Commander; are preparations complete?” Celestia continued.

“Affirmative my liege, would you like me to initiate orders to resume?” Claymore answered; Celestia nodded. With another quick salute Claymore trotted off to give the orders to other guardponies while the princesses continued toward the gate.

‘Retrace your steps!’ The voice ordered over and over.

‘I can’t retrace my steps!’ Luna argued back, but it made no difference as the urging merely continued. Celestia stopped suddenly and looked up at the rubble with Luna’s eyes following shortly after; it was an entire room made of transparent material much like glass and after a few seconds of thinking Luna finally recognised the broken structure. It was the Equestrian Spire, or what was left of it; the glassy material that encased it was chipped, robbing it of the glory it once held in the form of carvings into the walls. Looking upon it made Luna feel like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

‘You can’t retrace your steps? Nonsense; you just did.’ The voice finally said, making the hairs on Luna’s mane stand on end. The young mare waited a few more seconds but nothing more was said from the mysterious voice.

“Are you ready Luna?” Celestia asked as Luna came back to her senses.

“Er- Yes!” Luna said absentmindedly before realising what she had said and regretting it. Before she could think of something else to say Celestia had lowered herself and her horn had started glowing with magical energy; Luna couldn’t tell if it was too late to stop but she had become aware that every pony in the area was staring at her and Celestia, waiting for them to cast their spell and end the suffering that the ordeal had caused the country. With a groan, she obliged to their wishes and copied Celestia’s pose. The Arcane Lance spell formed in her mind and her own horn began to glow. The power steadily started to grow, but Luna had to make sure to time the casting correctly so as not to create an explosion as large as the previous one. When she felt the spell grow to a size equal to half that of the previous casting at the tip of her horn she finally released her focus and sent the spell hurtling into the ruined spire; it almost felt like a shame to destroy such an ancestral structure but Luna knew that it was for the best.
HISS-BOOM
The spell collided with the Equestrian Spire and disappeared momentarily. The entire structure started to glow as the Arcane Lance penetrated the enchantment before finally exploding and throwing various debris in all directions. Celestia and Luna, being the closest to the explosion, were thrown backwards onto the floor by the force of the blast. As the dust cleared Celestia and Luna wrenched themselves back to their hooves as guardponies started approaching the area to not only continue their rescue mission but also ensure that their princesses are safe.

“Hello?” Commander Claymore coughed into the ruins, blindly listening for an answer through the dust. “Is anypony in there?” The earthpony waited for a few seconds; no response. Celestia stared into the dust cloud, stepping in front of Luna defensively while the younger mare could feel her heart pounding faster and faster as a foreboding feeling befell her. Commander Claymore opened his mouth to call out again but was silenced almost instantly as a pegasus suddenly materialised from within the dust shroud and clamped its jaws around his throat, blood bursting from cut vessels in his neck. All the ponies nearby were struck with fear as they jumped back and watched in horror at the grounded earthpony struggle in vain as the seemingly possessed pegasus pulled away without dislodging its teeth, ripping Claymore’s windpipe with it. As Claymore finally stopped resisting and went limp the pegasus turned to the next closest guardpony and did the same except with his leg. The guardponies had finally come to their senses and were moving to detach the crazed pegasus but were stopped in their tracks as more ponies rushed from the dust, savaging the soldiers relentlessly. Celestia cried out as another earthpony guard fell by her hooves, a unicorn biting into his hide viciously. Celestia’s head had turned before any further gore tainted her vision, nuzzling her head against Luna’s to shield her eyes from the vile sight. As she looked away from the gruesome battle unfolding around them to the now-dispersing dust cloud Celestia felt her entirety freeze up at what she saw; an armoured blonde stallion was walking out of the ruined gate towards them. Luna’s jaw dropped as she recognised the familiar pony and did a double-take; it was him.

“The game comes to an end when pony ravages pony Princesses.” Sir Rightheart said confidently. Luna felt her throat cease up and upon further inspection noticed that the world around them had as well; guard and feral ponies alike were suspended in midair. Celestia took a step back in shock at what was going on.

“Rightheart?” Luna’s tone was hoarse, having been forced to work despite the incredible sense of disbelief that she was feeling.

“How did you-?” Celestia stopped midsentence; Rightheart’s face had become distorted with a grin that portrayed none of his trademark expressions but instead emanated an unsettling feeling of insanity.

“Rightheart? Who would that be?” Rightheart chuckled with a sinister tone. “Remember Luna, I’m Lackluster Polish, your friendly saviour from the heart of discord itself.” The two princesses stared confusedly at their friend and he simply cackled with pleasure at their hopeless expressions. “Ooh... ‘discord’. That has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? You know what, forget Lackluster Polish, I think Discord will always suit me better. I don’t even remember who Lackluster Polish is.” His grin broadened even further. “Oh, that’s right; he was the escapist that thought he could make a difference and evade my iron fist.”

“You can’t be Rightheart!” Celestia cried out desperately. “Rightheart is a kind and compassionate pony, not a sick and twisted thing like you!” Rightheart cackled again.

“You, my dear Celestia, are a mule and you, Luna, are an ass; Rightheart was just a farce.” The princesses were taken aback by the derogatory comments but were even more confused by the last comment.

“A farce...?” Luna repeated in disbelief.

“Yes, a farce, a game, fabrication; he’s as real as the Night Mare Moon and you all believed in his larger-than-life ideals and skills for over a decade.” Rightheart elaborated, now starting to sound frustrated at having to explain what he thought was an obvious point. “I even tried to give it away yesterday and neither of you had the intelligence to understand without the answers being literally spelt out.” Celestia simply stood on the spot with a look of disbelief, but Luna decided it would be best to finally get all the answers she required.

“If you aren’t Rightheart, then who are you?” Luna asked quietly. Rightheart’s smile literally rotated one-hundred and eighty degrees into a frown.

“You really do need to have it spelt out, don’t you?” Rightheart’s voice distorted more than his face as he reared onto his hindlegs. The alicorns felt an odd wave spread over them as the stallion’s body stretched up into the sky. His appendages transformed from hooves to various animal limbs, while his head seemed to extend into a grey scaled dragon head decorated with horns and fangs.

“Tell me!” The giant creature boomed. “Do you know what a dragonequus is?” Luna looked on, her thoughts reminding her of the same question that had been voiced the day before in her dreams and when she thought about it the booming voice was the same that had been haunting her since then, egging her on and she had followed the directions with minimal resistance. In the moments she watched the stallion transform into the hulking beast before her Luna watched her life flash before her eyes.

‘The end of Princesses Celestia and Luna’s reign.’ That was it; the end and so soon.

“D-I-S-C-O-R-D.” The creature shouted. As its body stopped writhing and morphing the huge beast lowered its head down to the mares’ eyelevel. “And that would be me.” Discord’s voice was much like an old stallion’s, but still sounded teasing and cruel. Celestia couldn’t believe her eyes; it couldn’t be possible.

“B-But this is impossible; you’re supposed to be dead!” She uttered in disbelief. “Mother and father defeated you!” Discord cackled again.

“Because obviously I could be here if that were true; use your head Celestia!” His voice was full of sarcasm and Celestia flushed red under her coat in embarrassment. “You mules and your parents are merely figureheads for a boring world, just as I am the same for the polar opposite; the ying to your yang if you please.” Luna recalled Discord’s explanation from her dream; they’re the embodiment of harmony whereas the dragonequus, namely Discord, were the embodiment of disorder and the lack of harmony.

“Tell me my young mares; do you know about the sacred shrines of Equestria?” Discord asked, changing the direction of the conversation. Without waiting for an answer he continued. “The sacred shrines are hidden glades within each county of Equestria. It was in the shrines birthing pools that we were born.” Luna raised her eyebrows; like what she and Luna had learnt the previous day she had had no idea of this so listened intently for enlightenment. “I propose a race; a competition to decide what happens next.” Both princesses remained silent; it was obvious that they’d have no choice.

“I, being the spirit of chaos and disorder have the knowledge as to where the Treeshroud birthing pool is located; you, on the other hand have no idea where the Everfree county glade is. The task is simple; find your appropriate birthing pool.”Celestia swallowed the lump in her throat and summoned up the courage to speak.

“And what if we can’t?” She asked timidly.

“If you can’t?” Discord chuckled at the comment. “If you don’t find it by the end of the week then your faithful little ponies will turn on one another like what you’ve just witnessed. Ponyville, Canterlot; all of them.” These words made Luna and Celestia’s expressions fall even further. “You have a week young mares.” The words reverberated through the air as Discord vanished before them. The two alicorns could hear nothing but their hearts beating but within seconds sound resumed around them.

“Your highnesses?” Came the voice of a pony beside them. The stallion guardpony looked a bit shaken but otherwise uninjured. “Are you harmed?” Celestia and Luna stared blankly at him for a second before shaking their heads.

“Wh-What are the casualities?” Celestia stuttered, trying her best to sound natural.

“Commander Claymore is dead and three others are being treated for bite wounds.” The guardpony reported. “All of the ponies that were inside the wreckage were neutralized.”

“Very good.” Luna stated, stress evident in her voice. “You have permission to halt progress on the palace for the time being. In the meantime...” Luna stopped for a moment of thought.

“Send word to all remaining commanding officers to meet us later this afternoon, am I understood?” Celestia finished the order. The guardpony saluted in acknowledgement. “When you are finished with that you are dismissed for the day; that is all.” The guardpony seemed to sigh in relief and galloped away to put the order into action. Celestia exhaled heavily and looked at her younger sister.

“Celestia, what just happened?” Luna asked shakily; Celestia just shook her head and turned away, trotting out from the wreckage doing her best to ignore the mangled corpses that lay around them.

“We were all fooled Luna.” Celestia murmured in response without turning to look. Luna could hear the pain that was felt in the words; their childhood friend had merely been a lie and could possibly be their downfall as well.

~*~

Celestia and Luna sat blanketed under their mother’s wings; both had wept upon greeting the two alicorn parents, trying their best to explain the previous events through distorting sobs. When they had finished the young mares had simply sat silently, awaiting a response from their elders that might make their situation any less dire.

“So, Discord has returned.” Orion murmured quietly. “Although, if he is to be believed then he never left.” Sol nodded, nuzzling her daughters gently.

“Celestia, you said that you’re both meeting the commandponies later, correct?” She asked quietly; Celestia nodded in confirmation. “What do you intend to do after that?” Celestia waited for a few seconds before shaking her head.

“I don’t know; we’ll make a beeline for the glade, wherever it is.” Celestia sighed again. “But therein lies the problem.” Luna finally raised her head to talk.

“Mother, father, do you know where the glade is?” She asked, answered with a nod in response.

“It was where you and Celestia were born and where your father and I too.” Sola almost sang. “It’s inside mount Canterlot. If you intend to head there then we’ll be accompanying, just to make the trip that little bit easier for you.” Luna nodded almost solemnly.

“...He played with us.” She murmured disdainfully.

“He played with us all; you must remember that Discord is a gambler of fate.” Orion responded wisely. “He plays life as if it was a game.” Luna scowled at the thought of the recklessness.

“But we must remember that he is no more powerful than we can be.” Sola continued with Orion nodding in agreement.

“Games can go either way; you win or you lose.” The stallion preached, settling down beside his family. “He’s either had good luck to make it this far with his rules or a hand in foul play. It makes no difference though; we must not let him make us believe that we are merely pawns.”

“But he’s been able to conceal himself and pull the strings of Equestria without us being able to do anything about it for so long.” Celestia pointed out but Sola simply shook her head.

“That’s right; he’s been able to pull the strings of Equestria without being noticed.” The alicorn mare said, nuzzling her daughter as she did. “But now that we know of his presence and can make a move to stop him the game should change to our favour.” Celestia didn’t look assured.

“If you’re really sure.” She was finding it hard to believe that there wasn’t some kind of info that was being withheld once more, but what she had heard seemed to fit into place; it would make the task easier to have guidance. “I guess things can only get better.” Orion nodded to assure her.

“We been able to force him to his knees once; we can do it again.”

Chapter 6 - Snake Eyes

There was a forlorn feeling shared by the two sisters the following morning; they had left Everfree City before but they had always been sure that they would return. Discord’s game had played havoc with their heads all night and neither had had much sleep for fear of whether they had the ability to save the citizens of Equestria. When they had set off beside their parents the following morning they had been reassured once more that it was well within their capabilities to complete the task at hand, but that hadn’t seemed to make much difference.
It was a long flight from Everfree city to Canterlot and the young mares had eventually just taken to resting on their parents’ backs. They had long since passed over the small village of Ponyville and could see the incredible peak looming on the horizon. By the time the city at the foot of the mountain had come into sight the daytime light was thinning and the sun would soon have to be lowered. Celestia and Luna had spent some of the journey in slumber, unable to keep their eyes open for any longer and so felt much more refreshed by this point; Sola and Orion didn’t seem to be tired either and hadn’t even broken a sweat getting that far. The group had decided that due to the time restrictions they had best continue straight to their destination without stopping in the city. By the time that they had landed on the mountainside they stopped only to magically move the sun under the horizon and the moon into its place before delving into a cavern. The mountain was supposedly filled with magical energy and Celestia could feel it quite clearly as they walked past the numerous luminescent gemstones that decorated the walls.

“We’re close.” Orion murmured, causing Celestia to look away from the beautiful crystals to see that structure had been carved into the cave walls ahead. Aside from the smoothed rock patterns there were also gargoyles that actually looked more like ponies when carefully examined; as they walked underneath the illumination from both the crystals in the wall and Sola’s glowing horn Luna noticed that whereas one was just a simple pony the others had extra details. A pair of splendidly carved wings was mounted on the sides of one while another had a gemstone grafted to its head.

“This place is amazing.” Luna thought aloud. The older alicorns laughed at the comment.

“It is indeed.” Sola agreed. “It is said that this place was where Equestria was founded and the foundations of harmony and disorder came into existence.” Celestia listened intently while marvelling at their surroundings.

“It is?” Luna asked curiously; she had always imagined that Equestria’s beginning would be more humble.

“It was in this cavern that Princess Platinum of the unicorns, King Puddinghead of the earthponies and Commander Hurricane of the pegasi defeated the windigos and brought unity to ponykind.” Sola continued. Luna and Celestia looked at one another and then back in surprise.

“There were three leaders?” Celestia repeated.

“Where do we alicorns come into the story?” Luna asked inquisitively.

“As your mother just said ponykind wasn’t always united.” Orion answered. “But when the three finally came together and cast aside their differences and contempt for one another their power meshed and became the element of harmony and drove the windigos away.”

“Now the element of harmony isn’t a physical object, but instead an energy.” Sola continued. “This energy is most commonly known to us as the birthing pool.” The two sisters smiled when they finally understood something amidst their confusion but remained silent. “The birthing pool would occasionally discharge energy in the form of pure harmony; the combination of earthpony, unicorn and pegasus.”

“Alicorns.” Luna mumbled quietly; Sola nodded in agreement.

“Exactly.” She said with a chuckle. “This means that we are the physical incarnations of ponykind unity. Now on the other side of the spectrum is disorder; powered by natural feelings between ponies. When the element of harmony was created and the windigos were banished the negative energy that had previously been felt by the three monarchs was cast away with them. Where it landed came the existence of the element of chaos which like the element of harmony occasionally spewed forth energy except in the form of the combination of everything that ponies hated; these beings came to be known as dragonequus.” Celestia frowned at the information.

“So Discord holds the same energy as we do?” She asked.

“Naturally yes, but he is much older than you and Luna and thus more powerful.” Orion stated. “But harmony and chaos share the same origins and therefore cannot directly affect one another, by law of taboo.” Sola nodded at the comment.

“We don’t fully understand Discord’s motives, even after all these years, but if he wanted to harm us then he would have to find other ways of doing so; we’re immune to his magic.” The sisters nodded in understanding; his games seemed to fit the slot as he probably used the ponies of equestria as his bargaining chips instead of anything that could break ancient laws.

It wasn’t long until the alicorns found the passage widening in front of them; there were less statues and higher walls and eventually a large chamber came into sight. The room was dimly lit by a source of illumination on the ground and Celestia could see gargantuan statues at least three times the size of the ones that they had already seen decorate the area in different places.

“Mother, father?” Luna decided to ask as they approached. “Is this it?” Both Sola and Orion nodded in confirmation as the walls eventually vanished to start a cylindrical shape around them.

“Yes Luna, this is the birthing pool; the safest haven in all of Equestria.” Sola announced as they entered the chamber. Celestia and Luna were both taken aback by what they saw; hulking stone pillars and statues were everywhere facing inwards in a circle around a large shining spring, each coated with moss and greenery with occasional flowers appearing here and there. The ground had turned from craggy rock to earth lined with soft turf that felt cool to the hoof. Celestia was amazed at just how much flora there was, especially for a garden that never reached daytime light. Looking up at the ceiling Celestia could see the reflection of the water cast an eerie white glow over its surroundings.

“It’s beautiful!” Luna murmured in amazement before realizing that she was being left behind and trotting off to catch up.

“It is; not only was this the place where you were born but it is also the only haven of solace from Discord’s reach.” Sola sang, sitting beside the lake that spread out before them. As Luna approached she lit up at the sight of the water, although she couldn’t be sure as to why. As she came to the lake’s shore she gently poked the water with a hoof, giggling as the water seemed to follow it into the air before lightly coming to rest on the surface.

“Well, we’re here.” Luna exclaimed excitedly.

“Did Discord say what would happen when you arrived?” Orion asked; curious as to what would happen next. Luna thought and shook her head.

“Of course I didn’t; there was no point.” The deep voice of Discord filled the chamber, bouncing off the walls in a reverberating boom. Everypony was startled by the sudden outburst; surely it was impossible for Discord to reach there. There was a flash of light and an image of three alicorns appeared before them; one mare and two foals. It took a second to recognise the image.

“That’s...” Luna murmured before her eyes widened in disbelief. Another flash came from Sola and within seconds the image had transformed into a much more terrifying one; Discord’s face was plastered in the air in front of them.

“Somepony has been a pair of very naughty fillies.” Discord sneered at the group.

“How?” Orion exclaimed in outrage. “How can you possibly be here?”

“Here? Like, right here?” Discord teased. “The taboo on these places is cancelled out if a being of harmony brings a being of discord into their glade, or vice versa. You should know that.” The dragonequus cackled at the fury on the elder alicorns’ faces.

“What?” Sola’s expression was filled with contempt for the dragon abomination “We would never bring the likes of you to such a hallowed place!”

“Maybe not willingly.” Discord’s voice teased further. “But if you didn’t intend to bring me, yet still did, an exception would still be made.”

“If I didn’t intend to bring you?” Sola seemed thoroughly confused by the comment but nonetheless kept her guard raised.

“Yes; if you didn’t intend to bring me.” With those words Discord’s glowing silhouette flashed and returned to the form of the alicorn family before erupting once more into a puff of smoke.

“Dear Luna, you should be ashamed; defiling a library book like you did.” Discord’s voice rang through the chamber as a scrappy piece of paper fell out of the cloud and drifted down towards the floor. The alicorns looked down at the paper and sure enough there was a cruelly drawn picture of an alicorn mother and her fillies. Luna frowned at the scrap; she had thought it long gone.

“I was a pony for ten years of your life; taking the form of a book for a few days was no challenge.” Discord shortly followed out of the cloud of smoke, almost slithering to the floor like a serpent. “When Luna tore this scrap from my pages she took a piece of me with her. But when she accidentally dropped it I felt like I might’ve needed to rethink my strategy but much to my fortune your beloved mother picked it up instead.” Sola frowned in shame of her foolish actions but managed to contain her composure.

“So what do you intend to do now?” Luna asked through gritted teeth. Discord scratched his chin lazily with a sneer.

“Well, as I said, you and your sister have been very naughty and broken the rules.” He laughed; the mares jumped at the accusation.

“What?” Luna shouted.

“We found the glade like you said!” Celestia argued. Discord chuckled again before leaning down to their levels.

“Oh shaddup; you did not.” The dragonequus tapped Celestia on the nose teasingly. “You went straight to mummy and daddy and got them to bring you; you did no searching at all and for that you must be penalized.”
CRACK
Discord had opened his mouth to cackle at the alicorns again but had been sent hurtling backwards when Orion had loosed a spell at him, hitting him harshly on the side of his head. When Discord looked back up he saw both Sola and Orion standing defensively over their foals.

“Don’t you dare lay a hand on my daughters you filth!” Orion spat in disgust.

“Oh?” Discord’s smile turned even more sinister as he got back to his feet. “And I suppose you’re going to enforce that?” Sola had had enough of listening and decided to loose a spell of her own. The bright yellow wave of energy soared towards the dragonequus but was knocked away almost effortlessly.

“So be it.” Discord’s eyes glowed as the ground began to shake. Celestia and Luna brought their bodies closer to the ground to steady themselves while Sola and Orion spread their legs to support their weight. Luna’s eyes widened in fear as all around the chamber the statues started to glow and twitch. Within seconds the statue of Commander Hurricane had taken wing and was arcing through the air towards the couple. Watching the statue’s movements closely the alicorns managed to parry in time as the pegasus slammed into the floor where they’d been standing. Seconds later they were forced to take evasive action as the stone earthpony lunged at them too, barely managing to keep their balance.
HISS
Both Orion and Sola were thrown backwards into the birthing pool by a magical surge of energy cast at them by the unicorn monolith. Celestia and Luna rushed straight to the water’s edge to see whether they could spot their fallen parents but the illumination from the pool was simply too much to view through.

“Mother! Father!” The sisters screamed in panicked unison. From behind them Discord was laughing maniacally, the statues gathering beside him.

“Pity; I expected more.” The dragonequus sneered at the despairing sisters. “But I guess being struck by an ancient power like that is enough to knock the life out of anything.” Luna shuddered with contempt for the creature before spinning round to face him.

“You monster!” She screamed with blind fury. “How could you?” Discord rolled his eyes.

“Cool your jets; don’t forget you’re still being punished.” Discord continued blankly, completely unbothered by his brutal murder.

“Buck you!” Luna spat, gritting her teeth and only just managing to restrain her urge to kill.

“Gazunteit.” Discord answered. “I think that I’ve made my point though; I never expected your parents to actually take to violence, so their deaths were unplanned. With a loss like that harmony’s place in Equestria dwindles lower and that’s really all I’m after.” Luna stared daggers at the dragon abomination with hatred.

“Mark my words!” Luna growled at her opposition. “I will kill you!” The young mare was seeing red and feeling anger like she had never felt before.

“You do that. In the meantime, here’s another deadline.” Discord laughed again and jumped straight upwards and vanished in a puff of smoke.

“Sure, you cheated on the last task but you still made good time.” Discord’s voice continued to ring through the cave. “We’ll keep the same deadline but this time I need you to leave this place and head to Canterlot. Tell the citizens there of what has transpired here as well as this haven’s location. If you do as I say then return here at the end of the week. If you don’t, the ponies of Equestria will pay the price.” The young mares looked around, but the dragonequus was nowhere to be seen. They waited for any other speech but none was heard. The chamber returned to peace, as if nothing had happened; the monoliths had been returned to their places and the chamber was silent.

“Luna, quickly!” Celestia called suddenly. Luna turned on the spot to see a bubbling in the birthing pool and within seconds a white head appeared, gasping for breath.

“Mother!” Luna cried out, rushing to assist Celestia in pulling Sola from the water. Once that was done they became aware of the huge bleeding gash across her side.

“M-Mother?” Celestia said croakily. Sola smiled softly at her daughters.

“Hello girls.” Sola whispered weakly. “You aren’t hurt?” Luna shook her head rapidly.

“Don’t worry about us; look at you!” She cried in despair. Sola shook her head and chuckled quietly.

“Mine was a fading light.” The words drew a tear-drowned cough from Celestia. “While yours is the rising sun.”

“Mother...” Celestia’s face was already sodden with teardrops as well as water from her mother’s fur. “You’ll be okay, right?” Her voice was shaky but Celestia only just managed to keep her act together.

“Celestia...” Sola lifted a hoof and stroked her daughter’s face. “I’d be lying to you if I said I’d be returning home with you.” That was enough to crack both sisters and they lowered their shuddering heads to rest beside their dying mother’s.

“Your father and I love you enough to make this sacrifice; it’s a parent thing, you’ll understand it one day.” She continued softly.

“How can we do this without you?” Luna cried out, burying her head into the silver fur. “I’m so scared as it is!”

“We trust in your abilities and believe that you will make the right choices.” Sola assured them. “You have friends all around Equestria that are willing to help you, even if we can’t.” Celestia and Luna continued to listen, but couldn’t believe it. “You’ll be alright; I know you’ll be alright. Just look out for one another and you will, understand?” A few seconds passed before either of the young mares made a sound.

“I understand.” They both said together. Sola smiled up at them and raised her hooves to their heads before gently laying them on her neck.

“I love you both so much.” She whispered as her pulse started to slow. Both Celestia and Luna held their breaths as the rise and fall of Sola’s respiration slowly came to a stop. By the time they had raised their heads again her flame had completely petered out. The two mares watched as the deceased alicorn body started to glow and fade away. Inevitably both Celestia and Luna found them clutching their mother tighter than they had ever done before, refusing to let her leave. It was pointless to try as Sola’s body finally vanished entirely.

Minutes passed without a sound before either of the young mares raised their heads. They looked mournfully at one another with hopeless expressions.

“Wh-what do we do?” Luna asked Celestia quietly. Celestia stared back blankly for a few moments before taking a deep breath and exhaling.

“All we can do Luna; mother and father fought to give us a chance and we have to take it.” Celestia answered, trying her best to sound decisive. “Not doing so would make their sacrifice a vanity.” Luna nodded slowly and stood. She felt a mixture of emotions but she that she could restrain some of them; she would have to as she could quite clearly see the effect that all of the stress was having on her sister. Celestia’s usual content face was marred with a distraught expression stained with tears. Under her violet eyes were sties from her recent difficulty with sleeping and along her silver fur and salmon pink mane was a fresh streak of blood running from the tip of her nose to her flank, all the way across. It was evident that Celestia was at her very limit and Luna understood just how close she was to breaking.

“Celestia...” Luna started, shaking her head slightly. “This is too much for me and I know it’s too much for you as well; let’s head to Canterlot and find a place to stay for the night.” Celestia stared for a second, obviously thinking it best if they continued onwards, but not finding the strength to openly disagree.

“Come on, let’s go.” Luna nuzzled her older sister and they both turned to leave the chamber. Celestia’s tears fell once more as they headed for the mountainside, leaving a trail of red droplets upon the rock floor from the blood stains mixing with her sorrow.

~*~

“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! What in Equestria are you doing here?” There were mixed murmurs as the dishevelled alicorns entered the Canterlot meeting hall. Sat in thrones of elegant unicorn design were six mares and stallions that all rose to welcome their unexpected guests. They were Harlequin, Daybreak Sparkle, Goldglitter, Whirlwind Gustburn, Lightbreeze & Ironclad Valorhoof, the stewards of Canterlot.

“My dears, you look a mess! Whatever happened to you?” Goldglitter asked, supporting the shaky alabaster alicorn while magically levitating a cushion towards them and ushering her down upon it. Ironclad approached Celestia and squinted at the red streak across her hide.

“Princess Celestia, is this...blood?” Celestia looked down at her hooves without talking; she would’ve been overjoyed to see the stewards again if it hadn’t been for the previous events. Luna stepped forward, ignoring the pillow that had been positioned for her and decided to tell the tale. She told them of the events in Everfree, how they had corrected the sun and the moon and how they had been tasked with travelling to Mount Canterlot by Discord. She spoke of the truth behind Rightheart and the sacred chamber resting within the mountain and finally the fight between their parents and Discord.

“I...see...” Ironclad murmured. “I am so very sorry for your loss.” Daybreak nodded in agreement.

“We all are; today Equestria has lost a great asset.” He stated grimly. “If there is anything we can assist you with you need only ask us Princesses. We are in your service.” Luna thought for a second, looking at Celestia for a few moments before turning back.

“If you could please accommodate us until our business in Canterlot is complete we would be ever so grateful.” Daybreak nodded with a smile at the request.

“But of course; it is the very least we can do.” Luna smiled back and looked to Celestia who had long closed her eyes in an attempt to restrain tears from developing again through the recollection.

“Goldglitter, Lightbreeze?” Luna asked, rousing the unicorn and pegasus further. “Could I ask you to accompany Celestia to the washroom and keep her company until I am ready to rejoin her?” The words made Celestia look up quickly at her younger sibling, letting a few of the restrained tears roll from her eyelids. Goldglitter and Lightbreeze both nodded.

“It would be our honour Princess Luna.” Lightbreeze chirped sweetly.

“If you’d like to come with us Princess Celestia.” Goldglitter said, beckoning the silver mare to follow her. Reluctantly Celestia stood and managed a side glance at Luna.

“Don’t worry; I just need some time to collect my thoughts.” Luna reassured her. Celestia stared for a moment before nodding and following Goldglitter from the room without a word.

“Princess, would you like us to leave?” Whirlwind asked Luna, but was answered with a shake of the head.

“I don’t like lying to Celestia, but it’s for the best; she needs to rest.” The dark blue alicorn mare stated. “No, what I need is your services.” Daybreak nodded in acknowledgement.

“Well, we’re prepared to hear your wishes and help in any way we can Princess.” He confirmed to her. Luna nodded; she was confident that they would give their all to help her.

“Thank you.” She said quietly. “Now, what I need is...”

~*~

The water around Celestia’s hooves was red with the tainting of the blood stain across her hide. It had already hardened and was proving difficult to move making her glad that she had the assistance of Goldglitter and Lightbreeze. Whereas Goldglitter was marvelling at Celestia’s glorious mane Lightbreeze carefully lathering soap along Celestia’s wings, trying her best to shift the blood.

“Thank you both for your assistance.” Celestia said at last, causing them both to start.

“Oh, it’s really nothing Princess.” Goldglitter assured her, going back to the massaging of the salmon pink mane. “In fact, it’s really our pleasure; it’s been much too long since we last saw you.”

“It was your coronation wasn’t it?” Lightbreeze asked which Goldglitter then confirmed with a nod.

“I believe so.” Celestia murmured. “I remember how proud I was at the time, standing beside Luna and looking down upon the celebrating citizens of Everfree. It was a good time.” Lightbreeze nodded, recollecting the events of the day.

“I can remember just how radiant you looked.” Lightbreeze’s voice almost sounded like a song as she remembered the image of beauty a year before.

There they stood; the queens of Everfree City and the supreme despots of Equestria. Goldglitter looked up the steps at their new leaders. Queen Celestia’s salmon pink mane was tied back with a white rose resting just behind her ear, white petals seemed to flow around her, complimented further only by the wondrous ceremonial golden crown and breastplate emblazoned with topaz resting upon her person. Queen Luna stood adjacent to her sister with similar majesty; Luna’s mane was also tied back and lined with forget-me-knots with similar ghostly petals casting light on her hide alongside her black crown and breastplate, instead emblazoned with a sapphire. Goldglitter had long been regarded as the most beautiful pony in all of Equestria but even after three hours of preparation that morning she had to admit to their outshining radiance; after all, the crowning of new monarchs wasn’t a commodity and was obviously the most prestigious event in the entire kingdom. These young mares had to look their very best. Goldglitter would occasionally pry her eyes away from the glorious sight only to talk of her admiration to another pony nearby.

“They simply must tell me who their fabulous dressmaker is!” She gassed to Ironclad who, although admitting that Luna and Celestia did look stunning, didn’t really care otherwise. “She really has made a spectacular costume, even better than my own I daresay.”

“Shhhhh!” Harlequin hissed at the loudmouthed unicorn who, although making a quick comment on his lack of manners, agreed to do as he wished. “They’re about to make a speech!” Harlequin, who was usually quite spontaneous in his half-wit, was right, as the alicorns had approached the front of the courtyard altar and looked down at the crowd below, waiting patiently for the chattering to stop. A few seconds passed before the crowd became silent, perhaps due to the large amount of ponies shushing one another.

“Our gracious little ponies; ponies of Equestria, of Everfree, of Canterlot, Manehatten, Appleoosa and Cloudsdale. Ponies of our wonderful kingdom, today we accept the honour and duty as your queens!” As Celestia’s words rang through the kingdom a great applause erupted as ponies clopped their hooves repeatedly against the floor, accompanied only by an equally loud cheer.

“I, Queen Celestia!” Celestia continued, the crowd instantly becoming silent again. “I, Queen Celestia, daughter of Orion and Sola, shall take my place as queen of the daytime light with bounty and grace!” Applause broke out again but quietened once more as Luna instead opened her mouth to speak.

“And I, Queen Luna, daughter of Orion and Sola, shall watch over Equestria with pride to continue as the queen of the midnight air!” Luna beamed upon announcing these words and actually let the crowd applaud them; after all, it was as much their day as hers and Celestia’s. When the crowd finally finished their clopping Luna decided to continue.

“We promise to watch over Equestria and all of its inhabitants until the day our reign comes to an end. Let it be known that peace and prosperity shall follow this day; that is our promise to you.” The crowd called out even louder than before and the two mares decided to retreat a little bit, to let the words sink in a bit more before finally announcing the beginning to the celebrations.

“It was from that day onward that you became the beautiful figurehead to our kind.” Goldglitter said, remembering her purpose for being there and returned to lathering the mane. Her speech rang through Celestia’s mind; she had accepted the burden of maintaining peace within Equestria and she had the duty to stick by that. Sure, they had lost their parents, but that changed nothing.

“Princess, I think that’s really all we can do.” Lightbreeze’s kind voice brought Celestia back to her senses. She looked back at where the streak of her mother’s blood had been and saw nothing but clean white fur. She smiled softly at the timid pegasus and nodded.

“Thank you Lightbreeze, Goldglitter.” Celestia said as she stood; it hurt knowing that when she was finished she could never just indulge in her mother’s company as usual, but the day had had to come eventually. There was no point in feeling sorry for herself about it. She had a task to complete and whether she had lost loved ones or not made no difference to that. She felt a soft towel fall over her head and gently dry her mane of excess moisture.

“As we said Princess, it’s our pleasure.” Goldglitter repeated as she magically opened the washroom door to let the alicorn mare leave.

‘Tonight is the time for mourning, tomorrow we return to our duties.’ Celestia thought as she left the room, trailed by the two Canterlot Stewards.

~*~

The streets of Canterlot were lit in a dull orange light from the magical torches tasked with illuminating the streets when the stars could not. The reflection of the lights shone off of the many numerous puddles littering the cobbled roads interrupted only by the occasional hoof stepping through it on its owner’s way to the town square. In the centre was the Canterlot Hall where at the head of the steps to the entrance stood not only the six stewards of Canterlot but also the young alicorn princesses. The call to attention through the city had roused many a pony, all dressed in hoods and capes, a grim sign that had been affiliated with death over many decades. The ponies knew not who had succumbed to death’s grip but nonetheless put aside their raincoats for the black cloaks. When ponies stopped flowing into the square and the crowd looked large enough Daybreak Sparkle finally spoke.

“Citizens of Canterlot, we thank you for your compliance with attending this most grievous event.” He announced to the crowd, his horn glowing as his hood lowered itself. “Tonight sees the end of the lives of two very special ponies to not just Canterlot, but all of Equestria.” There was a grim silence over the town as they listened clinging to Daybreak’s every word.

“Prince Orion and Princess Sola were once our gracious leaders, heading our people to peace and prosperity.” As Daybreak spoke the names the crowd was filled with gasping. The unicorns of Canterlot finally understood why their monarchs stood before them yet did not speak and simply kept their heads lowered from sight. “But tonight saw their final breaths in Equestria and their departure from this world to a higher plane.” Murmuring could be heard from all areas of the city’s populace as Daybreak stood back to let Ironclad Valorhoof take his place, the prior’s hood rising over his head as the latter’s was pushed down.

“Merely days ago Princesses Luna and Celestia blessed Equestria with the sun and the moon.” He called out to the ponies before him. “They found mistakes with their work and sought to make corrections. Upon attempting to do so they found a barrier surrounding their creations and they were forced to search vigorously for a way to break through this unexpected obstacle. When they found a means to bypass the barrier it backfired on them and destroyed Equestria Palace but repaired the sun and the moon. They led the rescue of ponies trapped inside the palace only to find that their sanity and self-control had long gone, not by stress or reasons by our monarchs but instead by one Sir Rightheart.” The name caused uproar through the crowd; it was to be expected, Rightheart had saved more than any one pony’s fair share of lives.

“That’s impossible! Sir Rightheart saved my wife!”

“He couldn’t have done that, he isn’t even a unicorn!”
Ironclad frowned at the comments and stamped his foot, instantly commanding silence among the ponies.

“Sir Rightheart appeared from the ruins as well as the trapped ponies only to reveal that he has been playing a ruse upon the alicorn monarchs, Everfree City and Equestria in entirety. Sir Rightheart was no less than Lord Discord himself in disguise.” More gasps erupted from the crowd; some found it terrifying whereas others refused to believe it and instead saw it as a disgrace to Rightheart’s name.

“Discord tasked our young queens to fly here to Canterlot and so they did, led by Prince and Princess Orion and Sola to a sacred place within the mountain where Discord ambushed them and killed the queen mother and father while they defended our gracious young princesses.” Ironclad was satisfied by this effect; the sound of rainfall was all that could be heard from the stunned square. Moments passed and Luna took a step forward, magically lowering her hood.

“If I may say a few words?” The ponies of Canterlot saw how battered and tired Luna looked; perhaps they were telling the truth. Ironclad nodded and took a step back to give the mare some space. Luna’s expression was blank, as it had been since the encounter but she tried to look confident, clearing her throat before addressing her subjects.

“When we arrived in Canterlot today we expected events to be smooth; we had been tasked with visiting a shrine in the mountain.” Luna called out without interruption. “We planned to arrive, complete our objective and then leave again. That’s what we did; at least two of us did.” A few sobs could be heard from ahead of them; Sola and Orion had been much loved by ponies all over Equestria.

“Lord Discord is infamous for waging the Evershroud war; for taking lives of ponies all over Equestria, for creating a rift of fear between the two halves of our nation and for the false sense of calm that we’ve felt for the past ten years.” Luna started to shake as she cleared her throat again. “Lastly, he took the lives of our mother and father.” A single tear fell down her face but Luna looked less confident and more vengeful and determined.

“We were brought here today by Discord’s planning.” She continued, her voice cracking under the weight of sorrow on her back. “But this is too much; I refuse to stand by and watch Equestria stay his playing board. I refuse to see more lives fall to his trickery. Yes, today we were broughthere by his whim, but tomorrow we send him to the dark depths of Treeshroud where he belongs, never to darken our kingdom ever again!” Shocked murmurings filled the square again as Luna’s preaching turned to a shout.

“Mother and father sacrificed themselves to give us the chance to break free from evil’s grip.” Luna raised her head and her horn glowed with magic, spreading her wings to their full extent. “I promise you all that I will finish what Discord began and what Queen Europa, mother and father and the thousands of ponies from all over Equestria since centuries ago fought for. Peace and prosperity will be ours again and this time without the shadow of Discord hanging over us.” As Luna finished her speech she found others mimicking her action. To her side were the six stewards with their heads raised, horns glowing and wings spread. Luna’s breath was heavy and she felt hot with anticipation. As she waited with her horn raised she noticed other ponies doing the same in the crowd; soon the entire square was filled with the lights. Luna beamed at the sight; Sola had been correct. The ponies of Equestria were willing to help her. She was about to open her mouth to speak when one more light appeared beside her; a stunning light that outshone the others brilliantly. Luna turned her head to see that Celestia had walked forward too; her magic of the day shining like a star in the darkness of the night, illuminating the rest of the horns even further. Luna grinned and laughed aloud.

“Our little ponies! We promise you-” Luna’s voice rang out. “We promise all of you that Equestria will finally return to harmony’s side for eternity!” A great cheer could be heard for miles, easily reaching the cavern inside the mountain.

~*~

“Now this is unexpected.” Discord told himself, stroking his chin in thought. “I would’ve thought that losing their parents would break them, not increase their resolve.” The dragonequus sighed in annoyance.

“Whatever, they may have their ambitions but they’re on my side of the board.” He laughed, throwing the contents of his hands, a pair of dice, into the pool below; almost instantly did the figures of two great mares rise from the water casting a silver glow across the chamber.

“Heh, snake-eyes.” He snickered. “I guess you can’t win them all.”