Dark Descent: The Night Cometh

Princess Luna's hooves clapped against the marble floor as she walked through the adorned hall of the castle. She had received a letter from her sister earlier today to meet her in her chambers late tonight, and she knew if it had to be late, that something was troubling Celestia. She had hoped that she would be able to speak to it tonight, but it seemed that was not going to happen due to whatever troubled her sister. The letter she had written was short and simple, unlike her regular letters that were descriptive to a degree that would make Luna just skip to whatever the point of the letter was.

"Princess," said a couple of Solar guards as they assumed a bowing position as she passed by. She didn't bother responding to them. They were Solar guards for a reason, and Luna had no business to be mingling with the likes of them.

She continued down the hallway as she tried to guess what her sister would summon her for. There have been neogations she had caught whispers of with the Changeling queen, Chysalis, that Celestia had been pursuing. Could this be the reason she needed her? Maybe it was just personal issues that her sister was having? Or maybe Celestia knew the truth.

Luna chuckled to herself as the last thought ran through her mind. There was no conceivable way that Princess Celestia knew about Luna's sin. It had been only two years since she had killed four of the six elements, but no pony suspected her. The kind Fluttershy, the daring Rainbow Dash, the hard working Applejack, and the sophisticated Rarity were all dead by her hoof. She could still hear their wonderful screams and see all the blood that their bodies had spilled for her.

It was almost bliss to replay the images in her mind as she saw Fluttershy's head fall to the ground as she severed it off, and ripping out the organs of a certain cerulean pegasus. She would have to say the best ones were Rarity and Applejack, as they had probably suffered the most. She had ripped Applejack's face clean off and only nerves and muscle remained, and then to finish her, she burned the farm pony and watched as peices of her flesh melted right off of her. Now, Rarity was a sight to behold. Luna had took pride in the way that she killed that defiant unicorn. She had taken the liberty of lodging two beautiful blue gems into her eye sockets, ripping out chunks of her lovely mane, and even biting  her ear clean off her head. She went a step further and ripped off both her cutie marks from her flanks as they had annoyed her. Rarity was ugly to her, as she looked innocent and selfless, but after becoming a dead corpse, and the blood that flowed from her sockets, she was beautiful in her teal eyes.

What was even better about all of this for her? She had turned two friends, two lovers, into enemies. Pinkie Pie was supposed to die that night along with the four, but thanks to Rarity, she had escaped her grasp, but Luna was a smart alicorn, and had planned for such a situation. Frame Pinkie for their death's and have the Element of Magic find her and bring Pinkie to her. Luna fed Twilight a lie of Pinkie being the one repsonsible for killing her friends, and Twilight accepted it broken heartily. She knew that her sister's student would never question a princess, as she was raised with having full trust in one, but it was also her weakness of such trustworthiness. Luna knew that she would have to sacrifice much time if she chose to have Twilight pursue Pinkie Pie, but she was a patient princess, and she would use that time to become more powerful, and when the time came, she would use it to take the throne and rule Equestria.

Now one may call her evil or insane if they knew her thoughts and past actions, but she did not view herself this way. Everything she did was for a purpose. A purpose set by it.

Power.

It was something she never had until it showed her the way. Many moons ago, Luna was weak and useless. She had no desire to pursue power and was comfortable with her feeble self. She was kind, loving, compassionate, and held a high regard for her dear sister Celestia. She only strove to please her, and never wanted to disappoint her again as she did thousands of years ago when she was Nightmare Moon, but one day she heard a voice that she had thought was long gone. The voice of Nightmare Moon had rang in her head, and spoke to Luna of evil thoughts. She spoke to her of how she deserved power, and that her sister was weak and deserved to die. Luna was terrified of such thoughts and desperation took hold of her. She searched for a remedy to silence Nightmare Moon that haunted her thoughts, and came across a book that told of an ancient aritfact named Rebris.

Rebris was a necklace that was forged by the god of chaos himself, Discord. It was rumoured that he created it to help silence his own voices that spoke to him in his mind, but also had the ability to take the power of the elements and channel their power to the wearer, making them into some would say, a god.

Luna had pursued this item, not for power, but for release, and learned the location of such a necklace from Discord himself, but she should have known better. When she had finally found Rebris, she expected salvation from the evil, but instead, she recieved damnation for her choice. Nightmare Moon was released and it consumed the naive princess. Her mind was twisted with thoughts of death and power, her heart was corrupted, as it no longer held love and compassion, but hate and a need for destruction, and her soul became tainted. Nightmare Moon had become Luna, and Luna became Nightmare Moon. They were one, but yet still two. Nightmare Moon was always with her, and guided her on this path that she so willingly took.

This was why the elements had to die. She wanted to become a god, and the only way she could achieve such ambition was through the element's deaths. Once she had all of the elements essences, a power that only the bearers held, she would ascend, as she would call it, and have power beyond imagining. Only Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie remained, and she had plenty of time to wait, for eventually, she would grant them the same fate as their friends

Luna had finally made it to her sister's chambers and proceeded to knock on the door, but was stopped.

"Come in Luna," a muffled voice said behind the door. Celestia had already expected her.

She obeyed and pushed the doors open with her magic and closed them as she entered, as no pony else didn't need to be eavesdropping on whatever her sister had wanted to tell her.

"You summoned me?"

Celestia had her back turned to her as she looked at the small crrackling fire and stood silent, not answering her query. Luna asked once more, as she didn't really want to waste time here.

"We are here sister. You said you had wish to speak to me?"

"You said 'we' again Luna," Celestia said with a chill to her voice.

Luna deadpanned. Celestia had just begun lessons of 'regular' lingo to her a few months ago, but still slipped a few times, but if this is what she called her for, to ridicule her speech, then she needed to leave. She had better things to do like plan how she was going to kill Celestia when her day came.

"Do you plan to ridicule us for our speech sister, or do you have something important to tell me?" Luna asked in annoyance.

"I do, but I need to ask something first," Celestia said as she turned around with a look of dead seriousness.

A sudden chill ran through Luna's spine as she saw the regal's face.

Does she know?!

Her dark mind raced with the possibilty that her sister knew the truth. Something about the look seemed to portray as if she knew something that Luna had done.

"Why the look sister? Have I upset you in some way?"

Celestia walked toward her as Luna could sense the anger boiling in her sister.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

A drop of sweat went down Luna's brow.

She knows! How could she have known?!

Luna kept her demeanor, but was beginning to build up her magic inside of her, preparing herself. If Celestia knew the terrible things she's done, no doubt that she would seek retribution upon her and punish her for such crimes.

"Tell you what sister?"

Celestia came closer to her as she her eyes stared into Luna's. She was so close that Luna could feel the hot air rush out of her sister's nostrils.

"You never told me that YOU tasked Twilight with finding Pinkie Pie," Celestia said with a firmness in her voice as she tried to hold back her anger.

A  rush of relief swept through her. She had thought Celestia had somehow uncovered the truth of her being the one that committed the murders a couple years ago. It would have been unfortuanate if she had to kill the white alicorn so soon, as she didn't have the rest of the pieces set in place to take control yet. Killing her would only be seen as treason, and she certainly didn't need that .

"Twilight Sparkle chose to find Pinkie Pie. I simply gave her my blessing as her princess. I am actually quite surprised you are just learning this sister."

Celestia stomped her hoof as she was obviously displeased with Luna.

"I was quite surprised too when I find out from my Captain that you had tasked my student of finding Pinkie Pie!"

Luna wanted to laugh at her. She had now resorted to a controlled yelling as if it was supposed to phase her somehow.

"It was not your postition to give her that Luna! That should have been my call! She is my student and you were out of your authority to grant her such a task! You must learn that I have to decide around here, not you!"

Anger rose up in Luna as her sister scolded her. She wanted to rip her horn right off and lodge it right through the back of her throat to silence her insolence. No pony was allowed to speak to her this way, even her own sister, had no right nor power to talk to one as superior as her, but she had to play the part, and keep herself from ripping Celestia's heart from her chest. She pressed her muzzle against Celestia's as their eyes narrowed at each other.

"The student that YOU haven't spoken to or written in two years sister?!  She wanted to find her, and I gave it to her. I have been the one that has been tending to her, not you! I even venture to say I'm more of her teacher than you are!"

That hit a nerve and she knew it. She wanted to see the all powerful Princess Celestia lose her temper and give her a reason to put her in her place. Right beneath her sparkling hoof.

She saw Celestia snap as her horn began to glow a yellow aura, but Luna didn't back away.

"How dare you say such a thing to me! I am your sister!"

Laughter spilled out of Luna's mouth.

"What's the matter then sister? Are you upset? You act as if I'm trying to harm you. Do you plan to hurt me for what I said? Wouldn't be the first time as you have done thousands of years ago."

If only Equestria's ruler knew the harm she wanted to do to her. Unspeakable, painful, gruesome harm were the only things that Luna wanted to put upon her.

"Don't test me Luna! That was in the past and I never wanted to do it. You don't understand the daily headaches and pain I go through and if you haven't heard, I'm trying to make peace with Chrysalis so Equestria will be safe! I have a lot on my plate unlike you!

"Then step down if you can't handle it!" Luna sneered.

Her sisters white horn was glowing a brighter yellow but Luna knew she wouldn't try to hurt her. She was too weak to do such a thing to her. All she was spewing excuses, a quality not befitting an authority of power, but Luna wanted to have more fun with her.

"Do you plan to attack me sister?" Luna said calmly as she gave a sly smile and stared intently into each other's eyes. How Luna hated seeing her light magenta eyes...she hated her to a burning degree. If only she could gouge them out...

Celestia stared at her but Luna knew that she had broke her. She could see her lower white lip trembling as she knew she had hurt her feelings. They were no concern to her. She watched as Celestia's eyes began to water and turned away in defeat.

"I'm...sorry Luna. I shouldn't be yelling at you like this. I love you dearly, but must you really say such things to me?"

Princess Luna didn't care for her pathetic feelings. They were just feelings that served no purpose, but she kept her appearance the best she could.

"I apologize," Luna stated flatly.

It was a false apology, as she was actually taking pride in making this weak ruler feel broken and demoilished. Celestia had no idea how much Luna hated her, let alone how much she angered her every single day, so it was nice to see her in emotional distress.

"I apologize also Luna. I should not treat my own sister this way."

You will learn.. she thought to herself in her dark inner eye.

"Let us forget this small qualm then, and get back to the issue that you take offense to. I did not mean to overstep my boundaries, but you have not seen how broken she was. Finding Pinkie Pie will help her vent the feelings she no doubt has, and put it to use. I am only trying to help your student and lessen your burdens."

It was all but a small qualm, but she knew that this was only the first of many to come, but it won't be simple words and looks, but blades and blood that would speak for them, and she would release her of all her burdens... permanently.

Celestia turned back to her, holding the tears that Luna about caused. It was a disappointing for the dark regal.

"I understand Luna, but you must know that she is more than a student to me. She is like a daughter, and I simply don't wish for her to tread such a path. She looks for her friend's murderer, but even if she did find her, those feelings will never go away. Her friends will still be gone, and she will no doubt seek revenge against her."

"Then what will the small unicorn have then Celestia? Without this, she will have nothing, and will end up only destroying herself. She is your student, and she dosen't have the ability to take a pony's life. She knows that if she should find the pink one, then she will bring her to me to set justice for her."

"I suppose so... but I can only imagine how she..."Celestia trailed off and hung her head.

Luna heard a small sniffle from the white alicorn and deduced that she must have began weeping. Such a pathetic sentitment. If Celestia viewed herself as a mother to Twilight, then she was a terrible one. Luna would never have children of her own, nor did she wish to. Foals were beings of innocence. They were a lie. There was no such thing as innocence in this world. Not saying Luna thought herself as a mother to Twilight either, as she was only using her as a means to further her plans, but she knew well enough if she ever had foals, she would simply kill them. They were feeble and weak creatures that only represented lies.

"I'm sorry Luna," Celestia said as she seemed to gather herself from her short moment of soft cries, "I am simply not well is all. I have a lot of things on my mind."

Luna sighed under her breath. This was all nice and fun to see such weakness, but she really wanted to leave.

"Very well then sister, but I must ask if we are done here though. I have some reading to do back in my chambers and some courier's to send off tonight for some very important assignments, not to mention it's very late for you. You will need to be at full alert to run your court in the morning," Luna said in the most sincere tone she could muster.

"Yes, of course Luna, forgive my outburst earlier. I do not mean to waste your time here as I know it's valuable to you."

More than you know.

Celestia's horn glowed a soft yellow as she summoned a scroll that sat atop her fireplace. Luna watched as the parchment with a black sash binding it floated to Celestia, wondering what it contained to be so important.

"What is that sister?"

Princess Celestia opened the scroll and seem to study it for a few moments.She then looked over to Luna to finally reveal what it was she had truly requested her presence.

"I have received a report from one of the patrols this morning."

Princess Luna looked at her in confusion as Celestia paused.

"Why is this important? Celestia, I ask you to just tell me the reason I am here, for I grow impatient," she said with disdain. She not only hated her as her sister, but now she hated her for wasting precious time of her life.

"That's not all Luna. I wouldn't simply ask you to be here for a report unless it was something that I think would be very important."

Tis' true. She knew Celestia well enough that she knew better than waste her time with such mundane news.

"Anyways, there has been a sighting outside the skirts of Canterlot that I think will interest you."

Luna cocked up her brow in curiosity, now eager to hear.

"And what would that be?"

Celestia levitated the piece of parchment over to Luna, and she now took control of it with her magic as she brought it to her face. Her eyes went large, not in shock but sudden excitement. It was like fate was looking down upon her and smiling on her, for what this seeminglty small report held was something that would significantly speed up her plans.

Your Majesty, Princess Celestia:

Your Solar guard were making their daily patrols around Canterlot this early morning and have came back and reported something that I think that may interest your highness. I have recieved reports from multiple patrol teams that they have caught glimpses and few sightings of a cloaked pony with a curly pink tail on the outskirts of the city. I send this to you for you are my Princess.

Loyal Subject and General,

Blaze

There was only one pony with a tail like that.

The pony that had gotten away.

The pony that had gone into hiding.

The pony that was now going to be dead, as she should have been two years ago.

She said the name as she pictured the party pony.

"Pinkie Pie."