Eclipsed Deceptions

Luna ran as fast as she could down the halls towards her sister’s room. She would occasionally bump into a guard or another pony who was still up and roaming the castle. She had finally made it to Tia’s corridor and sprinted towards her bedroom, still holding the two stones in her mouth. Luna had just about made it to the door when a stinging sensation pulsed threw her skull. She knew this feeling. Luna had experienced this just days ago. The navy alicorn shut her eyes as she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

Luna opened her eyes but couldn’t make out a difference between them being open or closed. It was very dark where she was. Luna stood up knowing what was bound to happen here. A voice in the distance echoed.

“Luna, welcome back. I must say, I am very disappointed in you. Your studies, your, ‘need to know the truth’. .. It will destroy us. You realize that don’t you?”, Luna took a step back though she had no clue where the voice was coming from.

“Destroy us? What do you mean?”

“Some things are better left unknown. The world is not yet ready for this discovery. “, Luna felt a hoof across her cheek.

“No…”, Luna shook her head. “I’m letting everyone know of this! This is important! Equestria must know! You don’t control me!”, Luna panted from lack of breath. Silence emerged from the darkness but was shortly cut off by the voice.

“Hmph! Bravery, It will not get you far! Fine! Tell your sister! You will get what’s coming to you.” A bright light emerged from the distance and was quickly heading for Luna. It blinded her. She shut her eyes again. The light that passed threw her lids began to fade as Luna peeked. When she had opened her eyes she found that she was standing outside her sister’s room. The two stones lay on the ground together.

Celestia was reading letters from her subjects when she sensed something outside the door. “Ah. Luna dear.” She stood up and walked towards the doors to open them for her sister. When she had opened them for her sister she glanced down, yet there was no one there. “Strange, I could have sworn that Luna was just here.

Two days had passed, Luna had not come out of her room. Celestia knowing her sister’s condition after their parents deaths, she decided to check on her sister. Walking down the halls towards the lunar towers, thought and images rushed through her head. She tried to ignore them, saying, “Luna wouldn’t do that.” Or, “That could never happen.” Yet she felt like something was wrong. Celestia halted outside her sister’s room, gathering her strength. She placed a hoof on the door and opened it slightly. She walked into the Lunar sweet where she stopped in her tracks. Her sister was nowhere to be found in her room. Instead she found that the medicine cabinet was empty jars spilled onto the floor. Her mother’s recipe and the glass jar that contained, was gone. Next to the bed lay the broken pieces of the once beautiful snow globe. Its mechanics where ripped out and the four figurines appeared to look sad as they lay on the wet floor.

…

A flash of images rushed through Luna’s mind. One of the moon, one of bubbles dancing as they make their journey to the surface of a spring, an image of 6 shinning lights and an image of her sister smiling as she began to appear further away. She tried to run after her, but it was no use. She just became smaller and smaller through proportion. “Tia!” Luna called out. She opened her eyes to find that it was a dream. Her awakening was greeted by the warming rays of the sun. She sat in a field of grass, still damp from the morning dew. Strange plant life grew around her. Trees with curled branches and flowers in a multitude of colors grew far larger than she usually had seen them before. The stems reaching up, allowing the pedals brush against her chest. Crystal clear water hiding in the flower’s shade sparkled and shone. Violet mountains stood in the background. A slight wind blew in her face, the smell of lilac and lilies welcomed her senses. Luna had never seen a place so beautiful before in her entire life.

She stood up, fully enjoying her surroundings, though she did not know where she was. “I have to figure out where I am and how I got here. Every journey begins with a single step.” She placed a hoof down in front of the other and a strange sound met her ears, the clanking of metal. She looked down at her hooves to see that they were covered in armor plates. A pink shade glowed off them as they were hit by the sun. She noticed the metal on her hooves were accompanied by a matching plate upon her chest and shoulders. Even her crown had changed from its basic night black shade with a bright pink glow. The armor was marked with flower and vine patterns, all curling into spirals and waves.

“Pink really isn’t my thing, but it sure is pretty. Where did it come from?” She had many unanswered questions.

Looking for a destination she stared at her surroundings. It seemed that the field went on for miles, yet mountains in the distance suggested otherwise. She stood underneath a swirling tree in puzzlement. “Where to start?” she thought. Her concentration was interrupted by a voice behind her.

“Lost? I’d suggest going west.”

Luna turned around to find a colt. He leaned up against the twisted tree. His mane and tail was black and untidy, sticking out in large spikes, yet it seemed to suit him well. His coat was a dark brown shade and appeared to be well groomed. His eyes were a bright blood red that pieced Luna’s soul. He too wore armor, but his was black with red details of spirals that matched his eyes. His hind legs were concealed by metal and leather black boots, while his front legs were free of any cover. Luna didn’t like the looks of this character but had no clue where she was or where she was going next.

“West?” She asked slowly approaching the situation with caution.

“Beyond the mountains to the west is a place called ‘Sanctuary’. There you will learn where you are and why you are here.” The colt said still staring at the ground, covering his face.

“Sanctuary? Well I don’t know where I am and I don’t have much of a choice on where to go so that what I’ll do. Tank you… uh. I’m sorry I didn’t ask what your name was.” Luna turned to face the western mountains.

“My name isn’t important. Just think yourself lucky you found me and not any of the others.” He grinned.

“Others?” Luna was confused and a bit worried.

“Yes. Now go you have a long way to travel and not too much time. If you don’t make it to sanctuary by the eclipse of the third day you’re stuck here.”

Luna stopped in her tracks “Stuck here? Where is here-“ Luna turned back to the mysterious colt but found that no one was there. “Hmm… Well, you heard what he said. I have 3 days to get there.” Luna began to walk towards the west through the brush of the fields, unknowing of the danger that lay past the horizon.

Morning of the 1st Day…

A bag of supplies lay at the edge of Celestia’s bed. The white alicorn was preparing herself for a long search ahead to find her beloved sister.

“Where would I start? Oh, I hope she is okay.” Celestia looked at herself in the mirror sobbing. “I’m an awful sister. She could be hurt, or worse. What do I do?” She shut her eyes and a single tear traveled across her cheek and dripped onto the floor. The splash echoed through Celetia’s mind just as images of her sister did.

A Blue light peeked its way through Celetia’s lids. She opened her eyes to find that the puddle of tears had been glowing.

“Wha?-“

The light grew brighter and blinded her. When she gained back her vision she realized that she was standing in a white void.

“H-hello?” She was confused, waiting for an answer from somepony. “Anyone there?” A voice began to ring in her ear.

“Tia, you have to find Luna.” The voice was calming and eased Celestia’s confusion and sadness. “Passed the Everfree Forest is a stone temple. This place is called ‘Sanctuary’. Find it, and it shall lead you to Luna.”

“Luna?!”
Celestia suddenly felt weak and her eyes began to close putting her into a sleep. Images flashed through her mind. One of a child, one of a river, and an image of 6 lights. The lights began to spin around a black figure. The figure came into the light and took the form of Luna. The six lights danced around her chanting a strange language, The lights then vanished as Luna followed. In the background an image of the moon appeared.

Luna awoke to find that she was at the side of her bed. Her bag packed. Celestia knew what needed to be done… She had to head to the Everfree Forest.