The Frame of War

~ I ~

Don't Die for a Worthless Cause

The shivering mountain rained rocks against the paved groundings. Earthquakes that spanned no greater than the chamber itself. Power rested here. Tension and pressure compressing and condensing to a singular location. The air, precious oxygen swirled and pulled toward the coffin.

Awakening was nigh.

Princess Celestia bowed her head in spite of the chaos around her. The first lesson a princess learns. Your crown is everything. Shaking and uncontrolled movements caused it to slip. Sharp and decisive ones, calculated movements and momentum would keep it still atop the head.

Chaos approacheth.

“You've all done well to stay with me this far,” Celestia nearly whispered the words beneath the rumbling of the world, and yet, the majesty of her voice drew the ears of the stallions. “But I'm afraid there's no further reason in keeping you all in danger. Flee at once. Seek home and advise yourselves from then on.”

The guards paused in their stumbling, slowing despite the shaking of the world, coming to stand rather still. The falling rocks smashed and crashed into the ground, blowing up into chunks from the impact—leaving no scratch on the metallic flooring. Only pebbles and such things littered across it. But never against or to it.

“Princess Celestia... with all due respect.” The guards had formed a line across the platform a step above, one of then, the one in the middle, stepping forward. The rest looked equally unsure. But to him, they looked and nodded. “No self-respecting guard could dare to flee from your side in terms of peril.”

“Despite the obvious danger?”

“Reason for our existence, is it not? Our use is only found in confronting danger.” The guard shook his head. He exhaled slowly, doing something more, at that moment, than mere breathing. “Times of peace put us on appearance. But our true purpose comes from putting our lives on the line for your sake. Some may mourn for us.”

Princess Celestia stepped before the captain, despite the difference of levels, their eyes coming to meet. She watched him as he gave his final breath—the kind before a grand decision. In their minds and hearts, at least, they believed in their cause. “But if you were to pass, then the world would be lost. Without light to guide us... all of us might as well take the plunge into eternal darkness.”

It wasn't like her to do so.

But Princess Celestia smiled. “Certainly a noble sentiment, captain.”

“One I've staked my life upon, princess.”

“And the rest of your guard feel the same?”

Stutter, but unison nods followed.

“I suppose my guard is filled with noble hearts after all.” Princess Celestia gazed up at the ceiling, cracks and fissures deepening in the rocks above. Everything not the strange metal torn and ground from merely existing close to it. “But sadly, there is no purpose in your staying. My sister has chosen this place as the first to return. What happens between family should stay between family.”

The stallion gazed to one another. It was common for guilt to spring now. Everyone feared to lose their lives. Great willpower—and perhaps suppression—was required to dull their urge to live and strength their desire to die with a cause. One offered a disguised coward's way to live may detest themselves for taking it so easily.

Their conviction weak after all.

“We've already agreed to die, princess.”

“You agreed to die should it serve a grander cause.” Princess Celestia stepped back while boulder crashed into the ground, left and right and behind her. Blasts coming close, some of them inches close. But not a pebble touched her coat nor legs. “There isn't enough time to understand this place. And none of you will be effective against my sister. Regardless of whatever may happen to me—your being here makes no difference.”

She bowed her head. “Except in whether you live or die.”

“At least we'll die with the honour of being a proper guard.”

“And what will your families and friends and other duties of the world think of dying for honour alone? When you can live to tend to other things?” Princess Celestia gestured a hoof down the steps of the structure. Boulders blocking the path were lifted up due to the power of her magic. “Because you are weak and useless here does not signify the totality of your lives. The benefits of being a guard will apply to the coming times where others will not suffice for the task then.”

Princess Celestia did what was not encourage by other princesses.

She bowed to her guards. “Is there any shame in waiting to fight the battle you were equipped to face? Even this battle is not meant to be waged by me. But I must play my part in the grand scheme of it all—lest it all fails. Do not neglect your impact on the general course of fate.”

The guards gazed to another, not one wanting to shame the other, the quality that solidifies the feelings of cowardice in one. The logic wasn't superficial and given with the fullest sincerity a princess could dare to give.

“We'll ensure Canterlot is led properly while you are away,” the captain said upon stepping back, allowing his troops to walk through, ensuring they followed down the path. He was the last to follow—and the only one to turn around. “And we'll come before the sunrise with the entire guard if you do not surface from this place.”

Princess Celestia rose to her height once more. She gazed down the path down, on which, he stood in the middle with. Both of them smiled. She spoke her final words unto him. “Suppose we must take whatever deals we can strike when there is naught time to discuss. Persist well, captain.”

“And I don't need to say the same to you, princess.”

The guards left. The rocking of the chamber halted only for a moment. The guards disappeared into the tunnel just as the shaking resumed. Boulders crashed and pile before the opening, closing it, ensuring none could enter or leave from the passage never intended by the chamber.

Princess Celestia sighed. On legs that wobbled only on the second step, she ascended the steps, daring to approach the crypt not of this planet. The clear glass showed the figure on the other side. No face nor eyes or a mouth. Something living. But no living thing.

She laid her hoof on the glass of such a thing, frost consuming her limbs, dread overtaking her mind, despair laying claim on her heart. Though the return of Nightmare Moon had already left her hollow inside. Nothing changed despite the transition.

It was here the elder sister waited for the youngest.