Ponid-19

Luna turned about and whistled at one of the guards. She knew how to use her own appealing figure and scintillating blue eyes in order to get what she wanted. She used to do it with palace guards all the time when she was younger, knowing that most of them were single and absolutely starving for a mare’s attention. She also realized how lonely it got working in the castle all by one’s self, or with another stallion or two for company. They could make friends with each other, but they needed a pony of the opposite gender to really complete their lives. She assumed that the scenarios were the same in the dungeon, and she was absolutely right. The guards could not resist her batting eyes and wiggling rump.

“Oh, boys…?” The Princess of the Night called irresistibly, “could you come and help me for one tiny moment?”

The guards turned and she flashed them a smile. Instantly, they were smitten and seemed to float over to where she was. She gave them both a small kiss on the cheek in supposed gratitude. But, in reality, she was instilling her hypnotic magic within their minds. One more flash of her eyes, and they would be her puppets. She had forgotten how much she enjoyed using her spells to get everything her heart desired, but then she remembered the vow she had taken to never use them for selfish purposes again. Celestia, ironically, forced her to swear to it after she returned from her lunar exile. Now, she needed it to work for the freedom of Equestria.

She flashed her eyes in just the right way, and they became spellbound. “Listen and heed my command,” she spoke in a deep and beautifully regal voice, “my sister hath chained Equestria to a terrifying illness all for the sake of her own gain. Thou must let us and our friends out of the dungeon so that we may do battle with her and save everypony. Thou shalt go and procure the key from that ledge over there and unlock the door. We promise thee, when this is all put into the past, that thou shalt be rewarded bountifully for thine service to thine country. Now, go!”

The guards seemed to move as one, heading to the ledge and using their magic to pick up the key. They brought the shiny gold implement over and placed it into the lock, allowing the captors to go free and receiving two more kisses from Luna. She smiled and slowly ordered them to lock themselves into the cell, promising to free them when it was all over. They did so, and Luna shut the door tight and removed the key. She asked Kite String to watch it while she was in battle, and the eager filly nodded and took it from her.

“Alright,” Luna said, “the hypnosis will wear off in ten minutes. Normally it’s a twenty-four-hour thing, but my sister took so much of my power that I could only cast it for that length of time. But, no matter. It’s given us plenty of time to escape. Now, friends, to your duties…and may the sun and moon guide your paths.”

Rose Garden and Smooth Boulder nodded and took off for the castle exit, heading to Ponyville to warn Twilight and the others. Luna looked down at Kite String and nodded before they headed upstairs towards Celestia’s chambers. Luna had never galloped so hard in all her life, and the weakness she had received from her sister threatened to envelop and destroy her. But she pressed forward, hurrying along and leaving Kite String in the dust.

“Your Majesty!” Kite suddenly squeaked, “wait for me!”

Luna skidded to a halt, and turned to let the foal catch up. Then, the two were off again, only this time Luna put Kite on her back and took off flying with every ounce of strength in her being. When they arrived outside of Celestia’s door, Luna set Kite down and instructed her to keep watch. Then, she crashed through the doorway and beheld a terrifying sight. She saw her dear friend Starlight Glimmer strapped to a metal table, crystallizing into nothing more than a member of the Canterlot Statue Garden. The light purple Unicorn’s blood was turning solid, and Luna knew that time was precious.

She then beheld her sister, rainbow mane flowing and eyes dancing as always. But her orbs seemed to trot to a different tune than before. This time, they were dancing evilly and seemed to mock the weakened moon raiser. Within them, Luna saw the fires of Tartarus and a terrible fate for Equestria were she to lose this fight. It was a microcosm of what had been, what was, and what she was trying to stop from becoming true. Celestia held Equestria in her hooves, and it was Luna’s duty to break it away from her. She breathed deeply and then advanced, picking her way around the glass she had broken in her grand entrance.

Celestia looked shocked. “How…how did you escape?!”

“You didn’t take all of my powers, ‘dear’ sister!” Luna yelled, “I was able to seduce and hypnotize the guards!”

“UGH! THOSE MORONS!” Celestia howled, “I should’ve known better than to give them charge over you and your friends. I should have KILLED THE LOT OF YOU!”

“Hindsight’s 20/20, my sister,” Luna smirked.

“You dare to insult ME?!” Celestia asked.

“If the horseshoe fits …” Luna smirked again.

“Oh, shut up, you whore!” Celestia shrieked, “I still have the antidote, and there isn’t a thing you can do about it! I will rule Equestria with my sickness until the very end of days, and you cannot stop me!”

Luna sighed and looked at the ground. “What happened to you, Celestia? You used to love ponies…”

Celestia sneered. “That was before I realized just how tremendously wonderful it was to rule Equestria alone. I made all the decisions, and I did not have to rely on you or Star Swirl or anypony!”

“If our dear mentor could see you now,” Luna said sadly, “it might crush him…and I know it would crush our parents!”

“Parents, shmarents,” Celestia said in a foal-ish voice, “I will do whatever I want! All private businesses, private lives, and privacy shall bow to me! All ponies shall have their lives in my hooves, and I will save whomever I want and kill whomever I want! This sickness is my own, and you won’t take it from me!”

“I will do what it takes to free Equestria,” Luna said, “and if I have to kill you to do that…so be it.”

“Fine, then,” Celestia said, “come at me…”