The flight back to Canterlot was long, dull, and uninteresting. Tirek did not stir for the entire journey, being little more than a mass of weight in Celestia’s magical aura. Not that she would be particularly concerned if he did awaken. A tiny part of her, one she tried not to pay attention to, almost wanted it to happen so that she could have the excuse to beat him some more.

It had felt good to be on top again, to thoroughly defeat her enemy as she had done in the past. But now that the battle was over, it was dawning on her that the way she had fought had been unbecoming. She was growing increasingly glad that Rainbow hadn’t been present to witness the confrontation. Setting aside the potential risk of her coming to harm, there was just the fact that Celestia did not want Rainbow to see that side of Celestia come out. Not again. She recalled for a moment how it had felt to become Daybreaker. This had been a similar feeling, if thankfully far less intense.

Still, just to be sure, she kept her mental guard up, and another fire spell ready to go at any moment.

In time, the clouds of the darkening sky parted before her, and Canterlot became visible. One layer of tension was shed, but another replaced it. Tirek needed to be contained while they worked out how to relieve him of the magic he had stolen. There were few places in the city that could house him for long. Only one came to mind, and she didn’t much care to return to it. But with no other options coming to mind, she grit her teeth and began her descent.

She didn’t waste time with formalities. Not wanting the civilians to see her hauling a big red centaur around, she lit her horn and started channeling magic. The moment she was in range, she focused and flung both herself and her limp prisoner into a teleport. The world snapped, surged, and flashed around them, before the two emerged in a new environment.

It was dark, dreary, cool, damp, and immediately oppressive. The light from Celestia’s horn beat back the darkness, revealing a corridor made of stone blocks and bricks as old as the city itself. Doors made of ancient stone and steel, their surfaces etched with warding arcane runes, lined the walls, each one leading to a claustrophobic, heavily enchanted cell. Torches set in sconces at even points along the walls blazed with eternally bright magical flames, but those flickering fires seemed to be losing their forever war against the darkness of Canterlot’s oldest, deepest dungeon.

A pair of alarmed yelps greeted her as she appeared. Looking up, she beheld a pair of lunar guards standing before her, already pointing their spears away from their princess as they realized who she was. Their faces were contorted with shock, eyes wide and jaws agape. “Your highness?!” one of them exclaimed before dropping into a low bow. Her fellow hesitated for only a fraction of a second before bowing with her.

Celestia turned to them both. “Rise and listen. My sister will be somewhere in the castle. I need you two to retrieve her and send her to me at once. I need to speak with her.”

The mare lifted her head, tilting it to one side. “Is it urgent?”

“It is time sensitive,” Celestia replied before glancing back at Tirek. She scowled. “And hazardous. Do as I command.”

The two guards did not need to be told twice. Standing tall, they threw salutes before turning and galloping off down the corridor. Celestia watched them go until their fluttering tails vanished up the stairs heading to higher levels, then turned and scanned the doors for one that would be empty. She shuddered, a tingle of old disgust creeping up her spine.

I wish I never had a need for this place.

Most of Canterlot’s detention centers and dungeons were of a considerably nicer make in the modern day. Criminals needed to be contained, but the brutality of the olden days had fallen out of favor as the centuries had dragged on. In Celestia’s experience, chains and shackles did little and less to bring a common bread thief to a better place. But there were some evils that just couldn’t be handled conventionally. And as such, the deepest, lowest levels, where the truly irredeemable and dangerous were kept, had not been changed in centuries, save for increasing security measures.

Celestia’s eyes lingered on the cell at the far end, in particular. Additional arcane runes had been carved into the frame around the door, each one faintly pulsating with light. Containment runes. Within that secured vault, Discord’s statue lingered. Celestia did not imagine that those additional runes would do much to contain him when he eventually escaped from stone again, but it made her feel better. And it kept the nobles of Canterlot from getting on her case.

Tearing her eyes away from the sealed vault, she approached the nearest cell and tossed Tirek inside. He groaned quietly as he hit the old stones, but did not otherwise rise. Satisfied, Celestia quickly secured his chains to the walls. Once she was certain that he was as secure as she could make him, she stepped back and closed the cell door with a deafening clang. A quick twist of her magic later, and the several layers of locks clicked into place. With that, Celestia breathed a sigh of relief.

And then it was quiet and still. Celestia did not move from her spot, staring at the door and allowing the chaotic blur of the last few hours settle over her shoulders. A knot of tension between her shoulder blades began to unravel, but there was no relief to be had in its absence. Instead, she felt only a growing pit of something she did not want to consider. She licked her lips and took a step back from the door.

Minutes passed, and with each one, her discomfort redoubled again and again. She tried to dismiss it as the nerves of the dungeon getting to her, but found she could take no comfort in that idea. She had not felt like this when she’d sealed Discord away, or any other time she came down here.

The hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end.

Her horn lit and flared with magic, casting bright sunlight through the entire dungeon. She spun on her hooves, sweeping the glow around to locate the intruder. Her eyes narrowed, her teeth grinding together. But there was no sign of anyone. Not even a mouse.

She frowned, maintaining her vigilance for a few minutes more before letting the magic fade. She rubbed the side of her head, taking a deep breath. “Gah! Get a hold of yourself, Celestia. You caught him. It’s over,” she mumbled, trying to convince herself.

“What are you ranting about, sister?” Luna’s voice suddenly called from down the long hall. Celestia jumped in surprise, then turned to face her. Her sister approached at a brisk pace, followed closely by Squall Dreamer, his lunar guard armor rattling quietly with every step.

Celestia gave a smile that did not reach her eyes. “Nothing. Just nerves,” she assured, not wanting to worry her sister — or worse, jinx anything.

Luna quirked her brow, but thankfully did not press the matter. She approached and glanced at the nearby cell door. “He is contained?” she asked.

“By chain, stone, steel, and spell, yes,” Celestia replied, turning to follow her gaze.

Luna’s lips twitched up into an impressed smile. “That was fast.”

Celestia huffed. “I was not going to give him the chance to hurt anypony else,” she said before nodding to the cell. “Especially not after what he did to my student. She has enough to deal with as it is.”

Luna glanced at Celestia, sizing her up with a grim frown. “By the looks of you, he did not come quietly,” she noted.

Celestia’s wings ruffled against her side, and she twitched when the growing bruise on her face reminded her of its presence. “He tried to resist. He failed.”

Luna approached the cell door and popped it open with her magic to peer inside. She gave a low whistle that echoed in the room and around them in the hall. She pulled her head out and closed the door, giving Celestia a questioning look. “Are you quite certain he is alive?” she asked incredulously.

“I showed restraint,” Celestia assured.

“He does not look like someone who received your restraint, Tia,” Luna noted.

“He breathes,” Celestia replied, allowing a small note of venom to creep into her voice. “And he will trouble us no further.”

Luna narrowed her eyes disapprovingly, and Celestia realized what she was doing. She mentally chastised herself for the moment of anger, lowering her head.

Nearby, Squall looked between the two of them. He must have sensed the tension, and wanted a way out. He bowed his head at Luna. “Your majesty, is there anything you need me to do? It looks like the threat is ended, so…”

Celestia hesitated, the words catching in her throat. She wanted to say ‘yes,’ but…

“So it would seem,” Luna assured him, beating Celestia to the punch. “That said, he still bears the magic he stole from Twilight Sparkle, and at least one other. I do not need you here just now, but I do need you to organize a defense of this room. I want two ponies guarding this door at all times, one near, one far. In the event our prisoner breaks free, nopony is to engage him. They are to withdraw and notify myself or my sister at once. Understood?”

Squall shot to attention and threw a sharp salute. “Yes, princess! Right away!” he said before turning and cantering off at a brisk pace. Celestia watched him go, and a genuine smile appeared on her face.

“I recall when he was just a fresh-faced recruit shortly after your return, sister. He has come far in such a short time,” she noted, remembering briefly the youthful thestral when he joined them against Sombra in the Crystal Empire.

“He is a capable soldier and has proven himself to me time and again,” Luna replied before staring at the cell door. Her smile vanished, and she gave Celestia a sidelong glance. “But do not think to distract me with compliments directed at others. You are troubled. And you allowed yourself to submit to your anger, didn’t you?”

Celestia flinched and looked away in shame. “I… did not realize it in the heat of the fight,” she admitted. “But yes. I was angry at him for what he did to Twilight. For how much he scared and angered my daughter, too.”

Luna sighed and stepped closer, lifting a hoof to gently lift Celestia’s chin. “You are truly a mother bear when it comes to those two,” she said softly. “I suppose we should just be grateful you did not submit fully.”

Celestia nodded. “I am in no danger of Falling, sister. I felt it once. Never again.”

Luna nodded quietly, then stepped back, apparently satisfied. “Good. But something else troubles you… does it not?”

Celestia returned her attention to the door, narrowing her eyes. “Is it that obvious?” she asked.

“I know your tells, sister. What is on your mind?”

Celestia hummed quietly, trying to think of the best way to put the feeling into words. After several long seconds, she sighed, shook her head, and turned to face Luna directly. “I do not know. But I somehow fear that the threat has yet to fully pass. Tirek is defeated and contained, and yet my heart is not at ease. I feel… dread, sister.”

Luna hummed quietly, her eyes lowering in thought. “Though I am loath to admit it, I fear I am enduring a similar feeling. When last Tirek stalked our lands, it was a struggle to contain him. And every threat that has come for us since my return has pushed us to the brink. But this?”

“It’s too easy,” Celestia finished, giving the door a stern glare. “He ruffled my feathers when we fought, but little more. It was invigorating to finally feel powerful again, but that elation passed quickly. Perhaps I am simply too used to having to let my daughter and her friends spearhead the charge against danger.”

“I would not think it is so trivial,” Luna countered, stepping closer to Celestia’s side. “You and I are both sensitive to the habits of fate and history, you especially. If your experience tells you we are not done, then we are not done.”

Celestia nodded grimly, then took a step back from the door. “Well, regardless. Nothing will be accomplished if I stand here, moping in the dark,” she relented before flashing a small, teasing smirk in Luna’s direction. “That was always your habit, anyway.”

Luna blinked, then huffed in mock offense. “I do not mope. I contemplate.”

“Ah. Sophisticated moping, then.”

“Sister.”

Celestia chuckled, at least one layer of tension falling from her shoulders in that moment of normalcy. She leaned over to draw Luna into an affectionate side-hug, nuzzling her. “Forgive me. I needed a chuckle.”

“Must it always be at my expense.”

“You are my little sister.”

Luna’s deadpan glare deepened. Celestia did not press the matter any further, and the two shared one more giggle. They disentangled from the embrace, and Celestia turned for the stairs. “Either way, I will feel much better about all of this once Twilight has her magic back and Tirek is chained in Tartarus again. I will begin preparations. As you’ve already started, would you mind—”

“I will ensure Tirek does not get free,” Luna assured Celestia with a nod. “Squall is capable. He will put the very best of the Lunar guard on the project, and I will observe from the safety of the shadows. This foe will not escape my sight. If he should try, he will find my wrath waiting for him.”

Celestia paused. “I… almost fear what that might look like,” she said before turning to face Luna one more time. “Just promise me you will be careful, sister. All it takes is one moment when your guard is down.”

Luna nodded. “Fear not, Tia. I shall remain vigilant. Now go. Sparkle will want to know the thief has been apprehended.”

Celestia tried to think of something more to add to the discussion, but nothing was forthcoming. And so, with a shallow nod, she turned and trotted quickly out of the dungeons.

In the darkness of the dungeon, concealed in the shadows that filled the gaps in the brickwork, they watched. A squirming sensation of irritation came over them as Luna took up a position nearby Tirek’s cell. They spoke.

“She watches. We can do nothing, for now.”

“She is alone. We can bring her down.”

“And reveal us to them all in the wake? Foolishness. We wait.”

“We are sick of waiting.”

“We have waited a long time. We will wait as long as we must.”

They shifted, then settled.

“Fine. But only as long as we must.”

Luna’s ear twitched, and she glanced toward the wall, but the shadows had gone.

Author's Note

This chapter was tricky to get up to where I needed it to be. A shorter one, with a lot of peering at Celestia's thought processes. And that shadow...