Chapters 1000 years ago
Celestia staggered up the stairs, beaten and bruised. The feathers of her wings were ruffled and she limped with each step. However, her mane and tail continued to flare upward like the flames they so resembled, unconcerned with her sorry state.
A loud crash from elsewhere in the castle made her flinch. She looked around, fearing that her sister had found her.
For several long seconds she waited as nothing happened.
She relaxed and continued onwards. It was not long before she reached her goal, the Elements of Harmony. Celestia smiled to herself. They would give her the power she needed to defeat Nightmare Moon.
Technically she only need the Element of Magic, but none of the strange artifacts seemed to work without the presence of the others. It was one of their many annoying limitations.
The limitation that irritated her the most at the moment was the fact that they were incapable of being used in a lethal manner. The Elements of Harmony simply would not respond to any attempt to use them to kill. That little detail had almost resulted in Celestia and Luna's defeat when they had attempted to use them on Discord. Only Luna's quick thinking had saved them there, using them to permanently imprison him rather than kill outright.
And now she was going to use them on her sister. Celestia smiled to herself, thinking about where she would place her new Nightmare Moon statue. In the castle courtyard where everypony could see her victory perhaps? In the gardens with Discord? Or...
Celestia glanced out of a window at the night sky. Her smile broadened. She had a better idea.
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"Ah, there you are Celestia. I had though you had run off like a coward. Are you ready to bow before me and submit to my rule?" Nightmare moon smirked at her.
Celestia refused to show any weakness, despite the fact that their last encounter had definitively shown that Nightmare Moon was stronger than her.
"Actually, sister, I had a better idea. You see, you have inspired me." Celestia replied with a confidant smile.
"Oh?" Nightmare Moon frowned down at her elder sister. "Explain youself."
"I am going to get rid of you and your beloved night. Once I have defeated you I will bring about an endless day." Using her telekinesis, Celestia levitated the Elements of Harmony around her head. "Really, I don't know why I didn't think of this before."
"Wait. Are those the Eleme-"
A beam of pure white light shone from Celestia's horn and struck Nightmare Moon in the chest. Nightmare Moon screamed in outrage. Celestia tuned it out, focused on ending her sibling rivalry problem permanently.
Nightmare Moon writhed and cursed in the beam of light but was unable to escape it. Helpless, she lay pinned to the floor.
Celestia realized something was wrong. The Elements were resisting her. She focused harder and felt a slight give in whatever was blocking the full release of power.
Nightmare Moon was saying something now, but Celestia didn't pay any attention to it. She needed all her concentration to overcome this resistance. She could feel it weaken under her relentless assault. Just one more push and...
Something broke.
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Celestia groaned as consciousness returned to her. Her head ached and her thoughts didn't seem to be flowing the way they should. She struggled to think of what she should be doing. Something about Luna?
Celestia slowly raised her head and looked around the ruined room, brushing limp pink hair from her eyes. Where was Luna? Why did the room seem bigger than it should? And what caused those massive holes in the walls?
Celestia lurched to her hooves and stumbled over to the largest hole feeling very weak. Her eyes gazed through what should have been solid stone into the night sky. Looking up she could see Lunas's moon hanging in the sky.
Something was wrong with the moon.
Celestia's heart beat faster and her breathing quickened as she stared at the image of a mare that had seemingly been burned into the surface of her sister's favorite feature of the night sky. Memories came rushing back along with a sickening sense of guilt.
"No. Nonono... nonononono..." Celestial backed away from the sight mindlessly. This had to be a bad dream. She would never do that to her loving sister. She would never use the Elements to... The Elements!
Hope flared in Celestia's chest. If the Elements of Harmony were capable of banishing her sister to the moon, then they should be able to bring her back. They could probably even fix the strange madness that had afflicted her. Everything was going to be ok, she told herself. Everything could be fixed.
Celestia rushed back to the place where she had woken up. She could see the gemstones glittering dimly in the moonlight. As she got closer she slowed her mad scramble and attempted to calm herself. Was this all of them? Loyalty, Laughter, Kindness, Magic... wait.
Horror gripped Celestia's heart as she looked at the massive crack in the Element of Magic. She remembered the sensation of something breaking as she banished her sister. The Elements were the embodiment of friendship and she had used them to drive away the one pony she cared about most.
She had broken the Elements of Harmony.
Celestia clung to a tiny spark of hope. Maybe the damage wasn't so bad. Maybe she could get one last use out of them to bring her sister back. Carefully, she reached out with her telekinesis to pick up the Element of Magic.
The moment the Element of Magic left the ground it split completely in half. The two halves hovered for a second before crumbling into dust which was blown away on the wind.
As she watched the remaining Elements transformed themselves from glittering gemstones into lifeless rocks. Celestia could have sworn her heart had done the same.
Completely stripped of hope, Celestia hung her head and let the tears come. Brokenly, she wept for the sister she would see every night but never again hold.
Dragon Attacks Canterlot!
The newspaper headline silently shouted its message from Twilight's kitchen table. The owner of both table and newspaper paced nearby, steadily working herself into a frenzy.
"...It could be even worse than that! What if Luna was actually killed? They might not report that right away. Or what if it got Celestia? Or both of them! What would we..."
"Sweetie, I'm sure it isn't anywhere near as bad as that." Rarity desperately attempted to comfort her friend. She managed to give off a refined air even under these trying circumstances and despite the fact that she had rushed out of her home the moment she read the news. She had gone to Twilight's library home seeking reassurance from the friend that lived closest to her. Unfortunately, Twilight had proven to be in desperately greater need of comfort than Rarity.
"You don't know that!" Twilight was starting to become wild eyed. Her mane was beginning to tangle itself from her restless movements. "This could be the worst thing that has happened in Equestria since... ever!"
"I'm sure that if one of the princesses had been hurt it would have been in the news Dear. In fact, I'm certain that I read that the only ones hurt were a few guardsponies."
"My brother is in the guard." Said Twilight with the horror of a sudden realization. "He could be hurt. He could be dying!"
"Darling, I'm sure nothing like that has happened. But if you're really worried, why don't you send a message to the Princess? I'm sure she will be glad to put your mind at ease." Rarity forced herself to continue radiating concern and comfort. She understood the urge to overact ones emotions to ensure those around you understood ones feelings, but Twilights constant attempts to find something more to panic about were getting on her nerves.
"The Princess! That's a great idea Rarity. I should have thought of it myself." Twilight allowed herself to relax just a fraction. Sending a letter was something she could do. She turned around, looking for her number one assistant. "Spike?"
The immature purple dragon had grown a bit in the last couple of years. He was about a head taller (or longer when he chose to walk on all fours) than he had been when Nighmare Moon had returned to Equestria and sported a small pair of wings. He sat at the table with the newspaper in front of him. He wasn't looking at it. In fact he didn't seem to be looking at anything in particular.
"Spike?" Twilight called again.
Spike startled as the sound of his name finally penetrated whatever thoughts occupied his mind. "Yes Twilight?" He responded.
"Take a letter Spike. I need to ask the Princess if my brother is okay."
"What?" Spike cried in alarm. "You don't think he's hurt do you?"
"I don't know." Some of the panic returned to Twilights eyes as she admitted her lack of knowledge. "That's why I need to ask Princess Celestia."
"Right." Spike jumped out of his chair. "I'll just..."
Spike grimaced as a familiar sensation interrupted him. With a belching noise and a flash of green flame, a scroll appeared in the air in front of him.
Twilight used her magic to snatch the scroll from the air before it could hit the floor. "The Princess!" She exclaimed. "She must have known I would be worried."
"That is very considerate of her." Rarity noted.
Twilight quickly unrolled the scroll and began to read from it.
To the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony,
By royal command you are hereby summoned to the Royal Palace in Canterlot. You are instructed to make all available haste. You should expect a royal chariot to arrive within the hour to expedite your journey.
By the command of her Royal Highness, the Princess of the Sun,
Celestia
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Naturally, Twilight panicked. It was, however, a very organized and productive sort of panic. Fuelled by a frenzy of nervous energy, Twilight rushed around Ponyville ordering her friends around and organizing them for a trip to Canterlot. She was so efficient in her task that the last of her friends (AppleJack) arrived at the Ponyville library only a few minutes after the chariot pulled by a team of four pegasus guardsponies did. At the purple mares insistence, Twilight, Spike, and the rest of her friends immediately climbed aboard the chariot and began the journey to Canterlot.
Rarity had worried that, lacking an outlet for her nervous energy during the flight, Twilight would work herself into a blind panic again. To prevent this from happening Rarity had conspired with Pinkie Pie to keep Twilight distracted during the trip.
It turned out, however, that her schemes were unnecessary. Exhausted by her mad rush to organize her friends, Twilight soon collapsed onto the floor of their vehicle.
The journey itself was quite peaceful compared to the hours that had preceded it. Fluttershy fussed over Twilight. Rainbow Dash attempted to goad the guardsponies into a race. And Pinky Pie, who either failed to realize or didn't care that it was no longer necessary, consistently derailed any conversation about the reason for their sudden summons.
As they approached the palace Twilight roused herself from her stupor. The chariot was parked on a large balcony and the passengers were ushered inside. Within minutes they found themselves in the presence of the Princess of the Sun.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice my little ponies." Said Celestia. She seemed more grim than they had seen since the changeling invasion. "I am afraid I have dire news. As you may have already heard, late last night the palace was attacked by a large dragon."
"Yes princess. It was in the newspapers." Twilight responded.
"D-d-dragon?" Squeaked Fluttershy.
"And you want us to teach him a lesson?" Rainbow Dash hovered in the air above her friends. "I'll kick his flank just like that dragon that was covering Equestria in smoke!"
"That's not the way Ah remember it." Drawled Applejack.
"What you would not have heard is something we did not realize until we began to assess the damage caused by his attack." Celestia continued as if she had not been interrupted. "My sister fought the creature in the statue garden, and as a result a number of statues were broken. Discords statue, however, is missing entirely."
The gathered ponies collectively flinched at that piece of news. Pinkie Pies eternal smile faded. Rarity 'fainted'. And Fluttershy curled into a ball.
"Ya mean Discord's loose again?" Applejack said. Her worry evident in her voice.
"No. Or at least, not yet." Celestia replied. "I would know if he had escaped. But whatever the dragon plans for the statue, it cannot be good. The creature has a solid head start, and tracking him will be difficult. It is unlikely that anypony could catch him in time to prevent Discords release."
"That's why you sent for us." Said Twilight with sudden understanding. "You need us to go after the dragon and recapture Discord if he has escaped."
Celestia smiled at her student. "Yes, but you will not be going alone. My sister will be guiding you. She feels that it is her responsibility."
"Princess Luna is coming with us?" Pinkie Pie chirruped. "Oooh, this will be a super duper fun trip! We can play games and tell stories..."
"I am afraid that having fun will not be... a high priority for my sister." Said Celestia. Then she softened her tone. "But if you could find a way to cheer her up I would appreciate it. Several guardsponies were hurt during the attack and Luna has taken their loss to heart."
At the mention of the hurt guardsponies Twilight previous fears resurfaced. "Celestia, my brother, Shining Armor... he's not... he wasn't..."
"He is unharmed Twilight. He was not even present during the attack." Celestia reassured her student.
Twilight gave a sigh of relief, which was followed by a moment of quiet. Applejack was the one to break the silence.
"Uh, Princess?" Applejack began. "Ah'm honored and all to help Equestria... again... but, uh, how long is this gonna take?"
"Applejack!" Scolded Rarity. "The Princess has asked for our help! It doesn't matter how long it will take, we have to do it!"
"Well Ah don't know about you missy," Applejack responded. "But Ah have responsibilities! Ah can't just up and disappear into the wild blue yonder for who-knows-how-long!"
"Girls, please." Celestias mild rebuke silenced the arguing friends. "I am afraid I have no way of knowing how long it will take to track the beast, or how much time it will take to set things right once you do. If all goes well it might be no longer than a week. If not... it could be months." She looked at the faces of the ponies in front of her. "I realize that money is a poor substitute for time spent away from your families and friends, but I could arrange a stipend to compensate you for you time in service to the crown. That way none of you should suffer financial hardships from your time away from home."
Applejack shifted uncomfortably. "That's mighty generous of ya Princess..." She began. Anything else she might have been going to say was cut off by a knock at the door.
The door opened and one of the many palace functionaries entered. "Your Highness, I have been sent to inform you that the Red Sparrow is ready to depart as soon as the rest of the crew come on board."
"Thank you." Celestia responded gracefully.
The pony gave a short bow and retreated back through the door he had entered.
"What was that about?" Questioned Rainbow Dash.
"The Red Sparrow is the airship that you will be taking in pursuit of the beast that attacked us. It is small but fast. Hopefully it will allow you catch him quickly."
"I bet I'm faster." Rainbow Dash bragged.
Celestia smiled indulgently. "I am certain that you are, my little pony. But even you must stop to rest sometimes. Besides, how would your friends keep up?"
"Oh yeah..."
Celestia looked around the room and her expression became more serious again. "The Red Sparrow is docked at the north observatory. Twilight, could you lead your friends there?"
"Of course Princess." Twilight replied.
"Wait, we're leaving now ?" Said Applejack with alarm.
"Time is of the essence." Responded Celestia. "The sooner you leave the better your chances of finding the dragon before he releases Discord."
"But Ah just told mah family I was gonna be in Canterlot for a few days! Ah oughta let em know if Ah'm going on some big quest or whatnot." Blurted Applejack.
"Of course Applejack." Celestia nodded. "In fact, all of you should write a letter to your loved ones before you leave. Although, I am afraid that I will have to ask that you do so quickly."
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Luna waited at the north observatory flanked on both sides by dark grey ponies with batlike wings. She could not recall feeling so tired before. She knew that cabin with a bed waited for her on board the Red Sparrow but she wanted to speak with her sister once more before her departure.
Finally Celestia arrived. She crossed the open platform and stood in front of her sister. Observing Lunas weariness, she gave an encouraging smile.
Luna did not smile, but her tired frown did soften. "Granite, Trailblaze. You may board the airship. I wouldst speak with my sister." The two bat winged ponies turned and obeyed the Princess of the Moons politely phrased order.
"How are you doing Luna?" Celestia asked. The concern in her voice indicated that the question was more than a polite formality.
Luna gave a sigh. "This long night hath wearied us, and the fate of our guardsponies grieves us deeply. I fear I will not sleep easily this day or in the days to come."
Although Luna had managed to adopt the mannerisms of modern speech she still tended to lapse back into familiar patterns when stressed. Celestia found it endearing, though she would never say so.
"Thy guardsponies deaths were not of thy doing." Said Celestia. "They perished in the doing of their duty, and so their deaths were not in vain."
Had another pony spoken to Luna in that ancient style she would have assumed they were mocking her. From her sister, however, it was comforting and familiar in a world that was in many ways still alien to her.
"Were they not? The monster hath taken the statue of Discord. We have little doubt that it intends to release our old enemy. What purpose then was served by their destruction?" Lunas tone was pleading, desperately begging for an answer.
"The same purpose that they served with their lives, dear sister. The safety of Equestria and the ponies living in it." Celestias voice was quiet and comforting. "Dost thou believe that it would have been better for the dragon to slip in and steal away with nopony the wiser? Dost thou think that the beast would have done so had it found the palace asleep and unguarded? Or would it have taken the opportunity to destroy far more?"
Luna bowed her head, tears leaking from her eyes. "We... I..."
Celestia stepped closer and nuzzled her sisters shoulder. "Tis always hard when those ponies that trust to our guidance perish. But it does not follow that we hath lead them astray. A guardspony knows what he may be asked to sacrifice. Our task is but to make the best use we canst from their gift."
Luna took a couple of deep shuddering breaths."Then... I had better prepare for launch." She lifted her her to look her sister in the eye.
Celestia leaned forward and gripped her sister in a sudden hug. "Come back safely." She whispered. "I don't want to lose you again. I only just got you back."
"It's been five years. That's not nothing." Luna contradicted. Over her sisters shoulder she could see the forms of several ponies climbing up the stairs.
Celestia pulled away with a sad smile. Behind her the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony gathered themselves.
"Is that the airship? It looks like fun! Can I fly it? Can I? Can I?" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
"Certainly Pinkie." Replied Luna. "Go on up and talk to Trailblaze. He'll teach you how to pilot the Red Sparrow."
"Really? Whoopee!" Pinkie Pie turned into a pink blur and vanished up the ramp.
"Uh, we should probably get on board too, before she leaves without us." Said Applejack as she began to follow the party pony.
Twilight nodded. "Yes, the Princess... er, Celestia, said we should leave as soon as possible." She started up the ramp. followed by the rest of her friends.
Luna waited a few moments before she finally spoke. "Farewell sister. I'm sure we will be back soon."
"Goodbye Luna." Celestia said quietly. "Take care of Twilight and her friends for me. They are still very young."
"Don't worry Princess, we won't let you down!" Twilight called from the airship hatchway.
Celestia smiled up at her student and waved a hoof at her. Luna smiled, turned, and made her own way up the ramp. Before long the ramp was raised, the hatchway sealed, and the Red sparrow was rising into the air on its journey away from Canterlot.
