Legend of the Two Sisters: What Might have Been
The dream died that night. When sister turned on sister in wrath and sought to drown the world in flame.
What could have been. What should have been. It can now never be what it was meant to be.
From the Diary of Clover the Clever.
***
Once upon a time. In the magical land of Equestria. There were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land.
To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at daw. The younger brought out the moon to begin the night.
Thus the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies.
But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth and sleep through her beautiful night.
***
Princess Luna stalked the hallways of the Everfree Castle, fighting back tears. Another night had passed. Another night nopony cared about.
"Why?" She asked no one. "The night is beautiful. Not something to fear. Why can't more see that?" She asked as her tears fell.
"Yes. Why do they shun you? Are you not deserving of as much love as your sister?"
Luna stopped. She knew that voice. It had become her constant companion of later, always whispering in the back of her mind of all she wanted.
"What of Celestia? If she truly cares, why does she do nothing? She sits by and does nothing about pony's fears."
It was true. Tia had done nothing. Even after Luna had brought her feelings up at breakfast the week before she had laughed them off and said they were nothing, that ponies would come to love her in time.
"She doesn't care about you. If she will do nothing, I will. With my help, you will be loved. Ponies will come to love the night even more than the day. All you need do is say yes."
Visions began to play before her eyes. Showing ponies enjoying the night, even more than the day. She was loved again. Never alone.
Luna waivered. "I-"
"No!"
She jumped as a new voice joined her. Three lights appeared in the visions. Luna felt her connection to the Elements of Harmony flare anew.
"You see what you want. A world where you are loved and the night is not scorned. But that world is a lie. Now, see the truth behind the lie."
The visions changed. Now Luna saw herself not as a benevolent ruler, but a cruel and sadistic tyrant who ruled by fear and an iron hoof. Ponies lived in fear of their lives if they didn't please her.
Luna was horrified. "No!" She cried, waving a hoof to banish the images chocking back new tears. "I'm not. I'm not like that. I'm not her."
"Fool! You would believe them over what your heart knows to be true?"
She scowled. Igniting her horn, she used her Terror Sight on that voice. And finally noticed something she had been ignoring. To her horror.
"I see you now. Corruption. Parasite. A shadow of Discord." Her scowl deepened. "How you're here I know not. Know this though. I will never be your slave. Begone from my sight!"
"Fool! Without me, you will never have what you want."
"You would turn me against my sister, against my ponies," Luna replied. "If this is what you offer I refuse it."
Igniting her horn, she felt the three Elements she bore lend their strength to her own. "Begone wretched thing!"
She felt her magic expand. She heard the thing hiss as the magic burned it. Her smile grew as the shadow fled before it could be destroyed.
When she was sure it had gone, she cut off her magic. Exhaustion overcame her then, reminding her she still needed sleep. But her brief battle had given her much to think about.
If she wanted to avoid the future she had seen, she needed to change. To change how ponies saw the night.
"If they will not love it now, then I will show them that the night is beautiful," Luna said in a whisper, her face split into a huge grin.
Her spirits renewed, Luna practically pranced to her chambers, plans for the future already forming in her mind.
***
To remedy this, and to make sure the nightmare future she had seen never came to pass, the younger began to look for ways to change pony's opinions.
She went out more in the day. She began to ask ponies what could make the night better, and many more.
Soon the changes began to be noticed. More ponies became interested in astronomy, night clubs began to appear in all the major cities, and more.
The younger even convinced her sister to shorten the days as the years grew on.
The elder sister praised her sister's efforts and supported them all she could. But soon she began to notice that ponies now began to grumble about the day.
"Too hot." They said. "All we do is work. The night offers rest and relaxation."
The eldest paid it no mind. No harm was coming from such talk.
But in her heart, hidden seed of resentment had been planted.
***
Several years later.
Princess Luna awoke with a spring in her step. All who saw her would know why. And they were glad for it. They much preferred her like this to she once been only a few years before.
Her plans for helping ponies love the night as much as they did the day were a resounding success. Some had even begun to love the night more than the day.
A small, petty, part of her was glad of it. Though her worst thoughts were now a fading memory, she was still the younger sister, and some were still perry enough to rub it in her face.
But it no longer rankled like it once had.
Speaking of sisters, Luna was becoming worried about her own. Celestia had become more and more withdrawn recently. Her greetings, when cared to give one, were rushed and clipped.
Nothing like how Luna remembered her.
If she was being truthful with herself and bearing the Element of Honesty she liked to think she was, she was becoming scared of what Tia was becoming. It reminded her too much of how she had once been.
As she slipped the last of her hoof boots on, there came a knock at the door. "Enter." She called out.
A mare, one of the Chiroptera who made up her Night Guard, stood in the doorway, her face full of fear and a trickle of blood flowing from underneath her mane. "Your highness. It's Princess Celestia. She's..."
Luna was shocked at the mare's appearance. "What of my sister?"
"When it came time to lower the sun, she refused to do so. Saying that if ponies didn't like the day they could all burn." The mare replied. "Her guards, the servants, even some of the Night Guard. She burned them alive."
Luna chocked back her bile. She knew, of course, her sister had that kind of power. It came with her connection to the sun. But for her to ever use it on defenseless ponies? "Where is she now?" She asked.
"In the Throne Room. No one can get in. She's melted the doors shut." The mare replied.
Luna smirked. "Leave my sister to me. Get everypony out of the castle and send word to the garrison at Canterlot. Have them be on high alert."
The mare nodded and ran off. Luna's duties also included full command of Equestria's armies. Celestia would, of course, hold command as well in case of an emergency. But most command responsibilities fell to her.
Gathering her magic, she assumed her Wraith Walk form. Perfect for slipping into the Throne Room. For even the brightest light cast a shadow, and shadow was her domain.
***
Luna felt the heat even before she reached the Throne Room. Which should have been impossible in her Wraith Form. But somehow she still felt it.
Returning to her solid form, she felt her bile rise at what she saw. Bodies of ponies lay everywhere, all burned beyond recognition. Some had been running away as they fell.
Luna felt sick. Even when she and Tia had faced Discord they had never seen anything like this. Not even King Sombra or Tirek had killed.
Only the old Berserker Legions of the Griffon Empire had ever killed like this. And they were a fading memory.
Stealing herself and refusing to back down, she walked further in. It immediately felt like she had walked into an active volcano. All the tapestries lay burned on the ground and the windows were shattered.
At the far end of the hall, her throne was a pile of molten slag. And next to it was.
"Finally decided to join us I see sister."
The thing could only vaguely be described as Celestia. Her voice was demonic, her coat was bright orange and her mane and tail were solid flames. Only her cutie mark of the sun told that it was Celestia at all.
"Sister. What have you done?" Luna asked.
It smirked. She had never seen anything uglier. "Isn't it obvious? I'm taking what's rightfully mine."
Luna was lost. "What do you mean? Tia I-"
"The name's Daybreaker now actually." It responded. "And you know what I mean Lulu." She spat the last word with enough venom Luna was shocked.
"What do you mean? Is this about ponies loving the night so much now?" She asked. "I never-"
"Of course you never meant for it to happen." Daybreaker spat. "If that keeps you up at night." Her smile returned. "You know what? This started out just like that. About how I was jealous of you."
Now her smile became a smirk. "But now? Now I just want one thing. To see everything on this planet dies." Her horn ignited at this. "Starting with you!"
Her magic intensified now as the temperature rose even higher. "Now. DIE!"
Luna barely had time to put a Shield Spell in front of her before the magic fire. It didn't stop it at all and she felt the full blast of magic like a battering ram.
She was flung back like a rag doll, crashing through who knew how many walls before coming to a crashing halt in the Hall of the Elements. For a few minutes, she lay there unconscious before her eyes opened.
Every part of her hurt like nothing ever had before. Coughing up what she knew was blood, she tried to focus. Her wings were broken and her horn felt like it was chipped as well. Her legs went in all the directions they were never meant too. She was lucky to be alive at all.
But fate it seemed had a cruel sense of humor. "Guess I still do have a little sentimentality left in me." Came a voice. Luna winced as Daybreaker landed in front of her.
"Not for much longer anyway." She continued, her smirk growing viler and viler by the second.
Luna tried to move, to defend herself. But her body refused to respond. Not even her magic responded.
"Tia. Please. Don't." She pleaded, hoping that seeing her baby sister broken like this would snap her big sister out of it. Out of the monster she had become.
But it only seemed to make her mad. "Say hello to our parents in the afterlife Lulu. And good riddance." And fired.
Luna closed her eyes and waited for the pain that would end her life. In those moments, her last thoughts were "Tia. I'm so, so sorry."
***
But the searing pain and release of death never came. All Luna could hear was a yelp of shock from that monster and the feeling of being teleported. How she didn't know for her magic was useless.
When she could see again, she found herself in a place she never expected to see again: the Astral Plane. She and Tia had been here years before when they had first found the Elements of Harmony.
From what little of them they knew, only they could bring a pony here or if that pony had done something extraordinary. "How? Why am I here?" She asked aloud to no one in particular.
"Because our world is facing its darkest hour." Came a voice from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Luna watched as six light floated over to her. Their forms soon became the six Elements.
Her head fell. "But what can I do? My sister-"
"That thing is not your sister." Came the voice of the Element of Honesty. "It is a flesh puppet being controlled by another. One who would see this world destroyed."
She blinked in confusion. "How?" She knew Honesty was telling the truth (for it couldn't say anything else), but that didn't make any sense.
"Do you remember the force that almost turned you against her?" Came Magic. Luna nodded. "It found another. Celestia had grown jealous of your growing popularity. It came to her and offered the same deal."
"And she accepted." Came Kindness. Luna could hear her tears. "But..."
"But the darkness made sure it wouldn't be rejected again." Came Generosity. It destroyed her soul and claimed her body as its own."
Luna felt her heart drop, for she knew what that meant. "Then?"
"Your sister no longer exists. Not even a soul fragment to send to Elysium exists of Celestia now." Came Magic again, also letting unseen tears fall. Luna could understand why. Tia had been its bearer, and their bond had been strong.
She let her own fall as well. "But what can I do? She is still stronger than me. I still live only thanks to you."
"Wield us." The Elements replied together. "Become our sole bearer. Then you will have the chance to stop her and bring peace to what remains of Celestia."
Luna was shocked and confused. "How? I don't have the strength or know-how."
"Not like this you don't." Came Laughter. "But we can help with that."
"As for how. By right we now belong to you. When Celestia fell, our bond was severed for all time." Came Magic.
There came a short pause after this. "A time will come when others arise to bear us. But that time is not for many years yet."
Luna felt six new presences all around them. Even though she couldn't make them out in detail, in her heart she knew who they were.
The shades of ponies not yet born. Even now though she could feel the strong bond of friendship between them. One that reminded her of the one she and Tia once had.
"Are you ready?" The Elements asked once more together. Luna didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
She felt her magic join that of the Elements as they were all engulfed in bright light. It stayed like this for several moments before the light faded and Luna took a look at herself as the Elements began to circle her.
And blinked in surprise at what she saw.
***
Not knowing where her sister gotten off too, Daybreaker had now resumed her search of the castle. Most had fled by now, but a few still stayed, defiant to the end.
Those deaths were the sweetest. It was always more fun if your toys fought back before you broke them.
She had finally come to the Entrance Hall of the castle. Now that she thought about it, of course, the Elements would save Luna. It's what they did. No matter. Their time would come soon enough.
As if thinking of them had been a signal, a light soon filled the room as a sphere descended to the floor. Daybreaker rolled her eyes. "You always did enjoy a grand entrance, Luna."
"That is not my name. And you have no right to use it, creature."
She rolled her eyes again as the light faded. But was soon surprised to see what had become of her sister.
Luna had grown, nearly as tall as her now. Her coat was now deep black, with a purple splotch around her cutie mark. Armor covered much of her frame, leaving enough room for her mane to flow freely, and her eyes had taken on a draconic aspect.
But for all that, in her eyes, she was still Luna. Around her floated the Elements of Harmony.
She laughed. "So what if you got a makeover. Big deal. Though you do look like me now." Waiving a hoof airly, she smirked. "I still look better though."
"We may look similar, but I am nothing like you," Luna responded as she took a step forward, the Elements keeping pace with her. Even Luna's voice had changed. "I still remember myself, and I will defend my subjects from you."
Daybreaker rolled her eyes. "So what do I call you then? Not that it matters in the long run."
Luna paused before answering. "Call me, Night Mare." Before she could say more though, she was pounced upon and thrown to the floor. Quick as lightning Dyabreaker was she had to admit.
She grunted as she was held down. Even with her new form, this was still Celestia's body she was fighting, and she had always been stronger.
"Like it matters what you look like or call yourself." It snarled. "This world will burn regardless."
Night Mare grimaced. Even with the Element's protection, the heat was almost too much for her.
"End this. Give her peace. We can't hold this form for much longer." Came the voice of the Elements in her head. Their calm helped her refocus. She was no longer fighting for herself.
This was for all beings on Equus, and for all those yet to be born. This was for their future.
"I am Princess Luna Selena Nyx, I am the Night Mare. I will defend my ponies from you. And you. Are not. Welcome here!" She roared as her eyes began to glow as the Elements began to spin faster and faster.
Soon they aligned themselves into the shape of a six-pointed star as she lowered her horn to the Element of Magic and felt her magic bond to the Elements. Her horn glowed in all the colors of the rainbow before connecting to magic as the other five also joined their magic to hers.
Daybreaker watched in horror as the beam finally launched at her. She tried to move, but her body refused to listen. "NOOOO!"
The Night Mare watched as the magic of the Elements washed over her. Soon she began to resemble Celestia as she once was.
To her shock, an image of Celestia's smiling face appeared in the haze. Her eyes were full of pride and joy. But most of all.
Love.
"Luna. Thank you." She heard the words loud and clear even as the room was filled with a bright light. When it faded, Princess Celestia lay before her, returned to the sister Luna knew and loved. She herself felt the magic born from the Elements begin to dissipate as she resumed her normal form.
Fighting back tears, Luna walked over to her sister's body and placed an ear next to her barrel. She found what she feared.
No pulse. No heartbeat.
Even as she pulled her head back and the tears began to fall, Celestia's cutie mark glowed before it vanished from her flank. Even as she watched that in stunned silence, Luna looked on as the sun appeared on her own flank, now set behind the moon and just as large.
"How?" She asked.
"The sun needs a Shepard. By right, the sun now belongs to you as well as the moon." Came the voice of Magic. It did little to help her nerves though. But something else was nagging her as well.
With a start, she realized what time it was. Gulping more than she ever had. Luna ignited her horn. Reaching out gently, she coaxed the sun to set for the day. To her surprise, it didn't fight her and set just as it had for Celestia for many years as the moon began to rise as well.
Once she was sure all was as it was meant to be, she cut off her magic. Looking down at her sister, Luna felt new tears gather.
Not caring who might see her, she lay down next to Celestia's body and did the only thing she could do now.
Luna wept like she never had before.
***
On that, The Longest Day, Equestria lost so much. Princess Celestia was laid to rest in a grand state funeral leaders from all over Equus attended.
Princess Luna's final words that day have stayed with those who heard them. "I once saw a bright future for all of Equestria. For all races.
But that future can never be now. The dream is dead. It died that night, the night my sister fell.
We will rebuild. We will move on. But we can never be what we should have been."
Princess Luna took on sole rulership of Equestria from that day forward. The old capital was abandoned and Canterlot was made the new seat of government.
Though she had hoped that would never need to become her again, the Night Mare was seen less than a century later during the Changeling Siege of Canterlot.
With the breaking of the Siege and the signing of the Harmonic Accords, peace returned to the land.
"And has been maintained ever since."
As she came to the end of her current read, Twilight Sparkle, the personal student of Princess Luna, dried the tears that had gathered as she closed the book before her.
She, of course, knew the story. Everypony in Equestria knew the story of the Longest Day. But this. This was how it really happened. Not the watered-down version every filly and colt knew.
And now Twilight could understand why. She made a promise that she would hold onto the story for as long as she lived.
She also made a promise to giver BBBFF Shining Armor, Spike, and Princess Luna the biggest hugs she could when she next saw them. It was the least she could.
Twilight also vowed to spend more time with her parents. She barely did anymore. It was time to change that.
Author's Note
I admit that this was one story I forgot that I had. But now, here it is. Now I do need to explain the ending since it ends rather abruptly as it does.
Originally, I was going to do more with this universe. Beginning with Season 1, Episode 1, and explore more of how Equestria had changed since that night 1000 years ago.
But that never went anywhere. So now this is it. I might come back and do more with this universe one day. Not right now though.
Cover art done by RadugaDragon.
