Luna and Celestia lay in bed. The lovers hold each other close, not wanting to lose each other's warmth. A peaceful feeling fills the air. However, it is broken when Cadence comes knocking at their door. "Celestia, Luna… we need to talk," Her voice sounds firm as she starts to unlock the door, magic hard at work. "Open the door or I will,"

"Mhm," Celestia unlocks the door for her, horn slightly glowing. Cadence comes in with a worried look on her face. Luna reflexively hides under the sheets, cowering in fear. Celestia shuts and locks the door behind Cadence again, this time adding a soundproofing spell. "Wha-i-it?" I swear if it's abou-

"I have trustworthy sources that say that you…" Cadence's voice gets lower as she leans closer. "Aren't sisters," Luna continues her cowering under the sheets.

"Mhm," Celestia leans up, waking her mind up. "Wha abou i?"

Cadence looks distraught. "Why didn't you tell me?! I mean-"

"Wait…" Luna pops up from the bed. Teary eyed, she looks utterly shocked. "You… don't care?"

"Of course not! You know me better than that, Luna! However I do want to know about stuff like this," She sighs, walking next to Luna's side of the bed. "I thought you trusted me!"

"I do," Celestia comments. "However, Luna was uncomfortable, so…" She hugs the moon goddess tighter. "I couldn't break her trust, could I?"

"Hey! I didn't know how everyone would react," Luna sounds hurt. "Don't blame me…" Still ashamed, she buries her face in Celestia's mane. Letting out a giggle, she comments "T-this is nice, though. M-maybe we should have done it sooner,"

A crash comes through the colored window, causing Cadence to look up in shock and Luna to look up in fear. Dash stumbles as she hits the floor. Flustered, she rushes to the window, shouting "Yeah, whatever! 20 bits you owe me! Stupid bolts…" Turning around, she freezes. "Oh, uh… how do you all do?"

Celestia turns over, pissed that she had to break her warm hug. "Oh fuck off," She picks up and throws Dash out with her magic. A few seconds late, when she sees that Dash is safe, she fixes the window, magically binding and soundproofing it. Turning back around, she attempts to resume her embrace. "There we- Luna?!"

The door lazily swings shut as Luna gallops through the halls. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK! Many guards stare at the sight, yet none break rank. Eventually, she passes by the entrance to the abandoned section of the castle. She turns hard, heading towards the old ceremony room from before the Diarchs could move the moon and sun. The sacrificial bowl beckons her.

Slamming and locking the door behind her, Luna slowly approaches the ceremonial knife across the room. Tears drop from her face as she trembles. Idiot. Worthless. Nothing. Dead weight. The walk feels as if it takes a million years.

Eventually, Luna gets close enough to pick up the knife. Doing this, she puts one hoof over the bowl. Making a small cut at the base, she winces. A drop of blood comes out. Stop wasting space. She deepens the cut, letting blood flow freely. Make Celestia's life easier. Face emotionless, she watches as her leg is split open, a cut going halfway down the length of her hoof. Not that she can see it through the blood. Just do it. Luna presses the knife down harder, and-

The doors burst open and a panicked voice cries "Celestia! We found her!" A guard rushes at Luna, but gets violently thrown back. Thump. The guard mare falls unconscious by the sheer impact. Continuing to deepen the cut, Luna watches as the bowl steadily fills. Something useful for once. Thank Fau-

A familiar gasp comes from the door. "Luna!" Celestia screams. "Stop!" Celestia's superior magic lets her easily rip the knife out of Luna's control. In response, Luna stands there, watching her almost sawed off hoof continue to fill the bowl. Couldn't even suicide right. Idiot.

Celestia runs over to Luna. "Why?!" She chokes on her tears, hugging Luna tightly. Her magic starts rapidly repairing her lover's hoof.

Luna holds her emotionless stare, as if she hasn't processed what she just did. "I'm just a burden,"

"No you're not! I love you so much," Celestia is barely able to whisper the last part through her sobs. With a determined look in her eyes, she looks up. "How… how do I help you?"

"Let me do thi-"

"No!" Celestia holds Luna tighter, eyes still full of tears. By now, Luna was wet all over her back from the sheer quantity of tears. "How do I help you love yourself?"

Luna's cold monotone holds. "I'm not worth loving…"

"Yes you are! Don't ever say that!" Voice filled with anger, Celestia hugs her lover even tighter. Whispering, she starts to repeat "I love you. You are worth loving. I love you. You are worth loving. I lo-"

Cadence enters the room, floating out the unconscious guard and locking the door. With a strangled gasp, she sees the overflowing bowl. "Luna…"

"I said I'm not worth loving!" Luna lets out with a snarl.

Sobbing, Celestia holds her closer. "Yes you are! You mean everything to me, Luna! I wish you could see how great you are!" She buries her face in Luna's mane. "You're so great…"

"I'm not great! I'm just a worthless idiot who caused you to cry because you put your trust in me!" Luna fails to shake her lover off. "Let me finish!"

Cadence approaches the two, teary eyed. "You may not be my aunt, or blood related at all, but I love you too,"

"Shut up!" Luna snarls. "You all hate me!" She picks up the knife again, but is promptly intercepted by Celestia.

Cadence sighs as she brings up a mirror. "See this?" Two cutie marks share a pulsing bond, sometimes weak, sometimes strong. However, it is always there. "This is normal love, between two ponies. Killing one will cause the other untold grief. This," The marks change to Cadence's and Shining's. The wave grows stronger and pulses more, and even duplicates. "This is my love, with Shining. If he dies… let's not talk that,"

"This," The chart changes to a Sun and a Moon. The marks are surrounded by wavy lines in every direction, always connecting to the other symbol. "This is your love. Removing one will completely and utterly destroy the other. I'm surprised you two lasted a thousand years, in all honesty,"

Celestia lets out a weak sob. "Then why is she trying to kill herself?"

"Because I'm dragging you down," Luna says quietly. She nestles her head into Celestia's shoulder. "At least, I think I am,"

Celestia embraces her life's love. "Killing yourself is the only way you could drag me down,"

Luna crashes into Celestia, tears coming from nowhere. "B-b-but-"

Celestia presses a hoof to Luna's lips. "Shh, i-it'll be alright," The Diarchs share a hug, each crying uncontrollably. Cadence quietly exits and orders the guards to do something else.

LATER THAT DAY, TWILIGHT'S PALACE

Starlight and James approach the main room. Hans had somehow acquired a stereo set, and had set up a DJ booth at some point. He is playing some Russian music they had found in Ivan's pack. Cadets of some guards school, I think Ivan said. The pair round the corner to find Ivan in the middle of some Russian Dancing™, Tommy and Hans cheering along.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!" The sound of many voices, real and recorded, fills the air. The song of the guards school roars through the room. "Ey James, how'd it go? Have a," Tommy gives a sly grin as he elbows his friend. "Bloody good time?"

"We got some sleep," James understands what Tommy is saying, but doesn't fall for it.

Tommy's face visibly falls. "What is this place, a land of bloody virgins?" With a frown, Tommy hands James a drink. "Next songs boutta come up. Somehow the German found Mother Dear in my pack. I didn't know I had, to be honest,"

"Not a very… dancy song, eh?" James chuckles.

"No, but it's better than the songs they have here. Speaking of Hans…" Tommy motions to the booth. "...who's that?"

Rarity had found a way to sneak in, and is talking to Hans. Hans is making some… very wild gestures, and Rarity is nodding along at the right times.

"A little… love interest, let's say,"

Tommy smiles. "My type o guy! Though not necessarily my type o gal,"

"Well the junker has title and rank. Hell, he was offered a high command spot in the Equestrian army!"

Tommy's eyes go wide. "No way. Really? I bet he didn't accept, though," Tommy takes a swig of his magichol. "I bloody wouldn't,"

"Oh, he totally did. He is quite a genius, and said he wanted to use his skills for good,"

By now, Hans is holding a hoof out to a blushing Rarity. "Ooh, do ya think…" Rarity nods, and the two exit the building hoof in hoof. "Ey, that's my type o lad right there!"

Starlight remembers she can talk, and chooses to do so. "That's… news,"

James' eyes brighten. "Oh, I think Starry here might be… like us," Starlight giggles at her nickname. "And apparently likes nicknames,"

Starlight blushes. "Sorry, it's just… no one's cared enough to give me a nickname before,"

Ivan walks over, bottle of vodka in hand. "Hans leave with girl. And do not give nickname, American,"

James chuckles. "No worries there. Anyways, I do think Starlight is… fully suicidal, even if she doesn't think so,"

Starlight's eyes open wide, mimicking Tommy's earlier expression. "I… what? Bu-"

"C'mon! Begging to be arrested, knowing you'd be given a death sentence?" James sighs. "Can't blame ya tho,"

"Da. We… mostly feel same,"

Tommy feels the need to talk. "Hans over there… what, ya said seventeen attempts? Damn, a lot of rope,"

"Yeah," Starlight lets out a horrified gasp as James speaks. "Seventeen sounds right,"

"What… I thought you guys were ok…"

The three stallions exchange a look, and then burst out into laughter. "I… ha… wha… na…" After a full minute or two, they finally manage to control themselves.

"Ok?! We'll never be bloody ok!" Tommy chuckles as he speaks. "Why, what makes you think that we would be bloody ok?!"

"Well, you gave off that feeling…"

James snorts. "We ain't gonna be ok in a hundred years. However, we have learned when to hide it and when to let go," He taps his forehead. "That's key,"

Starlight sighs defeatedly. "But why? Why do all of this?"

"'Cause we sure as hell ain't gonna off ourselves, not when we have friends," James gives a sigh. "Even if it so.etimes builds up…"

"Ok… that… makes sense…"

James offers a warm smile. "Don't worry bout it, you'll be presentable in no time,"

"Wait," Starlight looks up, confused. "I thought I was gonna be ok…" You don't deserve it!

"Nyet. You is ok. No will be ok," Ivan finishes his second drink, a bottle of magichol. "Is good,"

"Thanks, mixed it myself," James turns back to Starlight with a sigh. "You probably won't ever forgive yourself, but I sure as hell do," He takes a drink of his own. "Alcohol helps with that,"

Starlight lets out a choked sob. "B-but how could you forgive me? I killed fifty innocent ponies!"

"Easy. You be you," James considers his choices. "You never… harmed ponies just to hurt them, did you?"

"No…" Starlight admits. You still hurt them!

"Then you're fine on my book," James drapes a leg over Starlight, who gratefully nuzzles him in return. "And in theirs," With a nod, he indicates to the other two stallions. Tommy offers a hoof as if to hoofbump; at Starlight's stare, he sets his hoof down, sheepishly smiling.

"I… ok, that's a lot to take in," Starlight breathes in and out, calming herself down.

"Well don't worry, I'll be here for you," Tommy and Ivan quietly leave the two in their hug(?), choosing to go and drink rather than watch their friend fall for a girl.

Mare. It's a mare here.

Author's Note

Poggers.

So there's three more chapters in this arc, with two bare bones and one planned. After that, rewrite time.