The Crystal Eclipse

Bini took a step forwards toward the badlands. Arone blocked her path and glared at her.

"I want details as to what this plan of yours is because thanks to you, we are thousands of kilometres away from the Crystal Empire." Arone barked. Bini rolled her eyes and took a few steps back for the sake of her personal space.

"We need help! Celestia is clearly going to destroy Equestria until she has complete control of the population which will lead to war. The Griffins won't help. The hippogriffs are all extinct and the Dragons hope that we plunge ourselves into war so that when everything is said and done, they can swoop in and take over Equestria. The only species that we have a chance of alliancing with the Changelings. They need us to be able to survive. When we are all gone, the changelings can't survive on wild animals alone. You, of all ponies, should understand that." Bini explained.

"We don't know that the hippogriffs are dead! We could still go to mount-"

Chocolate and Rocky joined the argument. Chocolate cleared her throat to interrupt Arone.

"I am sorry, Arone. But Bini has a point. It is true that the history books have no proof that the hippogriffs became extinct but at the same time, there is no proof that the hippogriffs are alive. But let's say, just for a moment, that they are. It wouldn't matter because they have no trade negotiations with Equestria. They aren't negatively impacted by Equestria falling. I can't believe I am saying this but...We need to see the Changeling Queen."

"There are other options! Options that won't get us killed!" Arone yelled. Rocky moved to stand beside Arone. The group was divided. They were at war with themselves. They had to end it before they would make the next decision that would either destroy Equestria further or end the tyrant.

"The longer we stand here arguing about it! More and more ponies are going to die in the Empire! It will end up like Canterlot again. Only the city won't crumble down a mountain, it will probably burn by the power of the sun. So let's go to the damn hive and get this over with." Bini explained.

"Oh sure. So Hypothetically. We walk into the hive. Three of us are ponies, one is a Changeling who commits treason. You know what equals immediate death. And while we are dead, no pony else thinks of a plan and they are all focusing on the present. Not the future. We are the only ones who can fix this. Getting ourselves killed isn't going to-"

"Have you never heard of the Elements of Harmony? They are probably thinking of a way to fix this." Chocolate said.

"The element of magic is in the hospital. I think they are busy making sure Twilight Sparkle doesn't die!" Arone argued.

"Twilight Sparkle isn't the one who is going to die. Princess Luna will with her cut throat!"

"Wait, wait, wait." Rocky said. Waving his hoof to get their attention. "First you mention that Chanterlot crumbled off a mountain, now you are telling me that Princess Luna is about to DIE!? What is going on?"

"Arone and I read a letter that said Canterlot was destroyed and Twilight and Luna were injured. There. I said it. We are beyond screwed and we need a plan right now or the entire Empire is the next city to crumble. The Crystal Empire is the next Capitol city of Equestria once Canterlot was destroyed. So, let's go!"

"We can't use unicorn magic in the hive." Arone blurted out.

Everypony slowly turned their heads at Arone, who looked down in shame.

"W-Why?" Bini stammered out.

"Some ancient powerful curse connected to the throne. I don't know! They didn't exactly explain it very well in our education system to prevent any deserters to use it against the hive. If you plan on using magic, too bad. We can't."

Bini looked towards the hive and sighed.

"Alright. New plan."

"Finally," Rocky said with a smile and fluttered his wings. "What is it?"

"I am not going to tell you guys what it is because I would rather not stand here and argue more. Come on." Bini ordered. She slid down the cliff that separated the forest from the badlands. She hit the ground hard and stumbled. The three ponies at the top of the cliff looked at each other. "Fine, I will go alone."

"Now, hold on. We might strongly disagree with this plan but you might end up killing yourself and the rest of Equestria based on your track record." Arone said and he joined her at the bottom of the cliff. Chocolate and Rocky soon followed and they started their journey across the badlands to the castle in the distance.

Twilight's eyes fluttered open and she groaned. Her vision cleared to see her friends staring down at her with small smiles that didn't quite reassure her. The memories of the events came flooding back to her and she struggled to get up despite the protests of her friends and body.

"P-Princess Luna. I gotta-"

Rainbow Dash held her down to the bed and Rarity started brushing her mane as the rest stood back and watched around her. Applejack was the first to move forward.

"Twilight. Princess Luna is severely injured but she is going to be fine but...Something more awful has happened, sugarcube." Applejack said with tears starting to slowly fall down her cheeks. Twilight looked up at Applejack. Oblivious to what had happened after she came to the hospital.

"What could possibly be worse than...Celestia turning corrupt and slashing Luna's throat? You weren't in Canterlot to witness all the dead guards and citizens. The burning buildings..." Twilight said. She sobbed and wiped tears away from her face. "I hope my parents are going to be OK."

Applejack gestured Pinkie to move the curtains in the room window. Pinkie nodded and moved them to reveal the dark outside world. Twilight squinted her eyes and noticed that the large mountain that Canterlot was attached to didn't have brilliant shining lights from the city. It was just pitch black and empty. Almost as if a city never existed. She looked towards the base of the mountain where there was activity by the red, blue and white lights dimly flashing.

"What is going on in Canterlot? There should be at least some lights on..." Twilight muttered as Rarity and Rainbow Dash helped her up and she slowly moved towards the window. Her friends seemed to grow more and more distressed the closer she got to the window. She looked at the place Canterlot should be. She knew it was dark but she was still able to make out the basic features of the large mountain. She couldn't see an outline of the city. "Where is Canterlot?"

"Twi..." Spike said. Resting a claw on the pony he considered like an older sister. Twilight stared at the mountain. She was beginning the stage of denial.

"Maybe my magical overload has...Affected my vision. Canterlot must be there. I just can't see it." She mumbled to herself. Spike shook her and she looked down at him with a smile. "Thank goodness Luna is OK. Now I need to get to Canterlot to do some research."

"Canterlot doesn't exist anymore, Twilight." Spike said. Twilight stared at him as if he had just punched her in the face. Her shock morphed into anger.

"Don't even joke about that, Spike-"

"He isn't joking, Darling." Rarity snapped and mascara ran down her face. "According to witness reports. Princess Celestia caused the foundation of Canterlot to crumbled and the entire city fell off the mountain. First responders and anypony who has basic medical training near the area are at the base of the mountain where the city hit. Looking for survivors."

Twilight sat on the ground in disbelief. Applejack looked over to the monitor to see Twilight's heart rate increase.

"Twilight. Ya'll need to calm down." Applejack insisted.

"CALM DOWN?" Twilight yelled and spun around to face her friends with fury. "My teacher, who I trusted with my life, who I have strived to be all my life, just killed an entire city and possibly my parents. Don't you dare tell me to calm down, Applejack. I deserve to be hurt and angry."

A nurse slowly opened the door. Clearly nervous to walk in as she probably heard Twilight's outburst in the hallway.

"Um...Princess Luna is able to have visitors now. She is weak and is getting replacement blood. We have been able to repair her vocal cords but her voice will be weak. Try not to upset her. Please." The nurse pleaded. The group silently followed her down the hall to an emergency medical room. She opened the door and it revealed Luna strapped to a bed with wires sticking out of her body giving her blood and nutrients.

"Hello, Twilight Sparkle," Luna said weakly. "I am sorry about Canterlot. I just received the news."

"I need time." Twilight said. She gave her a small smile of forced happiness. "H-How are you doing, Princess?"

"I could be better." She said and coughed a bit before resting back on her bed. "I-I need you six to do something for me."

"Of course. We will get the Elements right away and-"

"No, Twilight." Luna said and slowly put her hoof on Twilight's hoof that was resting on her bed. "I need you to find out how this has happened to my sister. I would but...I am unable to be let out of the hospital and the ponies who have the info...I have hurt badly."

"Princess?" Pinkie's voice cut through. Her mane was still deflated and she didn't have her usual bouncy energy that made ponies smile even in the darkest of times. "Why?"

"My sister forgave me when I fell to evil temptation. She deserves that same treatment. She isn't acting like herself. Something has taken over her mind. It was stronger than the nightmare entity that affected me. I am not going to abandon her." Luna explained and she took in a deep breath.

"You killed ponies in the Castle of the Two Royal Pony Sisters. Princess Celestia...Destroyed an entire city." Twilight argued.

"Who's to say I wouldn't have done the same if I had been Nightmare Moon longer? My main goal was to have an eternal night. The planet would freeze, animals and crops would die from lack of sunlight if I won. I would have made an entire species extinct. Probably several species if I had my way."

Twilight opened her mouth to argue but she couldn't come up with an argument that would convince Luna otherwise. Luna looked up at her sister's student. A student who had been so faithful up until today.

"Why is your faith wavering for my sister, Twilight Sparkle?"

"She killed 73,360 ponies." Twilight snapped and she removed her hoof from Luna's bed and began to pace. Rainbow Dash and Applejack began ushering the rest of the group out of the room so that they could have time alone. "You killed 395. That is a big difference."

"The population of Chanterlot is 73, 361. Yes. It is true that the city fell. But that doesn't mean everypony is dead. Yes. Most probably are. But not all. You don't have faith in my sister anymore because she has proven today that just like anypony else, she can fall to the temptation of the darkness in her mind. There is more going on here than either of us know. My sister wouldn't turn unless it was her last option. Unless she was desperate. That is why I need you and your friends to find Bini Filters, Arone, Chocolate Shadow and Rocky Snow."

"No." Twilight snapped. "I am going to get the elements and end this before any more bloodshed takes place."

"I am giving you a direct order." Luna snapped with her voice almost being normal but filled with anger. "At this very moment, I am the only ruler in Equestria. You will obey me. If not...I would rather not say."

Twilight looked down to the ground. Her face conveyed many emotions.

"I am going to the rescue attempt at the base of the mountain. My friends can deal with the traitors." Twilight mumbled. Luna shook her head and used her magic to make Twilight look up at her.

"They aren't traitors. I said they commit treason because I made Bini and Arone go to sleep in the interrogation room. I went into their dreams and manipulated them to be their memories. I forced Bini to give me an answer and Arone revealed one of his deepest secrets to making sure I didn't know the truth of what was corrupting Celestia's mind. From Bini's mind, I was able to find out that Celestia's mind was corrupted. For how long, why, how, I do not know. She had planned on killing Sombra and the next day she disappeared with her injuries still there. When I saw her last, they were all gone but she clearly wasn't herself." Luna explained. "Bini and Arone escaped the dream realm and managed to escape the castle with her two assistants. Last I heard they were in the Crystal Empire. The current capital of Equestria until a new city can be built to replace...Canterlot."

"She killed part of my family." Twilight sobbed and buried her face against the bed. Luna warped her wing around Twilight's shaking body. She sat up with a grunt, her body protested against the movement but that didn't stop her. She pulled Twilight into a hug. Her uneven weak breathing strangely brought some comfort to Twilight yet she still cried harder at the thought of her parents.

She couldn't even say goodbye.

---End of Chapter Four---