Chapter 1View OnlineI Wasn’t There to Catch YouChapter 1The soft clink of golden horseshoes echoed throughout the halls. A white alicorn, slender legs, majestic wings, and a glorious sun cutie mark, was making her way towards a balcony. However, this was no ordinary balcony. No, this was the balcony in which the mighty princess of the sun raised her divine celestial being. Gracing the land with its light and warmth. Across from this balcony was a similar one made for the princess of the moon, who in turn gave the land starlight. Chasing away the creatures of the dark seeking to harm their beloved subjects. It was a wonderful morning and she had decided to take the liberty of sleeping in instead of waking up early like she normally would as a nice change of pace. Celestia opened the doors to the balcony, cool air rushing into the much warmer hallway. Her regalia shimmered under the moonlight, the reflection of light creating small sparkles on the ground. Her purple irises lit up as she admired the moon in all of its beauty. In Celestia’s opinion, the night was so much more appealing than the day. First of all, she didn’t have to work during the night, and second, it was so much more interesting to look at; you could search for hours and hours and you would still find more constellations. Not only that but the amount of work her sister put into every night was phenomenal. Just because the night was a creation of her sister did she love it all the more. She couldn’t imagine a life without Luna. Celestia had been overjoyed when her sibling returned, Luna was her other half, her missing puzzle piece. Without her she was never as whole as she wanted to be, she knew what it felt like already when her sister had been banished and was going to make sure it never happened again. Unfortunately, recent events had forced her to take on more work and she had been unable to spend time with Luna in the past couple of months. The only few times she had spent with the pony she held dear was when her sister had given her multiple of her personal belongings. It had surprised her that Luna had given her prized possessions she usually kept to herself but she didn’t think much of it due to being preoccupied with work. A hint of regret hit her as she remembered how distracted she had been, she had barely even greeted her sister when she entered. Luna had given her a gift and she hadn’t even acknowledged her presence! What kind of sister was she? Even after Luna had given her so many gifts the past month she still hadn’t had the time to stop by and say thank you. Celestia forced down the feeling, she had to focus on raising the sun. A bit of excitement brushed her as she remembered that she would soon see her sister on the other balcony. Her anticipation grew as the time to lower the moon neared. Sunrises and sunsets were special to her in a way that it was the time in which both the sun and the moon were in the sky together. She liked the thought that the two beings were equal, just like her and Luna. Seeing her sister was also a sweet part of the deal. Celestia’s heart pounded, just a couple more minutes and she would see her sister. Three to be exact before Luna usually arrived. There was always that glowing excitement that she gained before seeing her sister, having been away from Luna for so long helped Celestia appreciate any little moment she managed to see her. Dawn and dusk, the designated times it was certain they would see each other was no exception. One minute passed by… Celestia smiled at the memory of her sister opening her first-ever heartswarming gift back at home. She could still see the grin on Luna’s face when she received a new telescope. Two minutes passed by… Celestia closed her eyes and inhaled, taking in the fresh morning air. It was relaxing, calming any worries and halting her excitement for but a second before it came back at full force. Three minutes passed by… Luna was late, for only a minute, but this was unusual since Luna was always on time for moonrise and moonset. Celestia, being the overprotective big sister she was, began to get slightly nervous, however, since it was only a minute she composed herself. Ten minutes later… Something was very wrong, not only did Luna not show up, but the moon hadn’t even moved an inch. Now the sunrise was late. None of that mattered to Celestia anyway as she was now even more worried than before. She had a feeling in her gut that something was off, and now was determined to find out what it was. Quickly, she burst open the balcony doors and galloped towards the lunar wing. Servants and guards watched in confusion as their ruler ran through the hallways. Many tried to stop her but such efforts were futile. All thoughts of being a princess and keeping up appearances disappeared as the only thing on Celestia’s mind was that something had happened to her baby sister. What if a villain had kidnapped her? She herself had recently been captured by Queen Chrysalis so it would not be surprising. The scent of the lavender flowers Luna put up every night tickled Celestia's nose as she entered the darker halls of the wing. The luxurious heavy drapes swayed by the rush of air caused by the galloping alicorn and the sound of her hooves pounding along the floor bounced throughout the castle, startling ponies into thinking there was a stampede. Luna’s chamber doors exploded open in a burst of golden light. A frantic alicorn, mane in her eyes and tiara crooked, looked within. “LUNA! Are you alright?” Celestia paused. There was nopony to be seen. A couple of navy blue feathers but that was about it. She slowly walked into the room, it was dark save for a few burning candles. Lighting her horn to give her extra vision, she spotted a familiar black tiara sitting on the blankets of Luna’s bed. It gleamed mysteriously by the candlelight, giving Celestia an uneasy feeling. Next to the tiara was a note. Celestia’s heart rate increased, her breathing grew heavy and the sensation in her gut spread farther and further through her body. She slowly levitated the note closer, fearing the worst. It could be a ransom note, or something worse. She didn’t want to read the contents yet she forced herself to. For Luna, she thought. Celestia scanned the letter. Her eyes widened. No, this couldn’t be! She read the letter over and over again. It was definitely Luna’s hoofwriting. Just one more time! She looked at the bottom, Luna’s signature in curvy dark blue letters was the same as always. No, she couldn’t believe it, No, she didn’t want to believe it. Her little sister could not have possibly written a sui-. “Your Majesty!” A guard shouted, bringing Celestia out of her stunned daze. He had a sorrowful but stern expression on his face. “One of the castle gardeners has found the deceased body of Princess Luna!” It took a few moments for the princess to register the dreadful words. How could this have happened!? Her eyes wide, a single tear rolled down a white cheek, hitting the floor with an audible plop. She shook her head. “No, no, no!” The glass of her restraint broke, water spilled out and her senses stopped functioning. There was a ringing in Celestia’s ears as her heart, along with her world, shattered into a million pieces. Author's Note If you don’t know already this is only one sequel if you’d like to read the other it should be in the story description.
Chapter 2View OnlineI Wasn’t There to Catch YouChapter 2A creeping shadow moved skillfully across the hall. Blending in with furniture and jumping between passing pony’s shadows. Along the way it reached out its tendrils, stealing memories and gathering information about the recent event. It only had one goal, to reach its future host. It would have revenge once and for all. Destroying the elements and their bearers for good. Fortunately, it had a stroke of luck. It could feel the intense negative energy coursing through the halls. Every pony passing by was feeling a strong emotion, many of them dark and powerful. One pony, in particular, was emitting extreme amounts of sorrow and pain. Even more, this pony, it sensed, had immense power, magical wellsprings larger than any ocean you could imagine. Yes, it was all here, ripe for the taking. When emotions run high, it was easy as pie to manipulate delicate ponies' minds. Easy to lie, easy to deceive. The creature would not miss this opportunity. Celestia stood in front of her mirror. She wore a black dress, it cascaded down her back in glorious waves of fabric. The dress contained a collar that hugged her neck tightly, a bow directly underneath it. Beneath the bow were three consecutive buttons. To top it off she had replaced her golden horseshoes with silver ones, and her crown with a black veil. It had been a while since she’d ever worn something other than her regalia. However, she wouldn’t be at the funeral as a princess, she would be there as a pony who’d just lost her sister. Taking a deep breath, Celestia tried her best not to burst into tears and ruin the nice dress before the funeral. To be completely honest, she didn’t really want to attend the funeral, attending the funeral would be accepting the death of her sister. She didn’t want that at all. Celestia was still certain that when she stepped outside, Luna would be there to greet her. They would attend the funeral together and attempt to console the poor family who had lost a close loved one. Or, a favorite idea of hers, she would wake up and find out this was all simply a bad dream. No, get yourself together, Celestia! You have to do this for Luna, she silently berated herself. A knock at the door brought her out of her stupor. “Princess, are you ready?” A voice asked. Celestia took a deep breath. I can do this, it's just one funeral…Luna’s funeral, she thought. “Yes, I am ready,” She said. Opening her chamber doors met her with the sight of a few stoic guards and a handful of concerned servants. “Lead the way,” She said calmly. Celestia tried her best to keep her expression as tranquil as possible. She was soon given away as her body began to shake, her wings twitching involuntarily. “Are you sure you're alright, Princess?” A servant asked. Celestia sighed, taking a deep breath. In and out. “Yes, I’m okay. Thank you for asking.” The walk towards the site was unpleasant as it gave Celestia time to think, too much time to think. What could I have done? Could I have stopped her? I’ve failed at being a good sister again. As they arrived at the funeral site Celestia examined the scene around her. It was one of the castle gardens; many flowers had been arranged around the area. Lavender flowers, in particular, were one of Luna’s favorites as they helped ponies sleep. There were multiple rows of chairs, however, only a few were filled. Luna having only been in Equestria again for a year meant that many of the everyday citizens were hesitant to attend. How upsetting, she thought, more ponies should have come to mourn the loss of such an important ruler. The ponies who did attend included the bearers of harmony, Cadence and Shining Armor, and a few guards and servants who had met with Luna once or twice. They all looked at her with grim expressions on their faces. As Celestia approached, Twilight and Cadence got up from their seats and trotted toward her. “Are you ready to start the ceremony, Princess?” Twilight asked in a somber tone. Celestia slowly nodded her head. Okay, I can do this, I’ll be perfectly fine. “Stay strong, Auntie,” Cadence added. Celestia, not in a rush to hurry things up, gently strolled to the podium as the other two ponies sat back down. She glanced at the casket, white with the lunar cutie mark painted on the lid. Her heart rate increased and tears slowly began to form in the corners of her eyes. Finally stepping behind the podium, she noticed a photo of Luna smiling and eating some of Celestia’s homemade pancakes. It sparked a familiar memory in her head. “Slow down, Lulu! You’ll choke if you go any faster!” Celestia reprimanded. “I’m sorry, Tia, but your cooking is just so good!” Luna yelled into her food. Their parents, having died while they were still at a young age, meant they only had each other. Celestia took care of Luna and in turn, Luna cared for Celestia. They were joined at the hip and couldn't be separated for more than a day. “Everything I cook ends up burnt or inedible! I didn’t even know it was even possible to burn liquid!” “I appreciate the compliment but do slow down, you’re making a mess and I don’t want you to suffocate,” Celestia said with a stern expression on her face. Her expression then softened, happy to see her sister enjoying the food, she added more to Luna’s plate. “Here, if you like it so much, eat more.” “Thank you, Tia!” Luna exclaimed with a huge grin on her face. Celestia giggled. “Make sure to refuel a lot so you have the energy to run around some more okay?” Celestia said. “Mmph, okay!” Luna replied with her cheeks stuffed. They both giggled, as they enjoyed their home-cooked meal. Feeling warm and cozy, they both hoped the moment would never end. Celestia faltered. Everypony had their eyes on her with anticipation. Celestia suddenly felt like she couldn’t breathe; taking in sharp breaths, she struggled to regain control. She heard Cadence tell Twilight that something was wrong. Come on, Celestia! You can do it! she thought. She opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was a small squeak as another memory came rushing back to her. Celestia heard a faint noise as she was about to settle down for the night. Her door was pushed open and a little blue filly carrying a stuffed animal stuck her muzzle through. “Luna?” Celestia said, “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” Luna had a few stray tears running down her face as she sniffled. “I can’t sleep, Tia. I had a bad dream,” Luna said in a shaky voice. Celestia levitated Luna over to her, laying her sister down on the soft comforter. “It’s okay, Lulu. You can sleep with me tonight,” Celestia reassured, hoping to put the filly’s mind at ease. “Okay, promise you won’t leave?” Luna asked, drying her tears and snuggling closer to her sister. To the adolescent alicorn, this was the safest spot you could get. Celestia pulled the blanket over the both of them, keeping them snug and secure. She gently stroked Luna’s mane. “I promise that I will always be here for you, no matter what.” By now, nothing could stop the torrent of tears that were now waterfalling from Celestia’s eyes. She wasn’t bawling, but she was making audible soft sobs. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop it. The plug had been pulled and now everything was leaking out. Memory after memory came back to her, haltering her sentences and causing her to shake. Luna laughing, Luna galloping, Luna sleeping. Celestia wished that she could just have one more chance with her sister. One more talk, one more hug. All she wanted was to once again hold her sister, wrapping her wings around Luna as they chattered till the guards came to tell her it was time to start her duties. Cadence walked over and placed a hoof on Celestia’s shoulder. “I can’t do this, Cadence,” Celestia said as her voice wavered. “It’s okay, Auntie, I’ll take it from here. You just go sit down and rest,” Cadence said, handing Celestia a tissue. Celestia found an empty seat while Cadence took her place at the podium. “Thank you, everypony for coming,” Cadence said, “Unfortunately we have lost a very important pony recently. Princess Luna of Equestria. Princess Luna has decided to make a grave mistake that can never be taken back. Sadly, we did not see the signs and by then it was too late. I hope that anypony else who is struggling will seek help.” A few sniffles could be heard from the audience but nothing more. “Princess Luna has done many things for us, most importantly she helped everypony sleep peacefully, free of nightmares and other sinister creatures who roam in the dark. She was our guardian and we will miss her deeply. May she rest in peace.” Everypony clapped except Celestia. She was pacing back and forth down the rows, a distraught expression on her face as she gasped for air. As she fought to keep herself from fainting, Twilight came over to console her. “It’s going to be okay, princess.” No, no it won’t… The rest of the ceremony went as expected, many servants came up and expressed words of condolence to Celestia, who had managed to dry most of her tears. I appreciate the gesture but many of them sound forced, she thought, could they not try a little harder? When it came to the viewing, everypony let Celestia go first out of respect. Luna had been fixed up beautifully, her mane was done up in curls and she was dressed in a royal blue dress. She had a serene expression on her face, calm as she usually was. Closing her eyes, tears once again formed as Celestia gently kissed Luna on the forehead, beneath her horn. She whispered softly into Luna’s ear, “Farewell, dearest sister.” Lost in her grief, little did she or anypony know, a creature of nightmares and destruction discreetly slipped into Celestia’s mind. Author's Note We’re setting up the stage, next chapter will be interesting in my opinion.
Chapter 3View OnlineI Wasn’t There to Catch YouChapter 3Celestia struggled to focus on her paperwork, she was finding it increasingly difficult these days with so much on her mind. It had been nearly a month since the funeral, yet she still couldn’t put it behind her for even a second. Cadence had told her that it was normal, that she would need more time till she could move on. However, that was the problem, she didn’t want to move on. She was afraid that if she stopped thinking of her sister for a moment, then her memories of Luna would disappear. She was afraid that eventually, if time continued, she would forget her sister completely. It had been so long; she could barely remember her parent’s faces. Who was to say she wouldn't forget Luna's either? Of course, there were photos, but being it only a year since Luna’s return, there were few and far between. What if they got destroyed? Burnt? Stolen? Anything could happen to them. It filled Celestia with anxiety every time the thought crossed her mind. She shook her head, performing a breathing technique to calm her down. Celestia instantly felt her nerves settle down. Setting down her quill, she decided paperwork could wait. Celestia walked over to a nearby bookshelf, picking randomly from the selection of books. Levitating it over, she paused as she looked over the piece of literature. It was one of Luna’s. A few stray tears leaked out of her eyes, creating wet spots on the book as the memories of Luna’s death announcement came rushing back. It couldn’t be true! No, it has to have been a mistake! Maybe the body was identified incorrectly? Celestia refused to believe Luna was gone. Being stressed, she hadn’t really paid attention to the rest of the funeral. It all seemed like a blur if she tried to remember. I bet that if I just went to the grave, the body would have been somepony else… No! What is this thinking, Celestia? You can’t just dig up a grave! She shook her head, hard. Anything to get the troublesome thought out of her mind. She was sure that if left alone, she would probably follow through with such a plan. She closed her eyes, letting the tears dampen her pristine coat. “Tia!” Celestia inhaled sharply as her head shot up, and her eyes burst open. Searching around for the origin of the voice, she yelled, “W-who said that!?” “Please, I need your help!” The mysterious voice said. Something about the voice sounded familiar, it was feminine, almost like…Luna’s voice? “Luna?” Celestia said to the air. “Yes! Tia, it’s me, Luna. Help me! I’m using a telepathy spell right now but I don’t think I have long before I’m caught.” Celestia’s eyes widened. “It cannot be! You should be dead! I-I saw your body with my own eyes! O-or at least that’s what I think, it’s also been what everypony else has been telling me…” Celestia said in disbelief. There was a hopeful feeling in her chest, could her sister really be alive? “Please, believe me, Tia, my death was faked! My body was something else, and I'm being held prisoner!” There was an uneasy silence as Celestia stared blankly, lost for words. Could… could it be? Suddenly, her tear-stained face became determined as she stood up into a battle-ready stance. She had to save her sister! “Where? Where are you being held prisoner?” Celestia asked sternly. She could feel butterflies in her stomach as she realized how little control she had over the situation. “I can’t tell you…I don’t know…” Luna replied. “Sister I am so scared…” “Shh, it’s going to be okay, Luna. Just stay strong,” Celestia cooed. Eventually, something extremely important occurred to her. “Wait! How do I know you are actually Luna? How do I know you’re telling the truth?” “Ask me something that only you and Luna would know!” The so-called ‘Luna’ said. Celestia pondered for a moment, searching for the correct memory. “Hmm, let’s see…do I prefer sunrise or sunset?” Celestia questioned. It was silent as ‘Luna’ thought about it. Celestia held her breath, just one answer could determine whether or not she would see the one she loved most. “Neither, you prefer the moonrise,” Luna replied confidently. So she really is my sister! Her tears turned to tears of joy, and a huge grin spread across her face. Just hearing Luna’s voice once again was delightful. Even if Luna had gotten the answer wrong, Celestia was still willing to believe that this was indeed her sister. I mean, there was always the possibility that she could have forgotten. But I know that this has to be Luna. It’s like I have been telling myself this whole time, Luna is not dead! Celestia thought. “You got it correct! Luna, I thought I lost you forever!” Celestia cried happily. She swiped at her tears, feeling elated. “Yes, please calm down, Celestia. I need your help with my escape,” Luna replied calmly. Celestia took yet another deep breath, putting her duty to her sister over her excitement. Still grinning she said, “I’ll do anything to save you! What do you need me to do?” “Well I have a plan, but I need you to promise me something,” Luna said. Celestia lifted an eyebrow. “Oh? What sort of promise?” “I need you to promise not to tell anypony else that I’m speaking to you,” Luna explained. “Many things could get complicated and my captors will know if you tell anypony else that I’m using telepathy.” “Okay, I understand,” Celestia said, “I shall follow any instructions you give me, sister.” “Very well then, let us begin.” Author's Note Remember kids, if you ever here a voice in your head telling you what to do, even if someone you know, do not follow its advice. Chapter 4 was originally going to be part of chapter 3 but I decided to put them separate.
Chapter 5View OnlineI Wasn’t There to Catch YouChapter 5Celestia lifted up the clear brown bottle to get a closer look. As well as she could see with just the glow of her horn, there was a powder inside, a mysterious crystalline white substance. “What is this, Luna?” Celestia asked, her head cocked to the side. “Oh, just a substance I acquired a while ago that can help put ponies and creatures to sleep. Something I confiscated from one of the nobles who had planned to use it on another pony,” Luna replied. Celestia gasped. “Is it dangerous!? What’s it doing in your room?” “Don’t worry it’s not dangerous, however, do not and I repeat: DO NOT smell it. Just inhaling it will put you to sleep; I don’t want you passing out in the middle of the room. It will cause suspicions,” Luna commanded. “Okay, okay, I get it. What are we even going to need it for?” Celestia asked while keeping a watchful eye on the contents of the bottle. She didn’t dare open it. “I’ll explain later, just head back to your room,” Luna said urgently. “I’d still like to know what this-” “Head back, now,” Celestia flinched at the words, not expecting such an answer from her sister. “If you ever want to save me, you need to act quickly, you cannot ask such unneeded questions.” “O-okay…” Celestia walked out of the room, she didn’t want to be there any longer than needed. Closing the door, trying to be as silent as possible, she turned her head, finding the same maid she had run into earlier. “Princess? What are you doing?” the maid asked. Celestia hastily hid the bottle behind her. “Do not tell her anything, dear sister,” Luna said to her. Though Celestia didn’t like it, this was a time when she absolutely needed to lie to one of her subjects. “Nothing of your concern, my little pony,” Oh no, oh no, I’m gonna get caught! Despite her inner panic, Celestia gave her signature motherly smile, an expression she used often and one she had long ago mastered. Shuffling her hooves, and suddenly taking quite an interest in the rays of light dancing along the floor, she said, “I was simply returning something to my sister’s room, she’ll be returning soon and I’d like to make…sure…” Celestia paused as she registered her own words. The maid’s eyes narrowed, then turned to ones filled with concern. She lifted up a hoof towards the distraught alicorn. “Huh? Isn’t Princess Luna…are you alright, Princess?” It was the last thing Celestia heard before she fled the scene. Slamming the door behind her, Celestia wheezed as she caught her breath. “Ce-le-sti-a,” Luna said slowly, there was a sharp hostility in her voice. Celestia’s heart raced, and she could feel the blood pounding in her ears. “WHAT IN TARTARUS WAS THAT?” Celestia's ears flattened; the action proved no use as Luna’s volume did not decrease even a fraction of a decibel. “I-I’m sorry…” Celestia said quietly. Guilt creeping up on her consciousness, she tried to make herself appear smaller. It was quite unusual for her to act this way; it was a side of her nopony, not even Luna, had ever seen before. Celestia hung her head in shame. “You could have damaged the entire plan! Perhaps you are not up to the task, should I have asked somepony else?” Celestia’s eyes widened and she shook her head quickly. “N-no, I can do it, Luna. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize what I’d said until the last moment. I promise I will make it up to you by bringing you home,” Celestia said, determined once more. “Good,” Luna replied. “Perfect, dear sister. Though we were dangerously close to being caught, I think we can still work with our plan.” Celestia could imagine Luna pacing back and forth around the room. She missed her sister dearly and chided herself, do not be so careless next time, Celestia! If you don’t get this right, there may not be a next time. Fighting herself, she almost missed what Luna said next. “In a few moments, we should receive a knock on the door requesting you meet with Cadence. It will be the perfect opportunity for the next part of our plan so I hope you are ready.” “Huh? How do you know that?” “It is simply the expected response. Since it will be a while till they arrive, I’m going to inform you of the plan.” “Uh, okay…” Celestia complied, setting herself down on the floor. “I’m listening.” “I’m going to warn you that you may not agree with this part of the plan, but I want you to trust me,” Luna explained. “Don’t worry, dear sister. I put my full trust in you always,” Celestia said. “Thank you, Celestia. I know I can count on you.” A smile crept onto Celestia's muzzle. “So, unfortunately, Cadence knows my captors quite well.” Celestia’s eyes widened. “What!?” She exclaimed. Luna shushed her. “Shh, somepony could hear! Just calm down. Don’t worry, Cadence isn’t involved, but I’m afraid she won’t believe you if you claimed I was still alive. On top of that, Cadence will most likely defend these ponies. To combat this, I want you to secretly get Cadence to ingest the substance I have given you.” “You want me to…feed Cadence this, this unnamed substance!?” Celestia shouted in surprise. “Yes, but there is nothing to fear, the substance only puts ponies to sleep, and no harm should come to her when she takes it,” Luna assured. “You will request to have tea with Cadence, then you will mix the substance with the sugar. Once you offer her the spiked sugar, she will put it in her tea. Once she passes out, you will teleport the both of you to a spare room for her to rest in. If anypony asks where Cadence went, simply tell them she went home. I trust you can do this, Celestia.” A knock sounded at the door as the white alicorn nodded her head. “I will not fail you this time, dear sister.” Author's Note Next chapter: something about the smell of almonds?
Chapter 6View OnlineI Wasn’t There to Catch YouChapter 6“Just like that, sister,” Luna directed. Celestia carefully emptied the contents of the bottle into the bowl of sugar, keeping her ears up and alert for any sound of ponies approaching. The substance looked eerily similar to the sugar, a detail that surprised Celestia now that she held the two crystalline powders together. Although the staff had protested, they had finally given in to letting Celestia prepare the tea for her meeting with Cadence. Urging them to vacate the kitchen, she had persuaded them to take a break for the day, assuring them she could take care of herself for one afternoon. Thus, giving her the opportunity to successfully go through with the plan without having to worry too much about being caught. “Quick, cover the sugar bowl so you don’t inhale anything,” Luna said. Celestia obeyed, covering the white china bowl with its respective lid, and being careful with the fragile object. She levitated the rest of the items for the tea onto a tray, the teacups and saucers, the milk jug, and finally, the teapot itself, full of piping hot tea. “Remember, once it starts to affect Cadence you need to act quickly. Bring her back to her room quietly without anypony noticing. This is part of the plan you can absolutely not mess up. I know you can do this, Celestia, I have put my full trust in you.” Celestia nodded, with only the task at hand on her mind, she set out for the courtyard. “Good afternoon, Auntie, how have you been?” Cadence asked, with a gentle smile on her face. There was a hint of concern in the way her niece looked at her. Celestia felt the familiar feeling of guilt as she knew what was about to happen. She put it behind her for the sake of her sister. Luna had assured her that no harm would come to Cadence. Her sister wouldn’t lie to her, right? “What’s with the hesitation?” Luna asked. “Don’t you want to save me? Go ahead and respond.” “I’m fine, thank you for asking,” Celestia said. “How about you? How has your new marriage life been treating you?” Celestia poured tea into both of their tea cups. Her smile was somewhat strained, if Cadence had noticed, she hadn’t said anything. “Oh, thank you,” Cadence replied. Celestia preoccupied herself with sipping her tea as she watched Cadence put a spoonful of sugar into her cup. “It’s been very nice, Shining is very supportive and I enjoy his company. But that is not why I called you here; the staff has been quite concerned lately about your behavior, and I want to know what’s wrong.” Cadence mixed the sugar in her tea, letting it dissolve. “Is this almond tea? It sort of smells like it…” Huh? There’s nothing to do with almonds in the tea…Never mind, I shouldn’t think unnecessary thoughts, just find an answer, Celestia. “My behavior? What’s been off about it?” “Well, one maid, in particular, has told me that you’ve seemed much more nervous than usual. Is something bothering you? It’s only been a month since Luna has been… gone, but I know it may take longer than a month for things to get better. Just know that I miss her as well, everypony else misses her too, you are not alone, Auntie,” Cadence said. The words did not hit Celestia as hard as Celestia thought they would, she was simply amused by the fact that Cadence did not know Luna was coming home soon. “Lies! All lies!” Luna shouted. Celestia kept her composure despite the startling increase in volume. “They have only known me for a year! There is no way that ponies have become attached to me so quickly, if they had, I wouldn’t currently be captured! Cadence is a fool to think they all love me. It’s all an act to make you happy, Celestia, do not believe a word she says.” Celestia’s jaw tightened and the desire to force Cadence to drink the tea so the plan could continue grew within her. Wait, what am I thinking? I can’t do that! “I guess I have just been stressed recently,” Celestia said. “Please do not worry yourself, Cadence. Everything is alright.” Cadence narrowed her eyes. Celestia felt a sense of relief as she watched the alicorn in front of her take a long sip of her tea. “Are you sure? Because I have lived with you long enough to know-” Cadence paused. “Cadence?” “Ooh, everything is spinning…” Cadence groaned as she stood up. Wobbling and looking around in a dazed state, she managed to say, “My head is pounding.” “Cadence!?” Celestia got out of her chair frantically. Moving over to her niece, she assessed what was wrong. The pink alicorn’s heart was racing, and her breathing was irregular and quick. Celestia could swear that Cadence’s complexion was now a darker pink, perhaps an almost ruddy color. She could swear she had seen these symptoms before, but she couldn’t exactly pinpoint it. “Calm down, it’s just the side effects of the substance,” Luna explained. “She is not being harmed.” Celestia began to regret ever having agreed to the plan. If it meant Cadence was going to suffer, was it worth it? “Take control of the situation, Celestia. Do you really want to see me again? You are a princess! Act like it.” Celestia took a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. “It’s going to be okay, Cadence. Let me bring you back to your room,” Celestia said calmly. In a burst of light, they both found themselves in Cadence’s room. Celestia began to nudge Cadence to the bed when the smaller alicorn collapsed on the floor. She began to panic once more. “Oh dear, I didn’t realize it would act so quickly!” Celestia pushed Cadence into the bed, relieved to find her heartbeat was not racing as alarmingly fast as before. In fact, it seemed like her heart rate and breathing was slowing down as she fell deeper into sleep. Celestia breathed in and out. For a while she just stood still, watching Cadence lay in bed. The sleeping alicorn looked serene and peaceful. Celestia was sure that Cadence would be overjoyed when Luna returned. There was just one thing though, there was the nagging feeling that this had happened before. What was it? Why was this so familiar? Sighing, Celestia left the room, careful not to let anypony notice. Celestia felt a sudden nostalgia as she remembered the many times she had walked these halls. So many memories; so many ponies. The afternoon sunlight drifted through the windows, and a cool draft of air brushed her face. How many times had she gone this very same route? Talking with Cadence or one of the nobl- wait. Celestia’s eyes widened. “Quick! Call a doctor!” A stallion noble collapsed to the ground. His coat, originally a light gray, was now a ruddy color. Earlier, the stallion had complained of a headache and spinning vision. Everypony in the room had brushed it off as dehydration till he started to turn red, they then proceeded to panic as he eventually lost consciousness. A castle doctor came galloping into the room. Examining the noble, he made an announcement. “It’s cyanide poisoning! Do not drink or eat anything else in this room!” There was a collective gasp as nobles soon began to point hooves. Accusing others of the poisoning. “It was you, wasn’t it! I knew you despised Silver Saddle!” “Bah! How dare you accuse me of such an act!” Celestia stomped her hoof twice. “Stop this at once! Please calm down, everypony! We will get this situated soon, but until then you are all dismissed.” Directing guards and doctors, Celestia managed to get the situation under control. Discarding everything that may have been contaminated. Most ponies were safe, and many went under inspection in case they had been poisoned as well. The stallion, however, was not so lucky. One noble house lost an important family member that day. “Cadence!” Celestia pivoted on her hooves, galloping at full speed while tapping into her earth pony magic reserves for more power. How could she be so stupid? No sleeping medicine or drug would have those kinds of side effects! Bursting into the room, she immediately noticed the absence of noise. Not even the soft breaths of a sleeping pony gave way. There was a blind panic as she scrambled to put her ear to Cadence’s chest. The dead silent alicorn’s lips were blue, and there was no rise and fall of the chest that signaled she was breathing. Listening as closely as possible, hoping for the best, Celestia closed her eyes and focused on hearing whatever noise possible. Yet there was nothing. Nothing at all. No matter how hard Celestia willed it into existence, Cadence possessed no heartbeat. Celestia felt like she couldn’t breathe. Okay. I’ll just…cover her with a blanket. Celestia laid the blanket over Cadence’s limp form. Walk out the door, Celestia. Head back to your chambers. Celestia walked back mindlessly. Letting her hooves do the work. Once back in her chambers, she stared at a wall for a good fifteen minutes before the realization hit her. She let out an anguished cry. What have I done!? Celestia felt the warmth of tears run down her face as her guilt turned to anger. “LUNA!” She yelled. “WHAT DID YOU JUST MAKE ME DO!?” The distressed princess stomped her hoof, making the room shake. “Was this your plan all along? To poison Cadence? Why!?” A malicious laugh sounded in Celestia’s ears. No longer the familiar voice of Luna, this voice was deeper, more sinister. “How naive could a princess really be? You didn’t really believe Luna was still alive did you?” Celestia’s pupils dilated as she realized just how ridiculous of a claim it was to have believed a voice in her head. She had seen the body for herself, why did she have to deny it? Angry tears blurred her vision, and a hot fiery rage burned within her. “Who are you!? What are you doing in my head?” She shouted. “How dare you impersonate my sister! How dare you kill Cadence! ” “I killed Cadence? I’m not the one who got their hooves dirty, dear.” Celestia winced, and another chuckle echoed through Celestia’s mind. “Though I must thank you! All this work was done for me while all I needed to do was act like I was your sister. I’ll miss her dearly though, she was a wonderful host for me.” “Host?” “Don’t you remember? Nightmare Moon? Who do you think was able to make such a historical event occur? Luna could not have done it without me.” Celestia scowled. “You were the one who spoke lies to my sister?” “The one and only! Now, I have one final task for you. I humbly request that I be given control over your body. You can become so much greater, Celestia, I can help you.” “No! Never!” “Don’t you want revenge? Who do you think was the cause of our dear Luna’s death?” Celestia stayed silent. “Who?” She asked sternly. “You don’t know? Why, how amusing! Well, you should know it’s all your subjects’ fault. Persecuting her! Shunning her! Allowing her to feel incompetent and intimidating when they cower in front of her! They all must pay for their crimes!” Celestia shook her head. “No! Luna loved them all dearly! You are telling lies!” “You have been blinded. Like you, Luna was blinded by her love for your subjects. Their words mattered to her as much as her life, so when they were hurtful, they cut through her like a hot knife through butter.” More tears streamed down, Celestia’s face as she berated herself. Luna never told me any of this! Why couldn’t I have been more observant? Because of me, she is gone. “Be real for once, what use is a broken princess who believes lies? One who let their own sister die? There is nothing left for you now, no niece, no sister. Let me in, Celestia. I can help you.” What have I done? Everything this voice has said is true. Now my subjects will pay for my ignorance and stupidity. Celestia shook with anger as she shouted, “No! You made me kill Cadence! All my problems are caused by you! Luna is gone because of your lies! You may have gotten to my sister, but you will never get to me. I would rather die than answer to somepony who does nothing but cause pain.” The voice laughed. Suddenly, Celestia yelped. Cringing as she felt a searing pain in her skull. The creature attempted to take over; she could feel the tendrils of mind magic being placed upon her brain. The pain was the most intense she had ever felt, throbbing like her head was continuously being run over by a train. Each flare was intense, sending flashes of white across her vision. Celestia collapsed on the floor, writhing in agony. This is all my fault… “No! I’ll never let you win!” I deserve this, but I can’t let them take over! Forgive me, Equestria. It’s now or never, Celestia! Bringing herself to her hooves unsteadily, she wobbled over to her desk. Carrying her tears, she shakily levitated a sharp pair of scissors. Blinded from the pain, Celestia thrust the scissors toward her throat. Only for it to stop. “N-no!” “Tsk, tsk. I don’t think so.” For Celestia, everything faded to black as she felt everything slip out of her control. Rising from the floor, a white alicorn, slender legs and taller than even the tallest of ponies, formed a menacing grin. Opening her eyes, the gentle magenta irises darkened before transforming into a striking gold. Her pupils narrowed, becoming draconic slits as her pastel-colored mane was set ablaze. Singeing anything around it, the fiery locks cast an amber glow upon the room. Around her signature sun cutie mark, another bright orange mark surrounded it and painted wisps of flames covered her flank, reminding her of somepony else’s similar mark. The alicorn examined her new form. “Oh my! Who knew I had such an eye for design?” She pulled out a box, her magical aura, no longer its yellow sunlight color, was now a blood red. Levitating out the contents and tossing the box to the side, she said, “Now, just one more thing, and this form is complete.” The golden regalia she was currently wearing was soon replaced with her new set of perfectly polished armor. Admiring herself in a mirror, her adulation of herself was cut short as several knocks pounded against her door. “Princess! Are you alright? We heard you screaming!” The alicorn kept her grin as she strutted towards the door. Opening it revealed a crowd of concerned guards and staff. Everyponies’ eyes widened and they all stared in disbelief at their ruler's new appearance. “Princess Celestia! Is that…is that you?” A guard asked in bewilderment. “Celestia?” The fiery maned alicorn let out a sardonic laugh. “Call me Daybreaker.” Screams rang out through the castle as a plume of fire engulfed the crowd of ponies. Author's Note Good job if you managed to stick with the story this long. I am going to go attempt to finish the other sequel. This is the last chapter and there is possibly an epilogue for this, but so far I only have one sentence.
EpilogueView OnlineI Wasn’t There to Catch YouEpilogueThe elements of harmony lay shattered, scattered along with their bearers on the floor. The world outside looked like a scene from a horror movie, houses burnt to crisps, the smell of death and destruction wafted through the air, and the cries of the few survivors holding on to their passed loved ones were slowly decreasing as they gave up their grasp on life. Above it all, a fiery maned alicorn sat upon her golden throne, her amused gaze fixed on a single lavender unicorn attempting to get to her hooves. “Well, well, well. I didn’t think you had it in you to survive so long, Twilight Sparkle,” Daybreaker sneered. Twilight glared. Blood trickled down her face from her sustained injuries; her horn was broken, the top part of it ripped off, leaving magic to spill out. “Isn’t it time to join your friends? Your family? What is left for you now that they’re all gone?” Daybreaker laughed maliciously. “It’s a shame really, your friends really did put up a fight. Not like I’ll miss them though, it was quite interesting watching them fall one by one.” Twilight flared her nostrils and pinned her ears to the back of her head. “Why,” she said. “Hmm?” Daybreaker grinned and lifted an eyebrow. “What was that?” “WHY?” Twilight shouted, and tears formed in the corners of her eyes. “I trusted you, Princess Celestia! How could you do this to us? To me!?” Sweat dripped off Twilight’s brow due to the sweltering heat. The sun, which was now brought closer to the planet, produced wave after wave of burning temperatures. Daybreaker snorted. “Why not? I have all the powers of the sun! Who is telling me not to use them?” Daybreaker’s tone became serious as she turned to face Twilight. “Please remember that my name is Daybreaker, little pony. Your princess and I are not one and the same. Celestia is long gone.” Twilight trembled. “Cadence, Shining Armor, my friends, and everypony else I knew is gone. And now you are telling me that Princess Celestia is gone as well!?” Daybreaker sported a wicked grin. Tears fell to the floor as Twilight remembered it all. The pained look on Shining’s face as he told her of Cadence’s death, the heartbreaking devastation of Canterlot, the image of her parents’ bodies crushed beneath their burning house, the sound of bones breaking as her friends were thrown across the room. Her normally lavender face turned a few shades redder. “THEY’RE ALL GONE BECAUSE OF YOU!” Twilight stomped her hoof. Breaking into a sprint as she charged toward the tyrant. Daybreaker scoffed. “You're kidding. You’re kidding right?” Daybreaker readied a spell, charging her long horn with red magic. With a loud crack of thunderous power, Daybreaker let loose, shooting a red hot beam of magic towards Twilight. “NO!” A voice not her own came from Daybreaker’s voice as her eyes widened. Her head suddenly snapped back, redirecting the beam towards the ceiling and destroying it in the process. Twilight planted her hooves, using the distraction to fire a burst of pure, raw magic from her broken horn. Daybreaker screamed. “AAAAH!” Thrown backward and crashing into the throne, she struggled to open her eyes. The small glimpses of them Twilight could see were of the frightening gold irises struggling not to turn magenta. Twilight breathed heavily as the rush of adrenaline slowly receded from her system. “Princess Celestia!? Is that you?” She yelled. Twilight rushed towards the side of the alicorn, careful not to get too close to the fiery mane. “Is it, is it really you?” Celestia’s eyes shot open, revealing they had changed back to her normal color. "Princess!" Celestia cried frantically, “Please! I can’t keep control for much longer!” She scrambled to sit up. “Run, Twilight! You’ll never make it out if you don’t leave now! You can be in charge of Equestria, I know you’ll do great, just GET OUT OF HERE, TWILIGHT!” The mare in question shook her head. A determined look on her face as tears streamed down her face. “No! I can’t leave you, Princess! You’re the only pony I have left, I know you can fight whatever it is that’s controlling you!” Twilight held on to one of Celestia’s hooves. Tears, mirroring Twilight’s own, fell from Celestia’s eyes. A somber look came to Celestia’s gentle expression. “I wish that were true.” Twilight watched in confusion as Celestia’s horn lit up. “Goodbye, Twilight.” The lavender unicorn’s eyes widened as she was propelled out of the castle, crashing through doors and walls. However, despite the force, there was no pain. A golden shield protected Twilight, softening the blows she received from incoming obstacles. Twilight watched in horror as the same magic protecting her blasted the ceiling of the castle, crumbling and caving it in. All of it no doubt falling and crushing her beloved mentor and friend. “PRINCESS!” Twilight cried out. She fought back with her own magic, trying to stop the force from moving her farther away. It was futile, no matter how hard she pulled or how much she struggled, Celestia’s magic held tighter. Twilight eventually gave up, letting the magic bring her out of the castle, setting her down in front of the gates. By then the whole castle had been reduced to rubble. Twilight sat on the ground, sobs leaving her as a small puddle of salty tears formed beneath her hooves. Picking herself up she recalled Celestia’s words. I know you’ll do great. Celestia believed in her. Everypony believed in her. She would rebuild the nation with her own bare hooves. “I’ll make you proud, everypony.” Determined, she set off towards the survivor camps. Celestia opened her eyes and was greeted by an astral plane. A blinding white light glowed far away, beckoning for her to go to it. Lying on her back, she wallowed in her despair. There was a pang in her chest as she relived the moments she now regretted and despised with her very being. She closed her eyes, letting the tears dampen her once pristine coat. In the distance, she could hear soft hoofsteps coming closer to her. She didn’t care; she deserved the deepest pits of Tartarus anyways. Might as well get it over with. Opening her eyes again, a pair of turquoise irises stared back with a melancholy look. Celestia let out a gasp. “Sister.” Celestia wailed. “Luna, I’m so sorry!” She jumped up to wrap her sister in her wings. Two smaller hooves hugged her back. “Shh, it’s okay, Celestia. It wasn’t your fault.” Celestia felt hot tears against her chest. “I’m sorry too. I didn’t realize how much you cared for me. Forgive me for being so blind, sister.” “I can never be forgiven for what I’ve done, Luna. Nothing will make it better.” Celestia hung her head in shame. “Please, sister, you were not yourself. I should have stayed. I realize that now. If I hadn’t gone through with it, then the creature would not have been able to take advantage of you.” “No, it’s all my fault, Luna. I didn’t notice how much you were struggling before it was too late. I-I should’ve been there for you, but I wasn’t.” Celestia sniffled. “I have caused everypony so much pain, there is no forgiveness I can accept for all the families I have left heartbroken and alone without their loved ones. I’m a monster.” Celestia felt a hoof against her cheek. She opened her eyes to look at Luna’s. “Perhaps. Perhaps everypony still living will never forgive you. But you feel remorse do you not?” Celestia nodded. “It shows you are no monster, Celestia. No more than me. We are simply two mares who were misguided by the same creature, and who now have made enough mistakes to fill an encyclopedia.” Luna pulled away from the hug. Celestia instantly missed the warmth she had longed for. “Fortunately I know of one mare who forgives you,” Luna said. “What? Who?” “Cadence.” “No! Really? After what I did to poison her?” Celestia’s eyes welled up with more tears. “Yes. You were wise to ascend her to alicornhood. She is as knowledgeable and as kind as a princess should be. She told me that she would love you no matter what because you are family to her.” Luna smiled. Celestia sobbed louder. “I don’t deserve her forgiveness, let alone her love,” Celestia said. “In her eyes you do.” Luna held out a hoof, her astral mane flowed in an unseen wind. “Tia, come with me, everypony is waiting for you.” She pointed towards the light. “Let us simply be sisters again, we stick together forever right?” Celestia stared at Luna with red eyes, then smiled. “Of course, we were meant to stay together, little sister.” Together both alicorns walked towards their final destination. Holding each other close, they prepared to see their friends and family once more. “I missed you so much, big sister. I'll never leave your side again." Author's Note I don’t think this epilogue was needed, but I got bored and wrote it anyway. I enjoyed writing this story.
Chapter 4View OnlineI Wasn’t There to Catch YouChapter 4“So, are you sure this will work?” Celestia whispered. She could hear Luna and vice-versa; however, nopony else could hear her sister but her. She was filled with anticipation of the notion that Luna was not actually lost. Celestia was hopeful that once again she would see her sister’s smile as they were reunited for the second time; the feeling would be wonderful. The thought put Celestia’s mind at ease, and she felt a strong euphoria coursing through her veins. “Trust me, sister. This plan will work,” Luna replied. Celestia was currently walking through the hallways, discreetly carrying a package in her magical aura. “Celestia, what’s inside that box will help you significantly, just trust my word and bring it back to your chambers. Don’t let anyone know the contents.” Celestia sighed. “Whatever you say, dear-” Celestia’s heart almost stopped as she ran into one of the maids. Her aura gave out and the box was sent flying across the floor. “Oh, dear! Princess! I’m so sorry!” The maid yelled as she quickly got up and hastily bowed. “Please forgive me for my recklessness! Here I’ll grab your package for you.” The maid picked up the box, there was a slight noise of metal rattling inside. “What’s this? It seems quite heavy.” Celestia silently panicked inside. “O-oh just something my student sent to me, here I’ll take it.” She hastily levitated the package out of the maid's grasp. “Farewell, I must be going!” Celestia galloped back to her chambers leaving a very confused maid. Safely inside her room, Celestia let out a sigh of relief. Her heart had finally stopped racing and she locked the door. “That was quite close,” Luna said. “Indeed, I hope this really will be beneficial to your plan,” Celestia replied. She dumped out the contents of the box, there was a clang as several metal pieces of armor fell out. Larger than the armor of the guards, larger than any normal pony armor; the familiar silver helmet, peytral, and horseshoes of the fabled Nightmare Moon laid sinisterly against the ground, sparking memories of the many regrets Celestia held. She picked up the peytral, giving it a distasteful look, the moon engraved on it glared at her, reminding her of the darker ages of Equestria. “I had ordered for these to be destroyed quite a while ago, however, it seems as if that was never followed through. I guess we can call it good luck that they are still around for your plan. Not to mention being intact.” “Quite so, you will need armor to protect yourself and this is the only armor we have in your size. Besides, the public will become suspicious if their princess suddenly requests armor to be made,” Luna explained. “I cannot tell you who my captors are just yet, but you can trust me when I say that this will prove successful.” “Okay, but I don’t think I’m comfortable wearing the armor of Nightmare Moon…” Celestia said. “Which is why you should change it. Here, I have a design in mind, I’m going to send you a spell that will change the armor to fit your style better,” Luna said. “Go ahead.” Celestia felt something pop into her mind. The room lit up with a magical glow as Celestia cast the spell on the armor, leaving a tingling sensation in her horn. The armor began shaping itself, where there were smooth surfaces and hooked points there were now jagged edges and sharp spikes. The top of the helmet grew a tiara, and a red jewel rose from the middle, similar to the gem on her current tiara; however, it gave it a more intimidating feel. There was an eerie glow as the armor changed color; the bluish silver changed to a fiery orange. Accents of gold lined the bottom of the majestic helmet, giving it a regal look. The peytral, which once held a crescent moon, now hosted the yellow sun cutie mark of Celestia. The bewildered alicorn watched in amazement at the sight, it was enchanting; she found it difficult to pull her eyes away. “Wow…Luna, I’m speechless, when did you ever think of such a design?” Celestia asked in wonder. “A while ago, but that’s not important. For now, you need to hide the armor so nopony finds it, the plan is almost ready to go, and we do not want to hinder it,” Luna replied sternly. “I promise that I will do whatever it takes to get you back, Luna. As your older sister, it is my duty to protect you,” Celestia stated. She levitated the armor into the box, stashing it underneath her large bed. “Can you at least give me a hint about your captors? I understand they might be alerted, but I want to know even a little about who I may be going up against.” “Well, I can tell you this: my assailants are everywhere, I know for a fact that you have met many of them.” Celestia considered this carefully. “Who could ever want to harm you?” Luna chuckled. “Luna?” “Oh, dear sister, my lovable sweet sister. If only you knew. More will be revealed later, but for now? There is something to grab from my room,” Luna replied. Celestia was astonished and slightly disturbed at Luna’s tone. What had happened to her sister for her to act in such a way? Celestia complied with her orders and slipped into the hallway, stealthily evading castle staff. It seemed she would be doing this quite often. Approaching the double doors she had entered only a couple of weeks before, she steeled herself for her next task. Opening the door with a cautious stare, Celestia let the darkness of the room coil around her as she stepped through the opening. Author's Note Chapter 5 is currently being worked on.
