Sentinel of the Everfree

A loud slap echoes through the dining hall causing all to go deathly silent. Celestia can only stand still with her mouth hanging open. Even as the pain reaches her brain she does little more than flap her jaw looking for words that will not come.

“I warned you sister.” Hot tears begin to pour down the white alicorn's face as she reaches for her sister only to be slapped a second time.

“Mom!” Luna lights her horn and catches Spike with her magic before he can get close.

“I’m sorry nephew but your Mother deserves everything that is coming her way. As angry as you may be Spike I will be taking you with me and explaining everything that is happening. Something that your mother should have done properly.” Even as they try to quietly leave both Shining and Cadence are easily noticed by the Lunar princess.

“Lulu…” Luna glares at her sister.

“Don’t even start Tia. I have been against this every step since my return but each time I have let you worm your way into my head and sway my actions. I am putting my hoof down this time. I kept telling you how fragile her mind was, how little it would take for her to snap. All you had to do to stop that was to keep your mouth shut about her past until she was ready to hear the truth!” Celestia hangs her head and collapses onto her flank.

“I know…” Luna has to look away so that her own tears are not seen.

“Don’t think for a second that I enjoy this. It hurts me just as much to see Fenrir like this Tia, but it hurts me more to see you like this. In your race to see our old friend again you have done nothing but damage what little of her we had left.” Spike squirms in Luna’s magic until she finally lowers him to the ground next to her and lets him free. Giving her nephew a stern look Spike wilts slightly under her gaze but stays by her side.

“Um, Auntie?” Both princesses look over to Cadence and Shining.

“Come along you two. You’ve both seen and heard too much to just be thrown out without an explanation.” Looking to one another for support, Cadence and Shining eventually follow along after Luna.

“Please don’t hate me sister.” Luna stops and looks back to her sister.

“I don’t hate you Tia.” Luna closes the door behind her and the others leaving Celestia alone. In the large empty room it was easy to hear her cries echoing.