Here They Stood

by NorthernLegacy

Rating: teen
Tags: Royal Guard, Violence, Princess Celestia, Death, Human, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe
Length: 5353

Twilight finds an old History book, and it’s contents spill Equestria’s dark and bloody history.

Long ago, before Nightmare Moon, the long forgotten Human Kingdoms made their last stand against the united armies of Equestria and the Griffons. Decades of warfare had led to this point, where three great armies would clash and the future of an entire species forgotten to time would be decided that day. Twilight would learn this shocking secret in a long forgotten book in Canterlot library, her discovery would shed some light onto Equestria’s dark past, and the past of its rulers.

Published 2023-02-05 15:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-02-05 15:40:00 UTC

Here They Stood

Twilight Sparkle sat alone in the dark library, with only a candlelight and the occasional spark of her horn to illuminate the piles of books and text that sat before her. The lavender unicorn sighed quietly as she felt her eyes grow tired, it was late, and she had meant to retire to her bed an hour or two ago, but the material in front of her had proven itself to be a worthy read. The lie of ‘one more page’ had spiralled into her reading half the book. Twilight yawned tiredly as she began to get up from the cushion she lay on, closing the thick tome she had been reading and stacking it atop the pile of books she had.

‘I better get to bed, the Princess would want me up early tomorrow…’ Twilight thought as she levitated her books into the air and floated them over to their respective bookshelves. A collection of history books slotted neatly into place along the towering rows of shelves, all lined with thick and old books, magically preserved through the decades. Twilight spent much of her time here when she was younger, studying for exams and to expand her already ludicrous knowledge. Even now she spent much of her time here when she was in Canterlot. The library had grown to be something of a second home for the mare. And she knew it like the back of her hoof for the most part.

So when a loud THUMP caught her ears the unicorn took immediate notice. Twilight turned, and illuminated the dark of the library with her magic, on the floor a dozen feet ahead of her was an old, withered book she had never seen before. Twilight cocked her head to the side as she looked from the book to the shelves beside it. For the most part it was as she had found it, but up on the very top shelves a noticeable gap was visible. “Silly me.” Twilight said as she picked the withered text up in her magic. “Must’ve knocked it free when I was putting my own stuff back.” She said as the heavy book lifted into the air.

However, the withered brown cover, faded gold title, and yellowed pages caught her attention.

With a curious look in her tired eyes Twilight floated the book over to her, setting it down on the floor before her. The book was quite large and thick, with a cover Twilight now recognised to be made out of leather, real leather, not the faux stuff. She grimaced at that. Her eyes flicked to the faded gold title, it was written in a Old Equis. A language not used since before Nightmare Moon, the last time it was used officially was easily over fifteen hundred years prior. Carefully Twilight opened the cover and found herself staring at a page of contents. In neat, albeit faded, bullet points sat a list of contents and their respective page numbers beside them. The numbers ranged from 0-1000.

Twilight’s curiosity was peaked.

Although her Old Equis was rusty at best, the help of magic would solve that issue. Twilight casted a spell, the air around her horn briefly lit up by the purple magic, before it faded as the spell was cast. With her tiredness gone and replaced by curiosity, Twilight looked down at the page as her translation spell took hold and…

Nothing had changed, instead of Modern Equestrian, Old Equis still dominated the faded black text. Twilight let out a little ‘humph’ as she tried her spell again in case she had somehow casted it wrong, and once more it didn’t work. The text didn’t change. The book sat on the ground, taunting her. ‘It must have some kind of magic on it to prevent translation spells, but why? What would be the point?’ Twilight thought as she flicked through the book.

Pages upon pages upon pages of faded text and pictures met her vision, each left her with more questions than answers. It was obvious to her that this was a history book of sorts, but one the likes she had never seen. The pictures confused her, they showed flags and insignias she didn’t recognise. Flags with crowns and spears and flags with wings and swords. Some pages were just walls of text, others were full pictures. They depicted ponies, gryphons, deer, Minotaurs and a few other races. The Ponies and Gryphons had been depicted as trained warriors, whilst the other species had been drawn as sell swords and mercenaries. There was something else however, something she had never seen in her life.

A whole chapter of the book was dedicated to these strange beings, they were tall, clearly by the measurements that accompanied their pictures. Easily 4 cubits, almost as tall as Celestia herself! but if her butchered Old Equis and the other diagrams were to be believed, they could get larger. The creatures stood on two long legs, with a torso and two arms that ended with five fingers, similar to a Minotaurs. They had no tails, horns or wings also. Although many of the drawings of the strange creatures were depicting them in metal armour that covered their whole bodies and faces, some showed what they looked like beneath the steel suits.

Furless skin, tougher looking than a ponies, with no muzzles and only patches of fur atop their heads, or on their faces. With thin coverings of finer hair on their limbs and other parts of their bodies. Twilight became enthralled with the book, although she could barely read any of it. Her eyes traced the lines of text, taking in the details of each picture. ‘What in Celestia’s name are these things?’ Twilight wondered as she flipped through the pages.

She landed on a drawing that took up two full pages of the book. It was a battle, the bipedal creatures clad in full suits of metal armour, some had feathers on their helmets, some were carrying banners. They were riding on pony like creatures, although Twilight could tell they were far larger than your average pony, and far less colourful too. The creatures they rode on wore armour also. ‘A symbiotic relationship?’ She wondered. The possibilities were endless.

She just had to know more!

The drawings quickly turned to something more violent. Battles soon began to consume the pages, great battles with tens of thousands of combatants. In some it was the creatures vs the Gryphon warriors of old, in others it was the creatures vs ponies. Twilight’s face soon paled as she realised what she was looking at. ‘War.’ She thought as the flicked through the pages. In graphic detail the drawings showed her battle after battle, city burnt after city burnt, dead after dead.

Her journey through the book arrived at its end much sooner than she would’ve hoped. By the end Twilight was looking at a picture of a battle. The strange creatures stood atop a hill, across from them was the combined armies of both Ponies and Gryphons. Twilight closed the book before she went any further. She sat in silence before she took the book and left the library. Determined to find answers.

———

Twilight knocked on the door of her teacher gently, unsure if the Princess inside was awake. It was late, and Celestia had to be up early enough to raise the sun so it was unlikely she was. Twilight looked down at the book in her magical grasp and sighed, deciding to wait for tomorrow before the door to Celestia’s room opened. A groggy, tired looking Alicorn stood in the doorway, looking down at Twilight.

Twilight sheepishly smiled as Celestia snorted.

“Twilight.” She began. “It is very late…” Celestia said, her eyes, voice and face all screaming her tiredness. Twilight felt bad for waking the Princess up, and selfish also.

“Forgive me, Princess. But I found a book-” Twilight began before she was cut off.

“Twilight, can it wait until morning?” Celestia asked.

“W-well, yes. But the book’s ancient! And it’s in Old Equis and translation magic doesn’t work on it and-” Twilight said before she was cut off again by the alabaster Alicorn. Twilight recoiled in shock as Celestia’s tired magenta eyes changed into something predatory and focused, focused directly on her.

“What book?!” She yelled, demanding an answer. Twilight stuttered a response as she slowly levitated the ancient text towards Celestia, the thick tome coming to however in the air between them. Celestia yanked the book from Twilight’s magical grasp and brought it over to her, looking down at it with a face that Twilight didn’t recognise. With a sigh Celestia opened the door to her bedroom wider and invited her inside. “Come inside. Now.” Celestia said, her tone left no room for argument.

Twilight slowly trotted inside her teacher’s bedroom, the large roaring fireplace in the corner was a welcomed change from the chilly halls of Canterlot castle at night. Nervously she stood still as Celestia walked over to a cushion, her long legs gracefully carried her across the room and she sat down. Celestia looked at Twilight, and motioned for her to sit also.

“Princess, what…what is that book? Why is it enchanted and what are those things inside it?” Twilight asked, her mind full of questions.

With a sigh Celestia answered. “Twilight, this book you found.” Then sun Princess levitated it into the air. “Is the last surviving records of a war and a species forgotten to time. This book is the only ONLY mention of the creatures that brought Equis to its knees.” Celestia continued. “I had all others destroyed, I made sure of that.”

“But why, Princess?” Twilight asked.

Celestia didn’t answer immediately, instead she stared hard into nothingness, formulating an answer for a few minutes as Twilight squirmed nervously on the pillow she sat down.

“So Equestria and Equis as a whole would never have to remember the horrors of that war, Twilight.” Celestia said.

“But why?” Twilight pressured. “I can’t read most of this book, what was so horrible about this war? What made it different to the others?” She asked, desperate for answers.

Celestia’s eyes went wide as she remembered.

———

Princess Celestia, Diarch of Equestria, The Sun’s Wrath, The Holy Flame, The White Phoenix, Demon of Trottingham, and holder of countless other titles stood atop a hill adorned in beautifully crafted and ornate golden armour. Her armour, made by the most skilled armour smiths, was enchanted with countless spells to give it even more protection. In her magical grasp was a long halberd, golden like her armour.

She stared down at her army, twenty thousand Equestrian soldiers, knights, archers, mercenaries and others stood in neat rows. A sea of golden and silver armour waited for her command to advance towards their enemy. Ready to drive their swords and spears into their opponents flesh and win glory for Equestria in this war, this horrific and long war. Celestia looked up from her armies and across the field.

Across the field stood a force of similar size, her scouts estimated them to have the same numbers. Tall, bipedal creatures in heavy grey armour stood in silence beneath their banners which fluttered in the wind, at the front of their lines waited their heavily armoured knights, sat atop their equine steeds clad in heavy armour like their riders. The knights carried lances and spears, with swords hanging from their side ready to be drawn when they entered the fighting. The Human Kingdoms had arrived in force to repel the Equestrian army.

With a blaring of drums and horns, the Human’s heavy Calvary began to charge as Pegasus descended from the clouds, spears and wing blades drawn and pointed downwards. The Pegasi were nowhere near as strong, tough or as durable as the Human knights, but they were faster and had the advantage of flight. Celestia watched as the Pegasi streaked down from the heavens to hit the Human’s from above, briefly the two forces clashed. The Knights of the Human’s kept going, their steeds charging across the field as their riders would either fall to the ground dead from a Pegasi’s Lance, or swipe a Pegasus from the sky with their sword.

The Human’s knights burst through the Pegasi charge, although fewer in number they were no less ferocious. Celestia gave the order, and her armies raised their lances and speeds in front of them to stop or at least slow the charge. Celestia watched on in silence, analysing the battlefield and its situation. The human line smashed into the Equestrian front, heavily armoured knights were flung from their steeds and into the crowd where they would be killed by her soldiers before they could even get up again. But, there was little you could do to stop a Human Calvary charge.

The Knight’s burst through the Equestrian line, plowing deep into the field of gold and silver as they drew their swords and the battle truly began. The field they fought on soon became filled with the screams of the dead and dying, the sound of metal clashing against each other and the horns and drums of war. Celestia saw the next wave of human Calvary race towards the battle, and shot a red flare into the sky with her magic.

Another horn sounded, this one Equestrian, and from the woods on either side of the field Equestrian forces in dark blue and purple armour raced forward from the tree line to intercept the second wave of human Calvary. A second battle opened in the middle of the field as the Equrestrians cut the human’s off from their reinforcements. The first wave of Calvary were taking heavy losses, and the second wave was trapped fighting.

Of course, many more Human forces had yet to engage the enemy, waiting for orders to move to join the battle. However they were not heavy Calvary, foot soldiers in full plate stood at the edge of the battle, watching as their Calvary got trapped between the Equestrian lines.

Celestia raised her halberd, and-
———

“Princess?” Twilight asked. “Princess, are you ok?”

Celestia shook her head, the memories of the ancient battle had came rushing back to her suddenly, with a sigh she nodded. “I am fine, Twilight, just…remembering the past.” She answered.

“Why did this war start? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“These bipedal creatures…the Humans, as they called themselves.” Celestia began. “They were the Human Kingdoms, a powerful nation that spanned continents. They had great skill on the battlefield, many tactics that at the beginning of the war caught us completely off guard, allowing them to achieve many victories.” Celestia said. “The real reason for the war’s beginning was lost to time, but it started in the Griffon Empire, the Human’s landed on their shores with promises of peace and trade. The Griffons were weary, but excepted.”

Celestia looked out the window of her room, her sister’s moon staring down at her like it was listening to the story. “Then, after a few years of peace, the Humans attacked. They launched an invasion of the southern tip of the Gryphon Empire. They took the Gryphons by surprise, and annihilated any armies raised to stop them.”

“So they just attacked? Why? For what?” Twilight asked, the thought of just invading someone was so barbaric to her.

“I don’t know, money? Land? Power?” Celestia muttered. “The Gryphon Empire and Equestria were not in good footing at this time, so at first we were content to just let them invade.” Celestia admitted, causing Twilight to gasp. “Then…then their armies landed on our shores. They first arrived at Manehatten, or as it was known then, Amsterhoof.” Celestia’s face dropped at the memory. “They burned Amsterhoof to the ground, and slaughtered half its population before we arrived.”

Celestia remembered that day vividly, she remembers as she watched in shock as she saw the great inferno that had became the once great port city of Amsterhoof, towering fires roared and spewed pitch black smoke into the evening sky as the screams of ponies trapped inside the city could be heard from miles away. Celestia had brought with her an army some six thousand strong to repel the human invasion, and liberate Amsterhoof.

‘If there was anything left to Liberate, that is.’ She thought bitterly, the Human army had left before they had arrived. Taking with them a prisoner train to act as slaves and labourers. Even now, over fifteen hundred years later, it still made her blood boil.

“What happened then?” Twilight asked, laying down on the floor, it was clear she was disturbed by the news, but was willing to listen if it meant adding to her knowledge.

“We tracked the Humans down, and fought.” Celestia said. “For years we fought their army, for over a decade we spent fighting them in Equestria alone. We lost hundreds of thousands of lives, almost a fifth of Equestria’s population died in that war. The Gryphons suffered worse, they took the brunt of the Human forces and lost almost all their major cities.” She said.

“How did you win?”

“The Humans underestimated us.” Celestia quipped. “They saw us as weak, fragile. They fought they could crush us with their might and fear factor alone. They were wrong.”

“We turned the tide of the war at the Battle of Trottingham. A combined force of Equestria, the Gryphons, the Deer and Minotaurs met the Human armies as the battle. It was one of the largest battles in history, over two hundred and fifty thousand combatants. I won’t go into details, but we lost countless lives that day. Trottingham was a victory for us, if you can call it that. Over a third of our army didn’t make it home, and a third more was wounded. The Human’s were completely decimated however. We killed one of their Princes on the battlefield, and struck a massive blow to their kingdoms.”

“After that we rallied, and the combined armies of the Gryphons and Equestrians managed to push the Human’s out of our lands and across the sea to their homes. We took the fight to them a few years later, our armies landed on their shores and for nine years we fought through their homeland. Burning, pillaging, taking revenge.” Celestia said as Twilight looked shocked.

“B-but, that would make you n-no better then they are!” She yelled. “You c-could’ve offered them p-peace! Or you could’ve just l-left them alone!” Twilight yelled as she stood up, Celestia’s gaze hardened.

“If we did then it would’ve only been a matter of time before the Human’s would’ve returned and tried again.” Celestia said as she sighed and rubbed her muzzle. “I did what I had to do, I don’t expect you to understand, Twilight. But do not judge me for doing what was necessary to ensure the survival of my kingdom.”

Twilight sat in silence for a few moments, before nodding. Celestia continued.

“It came to and end at the Battle of Caledon.”

———

The roar of battle filled Celestia’s ears as she parried the long sword of a Human knight with her Halberd, overhead Pegasi and Gryphons raced across the sky, shooting down at their foes with crossbows and throwing javelins and spears. Occasionally an arrow would fly up to meet them, or a catapult would launch flechettes up to shred a group of flyers. The sun god reared up on her hind legs as she pushed the Human knight to the ground, she ignored his muffled cry of terror as her hooves were brought down on his helmet with a sickening CRUNCH, the knight’s body went limp in the mud.

Celestia panted as she looked around, her golden armour was scratched and battered, all around her the sounds of the battle dominated. Ponies and Gryphons killed Humans, Humans killed Ponies and Gryphons. The sound of steel on steel made her ears ring, but she ignored it as another human came at her, she narrowly avoided the long sword it swung as she retaliated with a jab from her Halberd. The Halberd’s spear pierced right through the man’s breastplate, killing him as Celestia felt a blow ring her head like a bell.

Her magenta eyes snapped to her new opponent, another human in Ill fitting plate readied a hammer for another swing. ‘Fool.’ She thought as she grabbed the hammer in her magic and tore it from the human’s grasp before slamming her Halberd’s hammer into his helmet. Denting the armour inwards and shattering the wearer’s skull. Her armour had taken the full hit from the hammer, and her head rung, but she was in no danger. Perks of being an Alicorn.

The Battle had been raging for two hours now, and the Humans were fighting like wild animals. Celestia couldn’t blame them, the siege of Caledon, the capital of the Human Kingdoms, had turned into a last ditch battle. If the Human’s won here, then the armies of both the Equestrians and Gryphons would be broken and they would have to retreat, if the Human’s lost, then it would be the end of the Human Kingdoms, forced to capitulate to the mercy of their foes.

The great walled city of Caledon was being battered, catapults launched flaming rocks from relative safety which battered the great stone walls of the city. She could see fires rage inside the walls from where a flaming rock had struck wood or hay, anything that burned really. Before the battle, Caledon was a monument to the strength of the Human Kingdoms, its great walls soared high into the sky, inside the walls the keep of the city was like something out of old myth, with great towers and defences. Now, the keep was battered, with many of its once great towers knocked to the ground.

A horn sounded out across the battlefield and a might roar came with it, looking up Celestia saw a wave of Human Calvary race towards the flanks of the United armies of Equis, Celestia swore loudly as she intercepted a human catapult’s payload with her magic, catching the heavy rock and redirecting it at the same catapult. “Luna!” Celestia yelled loudly. “LUNA” she screamed into the battlefield.

A second later the burst of magic signalled her sister’s arrival, Luna kicked a Human’s breastplate inwards and brought her longsword down on the neck of another, blood spurting high into the air as Luna ripped the sword free. “What is it sister? We art busy!” Luna yelled back.

“The humans hath taken the left flank!” Celestia yelled to her sister. Luna’s eyes widened as she looked over to the wave of approaching Human Calvary, both sister’s looked up to see Gryphon’s racing across the sky towards the human Calvary. This battle had quickly devolved into a bloody melee, with little room for tactics.

“We shall deal with it. Hold the centre!” Luna yelled as she lowered her blue helmet’s visor and disappeared in another flash of magic. Celestia smirked, she almost pitied the poor human’s…almost.

The Human Cavalry kept pushing into the Equestrian flanks, tearing into the ponies and gryphons guarding it, for a moment it looked like the line might’ve collapsed. But a blinding burst of magic from the Lunar Princess tore through the human ranks, melting armour onto flesh and riders onto steeds. Their screams only seemed to fuel the magic. Celestia saw Luna hovering in the air, her horn spewing a constant spray of magical annihilation at anyone unlucky enough to be in her way.

The battle raged on, the grey sky above them threatening to burst into downpour, which wouldn’t help either side at this point. Celestia swung her halberd, cleaving heavily armoured human’s in half. The dead began to pile up on the battlefield. Celestia’s hooves were caked in blood and mud, and her armour’s once pristine golden fluting had been scratched and battered into something unrecognisable.

Across the battlefield, Celestia saw an opportunity. On Horseback surrounded by guards, she spotted a human in beautifully crafted armour. The sigil of the Human’s royal household was adorned on both his armour and his horse, a crown sat on his helmet. Prince Ulrik, now King Ulrik she supposed, the last of the Human royalty. Ulrik was the last son, his older brothers having fallen in battles prior. His father the King having met a similar fate at the hooves of Princess Luna at the Battle of Arbermal. An old human city which fell a year earlier to Equestrian forces after the Human King risked it all and challenged Luna to a dual. Ulrik was young, a boy playing King.

“Oakshield!” Celestia yelled as she threw a human with her magic. “Captain Oakshield!” She yelled for the captain of her personal guard.

“Your highness!” Came a reply as Celestia spotted Oakshield be flattened by a Human knight, who raised a battle axe above his head and was ready to end Oakshield’s life. Celestia grabbed the human’s throat in her magic and crushed it, throwing the body away as she helped her Captain up. Oakshield was a unicorn with mottled brown fur and adorned with golden armour. His right eye had been taken earlier in the war, and now an eyepatch sat over it.

“The human king is here!” Celestia yelled as she pointed with her Halberd at King Ulrik. “He is our priority!” The Solar Alicorn turned to face the young king, who was now staring back at her. Although she couldn’t see his face behind his helmet. ”MY GUARDS! ON ME!” Celestia roared as she began to charge towards the Human king.

Celestia’s mass and Alicorn strength allowed her to charge through Human lines, Humans, Ponies and Gryphons were kicked aside and ran over as she charged. Celestia was determined to not let anyone stop her, if Ulrik fell in battle then the war would be won.

Across the battlefield, the young King Ulrik watched the horror unfold. The smell of smoke, death, blood, mud and steel slipped past his helmet and into his nostrils. The screams and roaring of the battle shook the boy to his core, nervously he gripped the reigns of his horse. He was well protected, in some of the best armour money could buy and surrounded by loyal guards. Yet he felt that none of that would matter as he watched the battle turn.

“Sire.” One of his guards said, Ser Rodrick of Gallifrey, someone who had watched over him since he was five. “We must leave! This is no place for you!” Rodrick yelled over the sounds of battle.

“I cannot abandon my forces!” Ulrik yelled back. “They need to see their king is with them!” The boy king yelled as he turned to look at the battle, his eyes locking onto the leader of the United armies which had decimated his kingdom. A towering white Alicorn in golden armour and wielding a great Halberd. The Princess that was responsible for the defeats of his armies at countless battles, and she was staring right at him. The towering Alicorn raised her Halberd at him in challenge and began to charge across the battlefield. Cutting down anyone in her way.

Ulrik swallowed a lump in his throat as his guards took formation around him. They too had spotted the giant pony charging them. With shaky hands Ulrik raised his sword.

Celestia crashed into the King’s guards, her own guards following suit behind her. The most skilled warriors of each kingdom duelled in the mud, Ulrik watched as one of his guards, Ser Jaime Lorristal, was beheaded by a pony before the same pony was eviscerated by Ser Rodrick. Ulrik turned his head just in time to catch the sun princess’s halberd came down at him, he raised his sword and blocked it, but was soon knocked from his steed which ran away in terror.

Ulrik met Celestia’s eyes, his small blue ones met her large Magenta ones, Ser Rodrick charged at Celestia, sticking her through the neck with his longsword, Celestia didn’t react in pain, instead she merely grabbed Ser Rodrick’s sword and ripped it out of her neck before running it through Ulrik’s closet guard. Ser Rodrick fell to the ground dead as a massive explosion rung out around the battlefield. Ulrik looked up and saw Princess Luna bring down one of Caledon’s towers with her magic, thousands of tonnes of stone and rubble fell.

The cold magenta eyes stared down at him, Ulrik began to back up in the mud, holding his hand up in surrender. Celestia raised her Halberd and placed its spear on Ulrik’s chin.

“Wait wait!” Ulrik yelled. Celestia seemed to listen, so he continued. “Don’t! Please!” He begged, he had no argument for his life really, and Celestia had no reason to spare him. She could kill him now, and the war would end. The Human Kingdoms would collapse, and she would be victorious.

“I know you are not responsible for you father’s war, King Ulrik.” Celestia said. “But to end this war, and ensure your species may never rise again…I am sorry.” Celestia was genuine, that Ulrik could tell. Ulrik saw the Halberd be raised above his head as she scrambled for his sword, before he could react the spear of Celestia’s halberd slammed through his helmet and into his forehead, killing him instantly.

Celestia pulled her spear from the boy kings skull and sat on her haunches, she raised her head into the sky and fired a golden firework into the sky. The firework only meant one thing, the human King was dead.

The battle would be over soon after.

———

Twilight sat on the floor, her eyes wide and her mouth wide open. She had listened to her mentors story in shock. The horror of a war that had never been matched since filled her mind as she looked up at Celestia, whose eyes were as hard and cold as ever. But for a moment, they softened. Celestia sighed and spoke. “And that Twilight, is how the war ended.” Celestia said. “Caledon burnt down soon after, and the human armies were broken and scattered to the wind. Although they surrendered after the battle and we were ready for peace, they left. A mass exodus into the unknown, I think most of us were so relieved at the wars ending that we didn’t follow them. Their fate is a mystery.”

“They…just left?” Twilight said quietly.

“Yes.” Celestia said. “Their cities, armies, monuments and history are all gone now. Only me and my sister knew what happened all those years ago, until now.” Celestia said as she stood up. “It is late, Twilight, you should go to bed.”

Twilight didn’t say anything, getting up and walking out of the room, leaving the book behind. When the door closed, Celestia was alone in her dark room. The fireplace slowly dying. The Alabaster alicorn brought the book over to her, holding it front of her face. The Solar diarch sighed.

“How long we’re you standing there?” Celestia asked, from the shadows Luna stepped forward.

“Long enough. Do you think she’ll tell?” The Lunar Alicorn asked.

“No.” Celestia said. “She knows it’s in her interest not to speak of what she has found.” Celestia and Luna stood in silence for a few moments, both recalling the ancient war in their minds. “Do you think they could still be out there?” She asked. Luna ignored the question.

“Maybe.” Luna said before turning around. “Maybe not. They’ve been gone for over a millennia now. Maybe they rebuilt somewhere beyond the horizons, or maybe they perished in the ruins of their homeland after we left. Who knows?” Luna ruffled her wings as she sighed. “Good night, dear sister.”

With a flash of her magic, Luna was gone. Leaving Celestia alone.

Author's Note

Well, this got mixed opinions didn’t it?

Edits to the final part of the story. Changed the ending around a little, hopefully you lot like this one better. No genocide this time.