It Was War

Princess Luna stood upon the field of her army's most recent victory with a look of hellish glee. The eternal full moon bathed her in it's radiant light. In the distance stood another town soon to the prize of her most recent conquest. An entire militia lay slain about her with only two of her own lost in the battle; while her dear sister sat holed up in Canterlot she was with her troops ensuring victory after victory with the power she possessed. She sighed loudly and picked up the blade of a fallen foe to inspect it casually when her second in command approached her in a near panicked haste.

"Princess!" He said taking a moment to catch his breath.

"What has Our most fearless and noble of warriors so excited?" Luna inquired with a mocking tone.

"I have received word, your sister, the Princess Celestia, intends to join her troops when next we meet resistance."

Luna stared at him blankly for a moment the sword she held telekinetically danced in wide arcs between them.

"This is most welcome news." She declared at length, "We can be done with this war sooner. Tell the troops to bed down within the hour, I will give them rest with magic so we can march posthaste."

The stallion general moved without hesitation to carry out the orders given. What he'd heard of about the fate of his predecessor, Luna was quick to punish anything she perceived as questioning her decisions.

"Our dear sister has not the will to fight us, her weakness upon the field of battle will be the fall of her kingdom. Equestria is Ours." Luna's voice echoed into the night, followed by the laughter of what many would consider a mad pony.

"Your highness, You can't possibly mean to meet your sister in battle. If I may, it is-" Celestia's general cried from the bottom of the golden throne.

"You may not!" Princess Celestia barked, cutting off her general in a manor greatly against her nature.

She'd thought it over for three months, and would not be deterred by words.

"We have come to this decision at length, and this is the only way."

"But Princess-"

"We are responsible for the lives of thousands in this war. We are ashamed we allowed it to continue on this long, the time cometh for Us to act as Luna has. We will stop her and this war at any cost."

"Dear Princess I have seen you at all hours of the night with tears in your eyes as you cry over every victory your sister has. I cannot believe you have the will to fight, I'm sorry." Celestia's general blurted out loudly before she could interrupt.

Celestia was speechless for a long time, and the once brave stallion felt sure his next destination was the dungeon.

"Truly, We cannot fight our beloved sister; even after all she has done, she is still Our one and only dearest sister. Never could We bring harm to her directly." Celestia looked down and away, "In truth, general, We have allowed you to continue sending soldiers to their deaths in the hopes that fortune would shine upon one who would fell Our sister in battle; We hoped this would allow us to shove the blame of her death on another. This selfish act weighs heavily upon Us, and now we are moved to act."

"Clearly You will not be dissuaded your highness; will you at the very least be fitted for battle. It would put our minds at ease to know you are protected when on the field of battle."

"We hath thought of this already. The forgemaster took our- Measurements some time ago, and should have a suit of armor prepared by now."

The hardened veteran let out worried sigh, for both Princess Celestia and Luna; whatever Celestia had planned would be a terrible thing no matter which way one were to look at it.

~~~~

Luna woke from her dream in a cold sweat, her mattress was wet under her. She never knew her sister's reason for prolonging the war. At the start of the war a thousand-and some odd years ago, she'd counted on her sister being unable to fight for more than a few days. She'd been more than a little surprised when she continued to meet resistance into the third week. By the first year Luna had been more than a little worried her sister was secretly a diabolical warlord who would be more than a match for her own tactics. The unexpected continuation was the primary reason she became a presence on the battlefield. Now she knew Celestia had less to do with the war than the grass beneath so many thundering hooves as they marched across.

As much as her sister claimed to love and forgive her, Luna couldn't help but feel there would be more apologizing to come.