It Was War

Princess Luna sat before Canterlot's largest clock tower as she had been for some hours. Surrounded on all sides by rather tall buildings it wasn't clear that dawn had arrived, but the clock said Celestia's sun had already crested the horizon.

She sat unmoving like the myriad of statues in the plaza. During the night a guard had stopped to take a rest from his patrol not but a few feet from Luna's spot; when she attempted to start a conversation he very well may have been in Trottingham. She had come to expect no different from anyone she tried to talk to when her sister was not right next to her.

Previously, her worries were fixed on how she could regain the faith of her subjects sans fear and intimidation, but with recent revelations the only thing on her mind was a way to fix what she'd broken.

It wasn't hard to reason out a solution, but in all reality there would be no happy ending for both her and Celestia.

The moon still shown its pale light down upon the secluded square, while Luna watched it intently. She could see the smile of her only companion for a thousand years; could feel the cool collected stare of a being with all the time there would ever be. The Nightmare was watching Luna, and she could feel it in every part of herself.

Luna knew she would soon go back, would soon strike another deal with her once friend, now revealed to be eternal tormentor. The thought of speaking with the embodiment of her malice and hatred shook Luna to her very core, but she knew it must be done in order to recover what Celestia had given up.

Only once the sunlight touched the square where Luna sat did she make her way back to the palace, where a very concerned Celestia was happy to receive her.

"I thought you'd gone, Luna." Princess Celestia said trotting quickly out to the balcony to meet her sister.

"We are not some petulant runaway who merely seekest thine attentions, but We- I," Luna paused and recollected herself. She tried deliberately to please her sister with her progress towards day to day dialect in order to soften the blow of her words, "I must go back for a time, Celestia."

"Back to bed?" Princess Celestia said, the hope in her voice fake and fleeting.

"No, I must return to the lunar prison to-"

"I forbid it." Celestia said with all the finality she could summon.

"Forbid it how?" Luna demanded, raising her voice.

"You and I know what waits there for you, and I will not have you coming into contact with it as long as I am alive."

"You will not stop Us from righting Our wrongs!" Luna said, increasing her volume even further.

"Please Luna, don't."

"We-" Luna stopped suddenly, catching the volume of her own voice. "We did not mean to shout at thee, but life is not worth living while We hold this guilt."

"Even if I say for the hundredth time, that I did what I did for your sake as much as Equestria's, and I forgive you?" Celestia pleaded, knowing she was nearing the end of a losing battle.

"We would rather have the rest of Our lives to work for your forgiveness than have it mean next to nothing in two years time. If nothing else, let Us do this for Equestria lest it lose you and be left to Our care."

"Say you will return whole and I will let you go." The elder alicorn whispered, turning her head away.

"We swear to return to you the same Princess Luna." Luna drew herself up and put a hoof to her chest, but slumped noticably as she continued, "Beyond that, We can promise very little."

"For the record, Luna, I believe you would be a fine ruler in my absence."

Without another word Luna's horn began to glow softly as she walked out onto the balcony. A loud snap echoed throughout most of the palace, and the moon was clearly visible in the morning sky for several seconds. Celestia went wide eyed. The spell her sister had cast took considerably less effort than it should have; Luna hadn't gone so much as the Nightmare had pulled her in to the lunar prison.

Luna was well aware that Celestia was nearly in tears as she screamed for her to return. The Nightmare had been expecting her, and wasn't about to let her leave until her business was concluded. Luna steeled herself for the inevitable encounter.

Cruel laughter filled the void that once served as Luna's own prison. A laughter that once fueled her contempt and hatred did so once again; this time her spite was turned towards the source instead of her sister. Luna's past surged to catch her with every, increasingly weary step she took.

Her comfort and company, her ally and strength; now and forever more her greatest mistake waited expectantly. The Nightmare had a power over both the royal sisters and would not conclude this visit without retaining it in some manner. Luna knew this and was fully prepared to offer a trade. She was ready to make things right.