By the Will of the Council

Celestia and Luna marched along with the Praetorians, in the middle of their formation. Novum led them in silence, only the clanking of her magitech creations on the marble tiles, and the sound of their hoofsteps making noise. The sisters found it odd that they saw no one around. Usually, at noon, there was more activity on the corridors.

But soon enough, they found out why. They saw something, something most concerning. Scorch marks on the walls. And looking around better, even some metallic parts at the base of some of the columns, forming little piles. They really hoped it was just a mass malfunctioning of Novum's obedient toys, but alas...

"Wh-what happened here?" Luna sputtered.

Novum didn't answer for a few moments. Then, without looking back, she stated, matter-of-factly:

"There was an uprising."

The sisters locked gazes in horror. They could barely believe their ears.

"An...uprising???" Celestia repeated in shock.

"Yes. A rebellion of sorts." Novum continued, then looked back, eyes squinted in anger "Lead by your parents!"

Her voice wasn't neutral anymore. Novum was almost seething, which wasn't typical of her.

"WHAT?!" the sisters cried out in unison.

"You heard that right. Master Guardians Solus and Selena instigated a rebellion, and lead a group of tribemembers against the Council. Luckily, they were beaten back, without any injuries. But until further notice, everything remains in lockdown."

Novum let out a long sigh. The anger in her voice subsided a bit.

"Now you know the reason for the Praetorian escort. Our millennia-long order is on the brink, young ones. And with your help, must the Council decide the fate of the tribe."

Celestia and Luna still wanted to believe they just didn't hear right. Their mouths were hung open. They wanted to say many things, but couldn't. Eventually, Celestia managed.

"It's hard to believe they would go that far. I know they had their differences with the Council, but..."

"I know, it shocked us as well. But that's the grim truth."

"Can we see them?" Luna asked, with droopy ears.

"Eventually. First, you must see the council."

"But..."

"Guardian Luna. Focus. Council comes first." came Novum's harsh reply.

Luna didn't answer, but straightened her ears. She looked at Celestia. They now knew whatever was going on, must have deeply involved the Magikhan, and more likely than not, their worst suspicions would prove true.

Celestia's concerned face also hardened into one of determination. So what, something happened -finally- and no one was dead. Maybe this was the harbinger of things going back to normal after centuries.

☼☽

Novum led the sisters to the council chamber. The Praetorians stopped in front of the door, taking up formation in a way that entering was possible, but no one could leave. Novum opened up the heavy double doors, and urged the sisters inside.

"Enter."

Celestia and Luna exchanged one final glance. Everyone was waiting for them. Arcana, Chronos, Mundus, Stella, Aura, Aestus, Ignis, Aqua, Erasmus, and finally, Novum took her place too.

There was no turning back now. Not that they wanted to. They walked inside, and stopped a good distance in front of the great marble table. The door was shut behind them. Was it locked too? Perhaps. It didn't matter.

Every councilor gazed upon the sisters, upon what they wore, to be exact. The slight murmurs stopped though when Arcana began:

"My faithful children, I am glad to see you being well, and successful at your task. It must have been hard, but you achieved the unimaginable: You have found our sacred artifact, and brought them back. Finally, alicornkind can be considered whole again!"

Celestia and Luna just stared, their expressions not belying their feelings. When some of the councilors gave each other looks, rightfully surprised at the lack of reaction, Luna finally talked.

"I am sure you were concerned about our well-being, oh noble Magikhan."

"Just as much as you were about the well-being of ponykind," added Celestia.

"Isn't that true, noble council?"

Luna glared at each and every councilor, everyone got some of her deadly expression. Luna never allowed herself such disrespect inside this chamber, let alone in front of the Magikhan. But things have changed. It didn't matter now. It was time for the truth.

Arcana's inscrutable expression through her glowing eyes didn't tell Luna anything about the effects of her little outburst, but she did cock her head a bit. The councilors showed some more variance, from Novum's trademark subtle smirk, to Erasmus' downcast eyes.

"I know you'd want some things cleared up." Arcana began "But you must understand that the success of this quest required you to be kept in the dark regarding some things."

"You kept me in the dark my whole life, Arcana!" Luna raised her voice. "You said this wasn't possible. That born ones like us couldn't gain a mark of destiny. Then how do you explain these?"

Celestia and Luna both turned sideways, so their newfound marks would be clearly visible. It couldn't be said that anyone from the council was surprised or impressed. Especially not Arcana.

"This is indeed an extraordinary occurrence. You must have indulged in magic deep enough, to actually turn the cogwheels of destiny to favor you in such a way. Perhaps the Teardrops of Creation were involved. This artifact can provide powers normally unachievable, even to an alicorn. Maybe this was one of them."

Luna slammed a hoof heavily to the ground. The council's so far mellow behavior became more focused, disapproving looks galore. Luna was almost bellowing:

"No, you simply lied to us! And not just you Arcana, but ALL of you! What am I to you, really? I thought if I do your bidding, I'll earn your respect. But what did I ever earn from you? All you ever saw in me was a tool. But I finally see. I'll be a tool no longer."

Arcana opened her mouth to answer, but Celestia took over from Luna instead.

"And you didn't just lie to us about us. But...Discord. Does that name ring a bell? All the chaos we felt even here was caused by him. And if what he claimed is true, it was you who unleashed this threat upon ponykind!"

"That was quite enough of you!" Guardian Aura shouted, with the fury of a tempest "What do you even know of our tribe's true purpose?"

"What purpose could even justify such a thing!? Our purpose is to protect ponykind, not to chase godhood! I know that's where you're coming from, and sadly, our parents have been right about you: you have become obsessive and deranged."

"Don't even start us on Solus and Selena!" Chronos snapped "They worked hard to undermine our purpose in the last decades, and especially, in the last few days. They shall be judged, eventually. Maybe in Caelum itself. Just don't want to be their collaborators. Your blood ties aren't worth your ascension."

Luna and Celestia were flabbergasted hearing these words, from these councilors. So all of them were in on this, as no one denied the claim. They were gone. The protectors of ponykind were gone. Replaced by god-wannabes.

But Luna wanted to know the full truth now. Just how deep this dark pit really was.

"So Discord actually said the truth then? You did release him, didn't you? But why? How could that benefit you?"

Arcana spoke again. As always, her voice was calm and neutral.

"I know this confuses and infuriates you. And arguably, rightfully so. But we have searched for the Teardrops for millennia. Long before you were born. It became clear to us after a while that our Creator herself denies it from us, that's why we couldn't find them. So we needed a way to trigger them. Releasing the last ancient god, who didn't move on to Caelum seemed like the only solution. And we knew then that an innocent enough soul could claim the Teardrops. And then use them too to defeat Discord. We knew you could do it. That's why you were sent. Now you know too. And I am deeply sorry we had to lie to you. But this plan wouldn't have worked in any other way. You had to go through many hurdles and hardships alone, but think about the service you have done to the tribe."

Arcana finished her explanation. She, and the rest of the council looked at the sisters with unyielding confidence, in a manner as if what the Magikhan just revealed was the most natural thing in the world. And perhaps, to them, it was at that point.

"Yes, this does infuriate us!" Celestia answered, her voice judgemental and dour. "The God of Chaos was more honest with us than our very own tribal leaders! You do not deserve to wield the Elements of Harmony! And knowing the full truth about your plans now, I can see why La'uriel denied you access to them."

She was met with hardened expressions from the council. Except for Guardian Novum, who let out a little chuckle.

"Oh, the ever-rebellious Celestia, now giving cute nicknames to the Artifact! If only you were as wise as you make yourself out to be. I can only hope your sister is wiser."

Novum's casual manner of speech got a slight threatening undertone at that last sentence. She locked gazes with Luna, whose face hardened even more now. She answered loud and clear, but anger was absent from her voice now.

"The Elements of Harmony. That's what ponykind calls the Artifact. And what my sister implied, I can only repeat, but more clearly: If up to us, you won't wield the Elements. I'm with her on this one, as she was always with me, even when I was blinded by your lies."

Luna looked over to Celestia and smiled. She nodded, and continued her sister's train of thoughts, much to the Council's dismay.

"But let the tribe decide, and judge you: As a councilor with full rights, I demand to call forth a grand council session immediately. Recent events must have shook the faith of many members of our tribe. If they see it fit for you to possess the Elements, even in light of our story, we'll have no further qualms. But if not, we'll propose to hand them over to ponykind for safekeeping."

"And perhaps, for the first time ever, we should reassess the make-up of the Council as well..." Luna added, but she was cut short by an uproar. But she knew her words wouldn't be popular.

"This is outrageous!"

"Insanity!"

"You'd sully our true purpose!"

Arcana shook her head, then waited for the council to regain their composure. Only then she talked.

"You must understand your proposal would be impossible to carry out right now. We're on the brink of a civil war. As Magikhan, it is sad for me to admit this. And otherwise I'd advise patience, I have to agree with the Council: Our very ascension is at risk. And with your parents' words carrying so much weight, they would simply drive a wedge between many of us permanently. We need the blessing of the Teardrops instead."

Arcana's voice, unlike previously, was ever so slightly frustrated this time. But Celestia and Luna stood firm. They only glanced at each other. They both knew what they wanted, and what the other would say.

"And if we refuse to part with the Elements?" came from Luna.

Before anyone could say anything unsavory, Arcana did a wide gesture with a foreleg, and spoke.

"You wouldn’t need to part with them. After all, you already used them once. You have the proficiency none of us has. You shall be the harbingers of our ascension to the fields of destiny of Caelum. Let the tribe follow in your wake. And once there, we shall all bow our heads to you. We'll become as gods, and you will be the gods of the gods!"

"No, that shall not happen." answered Celestia.

She glanced at Luna. She had her mouth open. She seemed to be lost in thought. Seeing that, Arcana spoke to her.

"Luna, my faithful child. Remember what I offered to you all those years ago. If your sister refuses, let me be by your side. I was always going to keep my word. I know you can feel that. Even now, we only kept parts of the truth from you, because that was the only way you could succeed. Think, child. Don't throw this opportunity away. Let yourself become what you always deserved to be."

Celestia expected Luna to refuse right away. But to her surprise, Luna still just stood still as if frozen...

☼…☽

Luna's mind took her back to many years ago. She remembered what the Magikhan told her then.

And when the time comes, we will ascend together, and you can truly become our equal.

And so, this was it. The time has come. And she wouldn't just ascend with the rest of the Council, she would become the first among them. And she would topple them, just in case, so she would rule entirely by herself. And then, not even the gods could defy her, and she would become the equal of La'uriel herself.

But for what reason? What would be then?

Luna slowly looked at Celestia. Her face was all kinds of concerned. And Luna got reminded. How Celestia always believed in her. Believed in Luna, a Guardian of the Moon, and not in Luna, the tribal assassin. How she was a sister to her, and not just a sharp tool. How she got love from her, instead of some faked respect.

How could she throw all of that away? How could she defy herself, just as she discovered who she truly was?

Luna's mouth finally turned upside down. And Celestia seemed relieved, and in that moment, they both knew Luna was here to say.

"No, your wisdom." Luna made eye contact with Arcana "I shall not help. My destiny is to be a Guardian of the Moon, alongside my mother. And to be a guardian to ponykind, like the rest of the tribe still loyal to the ancient tenets. Your lies about me end here and now. I shall be a tool of yours no longer. And now if you excuse me, my sister and I have a grand council to call forth."

Arcana was left speechless. Luna paid her mind no longer, and turned tail, starting towards the chamber door. Celestia followed suit, but not before shooting a smug smirk towards the Magikhan.

Luna tried to open the door, but it seemed to be locked. She tried the simple, generic unlocking spell that worked on most doors in the Citadel, but it was no use.

"What is this?! Let us out!"

Luna struggled a bit more with the door, to no avail. Celestia was already facing the council, then Luna gave up, and turned back. Before she could say anything, the Magikhan spoke.

"But if you refuse to cooperate... I might have to use my authority in a more direct manner."

☼☽

Celestia and Luna stood the Magikhan's nondescript stare for many moments. She was rarely threatening in her manners, and even now, her tone barely showed that. But that stare, from those glowing white eyes, made them uneasy even now.

"We demand you to open these doors this instant!" said Luna eventually, although she really doubted her words would have any effect.

"If you wish to leave, you must surrender the Teardrops first. That's all to it." answered Guardian Chronos.

"Arcana, let us out, and let a grand council convene. If you have even a sliver of your old self left in you, you will let this matter be decided by the whole tribe."

Celestia desperately sought some eye contact among the councilors. She knew that Guardian Stella was on relatively good terms with Luna, but that sympathy was nowhere to be found now. Maybe every interaction with her was set up, faked? Then there was Guardian Erasmus, who Celestia found to be surprisingly reasonable regarding some matters in the past, but didn't seem like he would stand up for them now.

In other words, they were on their own. But they would stand their ground, no matter what.

"If you're not willing to lead our ascension, at least do not stand in its way. Take off your crowns, and place them on the table. Then you can return to your parents. I'm sure you wish to see them."

Arcana's words stirred something in Luna. Yes, that was something she wished for ever since she got her mark of destiny. She wanted to reconcile with Mother and Father, and admit how foolish she was in recent years. But alas, it was not the time to show any weakness. And Celestia only strengthened that resolve in her:

"And if we don't do as you demand?"

"Then we'll be forced to take them from you." Arcana responded.

"But do not test our patience any further. This council session has already lasted too long." added Novum.

"We can agree on that!" Luna snapped back to her usual unshakable confidence "As I don't think you understand the power we currently wield. We could use the Elements to defeat a god. Do not force us into an engagement. We can use this same power against you."

"I do not think you understand this power fully." Arcana shook her head slightly, then looked at Erasmus.

"The power within the Teardrops of Creation is an aspect of La'uriel, they contain parts of her powers. That same power we all share, her original creations. It wouldn't have the same effect on us, than on the God of Madness."

"You don't want us to try it out." threatened Luna.

"I think we had enough of this…" said Novum with a sigh, then she looked at Arcana.

Arcana nodded.

Novum enveloped Celestia in her magic, and began to drag her towards the table. Celestia tried to resist, but she was slowly skidding forward on her hooves. She tried a counterspell, but of course her own magic was no match for an ancient alicorn's.

That is, without the Elements' aid.

"Leave my sister alone!" Luna yelled "Or I shoot!"

"What my sister said, stands for me too." Celestia issued a warning "Any combat spell infused with the power of the Elements is devastating!"

"Then give it a try!" a smirking Guardian Chronos teased the young alicorns "Show us what you can do with them!"

As Celestia reached the edge of the table, she realized the time for bluffing was truly over. She charged up a combat spell in a moment, and let go of three shimmering, multihued bolts. They were going to strike Novum right in the face, but before any of the councilors could react, Chronos cast a time bubble in a moment's notice. In front of himself, Arcana, and Novum. The magic bolts got frozen in the bubble, getting removed from the clutches of time.

Now Luna shot at them, but her spell was stopped by a barrier cast by multiple councilors. It was wide enough that she couldn’t hit anyone, not just the trio opposite of her.

Meanwhile, Celestia was lifted above the table, and she floated right before Arcana. There, she simply took away Celestia's crown.

"It really didn't have to come to this. But you left us no other choice." she added.

"Not true" reacted Celestia "You planned this from the beginning. We were always just tools in your eyes."

"No, Celestia. Only now, you relegated yourself to such levels. It's a shame, but it cannot be helped now."

And as such, Novum threw Celestia across the council chamber, and she crashed into one of the many supporting columns. Celestia fell to the ground, and part of the column crumbled, and collapsed on her.

"NO!" Luna yelled, and madly fired her magic. But she couldn’t break the barrier that almost enveloped her, and seeing this, she took flight in a split-second. Where magic wouldn't work, some less sophisticated methods might. In a steep arc, she came crashing down at Arcana, but the Magikhan stopped her just a foot short of her face. It was a simple, but very tight telekinetic spell.

"I'm disappointed, child. But at least you didn't need to be dragged here." Arcana said, and gently removed Luna's crown. Then, she levitated Luna to the opposite side of the table, where her parents' place was, and released her.

Now, both pieces of the Artifact were in possession of the Council. The sisters were unable to stop the progression of events. Luna just stared as Magikhan Arcana began:

"And now, ascension can truly begin. This is what our tribe always deserved. This is our true destiny. The time of truth has come."

"It is not!" Luna objected "You are a tyrant, and La'uriel would never allow such "ascension" to happen! She'd never let you to ascend! Celestia and I met her in Caelum, and she herself bestowed the Elements upon us. And she was disappointed by your ambitions! I get it now you don't have a sliver of respect for the tribe, or us, but at least respect her wishes, then."

In an unusual display of emotion, Arcana cocked her head, and pursed her lips.

"And who says we seek the Creator's approval? Who says we should call her ambitions our own until the end of times? She created us to be eternal servants! To act as mere soldiers, protecting a useless, squabbling, cowardly race!"

Arcana's temper was ramping up. She straightened her head, and continued, being louder:

"But we could be so much more. We could be what she is, we could be her equals. With our new powers, we could create a ponykind who would be powerful, who didn't need constant protection, and looking after. A ponykind that could rule the world, the same way we could rule Caelum. We could cast down the elder gods from their high places, and punish them for their past transgressions. And we could take their places, and reshape the whole world to our liking. I'm only sad many of you lack the vision to realize any of this. But the Ascension waits for no one."

Luna could only gaze in bewilderment, and shook her head slightly, as if in a trance.

"You're mad. Even more mad than Discord was."

Arcana gestured with her head. Guardian Mundus cast a telekinetic wave at Luna, but she was on the nose, and blocked it with a shield, although she slid back considerably on the ground.

"Now matter what you'll do, I can't allow this to happen." Luna looked back at the Magikhan "And Elements or not, I will fight this crazy idea. No doubt, just like my parents attempted to. We're guardians, not gods. And I'll go down in battle if I have to."

Arcana sighed. The rest of the councilors charged up their horns. Luna was prepared for the worst. Probably this was it. Not like she could do much against the combined power of multiple ancient alicorns, but she was ready.

But Arcana put up a hoof.

"Let us not spill blood at the dawn of our ascension though. Master Guardian Erasmus, please, would you remove the sisters from the premises, gently?"

Erasmus just nodded, and grabbed Luna in his telekinesis. Luna tried to resist, kicked with all fours, tried spells, but as with Celestia earlier, it was no use. Erasmus also grabbed the unconscious Celestia, and opened the heavy double doors.

"I'm sorry, sisters. But I'm afraid your contributions to tribal matters end here."

Then, Erasmus dropped the sisters outside, and closed the doors in front of them.

☼☽

Luna got up as soon as the doors were shut close. She didn't expect to be just thrown out, but it was probably better than getting killed by her own tribal leaders.

By her formal tribal leaders, to be precise. She didn't consider the Council to be true leaders anymore, especially not Magikhan Arcana. So it was true, everything was a lie, the lack of destiny of born ones, the mission directives, she being considered a potential equal. She was indeed nothing more than a tool in the Magikhan's eyes, ever.

But Luna didn't want to seethe about that. If she assessed the situation correctly, they didn't have much time to act. Arcana planned to use the Elements of Harmony, and if she would succeed, she would practically unmake the whole world, and that would mean Equestria too.

She suddenly didn't even know where to start. Her parents could help, but wasn't the whole Citadel in a state of lockdown? Novum said so, and regarding the number of Praetorians in front of herself, she probably wasn't lying. But it was unlikely the contingent of the machine sentries alone could hold back Solus and Selena, and those who sided with them. The rest of the alicorns who remained loyal to the Council must be keeping tabs on them. But did they know Arcana's true plan? The sheer madness of it? Maybe if they did, they'd turn on the Council as well.

So telling them the truth seemed like a good idea. She would find them, and reveal everything the Magikhan just said. But not without Celestia. Her poor sister still lay next to her, unconscious.

"Celestia. Celestia! Wake up!" Luna nudged her "Are you okay? Please don't be dead again! I need you! The tribe needs you!"

Celestia stirred a bit, but didn't respond. Luna lifted up her head, and searched her own mind for that advanced healing spell Celestia taught her a few days ago.

Luckily, she didn't need to use it, as Celestia partway opened her eyes.

"Wha... What happened?" she asked weakly.

"The Magikhan wants to destroy the world. We need to stop her, sister!" responded Luna, keeping to the basics.

Celestia's eyes snapped open fully, and she tore herself out of Luna's hooves. She was up and ready in a split second. Although she did hiss in pain as she did that, she didn't seem to be too bothered by it.

"Of course, Arcana! Wait, did you say "destroy the world"?!"

"Yes." Luna answered with droopy ears, not hiding her concern "She was raving about creating a new ponykind and reshaping the world. Do you think that is actually possible? Could the Council use the Elements to do that?"

"I'm not sure, but even if they only use them to increase their already massive power, that could only result in something bad."

"Mother and Father could help, but the Citadel is in lockdown." Luna did a presenting motion with a foreleg. "But I guess with your help, we could clear away Novum's trash from the way."

"Why not just take a shortcut?" Celestia asked, as she was charging her horn.

Of course, teleporting. It wasn't customary to just pop all over the Citadel if an alicorn needed to go somewhere, so it didn't come to Luna, but it was the obvious solution. But as she tried to think of a location to blink away to, her mind turned blank, as if she tried to find the exit in a pitch-black maze.

She looked at Celestia, who struggled too. After a little while, they gave up.

"Damn that witch!" Celestia said, with her snout scrunched up in anger "She must have placed anti-teleportation runes all over the Citadel! She's well-prepared."

"Uh, makes sense." Luna tapped her forehead "Otherwise anyone could have gotten out of the lockdown already. Well, at least we can still shoot our way through here."

At that point, Celestia also seemed to accept that as the only course of action, but for good measure, Luna yelled at the formation of automatons in front of them.

"Give us way, Praetorians! As Guardian Luna, I command you!"

"Negative, Guardian_Luna. You_are_not_authorized_to_access_the_rest_of_the_Citadel." came the highly artificial-sounding reply.

"Am I not?! Praetorian emergency order: Stand by!"

"Unauthorized_command. Command_currently_restricted_to: Master_Guardian_Novum."

Luna glanced at Celestia, and did a little shrugging motion, as if saying she tried everything. Celestia nodded back, and they both cast the usual, form-fitting magical shield upon themselves. Then they picked their targets, and started to blast the damn things.

Of course, the automatons immediately fought back. Before their mission, such an attack upon them would be deemed an accident only, and they would only ask to stop. Except if given explicit orders to fight back, such as during training sessions. But on the verge of war, such things would change rapidly.

But what the sisters only thought would be a quick mowing down of the brass fighters, turned into a heated exchange of combat spells. They didn't go down quickly, their armor easily withstood multiple charged up bolts, and the sisters had to put in serious effort after a while to maintain both their defense and their offense, cornered by dozens of machines.

After a few minutes, they were fighting for their lives.

"Damn, these must be those elite units Novum once mentioned! That armor is actually gilded adamantium!" Luna said, letting a few magic bolts hit her while relaxing her magic for a moment.

"Novum made "elite units"? Nice to know..."

"Sorry I never mentioned this. Didn't think it would ever become relevant."

With that, Luna resumed shooting, bringing down another unit, while still leaving enough intact to take on two young alicorns... She glanced at Celestia. Her face was tense, and fought tirelessly. If she had any fear, she masked it perfectly. The dead end they were in only led somewhere thirty or so meters in the other direction, and behind them was the locked council chamber door. And the automatons were slowly advancing.

"Have a good plan, sister?" Luna asked. And hoped for a crazy good plan. Celestia tended to have those. But this time, she would have settled even for a simply crazy one.

"Fight on! Do not give up."

That was less constructive than what Luna hoped for, but really, what could she expect? What else was there? They were warriors, and they would go down fighting, nothing less.

Suddenly, the sisters felt the Citadel got shaken. As if something struck its very foundation. And also, their magic got weak, unfocused. A moment later, the Praetorians stopped casting, and some of them even toppled over. Their march became wobbly, and many walked into each other.

Celestia and Luna looked around. They never felt something like this. As if something sucked away their magic rapidly. They felt an increasing emptiness at their cores, at their souls, where magic resides.

"This must be the Council's doing. I wonder what-

But Celestia couldn't finish her sentence, as an earth-shattering explosion tore away the roof just above them and the council chamber, and it revealed a rainbow-colored magic beam shooting up right into the sky. Into the sky, that was turning into dark in patches around the beam's focal point, but was rapidly expanding. It was as if night was falling, and the stars were clearly visible.

"Oh no... This is bad..." Celestia muttered.

"What is happening? Is that...?" Luna asked, afraid of the answer.

"Arcana is ripping a hole into the fabric of reality itself. That's Caelum itself up there. If that hole expands, it will lead to total magical singularity."

"Which is..."

"Our world will simply implode. Everything will go back to base zero. Like it was in the very beginning of Creation."

The patches in the sky quickly connected, and now the darkness above spanned the whole island. The patterns of nebulae and impossibly bright stars could be easily taken out. It wasn't even a hole in the sky anymore, and it wasn't dark, the embedded secondary sky emitted that eerie glow that the sisters experienced when they were on the other side themselves.

"The Praetorians are down. Let's get to Mother and Father quickly."

"I'm not sure how much time we have left, Luna." Celestia took off, not stopping her anything from re-entering the council chamber now.

They peeked through the top, and saw the whole Council around the great marble table, in a trance-like state, eyes glowing with power. From the middle, the pillar of energy streamed, obviously fueled by the Elements of Harmony.

Celestia tried to shoot one of the councilors, but her already weak magic bolt got sucked in by the magic beam. And they both noticed their sparkly manes lost their...sparkliness, and the mane flow, that was otherwise caused by the slow seeping of excess magic, also stopped.

They flew into the chamber proper, and touched down. Taking out the councilors would have been the obvious, and most straightforward solution to this madness, and Luna knew that well. And she also knew if magic failed them, she could still just...kill them the pegasus way.

Luna flew into the closest councilor with great speed, but she literally bounced off, along with a painful magic discharge.

"Ray shields. Of course..." Luna muttered, then said to Celestia, seeing they expended their violent options "We could talk sense into the tribemembers still loyal to Arcana. Then we could stop this together."

Suddenly, the tear in the sky expanded even more, around the vortex of the magic beam, stretching dozens of miles in all directions. Also, it started to suck everything into itself, not just magic. The whole Citadel was being broken down and consumed, piece by piece, and the destruction was steadily increasing.

"Luna, they must see what is happening right now. If they changed their minds, they would be already here."

Celestia hung her head for a moment, then continued, looking up to the sky, into the very depths of Caelum itself.

"Arcana called the two of us a mistake, but maybe we were ALL a big mistake. Look what we're causing right now. Not just the end of ponykind, but the whole world as we know it, due to our hubris, and our forgotten ways. Maybe you were right when you wanted to destroy the Elements. We should have never brought them back here."

Celestia hung her head in shame. Her ears drooped. Luna stepped closer, and said, pleadingly.

"Sister, do not blame yourself. You did not cause this, we did not cause this. But we can still stop it."

"I'm afraid there is little we can do, but... I could try, and remove the Elements from the magic stream. After all, that's what giving its power."

"You mean we could try."

"No. If this works, someone needs to remain who bore witness to the council's crimes. But either way, this will surely kill me. No creature can survive exposure to magic THAT powerful for more than a few moments."

"Sister!" Luna stepped in front of Celestia with a front leg extended, and raised her voice. She had to, to shout over the increasing cacophony of the magical phenomenon "We did everything together in the last few days, and whatever challenges destiny threw at us, we overcame them together."

"Luna, there is no sense in..."

"If this is your crazy plan, I'm with you. And remember how the Elements only worked against Discord when we used them together."

"This is different."

"Perhaps. But I can't imagine things going any other way." Luna glanced back at the screaming, howling stream of magic behind herself "If you go in, we go in."

"Oh, Luna..." Celestia got a bit teary eyed.

And she couldn't help it, but embrace her sister. And in that embrace was all the tension, shock, anxiety, anger, and sadness she went through in the last few days. But also, all the love she felt for her.

"Luna..."

"Yes, I'm glad I could call you a sister as well." Luna responded, not letting herself drop a tear. Instead, she squeezed her sister a little tighter. "And I guess this is a goodbye. Let's not keep destiny waiting."

She released Celestia, and they shared one last look at each other. Celestia wiped away her few tears, and forced a confident expression upon her face.

"Yes. Let's give Equestria a chance. Let's give the world a chance."

The sisters faced the pure magic stream, and nodded at each other. The councilors were still in a trance, and as such, nothing could stop Celestia and Luna. They started to walk towards their destination, but with each determined step, it became harder and harder to reach what they wanted. The Elements - if they could only touch them before they both evaporated into nothingness. That could potentially save everything.

As they got as close as a few steps, the sparks returned to their manes, but instead of the gentle pops, each of them exploded with fury. The sisters clenched their teeth, bearing the pain, but they could go no further. As if an invisible aura intensified, and acted as the same pole to another magnet's.

Celestia slowly glanced at Luna. She had her eyes shut, but as if feeling her sister's gaze, she opened them. It was the moment of truth.

"On three, we should jump over the table, and with a powerful flap, we should reach the magic stream."

Luna didn't answer. Her silence was an affirmative.

"One."

Celestia bit on her lip. Luna steeled her expression.

"Two."

Celestia concentrated on the middle of the rainbow beam. As if she could see the Elements through the haze. Luna took one final, deep breath.

"Three!"

Both alicorns pushed themselves away from the ground, and with a mighty flap of their wings, flew into the stream of pure magical energy.

For a moment, they saw a bright flash, and felt their bodies torn asunder by all the magic of Caelum itself.

Then, it was pure nothingness.