"Who are you?"

Maybe this was worse than Twilight had been expecting. She had to gauge Luna's state quickly enough.

"Don't you... remember me? It's Twilight Sparkle, Luna, we met not too long ago before..."

"I have no memory of this. None at all." She squinted at Twilight. "Another alicorn besides my sister? How... vexing. That's not all, I feel... another. Far to the northwest of here. Whomever it is, it appears they're on the move and coming in this direction. Perhaps they sensed me? I understand now that it must've been you who has brought me here from the moon. The Elements give us that much. I thank you in due, though your motive leaves us perplexed. Did sister put you up to this?"

Luna's face held a curiosity that was tilting towards suspicion.

"Wait! What is the last thing that you remember? You were... not in the greatest shape before now. I just used a spell to bring you back, but maybe something went wrong? I'm sure we can catch you up, and I can only imagine the look that will be on Celestia's face when she sees you again."

Luna's face scrunched up at this. Then, it twisted into a grimace for some reason.

"We feel strange trying to draw on our memories. What have you done to us? Do not lie to us."

For the first time, Twilight began to sweat under the pressure from the newly formed alicorn. The presence was overwhelming.

"Do not make us use magic to make sure. Explain."

"I'm telling the truth! Your soul was damaged after coming back to Equestria, and it appears the ritual to heal it has done something with your memories. You were... dying Luna. Now that you're back we can work on getting you back to normal, but it is a miracle you're here with us!"

Luna considered her words carefully. Not entirely convinced it seems.

"The Elements of Harmony continue to whisper to me. You used them on me, yet they to inhabit me as a host. I think I'm starting to understand, yet I do not know exactly what they want. I will accept your explanation for now. In fact, we feel that you have earned a just reward. Is there anything you desire? Anything at all? We believe it possible to deliver unto a most just recompense."

And there it was again - that slow and almost smug grin that came out. What was she feeling right now?

"Please, Luna, I have already gotten everything I desire just by seeing you here again. You don't need to give me anything, but I need you to—"

"Then I must move on. As much as I want to embellish your person, the Elements continue to hound me. Celestia was always the one behind everything, and it is her I must get to explain everything. Of that I'm certain. Follow me if you decide to have any wish come true after all."

Luna's horn no longer functioned like a normal horn it seemed, because rather than gently lighting up it simply exploded with an excess of aura that blinded.

Then, she disappeared in nonstandard teleportation. Rather than just move herself, the air itself seemed to have been included in a large cube around her, as the air had to rush in and fill the vacuous gap that had been left by it with a crack.

Panic filled Twilight, this was far too early for Luna to be doing anything! She wasn't in a clear mind yet, this could lead to an even worse disaster! She had to catch up.

Luna coldly absorbed the scene before her. The ponies establishment was currently under much duress it seemed, and she'd come here after feeling the presence of her sister nearby. This wasn't what she had been expecting at all. The attack she had arrived to be receiving having been swiftly dealt with.

Looking behind her, she saw a weak and cowering unicorn, staring disbelieving. She'd turned her back on her sister, who was flying some distance opposite to her, but that was fine right now. There was no way her sister would be able to hurt her. Well, perhaps that wasn't entirely true, if things continued the way they were going.

"Tell me, little pony, what exactly is going on here?"

Whoever this pony was, he clearly was far too overwhelmed to give a proper answer. After some time, she started to grow impatient. She sighed. It was so tempting to tap into the near unlimited power the Elements of Harmony had granted her for the time being, and force this pony to help her figure out what was going on without delay. It'd be so easy to read his mind, or manipulate it altogether. The alicorn Luna had just discovered held a far better affinity for this power, but it had chosen Luna for the time being to carry out its will as a host. When she had first awoken, they had been whispering to her clearly, begging her to fulfill their purpose and make things right. They desired her to carry out their will, but now they'd gone mostly silent. Why did they have to be so vague? She had no idea what they had wanted her to do, but they stressed something important had be done. Was it dealing with her sister here?

Clearly, something was up. Luna saw the shape of souls in her vision currently, which she felt was related to her new power. Including that of her sister. The soul of her sister was surrounded by a smoggy dark cloud, and it prevented her from seeing it properly. It didn't take long for Luna's heightened sensitivity and knowledge to figure out what was going on.

Her sister had befallen a similar fate to what she once had, and her new perspective gave her an entirely different view of the curse. Alicorn's souls were special, and the dark emotions they could find themselves steeped in for too long could manipulate their natural magics into a curse. She wondered what had lead Celestia to this. She would need to ask later.

Everything had been a struggle since she had woken up, the entirety of her memories a jumbled mess, even now. The Elements had manipulated and potentially blockaded many of the memories she knew she held, and she wondered how much her current attitude was also being influenced. It truly bothered her that they would do this. Why? What could they possibly be blocking for it to be worth influencing her sense of self? You are the collection of your memories, so removing a portion of them was insulting as to say that version of yourself was not worthy. Is that what the Elements thought? Was she simply a tool which had been forced to bend into their will? Why did she care so much about all of these ponies right now, even? Hadn't they... hadn't they what?

She hoped that once their presence had left her, she'd still be able to keep a clear enough head. She disliked being their puppet, but she could not deny the help they had provided in bringing her back. She owed that much. She was certain they had aided in her return, the details unimportant for now. For that reason, and that reason alone, she would carry out their will as best as she could despite her confusion.

Her sister, whose soul was fluctuating greatly underneath, was clearly in a transformative state on the outer layer, swarmed with a dark cursed magic that Luna remembered being swallowed whole by once. As far as she could tell, the transformation was not complete yet. Celestia had not fully given in to the dark temptation in some recess of her being yet.

Celestia, who apparently didn't recognize her, began attacking with a fury. A thousand arrows of burning light came, and Luna opened a gate into the void to intercept them. The large portal-like cosmos interrupted reality in-between them, and the arrows were dragged in silently, and like that it was over. Luna didn't need this for protection, but she felt that preventing further destruction or harm for anypony caught in the crossfire was probably the right thing to do.

Removing the hoof from her head she hadn't realized had been there rubbing, she instead stared at it in front of herself in contemplation. If her current form had become that which could warp reality, something Luna was sure she had seen in the past but had no clue what from, then the Elements of Harmony were a step above that. Feeling their power directly within herself, she felt certain of that belief. They could warp reality, but they also could erase or create it entirely if they were harnessed properly. From nothing. Currently, the latter was possible for Luna only because they had chosen her as a host for the time being. That power was quickly waning, probably because she was not the alicorn named "Twilight". No, that wasn't accurate, it was more like ten percent of infinity was still infinity, but it would drop off quickly into a real number and collapse soon enough. It was likely she had less than an hour to do something with this power before it did. But what she saw before her did not require it to that extent. Again, it simmered that she felt she was missing something. Some purpose.

For now, dealing with Celestia would need to be the priority. Speaking of her, she had apparently taken Luna's self-defence as an insult. This would not do. Luna needed Celestia to see herself, and no one else right now.

Maverick, huffed and he climbed the partially burning building, up the staircase to the upper level where it was still clear, heading for a window to get onto the roof somehow.

He had grown up here, and he would never abandon it. He'd see this through till the end, even if that tyrant destroyed everything. His left shoulder was bleeding from glass which had hit him like shrapnel earlier, but it was not something that would require immediate medical attention. The bleeding had already started to slow.

Opening a window at the top of the building, he practically spilled out and fell onto the roof. After a moment to get himself back up, he began scanning to see just what was left in Canterlot from this vantage point. Where had it all gone so wrong? Everyponies hoof had been forced, and somehow it had come to this.

While scanning, he spotted the hovering figure of whatever was left of Celestia. But that wasn't what ended up capturing his attention. It was a strange sight which he could've never forseen. Another alicorn, black as the sky without any stars to alight it, and a tremendous mane to make up for that which held all the light of the cosmos, seemingly spilling out into the air in a large influx of scintillating beauty flowing through the sky.

It took twenty seconds before he could come back to reality from this strange scene before him. He, he had to do something! At this point, with all lost, perhaps he could beg this alicorn to take revenge? It may have burned him to ever consider trusting another alicorn, or relying on one in general, but what other option was there?

"Over here! Please! Can you hear me?!"

The alicorn sharply turned to look at him, and he had to swallow the nervous lump in his throat.

"I'm begging you! I know nothing of your greatness yet, but I ask you with all my heart to stop this evil tyrant named Celestia! All of Canterlot pleads you!"

He got down and bowed, with his head down as far as it could to the ground, desperately hoping his words could please the alicorn enough to listen or act.

"Calm, little pony, we see now that our sister has caused much harm here. But do not be afraid, we intend to correct things."

It should've been everything it promised, her words. But that wasn't the affect it had on him. How alicorns could speak of correcting things, after all this death and destruction? Of suffering? Being so arrogant as to act the hero while ignoring the true plight ponies faced. He couldn't stand it, but again he swallowed his true thoughts and pride.

"She, she killed everypony here. Almost everypony. Please, I do not know how you're related to her as you say, for she has never mentioned a sister, but that doesn't matter! I beg you to stop her, end her!"

"We did not kill any—", the alicorn paused for a moment, "my sister has not killed anypony here, what are you talking about?"

He was still recovering from the intensity of which she denied doing anything... of course he would have to deal with another warped mind. He wanted to laugh. But again, what was she saying?

"How can you say that... ah, I'm sorry, what is your name?" It was extremely awkward and out of place, but it kind of fell out of his mouth as he realized how little he actually knew. Actually, it was fitting amidst the chaos around him after all.

"We shall tell you later, perhaps we should demonstrate what we mean instead. We had almost forgotten our own actions until now. But first, let us move to a more suitable location."

He never felt any magic grip him, which was what he was expecting, but it never came. Instead, one second he was on top of a roof, and after he blinked his reality had shifted to that of the Canterlot main square. The cobbled road was at its widest here in Canterlot, with a large fountain, somehow untouched even now, being in the centre. He was also surprised to not find himself particularly dizzy. He'd been teleported by another in the past by a skilled unicorn, and that had left him reeling. This was nothing like that.

Once again, he saw the dark alicorn mare, her horn still glowing. Then, he heard strange pinging sounds. Shadows were dropping into existence in a constant downpour in the square, practically filling it up. Looking closer, he saw that the flowing shadows were covering... bodies. He simply stood in shock as hundreds, no, thousands of these bodies piled and piled in the square, taking up all of the space and on top of one another.

He walked up towards one of many, oh so many, and saw that under the shadows something wasn't quite right. It was like... reality was blurred? Distorted? He had no idea how to describe it, but the body was so still he was sure it must've been a corpse, and the image made him sick. Before he could truly react, he heard the mare speak again.

"I shall now release these ponies from their timeless state, and bring them back to full health. That is satisfactory, is it not?"

At this point, he was speechless. What did you even say to this fantastical sight and experience? He looked towards her, and only found a confident and vainglorious attitude.

A cyan cloud spread through the ranks, interspersed through the shadows as each body slowly raised into the air to dance like shadowy fairies from the tales of old. Then... the shadows began to fade, and each body became instead a glowing wisp of turquoise brilliance. He spun and spun, and all he could see was the reforming bodies of each and every pony that'd been brought here. If there was a gap to fill, it drew in the healing aura and slowly returned to being a body part once again. The peaceful look on each pony being cradled by the softest of touches was mesmerizing, and it almost looked like they were ascending away from this plane of existence into a peaceful one. Being inside of the cloud of magic, he could feel it. Harmony. True harmony. He'd never been one to believe too deeply about the tenets of pony society, but there was something there that made it brought up to the forefront of his mind and in appreciation of it all.

Then, floating down as softly as clouds, and as tranquil as falling snow, the light began to fade and ponies began to lightly glide down and onto the ground, eyes closed and dreaming.

Just as the magic faded, a few ponies began waking up in clear confusion. Would most of them view what happened to them as some sort of nightmare in the future? That wasn't right.

As if to answer his thought directly, Celestia had apparently decided to catch up with a vengeance, having not been carried with the teleportation. A burning star crashing through the sky heading straight towards the other alicorn.

He barely heard, but the words were clear: "And now, I must clear your vision, sister."

Pure darkness poured from the alicorn, and as it spread to the air, the ground, everything, it consumed it. The background faded into darkness, and it kept expanding. As it came towards Maverick, he expected to fall through the ground, but no such thing happened.

Destroy. Conquer. Eliminate. Ruin. Rule. Burn. Reduce to ashes.

These were some of the swirling vague thoughts that had been leading what was left of Celestia. Deep inside, her sleeping self, understood nothing that was going on. What was she doing? Where was she? She was only vaguely aware of what her body and outer self was doing. Her vision was still there, but it was oh so narrow.

She was moving, flying off to get revenge or something. It didn't really matter to her much at the moment.

Her vision, which had already grown narrow, began to only see darkness. What was going on? Who was this pony she was coming in to face now? Everything felt so distorted, and she couldn't recognize the pony much at all.

Wait... a tiny sliver of her mind caught on to something. The flowing mane. The stars. That magical signature. Those cyan eyes. That surprisingly dark coat. It stirred something inside of her, and something was screaming, echoing in the back recess of her mind, but she couldn't hear it well.

Her outer form had stopped moving for some reason. They were only a short distance away from each other now, and Celestia was hovering before this... new alicorn?

All at once, and with the shock of lightning, something clicked in her mind. A single word.

'Luna.'

She latched onto the thought with every fiber of her being. Memories were crashing down, everything was coming back—

There was no way.

This had to be fake, and this twisted and trapped place she was in a cruel joke.

But she fought. Fought with everything she had for control. There was a strange presence there, it was her except different. It had no right to deny her this. Her very soul itself would not allow it. Her soul was trapped, pinned down, dominated, confused, chained up, and sleeping. But that was not enough, this very image invoked all the strength she could ever conjure back to fight against whatever was controlling her.

Thunder rumbled in her ears, her vision warped, and then—

Snap.

It took her a moment, but she realized she was back in the real world, thoughts slowly catching up to what had just happened.

She looked at herself, and seeing her mane filled with fire rather than rainbow was enough for her to know that she hadn't restored herself fully. But this was enough. She had some control, for now at very least.

And then she looked to what had brought her back. Her breath caught in her throat. She still couldn't believe what she was seeing, especially now that it seemed so real.

But how? Wasn't the reason all of this started was because of how useless she had been to save her sister?

None of that mattered right now. She was right there in front of her. In the flesh. Looking at her with curiosity and a hint of, was that... hope?

"Celestia, can you see me? I should be all you can see right now. Can you understand what I'm saying?"

Tears flowed from Celestia the moment she heard the sweet voice, unchanged, even after all this time, even after all they had been through. She could never forget that voice. It must've been strikingly strange to see this demonic mare crying and with such an expression.

"Luna. Is it... is it really you?"

"It is, sister."

Pure joy, the strongest she had ever felt, swelled in her heart. Relief flooded her senses. It was too much, and her heart was pounding. Nothing else mattered, her sister was back, that was all that mattered! Healthy, strong, full of vitality, and most importantly here! 'Here here here!' She couldn't stop repeating it. Whatever happened from now, it did not matter. Her sister was finally back!

"LUNA! YOU'RE BACK!" the strangled cry barely made it out of her before her voice cracked.

"Indeed... I am sister. It is... good to see you too." Celestia was now flying around her in a circle, checking over her every detail, making sure there was nothing she was missing, even when it was all she could see in this world of darkness. But that didn't matter right now. She couldn't care less for the outside world.

"You're... a bit different than I remember last seeing you, Luna, and I would never mistake your presence, but I cannot help but notice your changes..."

"And you as well, sister. I... I can see you fell just like I did. Do you..."

Luna's lips went into a straight line.

"Do you-do you trust me?"

"Of course I do." There wasn't any hesitation.

"Then stop moving, and simply trust me, sister. I have the Elements of Harmony enhancing me, I can end this transformation you've undergone, but you must not struggle."

"Anything for you, sister. I... I'm only now just beginning to remember why I'm like this in the first place. I... please, if you could, sister?"

Celestia landed, and tried to be as still as possible while facing her sister directly.

Luna raised her hoof and brought it to curve towards the sky, and from there, a soft rainbow began lifting up from it.

"Let the Elements envelop you sister, I have complete control of them right now. Trust me, you will not be hurt."

There had never been a moment where Celestia had doubted that. In the past, the Elements had been a harsh thing despite being a power for good, too powerful to truly control properly, but whatever had happened, Luna was guiding them gently somehow. The rainbow expanded into a long snake, and swam around Celestia in a vortex, until it formed into a tornado that slowly caved inwards towards Celestia. It was like a weight coming off her shoulders that she hadn't known existed as it came closer and began dispelling the foul magics. She closed her eyes, and simply breathed slowly.

She waited until all was silent and no longer felt the flow of pure harmony. Weight which she hadn't realized had been dragging her down released.

Opening her eyes, and looking to herself once again, she saw that she really was restored. There was a lingering burn under her fur, but she tried to ignore it. But that wasn't all, the weight of everything began catching up to her. Celestia had not stopped moving and using magic for the past few days, and that transformation had been the only way she had been able to continue. She collapsed down onto her knees.

"Oh-sister! Are you alright? Did I hurt you after all?!"

"Just..." she struggled to get it out inbetween breaths, "just oh so tired Luna..."

"Wait... I, well, I suppose I must explain, but, I can sort of see it, sister."

"You can see...?"

"The shape of your soul, I mean, I know that sounds impossible, but I can Celestia. And what I see... it seems that wasn't enough to heal you. Wait... what is that?"

Celestia had no clue what Luna was talking about, and couldn't keep up right now. She knew that her soul was wounded of course, she had done that not too long ago. But to see the shape of the soul without casting very specific magic? She'd never even imagined that possible. None of this made sense in the first place, and she wasn't about to doubt Luna, so she supposed she'd just accept it for now.

"Just another moment, sister, I can fix this too, I can feel it. Allow me and don't move again just for a moment. The Elements power has not run out yet, I still have some time, maybe twenty more minutes."

This time was different, and Celestia felt Luna grab her physically in her magic. She couldn't control her twitching in reaction at it, and Luna gave a slight scowl. She hadn't meant to do it. But the touch changed, and physical transformed to something different. Spiritual touch. Far, far more uncomfortable, and instead of a singular spot it surrounded her. She felt oh so trapped, and warning instincts screamed in her brain. Having your vulnerable soul, the most sacred of places, being manipulated, there was no greater discomfort. Even if it was only the slightest of touches. She shivered wondering what was to come.

"Luna... I-I'm not sure this is safe, are you sure..."

The steely look in Luna's focused visage answered her.

"Completely. I ask again, do you trust me Celestia? I will not harm your soul, nor let it befall any danger. Trust me. This must be done, Celestia."

They stood staring at each other, in this strange and isolated world.

"I do. Please, just be careful."

"You shall be fine, sister, besides—"

Celestia's consciousness came crashing down at the feeling of her soul emulsifying, but she heard some final words before blacking out:

"—you are now free."

Twilight stayed hidden behind the wall which ran parallel to the city square, where her little investigation had slowly brought herself towards. It'd been strange, teleporting further and further as she became more aware of the increased pool of magic available to herself. At first it had been short hops, then lengthy as she eventually made it to Canterlot to witness the state of things...

Currently, in the square was a giant globe of sinking darkness. She couldn't see inside of it, and wasn't quite sure if it was safe to proceed inwards. She'd seen what had happened before though, and it'd left her without breath. That alone had given her enough confidence to trust that things were under control.

The shadows, which had burst out to consume with a hunger, sank back in as quickly as they'd came. It seemed whatever Luna had been doing, she'd finished. Ponies, who were first to be released, stood around looking fairly confused and searching for answers. Many of them appeared to be stunned.

Just like that, it was gone. Luna, and more importantly, a surprisingly picturesque looking Celestia stood in the middle. Pure once again.

Everypony turned to give them attention in the decidedly massive crowd. Was every pony living in Canterlot here? They spilled outwards even deep down the four main paths meeting at the middle of the square.

More importantly, Twilight would have to deal with what she saw just only a few moments ago...

Twilight would never mistake her mentor. Even in that twisted form. Twilight had heard the legends of Nightmare Moon, yet had never seen the apparition despite so much anticipation. But what she had seen here had been a very real and a conversely scary image to that of her sister.

To step out and approach them... already ponies were demanding answers now that things began to settle. As much as they could in these circumstances, that is.

Well, Twilight had to do this eventually... She came out from around the wall and begin making her way towards the sisters. It was really awkward when halfway she realized that ponies were turning and giving little gasps and shocked reactions to her new appearance. She still wasn't used to it either. It really didn't matter right now, and Celestia would ask questions while having the same stupor, but Twilight's own questions were far more important.

Luna gave Celestia a look, with a flick of her neck towards Twilight, and their gazes met. Celestia immediately looked away, but then back again, rather instead of her eyes, it was to her newfound wings.

"Prince— no, Celestia, please, tell me what's going on. I know that Luna being back may be startling to say the least but, I mean..." she looked around the destroyed remains of Canterlot around to emphasize her point. "And... and that form, did you-did you really do all this? Why? And what about all those rumors about the war? Tell me they weren't true... tell me..."

"Twilight I..." Celestia could only stand there and gape. Slowly, as reality encroached on their little reunion, the very unhappy faces of ponies from all of Canterlot registered. All of them were staring with outright anger and animosity towards Celestia.

"It's true, all of it is true." She said after a long moment. She had whispered the words, yet Twilight had heard all of them clearly and nothing else.

"I will not lie to you Twilight. I lost myself. I became a monster, no different than my sister a thousand years ago." She turned to give Luna a pleading glance, as if to say 'sorry to bring this up'. Luna seemed to hold no hard feelings for it, so Celestia continued: "I murdered the Griffin Emperor when he denied me hope of saving Luna. I started the war. I killed thousands of griffins and ponies, by my hoof or caused by my actions, and by the time I came back here I was too far gone in my own darkness that seeing Luna gone broke me. I was even willing to sacrifice so many ponies for her Twilight. How I could ever be so... so..." Celestia closed her eyes. "Who am I to weigh lives like that? Everypony wants to feel deep down like they'd make the right choice in the hard times, myself included." She reopened then to stare directly into Twilight's eyes. "But I failed. All I've ever done is fail. Nothing I can say will ever be enough. The Elements of Harmony have allowed me to remember this, however late."

Twilight, rather than rush to respond, tried to let it sink in. This was... too much right now. To hear all her fears confirmed like that so clearly...

"Sister? What is this talk about saving me? War? We're going to have to talk about this later."

It was Celestia's turn to fall into complete confusion. The look she gave Twilight was in askence for answers, before she responded.

"And indeed we will, Luna, and yet there is more I wish to say." She started walking towards Twilight.

"I want you to know that, despite everything Twilight, I never wanted to do any of these atrocities. I mean that, even if... it sounds hollow now. That they will never be okay and—" she gave a nod to their audience, most of which would not hear most of this, "—the ponies of Equestria deserve better. I do not know what will happen now, but I am sure of that. I know now, that in the future that it does not include myself.

However, most of all, Twilight, I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It just clicked just now, that you must've done something. Brought her back to me." She gave a warm smile, one that Twilight had seen a thousand times, despite everything pressing on them right now.

"Thank you Twilight, for bringing back my... my dear sister Luna." She fell to her knees and looked straight down, and after a moment Twilight saw a few drops fall. "You have no idea how much this means to me. I am forever in your debt."

Before Twilight could respond, some random pony from the crowd decided now would be the perfect opportunity to pitch in.

"Remorse? Guilt? You just destroyed our city! You killed thousands of innocents? Actions speak louder than words! How many suffered because of you! You think all of us are gonna just accept this little sympathy act?!"

Everypony turned to find the interloper, but it didn't matter, because soon cries joined in, shouting and screaming at Celestia's direction.

"Traitor!"
"We gave you everything and for what?!"
"Everything is gone!"
"My home!"
"Our lives are ruined because of you!"
"How many more lives do you have to take before you leave everypony alone?!"

Several ponies even began throwing pieces of wreckage, including stones at Celestia. Several hit her, but she didnt dare move to dodge anything. Barely heard against the ongoing ruckus of rancour, Twilight heard Luna speak. "I was not aware of much of this. There's more to be discussed than I had originally thought, sister." She was giving her sister a stern look, but the sigh after was drawn out, "I may not be able to bring back that was already lost, most importantly any lives, but right now there is something I can still do."

She brought a hoof to her chest and chanted, "oh sacred moon, grant me thy essence."

A layer of frost emerged around her, but that was not what took Twilight's focus. Slowly, starting from the base of both the tail and mane, the starry cosmos which had become the hallmark of much of Luna's image, transformed distinctly into a glowing silver. Soon enough, there was not a trace of star-stuff left, only a reflection of the moon in a pure white form that glowed faintly.

Then, her horn followed in the act. The aura, typically cyan colored, Twilight saw that it was now also the same color of her mane and tale. Was this what focusing on that specific aspect of her night meant for Luna now?

"To channel the pure frozen energy of the moon is to ever approach the slowing of all movement, down to the smallest level of all matter. I can see this now." She looked towards the sky. "Normally, I would only be able to bring it to a complete stop, yet today, with the Elements blessing, I shall break this and go further."

It felt like all of Canterlot was currently being washed in the liquid mercury. At first, it was like nothing was happening, but then it began. Objects lifted up and into the air, and began to move slowly and with strange arcs. Objects reformed back together. Shattered windows saw every glass particle down the last one come together and fit themselves back into the gap where they had originally existed, where the newly rebuilt construction was being pieced together as items seemingly reversed in time from the cataclysm that had proceed all of this. Twilight even saw a bird flying in reverse, colored in that same magic, and she couldn't look away from the spectacle of it.

Ponies all around stared in wonderment. What else could you do? This was a divine feat, and one you'd likely only see once in your life if you were more than lucky. Then again, they'd experienced more than just this today that defied imagination.

Buildings blocked up together, and then saw their neighbour do the same. Row after row was restored, nothing left out.

Twilight stole a look at Luna, and saw that she had a look of pure bliss on her face, as well as a bit of... pride?

"Hah. Hahah. That's right, applaud our supreme power!" Twilight could see that same expression that had reminded her of when Luna first came back. After the initial strangeness...

Luckily, the majority of ponies had been too busy taking in the wonder around them to hear it, and the few that did and turned only saw a Luna that was pretending nothing of the sorts had happened after the trance she had been in seemed to have lifted and some embarrassing realization set in.

As things began to calm down, there was still one pony of which was unsatisfied.

"You have been able to fix our city, and have saved the lives of all of Canterlot, for that we are all in your eternal debt. However! You cannot take back the suffering we've all endured under the hoof of Celestia! Tell me, everypony! Who remembers the pain before you were sealed away?"

Hundreds of shouts in agreement came back roaring as ponies thoughts were corralled back to what had caused all of this in the first place.

"Celestia has caused immeasurable suffering! How many have died because of her actions, atrocities she fully admitted to committing with a emphatically weak excuse of a reason! How many ponies, no, even griffin lives were permanently ruined because of all of this? Celestia was fully intent on destroying everything! Your intervention will never change this truth! I can't even imagine what she would've done at Oblatio! Nor do I want to!"

It was a grim reminder, and the brown earth pony had a look bordering on hatred as he addressed Celestia and her sister. Twilight came to recognize that it was Maverick Tinker, somepony she had actually trained and worked under in the past few months. It was an uncomfortable realization to say the least. She couldn't blame him at all for this impassioned outburst. Twilight shared much of his contempt, no matter how much she had wanted to bury or deny it.

"Who are you, my little pony? We wish to know your name."

"Maverick Tinker."

Celestia looked conflicted as to whether she should respond, but Luna stole the initiative anyway.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Maverick. We wish it was under better circumstances. Our name is Luna, in return." She turned to scan over the crowd. "Let it be known that Maverick has brought up entirely fair points about our sister. We have done what we can to allay this crisis, but we cannot take back the past in full. No one can. Not even the Elements of Harmony, which I act under their good will."

Luna paused, looking contemplative.

"Luna! I beseech you!" Luna looked surprised that the stallion had more to say. "You clearly have the power to end all of this! We've all seen it. On behalf of all of the ponies of Canterlot, no, Equestria! Please bring justice to Celestia!"

Luna closed her eyes. Ponies, continuing with the trend, yelled and screamed in agreeance. Demanding action.

"If you ask for justice, then it must be dealt equally, no?"

"What are you...?"

"For I have sinned no less than Celestia, even if none of you were there to witness it. In fact, I am far more deserving of punishment. Our sister's actions were born of the selfless wish to save, whereas ours has always been selfish. Regardless, we are both guilty."

The crowd had grown quiet, knowing she had all the power and control to dispense judgement.

"And finally... I do not, even now, have it in me..." For the first time since arriving, Luna looked truly shaken. Her downcast gaze was hollow.

"No... I cannot give you what you ask for, my little ponies. My sister is... I am sorry. I cannot... I will not... I am no executioner." She shook her head. It sobered all who heard it from mob justice.

"Twilight."

Twilight jumped, surprised at being called out in the middle of the tense situation by Luna. Why had she thought of her specifically?

"We can sense it. Something special that you carry on your person. Please show it to us."

Twilight hesitatingly opened her saddlebags, which she had brought with her just in case. Old habits die hard. Opening them up, and magically lifting it out, was the Inner World Sanctuary which she had not forgotten to keep. She floated it in the air in front of her in presentation.

"It is because of you that we stand before anypony here today, so we shall bestow upon you the last of Harmony's gift, before it is gone once more."

Twilight didn't know what she was going to do, but allowed Luna's aura to overtake her own and bring the amethyst over towards herself. Luna touched her horn to the stone in midair, and her entire body overflowed with a rainbow exterior, which seemed to slowly flow towards her horn and into the stone. This processes continued for a minute, and just when Twilight thought it would never end the light died out.

The Sanctuary no longer looked like anything she recognized, besides the shape. In fact, she was almost sure that it was close to breaking as Luna passed it back towards her. The stones glow was so intense with the rainbow kaleidoscope that signified the Elements power that it no longer looked like an amethyst at all. Taking it into her own magical hold again, it confirmed her suspicions. There was no way it could store even the tiniest amount more, and the feeling it gave off... so recognizable, yet so foreign.

"This is our gift to you Twilight. A miracle, stored for safekeeping for when Equestria needs it most. We may not know you well yet, but you have earned this right for bringing us back and allowing us to do what we have, and for our life itself. We see that now and thank you. We know that the Elements have chosen you, so there cannot be a more worthy recipient. Please, take this, keep it safe, and use it when Equestria is most in need. You will need it."

"And now, we feel the last of it fading from us. Goodbye, sacred Harmony. We hope your will was realized today, even if we never truly understood it."

Luna looked towards the skies. A few moments passed while all were quiet. Things could finally relax.

Just as Twilight stopped examining the Sanctuary, Twilight saw the change in Luna.

Luna had completely locked up, and her stare looked terrified and unseeing. What was...

"Sister, are you alright?"

Celestia had noticed the sudden change too. Both Twilight and Celestia took a step towards Luna, but stopped when they saw her bite down on her lip, hard. Blood poured down from her chin from the violent rupture, and Luna was breathing hard. Luna had closed her eyes now and her entire faced was tensed as can be, brows furrowed.

"Luna! What's wrong?!"

Celestia rushed forward and forced Luna into a hug, whispering into her ear. Luna's expression never changed.

What was Twilight supposed to do? None of this made sense, just like... when Luna had first came back. Something had snapped her out of it then, but what? They were too lacking in details, and it didn't look like Luna would be able to explain any time soon.

Twilight saw that Maverick still looked furious to the side, but was clearly holding back from saying anything more. Furthermore, the ponies surrounding him, actually, just about every pony seemed to be hating the fact their savior was being enclosed by Celestia, who had so recently scarred them all.

Celestia was whispering hush reassurances into Luna's ear, desperate to know what was going wrong. She pushed down all of her regrets from the forefront of her mind, no matter how much they weighed on her. Her sister needed her right now. That was all that mattered. The ponies that were surrounding them at this inconvenient time, and the looks they were giving, wasn't helping either. She needed to block them out, too.

Celestia could not see Luna's face right now, but when the words finally registered, Celestia had to supress a shiver. All it took was one word. "Celestia." It contained the culmination of centuries of negative emotion, most of which being hatred. Where had this come from? Celestia's heart had soared so far in this reunion, and yet now it felt as things had reset. What had changed?

"After everything you've done..." it was all she could do to simply listen. "You dare act as my..." she snarled, "sister."

Celestia's blood ran cold.

"Destroy... I wish nothing more than to strike you down.. after what you... what I..." After several moments of silence, Celestia decided to push Luna apart so that they could look at one another, face to face.

What she saw there was expected, but no less painful. Luna was barely holding back, her face twitching and rigid. Her horn lit up and for a heart-wrenching moment Luna lurched forward and Celestia thought all was lost. But she came back down and continued to seethe while removing the glow from her horn.

Celestia had been willing to do nothing and let her sister do it. The realization shook her, but things were moving too quickly for it to sink in.

"And yet..." Where Celestia saw aggression, she also saw hopelessness and confusion. "And yet..."

Luna looked around slowly, as though she had no idea where she was anymore. There was zero recognition there.

She looked back to Celestia. Her eyes slowly cleared, like there was some deeper realization.

"And yet..." a lone tear streamed down from her left eye, "and yet you're all I recognize... in this god-forsaken place. You're all I have left." It broke Celestia's heart to see Luna like this. "If you're gone... where will that leave me? I'm so tired of being all alone... How could I ever... to my own flesh-and-blood—"

"I feel the same way sister! Please! If nothing else, let us be together again! Like those days from so long ago!" Luna's sunken expression did little to alleviate Celestia's fears. "I wish nothing more than to earn your forgiveness, sister! I'd do anything for you! Even if you hate me!" She heard a sneer off to the side, but ignored it. "Let us start again, anew, please! Forget everything else!"

Before Celestia could continue, the crowd decided now would be the best time to cut right back in.

"Get away from her!"
"She's trying to manipulate her!"
"Please! Stop her before it's too late!"
"Finish the sun-tyrant!"

Luna was practically hyperventilating. Her eyes glazed over.

"No! I remember feeling, I mean-you were..." Luna looked bewildered.

Pounding her hoof down several times, she stood stock still and let some of the tension fade. It looked like she was forcing herself to focus on something in front of her.

"I... I remember now. Enough."

Everypony quieted down.

Luna stood, and her presence grew as her shadow seemed to stretch and loom over every pony packed into the centre of the city.

"Me and my sister..." Her voice grew louder, projecting even to the furthest reaches of the crowd. Yet it was soft, carrying the somber message to a light finish. "We have no place here anymore, I can see that now, if anything. There can be no reconciliation for these crimes, for we have both sinned greatly and are both undeserving of worship nor rulership from any single one of you.

"All I can do is promise you all this, we shall be there for the time of need in Equestria whenever it comes. We owe that much. But know this for now, we shall be leaving these lands post-haste. We are no longer welcome here. We also know that the ponies here can manage just fine without our guidance, for we've seen it. Besides, you've still other princesses," she directed the crowds attention towards Twilight, "This is to be our goodbye. I shall return in time. Farewell."

With one final look back to Celestia, Luna gave a firm nod. Celestia was unable to meet any gaze other than her sisters. Then, encasing the area around both of them, they both teleported far, far away.

Left alone, surrounded by ponies who would never understand the full gist of what went down on this day, Twilight simmered in unresolved and conflicting emotions and thoughts. But first, she had to pick up the pieces here, whatever they may be. Canterlot's opulent sheen remained, yet the inhabitants would be marked by a horrible nightmare memory that blurred away the richness of life into a harsh reality that they had so briefly experienced.

Author's Note

We are so back.
100k words achieved for my first story! I can't believe it to be honest.
Sorry for the delay. Life, and this chapter was particularly difficult for me to write. Let me know if you see any uncorrected mistakes.
I don't think I would've ever been fully satisfied with this chapter, but here it is no less.