Loose Pages

Princess Luna pondered the worn tome before her, its aged surface telling a tale of its own. Faint stains, scuffed edges, odd cuts here and there. Each mark of wear and tear deepened the mystery of the book’s title.

Luna supposed that a book that showed one’s desires was interesting, but upon seeing the words “The Reign of Nightmare Moon” emblazoned with letters that at one point may have had paint, she couldn’t help but feel her heart stir with emotions she had thought forgotten.

“Luna?” Celestia's voice interrupted her thoughts, bringing her back into her sister’s private quarters.

Blinking, Luna looked up at her sister. Celestia looked… Shocked. A positive, all things considered. After hearing that title, she wouldn’t have blamed her sister for looking scared, or even angry.

“The book…” Celestia started. “Sister, do you…?”

Luna sighed. Honestly, there was a part of her that would’ve liked to wallow in self-pity. But Celestia’s ordeal with the book had obviously left her in an emotional state. Very well. If she had to be the rational one this evening, she would step up to the role.

“No, sister. Of course not.” She brought a hoof to the book and dragged it across the surface. Hmph. Leather. “Consider what the title doth imply.”

The shock on Celestia’s face gave way to confusion as she forced herself to follow Luna’s instructions. “It… Has to be a recounting of what would have happened had… Had things played out differently.”

One day, they would be able to think back to those days as nothing more than a bad memory. Until then, the scarred tissue would remain.

“Quite so. If our instinct is correct, this is a chronicle of what would have befallen Equestria under the dominion of the Nightmare.” Luna then locked eyes with her sister and regarded her with a stare that—hopefully—would show she was being earnest. “And history is written after the deed.”

Only a few seconds of silence passed before a warm softness enveloped her. Her sister’s wing. “Luna, you don’t have to read it if you don’t want to. The last thing I wish is to cause you more pain.”

She looked up at the warmth irradiating from her sister’s eyes. Up this close, she was almost reminded of their mother. At that, Luna had to suppress a smirk. Celestia would certainly hate to hear that.

“We spent centuries with naught but our anger and our shadow, dear sister. There is naught this book could conjure that could surpass what our mind, addled by rage as it was, did evoke during our exile.”

“Oh, Luna…” Celestia said as she leaned forward to nuzzle her.

“As much as the affection is appreciated, it would be best to ‘get over withoverwith’, as they say. Besides, there may be something salvageable from whatever the book’s pages hold.”

Her sister smiled. It was a small smile, but it was a good sign. Truth be told, she was more than a little bit curious herself. So, without further ado, she opened the book and looked for the first legible section.

The era of celestial discord under Nightmare Moon highlights the fragility of cosmic balance and equine resilience. Following her victory over Princess Celestia, Nightmare Moon established her rule, plunging Equestria into eternal night. The celestial orb’s radiance was replaced by a foreboding shroud following Princess Celestia’s disappearance, and Nightmare Moon swiftly took control of Equestria’s governance. Through her indomitable sorcery, she maintained a semblance of normalcy: crops flourished under eerie lunar light, and fauna adapted to the new nocturnal rhythm. Despite the perpetual night, daily life persisted under her enchantments, showcasing both her power and the adaptability of Equestria’s inhabitants.

"That’s… oddly positive," Celestia said, head tilted.

Princess Luna looked back at the book. "Written after the fact, sister. We have no way of discerning what is being omitted."

Celestia’s head swayed from side to side. "That is true. It is certainly lacking in details regarding… I suppose 'disappearance' is a better fate, comparatively speaking."

Her sister was right. Had the Nightmare brought a worse fate upon Celestia, the book would have certainly made a mention about it. Either singing praises or lamenting the vanquishing of the sun.

“Whichever the case, it is most surprising that the eternal night did not bring immediate doom upon Equestria.”

"You mentioned enchantments upon the moonlight itself. A clever solution, dare I say. It would go some lengths towards making life easier."

Luna arched an eyebrow. "Thou dost not sound disturbed, sister."

Celestia’s eyes flashed with longing as she looked back at the mess of pillows over her bed. "It is as you told me, sister. The book is but an illusion. A collection of might have beens and little more."

Luna smiled. "Verily. Shall we see what other mysteries this 'might have been' doth hold?"

"If you're okay with it."

Turning her attention back to the book, she carefully flipped the old pages until finding another page that caught her attention. "This should suffice. Let us see how the Nightmare dealt with governance."

Nightmare Moon’s rise to power marks a crucial epoch in Equestrian history, plunging the once-diurnal realm into eternal night. As the sole ruler, she used her formidable sorcery to maintain unyielding order through her lunar enchantments. Neighbouring nations—gryphons, minotaurs, and changelings—opposed the perpetual night, but their protests were met with Nightmare Moon’s swift and decisive subjugation. Employing her unparalleled magical prowess, she dismantled their autonomy, rendering their leaders subservient to Equestria. These once-proud nations became part of her expanding nocturnal empire, ensuring that Equestria, under her rule, remained supreme and unchallenged.

Luna furrowed her brow. “Was that truly the only matter of concern to thee, Nightmare?”

“Luna?” Her sister regarded her with a concerned look. A sisterly concern. A worry over her own state of mind rather than the disquieting events she’d just read.

Knowing her sister valued her well-being so much brought her some comfort. However, it did nothing for the frustration forming in her mind. With a shake of her head, she spoke. “We feel ourselves imbued with disappointment that after the Nightmare gained control of Equestria, it did naught but continue the same with other nations. It appears there was little more to her than an insatiable hunger for power.” She saw her sister’s expression grow contrite. She supposed her disparaging words could easily be interpreted as a twisted way of self-inflicted admonishment. “I must say, however, that she doth seem efficient.”

That did the trick. Celestia’s eyes grew wide for a moment before she let out a snort most unfitting of royalty.

“Thou canst not deny that maintaining diplomatic relations with other lands doth not seem high upon her list of worries,” she added, with a disinterested shrug for emphasis.

Celestia pursed her lips. “Hmmm… I suppose hearing you say that shouldn’t surprise me. I distinctly remember a little filly throwing away a chess board when I tried teaching her, so many years ago.”

A scoff. “Really, sister. Thou dost hold onto the silliest of things. Thou dost not hear me bringing up how thou didst force thy asparagus onto my plate when we were but children.”

Both held their silence before a few giggles managed to escape them.

“Thou… Ah, you know I speak in jest. Don’t you, sister?”

“Of course. You wouldn’t be able to go through with it, anyway.”

Perhaps, Luna thought, this was the moment to stop reading and decide what to do with that book. A thought that her sister was quick to mirror.

“Is your curiosity satiated?”

Luna let out a hum. “To a degree. We cannot fathom what else the book may yet reveal. It would be incredibly droll were it to merely recount how the Nightmare did subjugate nation after nation for the rest of its pages.”

“That… may not be the case,” Celestia said, an odd inflection to her voice.

“What do you mean?”

“What I saw in it…” her sister started, but her words died in her throat. After a sigh, she continued. “What the book shows you seems to be… Structured in such a way to make you keep reading. With so many pages left, I’d guess there are still surprises left as well.”

Luna’s eyes focused on the slightly discoloured pages. “Mayhaps.”

“I try not to repeat myself, but you know we don’t have to keep on reading if you don’t want to,” Celestia tightened her wing around her. Warm. “Or you could take the book away and read it in private if you so desire.”

Her sister’s consideration was appreciated, even if she found her desire to be accommodating a bit overwhelming. “Worry not, sister. If there is more to know pertaining to the fate of the Nightmare, then we shall read ahead. If you wish to remain by our side, then we would greatly appreciate your company.”

Celestia smiled, and she returned it. With little else to say, she turned her attention back to the book. However, the smiles only lasted until she read the first sentence of the next part.

In the heart of Equestria, where Canterlot once stood as a beacon of harmony and enlightenment, lies a spectral ruin, testament to the cataclysmic forces unleashed upon it. The alabaster spires, once gleaming, are now shattered under the eternal night, their grandeur reduced to rubble and ash. The cataclysm, marked by a celestial clash, bore the hallmarks of an unparalleled confrontation, where reality trembled under clashing enchantments. The lingering unnatural residues amidst the ruins hint at a struggle of cosmic proportions, leaving Canterlot a sombre reminder of the perilous balance between order and chaos.

Luna felt her throat dry. This was more in line with the doom she expected to find in this fate.

“In the name of Harmony…” Celestia whispered. She looked paler than just a few moments ago. “Canterlot…”

She could feel Celestia shrink. Even in the realm of the hypothetical, her sister was deeply affected by the loss of the city and all those within. That’s just who she was, and she found it heartening. Less so was the tale in the book. It didn’t take much thought to figure out what had happened. Whoever chronicled the fall of Canterlot clearly had no knowledge of Discord’s chaotic magic. The real question was the specifics.

“It would make sense that the Nightmare wished to rid herself of any threat to her sovereignty. And yet, she clearly bit more than she could chew when she confronted the Lord of Chaos,” Luna said as she mulled over what she’d just read.

Celestia’s eyes were wide, her normally serene composure shattered. “I don’t understand… The book is supposed to show the reader what they most desire to read, and I don’t think you desire any of this.”

“No more than you do, sister,” Luna replied softly, the weight of the imagined destruction heavy in her chest.

“Then… Why is it showing you this?”

Truth be told, she had a suspicion, but nothing more. “Perchance the rest of the book will hold answers. At this point, stopping is not an option.” And before her sister could reply, she flipped a few pages and read ahead.

In the heart of Equestria, a cataclysm of unprecedented magnitude devastated the ancient gates of Tartarus, long revered as the ultimate prison for the realm's malevolent entities. The gates were shattered in a single, cataclysmic event, yet nothing emerged from the abyss. The infernal silence that followed was as unnerving as the destruction itself. Amidst the ruins, the sudden disappearance of Nightmare Moon added a profound enigma, leaving Equestria in bewildered anticipation. In the ensuing days, a malaise pervaded the land, weakening the ponies' innate magic and fostering unease. Thus, the shattering of Tartarus heralded a new, uncertain epoch in Equestrian history.

“Preposterous. Utterly preposterous.” Celestia had left her side almost as soon as she’d started reading and was now pacing around the room.

Her heart pounded as she let the words wash over her. The empty space beside her seemed to suck away what little warmth she still had. Even her sister’s bedroom felt oppressive with the heavy weight of Equestria’s fate, even in a hypothetical sense.

“Is it, truly?”

Celestia stopped mid-step, her eyes wide with disbelief. “How could it not? Tartarus holds some of the most dangerous creatures in existence. Without it, the balance of our world would be shattered.”

“And it seems it was,” Luna said, her eyes scanning the page again. “After its destruction, the magic of Equestria began to wane. The ponies felt it almost immediately.”

“Why would the book show you this?” Celestia asked, her voice rising. “What purpose does it serve to depict such horrors?”

Luna shook her head. “If the powers held within the book are as you described, then I wonder what part of me wishes for… This.”

Celestia’s steps echoed the turmoil within her. “If magic is waning, it means the very essence of our world is at risk. Not just Equestria, but all beyond.”

“There must be a reason why this book is showing us these events.” Luna turned back to the book, her determination hardening. “We must read on. No matter how dire these visions become, we must uncover the truth.”

In the wake of Tartarus's shattering and Nightmare Moon's vanishing, Equestria entered a melancholic decline. The celestial bodies resumed their dance with capricious autonomy, and the arcane energies waned. Unicorns' magic, pegasi's flight, and earth ponies' strength faded into memory, leaving a populace bereft of their celebrated gifts.

Without magic, Equestria faced unprecedented hardship. Ponies scavenged for sustenance, fields lay fallow, orchards withered, and prosperity became a distant recollection. Survival overshadowed lofty ideals, and higher cognition waned. The tapestry of Equestrian history, woven with magic and harmony, unravelled into a silent void. Thus, Equestria's end came with the quiet extinguishing of its once-illuminated path.

Luna surveyed the half filled page, knowing the rest would be blank. With a sigh, she closed the book. “A far more accurate title would’ve been ‘The Ruin of Nightmare Moon’, wouldn’t you say?”

Her attempt at levity was met with a deafening silence filled with hundreds of unspoken thoughts. Celestia seemed to be trying to make sense of them and voice them somehow. “That… That was…”

“Yes. It was.” Torn between wanting to throw the book into the deepest part of the ocean or burning it to a crisp, she laid it on the bed and looked through the window at the starry night sky.

She heard her sister’s muffled steps as she walked over. “Are you alright?”

The moon was beautiful tonight. “I think I understand now.”

“I’d appreciate it if you enlightened me.”

“The book proves I was a fool.” She extended a wing around her sister, bringing her closer into a tight embrace. “We are meant to rule together, big sister.”

Celestia sighed sadly before resting her head atop Luna’s. “I feel like a foal. What the book showed me seems so frivolous now.”

Luna pressed a hoof tenderly on her sister’s chest. “What the book showed you was something wonderful, yet bittersweet. A celebration of life, dear sister. But this?” She shook her head. “This is a chronicle of failure.”

“So… Are you alright?”

“We… I am. I feel I needed something like this.”

Celestia arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

“This serves as confirmation of sorts, if a grim one. There was never going to be a future had the Nightmare won.”

“Oh, sister…”

Luna gazed into the night sky, her eyes tracing the familiar constellations. “I needed to see this, to truly understand the consequences of my past actions. The Nightmare’s reign would have brought only ruin and despair. This book, in its twisted way, has shown me the value of our unity, of our combined strength and wisdom.”

Celestia tightened her embrace, her voice soft and filled with affection. “And it has shown me the depth of your remorse, the strength of your resolve to be better. We have both learned from this, Luna.”

Luna felt a weight lift from her shoulders. “Lessons have been learned. The only matter left would be what to do with the book.”

Celestia sighed. “Part of me wishes to see it destroyed, but…”

“But we don’t know what would happen if the magic within is unleashed,” Luna finished. They stood there in silence for a moment, drawing strength from each other. “The court archmages would be most qualified to study it and determine what other dangers the book may present. Then it can be stuffed in a box and thrown into Tartarus.”

Her sister chuckled softly. Good. “Perhaps. But let’s worry about that tomorrow,” Celestia said.

At that moment, both sisters simply enjoyed each other's company, closer than they’d been before.

“Do you understand your assignment, New Spark?” Celestia asked.

“Yes, Princess.” The pony before her kept his head bowed. The robes he wore showed his high rank as an arcanist. “We shall perform exhaustive analysis on this artefact to determine its true nature, as well as the extent of its powers.”

The Princess nodded. “Good. Remember to prioritise the safety of yourself and your team. I expect results but not at the cost of anypony’s mental well-being.”

“Of course, your highness,” New Spark replied. His head was still facing the floor. “I shall take my leave now.”

He rose, but never met the alicorn’s gaze. With efficient movements, he took the box containing the magical book, and made his way out of the throne room. The guards saluted him as he walked out, to which he only replied with a nod. He made his way out of the castle and into the streets of Canterlot, taking corners seemingly at random.

His smile grew as his eyes flashed green. He was sure his Queen would greatly enjoy this gift.