Blue

Princess Celestia restlessly paced in the throne room. The bright windows, the finely carved marble coloumns adorned with crystal pony symbols and sculptures, the soft, red carpet's touch usually soothed her. But not now. She was overwhelmed with the events happening in the near past. Rainbow Dash causing a large-scale catastrophe, reports of various crimes from the countryside, and now Shining Armor... Her thoughts wandered to Cadence, and felt tears well up in her eyes.

As if sensing her distraught, a dark blue shadow emerged softly behind her.

"Sister? Are you all right?"

Celestia swallowed her tears.

"No, Luna, I'm not all right. The country is eating itself. Ponies accuse their blue-colored brethren, crimes have been committed, of magnitude that this country has not seen centuries ago, and the nobles are at my door, demanding ridiculous decrees to be announced. And here I am, with the power to move the sun, or burn a whole village; a memory with many thousand years' knowledge, and I can't do a thing!"

Luna stepped beside her, and gently nuzzled the white alicorn, her whole person radiating care and affection for her sister. Celestia felt she needed her comfort as much as oxygen. Her sister's silent support shall soothe her fears and worries, showing that she's not alone. Not anymore.

"Let them in, Tia." Luna nudged her gently. "Hear them out, show that you care for them, but don't forget the pressing matters. We must act before the masses take judgement in their own hooves. That never proved to be... civilized."

Celestia smiled weakly at her sister.

"Thank you Lunny. And I'm sorry. Even though it's you who has not slept since yesterday, here I am, panicking like a filly, and relying on you for even the simplest of thinking."

Luna shared her smile.

"We could not be happier with our relation. Is that not clear?" she teased.

The elder alicorn playfully punched the younger's shoulder, and lit up her horn. Years of their service to the crown made it possible to create her own code language with the guards. This particular spell ordered them to let in her subjects. Sighing barely audible, she reminded herself that after she heard out the probably presumptous and prejudical petitions, she'd still have to deal with ponies taking judgement in their own hooves.

She paced back to her throne, motioning Luna to take her place. It was a hard battle with her sister, many debates and reasons brought up, but she finally managed to convince her to hold court beside her, on a same-sized throne. It has been set up only a few weeks ago. Strangely enough, her sister always insisted that her throne would be smaller. Celestia refused, knowing it would seem to ponies that she considered herself better than Luna.

The doors creaked open ("My, I've got to have somepony apply some oil to them!"), and a delegation of ponies entered. The one leading them was... Blueblood? No, that can't be. The stallion was unable to talk to anypony for more than a minute before alienating them. No, he must come first because he thinks he is more important than all of the others combined again.

Her assumptions seemed to prove correct, because the prince stepped forward, while the others stayed back. He came close to the throne, closer than the etiquette would prompt. His expression seemed dark, his mane was unkempt, and there were bags under his eyes. Celestia perked up. She has not seen him this... untidy since he was a foal. He bowed before them.

"Dearest Aunt. Princess Luna." the stallion nodded to her sister. It can't be helped. Luna was a stranger to Blueblood, there was never any chance for them to become closer. Frankly, neither of them tried that hard to meet the other. Celestia sighed.

"Welcome, dearest nephew. What is it you wish to discuss?"

The unicorn looked in her eye. She did not like it. It was like he was burdened with knowledge he'd rather forget—a look she often found on the face in the mirror.

"I came to clarify," he began, his voice strangely raspy, as if he shouted his normal tone away, "that I have absolutely nothing to do with the idea the others will present to you. I'd also like to point out, that I despise the very thought, and never wanted it to happen."

He looked at Luna, sadness overcoming his features, raising a hoof to touch her, but ultimately dropping it, and walking away. Celestia blinked. His nephew usually shouted loudly during court, interrupting speeches whenever he felt he should show his disapprovement. She eyed the leader of the group, who was now standing before her. His name was Golden Coin, a well-built earth pony with a yellow coat, orange mane and tail, and a shiny golden coin, reminding the princess of the currency in Saddle Arabia, as his cutie mark. He came from a long line of nobles, and was involved in politics since he was a colt. If he steps out, heads will roll, figuratively or literally.

"Our most benevolent Princess, the mares and stallions of the court have trusted me to present our urgent request to Your Majesty."

"Speak, Golden Coin. Tell me the wish of my council."

"With all respect to the crown, we request that you banish Princess Luna."

If there was a crowd, it surely would have began murmuring now. But since it was only the court and the princesses, there only was a deadly silence. Princess Celestia rolled her eyes. This again?

"I think we have discussed this at lengths, councilstallion Coin. Night Mare Moon is no longer—"

"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty." the stallion interrupted. "We do not wish that you banish her on account of her being Night Mare Moon, but that is indeed a part of it, yes."

"Then what is your reason?" Celestia asked, increasingly worried. Luna made no comment to this.

"We request her banishment because she is blue, therefore she is inherently evil."

Celestia was dumbstruck. Sure, there were rumors about this madness reaching Canterlot; threats and general distrust towards blue ponies, but this? Open, uncloaked colorism? In court, no less. She could consider this as high treason, put the whole council in jail for insulting Luna! Her gaze fell upon her sister. She saw not a speck of anger in her eyes, sadness rather.

"Your Majesty," the stallion continued, "the recent events have clearly shown all around our country that blues cannot be trusted. For our safety, please banish Princess Luna, so that her inevitable murderous rage would not harm Equestria."

Celestia's voice was as cold as ice. "Inevitable?! What proof do you have for this nonsense?"

The stallion did not seem the least bit fazed by her request. He produced a small book.

"These have been sent to all of the council members, Your Majesty. We investigated a bit, and it seems that they are distributed nationwide."

Celestia took the book. "By whom?"

"Everypony." Coin replied.

Celestia flipped the pages. They were full of a neat, unfamiliar hoofwriting. Waves of hate radiated from each spite-filled line. The unknown author made a very logical argument, citing historical facts and statistics, not leaving out the recent events that shocked Equestria. This book would surely bring chaos and disorder to any country, at least to it's blue residents. If this indeed was distributed nationwide...

Golden Coin, noticing that she finished skimming through the pages, cleared his throat. "Well? Are you convinced now, your majesty? Are you ready to protect the country, or should I bring up the two incidents where Princess Luna... failed to show up? The return of Discord and the changeling invasion?"

Celestia looked at him, not believing the whole situation. Individuals always came to her to ask for her sister's banishment, but the whole court?

"And you all just agreed to it? The whole council?"

"Well, most of us did, the few who did not, left. Oh, Prince Bl— I mean, Prince Redblood shouted the biggest amount of insults at us when we discussed the case. Thankfully, his stupid objections were overruled by the combined might of us reasonable court members. Quite interesting, if I may add, knowing that he himself changed his name to ensure he won't be disturbed because his former name."

Celestia stared at him. Anger built up in her. Why should she tolerate these insults to Luna any longer? In her long life, she was the closest to publicly execute somepony right then. Burning him alive would send a message to these arrogant, selfish—

"Dearest sister, if I may?" Luna spoke up softly, instantly filling Celestia with warmth and shame; shame for thinking such thoughts. Luna stepped forward.

"Our beloved subjects! The charges you claim are heavy, but your reasoning is wrong from the beginning. Nopony should be discriminated because of their age, looks, gender, weight or race. Your concerns are unneeded, for I would never hurt my precious ponies."

Celestia smiled. Luna's innocence should be shining as bright as the sun.

"However," Luna continued, "if my word is not enough for you, I understand. For a thousand years I have been nothing, but a shadow of myself, longing to expel daylight from Equestria. Sister," she said, turning to Celestia, her expression changing to serious. "bring forth the Elements of Harmony. The safety of our people demands that I am banished back to the moon. Even though I am innocent, only this will prove our confused ponies that I have nothing to do with this."

Celestia looked at her sister in disbelief. Luna seemed determined, and by Eternus' wisdom, there is nothing more stubborn than Luna when she had made up her mind, not even the whole donkey race combined together.

"I—"

"Do not worry, dearest sister." Luna smiled at her. "I do not blame anypony present for this. Adhere to your royal duties."

"If I might interrupt, we ordered the guards to retrieve the elements using the emergency retrieval method. They have already brought them here." Golden Coin said, pointing to a guardspony carrying a fine jewel box. Celestia, as in a trance used her magic to open it, and collect the jewelry inside— the Elements of Harmony. They started to float around her, whirling in a colorful dance, shining ever brighter. The ponies stepped back, only she and Luna stood near the throne. The dark alicorn nodded at her elder sister approvingly. The Elements began to glow.

Celestia could not take her eyes off her sister, who just smiled when the Elements finally emitted their trademark rainbow. As their magic enveloped her, she looked deep into Celestia's eyes, and formed four words with her mouth. "I love you, sister." The rainbow washed through her, making her fade away quickly, taking course through a window. In a moment, nothing remained where the Night Princess stood.

Celestia walked to the balcony, mustering all her self control not to drop her elegant, royal manner, and storm out the throne room. After what felt two eternities, she finally arrived outside, gazing at the sky. The sun was soon to be set anyway, her subjects will have to handle a longer night. She gathered her magic, and lowered the sun. Then, with mutilating dread, she proceeded to raise the moon. An all-too familiar figure adorned it's surface. Staring at it, she felt like a thousand years ago, the pain only stronger. This time, she shouldn't have been banished.

"Mylady." she heard the voice of the councilpony, "We should head back, to discuss the security measures used against blue scum."

A dangerous glint appeared in Celestia's eyes.

"Oh, I know what I'm going to do with them."