The Eclipse Civil War

A harmonic organism.

Once upon a time on a distant planet, there was a nation called Equestria. A magical land that was inhabited by colored talking ponies. There were 3 types of ponies: Earth Pony, Unicorns and Pegasus. They were led by a fourth species, known as Alicorns. It is said that they were so strong, they were believed to be divine beings. There were only 2 alicorns leading the harmonic nation. Celestia; The queen of the sun and princess of harmony. She has been ruling over Equestria for over one thousand years. She cares deeply for her subjects and would do anything to protect them from any harm; and the same applies for her little sister: Luna, queen of the Moon and princess of order. She ruled with her sister for hundreds of years, however, she grew envious on her bigger sister because of the ponies enjoying the sun more. Her sister was also envious of other minor things, but those were passing sentiments. Unfortunately,  this envy was different. It changed everything.

The memories of the tragedy possess an eternal clarity over the sun queens mind; every night, haunting her into the most pleasurable dreams. She reigned alone for one thousand years, offering the best to the weak and helping her subjects by all the possible means. Offering counseling for students and ruling the most prestigious school in the kingdom and encouragement to everypony who is down. But it seemed that there was no one that could care truly for Celestia. Inevitably, ponies found out about the act she did. And thus, demands for Luna to return and the current princess to take her place began. It caused great tension and sectionalism throughout not only their kingdom, but the entire world. As the world took the matter with greater care and debated with little pressure on Equestria (as this was not a pressing issue), the equestrians pressed on. They continued and continued until one day, the ponies who supported Luna fought them. From that day, Celestia formed a law that banned violent riots and sent patrols to ensure no fights or riots happen. Ponies became more anxious of Celestias decisions, and thus thinking the worst of her as the time passed. For the supporters of Luna, it was signal for change and great emancipation. For Celestia, this was the time she feared destiny will gift: The Prophesied Apocalypse of Harmony.

Will Equestria be the same again? Or shall it change into a ruined plain?

***

It was around 4 o’clock in the evening of a summer, there was a nice weather, in the capital of Equestria. Temperate, around 34 degrees Celsius, partially clouded, the rays of the sun piercing through the grey or white coat of the casually passing clouds.

On the balcony of the Capital’s highest tower, a tower which belonged to the Royal Palace, known as The Tower of Hope, because of its height, there was a white alicorn sitting on the white balcony which was surrounded by small fences  painted in gold.

Celestia, the Princess and Ruler of Equestria, of whose grace was unmatched, stood over the mosaic of a golden sun which included the a blue crescent moon in it, the whole shape being surrounded by a playground of colors of blue, white and golden. Her eyes glancing on the districts of Canterlot, assisted by a simple telescope on a tripod but with priceless lenses, checked on the movement of the ponies under her tower, within the royal palace quarters and outside. The entire city looked like an entire organism from there. Streets being the veins, The ponies being the blood, and the guards being the immunity system, which were checking for certain viruses or diseases…which recently, started to appear.

‘It looks like another simple day…’ She signed mentally.

Although today wasn’t special day, Celestia could hardly distinguish the difference between the agitation of a ‘normal’ day and a ‘special’ day. But, today after tomorrow will be more than just a special day… today after tomorrow will be the day she had to present herself in Ponyville, since that day has a unique characteristic that not even Celestia can ignore.. Today after tomorrow will be the Summer Solstice, the longest day of a thousandth year. That day will be the Summer Sun Celebration.

As Celestia glanced over the innocent ponies below her eyes, she felt that she was filled by something so corruptive and unpleasant only another pony would have felt: Envy. She glanced one more time, this time at her ‘statue’ Guards, she secretly called them that way because they always stand still as marble statues with golden armor.

Shortly after finishing her eye patrol, she lifted her heavy body on her hooves, and advanced to her personal chambers.

‘How long have I stayed like this?’ She asked herself, slightly surprised that she has lifted herself so heavily.

***

Knocking sounds loudly invaded her thoughts as she returned to reality.

“Your Majesty! May we come in?” a male, deep voice asked.

Upon hearing the door, Celestia was rushing to get in her composure.

“Come in.” The white alicorn commanded. She could identify his tone with ease.

“Your majesty, is everything alright? We have heard sounds.” A guard asked

“Everything is alright, don’t worry, thank you for checking.” Celestia responded kindly.

The guards nodded, leaving the sanctuary of privacy and closing the door behind him.

‘In truth… nothing is alright… What was I doing? Was I that loud?’.

“The deepest cut is not made with the blade of the knife, is made with the blade of words and actions…” She whispered to herself. For some reason, she has a déjà vu when she says this.

She attempted to move to her bed, only to be interrupted by a grey smoke coming out from her open balcony doors, converting itself into a seal.

“Spike has finally perfected his firing skills and magic…” Celestia said smiling, recalling the event when the purple little dragon accidently sent a Heart Warming Eve letter to the raging fire within the fireplace during a cold winter.

“Let’s see, what my faithful student did today?” Celestia said smiling, she always enjoyed when she received a letter this way. Twilight was mainly the only source of true happiness for her, and moreover… it showed that she was something more than just a loyal leader.

My Dearest Teacher,

My continuing studies about pony magic had let me to discover that something really bad is about to happen. For you see, the mythical mare in the moon is in fact, Nightmare Moon, and she is about to return to Equestria, and with her eternal night. Something must be done so that this terrible prophecy does not come true.

I await your good response.

Your Faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle

“Oh dear, Twilight…” Responded grimly, before immediately going to the table and start writing:

My dearest, most faithful student Twilight,

You know that I value you diligence and trust you completely…

But you simply MUST stop reading those dusty old books!

My dear twilight, There is more to a young ponies life than studying, so I’m sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year’s location: Ponyville. And I also have a more essential task for you to complete… Make some Friends.

You will have a carriage to take you and spike to Ponyville, tomorrow

Yours Sincerely,

Princess Celestia

PS: I have arranged that you will stay in the local library.

After re-reading the letter again,

“This should do. She can do it. But she mustn't know that what she found is true… she must discover it.”

“…you are a nightmare of the true moon…” Flashbacked on her mind like a ghost ever wondering in a haunted house.

“Nightmare Moon will return, and this time only my student can repair my burden.” She frowned as she sent the letter.

“Guards!” Celestia called.

“Yes, your majesty?” The guards responded while rushing in.

“Have it arranged that a carriage takes Twilight Sparkle, my student and her dragon from the Canterlot royal library to the Ponyville local library, tomorrow in the morning.”

“As you wish, your majesty. Anything else?” The guard asked.

“No, this is enough.” Celestia responded.

“As you wish, Your Majesty.“ The guard nodded, leaving the vicinity.

She looked at her hooves, thoughtful of the future ahead of her.

“I should start preparing…”

***

As hours passed, Celestia lowered the sun…and raised the moon… Filling herself with sadness, and utter disgust of the action of that white alicorn who banished her sister to the moon. How could she do that? After she raised the moon to its proper position and stars sprayed themselves on the sky, 4 particular stars surrounded the moon.

“The stars will aid her escape…” The princess whispered.

Celestia glanced over the capital of her nation. She saw a playground of lights, sharing and lightening the majority of the city. Ponies still walked, but in less numbers, and guards increased in number, as well as the number of patrols. Most of the viruses appeared at night.

She signed heavily, there were less than two days before the grand event and she knew what will happen. And only a her special student can do it, only her protégée can stop Nightmare Moon from throwing her nation and innocent ponies into victims of the curse of envy.

She slowly drifted towards the only source of possible relaxation which was used as a tool in the time of the host of one of the most blissful actions ever… the bed. As she took down her golden necklace, and put it in the wardrobe. As she took down her shoes of her same color putting them near her bed. The golden tiara, decorated by precious jewels and marking it as the symbol of authority in  Equestria, was put in a safe. The safe that was made of secret materials and also enforced by Celestias strongest possible magic. She removed her eye lashes and advanced tiredly towards her savior.

And as she entered her bed, she made herself comfortable, and stared at the moon with a Unicorn head on it, the orb being slowly invaded by those 4 stars, she ultimately said:

“I’m sorry…”

***

Between the stars that sprayed the night.

Far beyond the moonlight.

Beyond the planet which inhabited Equestria.

Beyond the massive, spherical, locked cage, with the key on the lock.

A comet passed… changing its course dramatically away from the planet…