Brother's Lament

Chapter 2: The stars will aid in her escape

Time was nearing for the return of the night Princess, Celestia stood on the balcony of her private chambers overlooking Canterlot, her gaze focussing on the small gathering of lights in distance below the city on the mountainside that was Ponyville, the sun having set some time before while the moon rose above the horizon the image of a mare shown on the surface of the moon

“I remember a time when there wasn't an image of Luna on the moon.”

Came a stern voice behind her, she turned to see Warsong standing there with his armour still in the form of the golden bands and his sabre sheathed at his waist.

“The guards gave me some trouble getting into your room doing that thing with their wings. I put them both to sleep, do not fret they will wake up in time.”

Celestia shook her head with a smile. “You were always the only one who could sneak up on me, come join me on the balcony.”

The red stallion stepped onto the balcony next to the Princess, his eyes staring at the moon, the alicorn Princess glancing over to him.

“I see you’ve learned the modern dialect.”

The stallion looked towards her with a weak smile and a shrug “I was always a fast learner…” His smile slowly disappeared to be replaced by a stern look. “What happened to the world Celestia? Honestly...Things are just too quiet now; I never would have fit in with civilian life.”

“You were twenty when the war started and thirty four when it ended Warsong. I think it’s safe to say you spent nearly three quarters of your life fighting, maybe it’s time you slowed down. I made you the offer Warsong…But you never took it.”

The Princess replied, looking down at the ground beneath them, her eyes half closed.

“You know I couldn’t take that offer, I was forged in the fires of battle, just like this blade was forged by fire.” He replied drawing the sabre with his magic, holding it up against the moon, looking over the ancient symbols of old unicorn magic adorning it’s surface.

“I can’t, especially not now…Let us forget this subject and move on.”

“I agree.”

Replied Celestia as both of the ancient ponies gazed at the moon as suddenly the four stars surrounding the moon moved in towards the natural satellite twinkling out of existence along with the image of the mare.

“It has begun…”

Spoke Celestia as she turned from the balcony, walking inside a crystal orb hovering before her, glowing golden with her magic as it began to show the situation down in ponyville, Warsong following after her as he sat on his haunches across from her.

The orb showed the natives of Ponyville seeming distressed as she was not present when they opened the curtains.

“Oh dear I had forgotten I was supposed to attend.”

The Princess smiled in embarrassment just as a blue mist began to form on the balcony before it formed into the being known as Nightmare Moon.

“She hasn't changed a day since you sent her to the moon.”

Commented Warsong as his eyes narrowed at the image of Nightmare Moon as she made her proclamation to create an everlasting night.

“I’m going down there!”

Exclaimed Warsong as his magic began to charge into his horn, anger taking him over

“No! Stay your hoof Arthur Warsong Rhythm!”

Replied Celestia taking on a stern expression, her eyes hard and cold, every bit the ruler of equestria, she soon visibly calmed and looked into the orb once more

“I apologise for my tone, but you must let my student handle this.”

“It’s been a long time since anyone used my full name, a very long time, you must have a lot of faith in this Twilight Sparkle.”

Replied the crimson unicorn

“I…Have lost some of the attributes of the Elements of Harmony, mainly the one of Honesty. I couldn't let the knowledge of the war spoil the innocence of my little ponies. this is why I'm passing them on to my student and the chosen ones for the five other elements”

she explained as they both settled down once more.

***

Seeing the Elements of Harmony take effect once more and defeat Nightmare Moon, Celestia left to go to her little ponies, Warsong stood on the balcony, watching the sun rise once more at Celestia’s command, his gaze in the direction of old Canterlot as his thoughts going back to his battle with his brother on the peak of old Canterlot.

He left the solar Princess’ room after hearing of the two alicorns return to take breakfast not having eaten in a thousand years.

Apologising to the guards he put to sleep, he made his way to the royal dining room where Celestia now sat drinking tea as her younger sister sat across from her on the other side of the room, when he entered and saw Luna he visibly stiffened, having only known the Princess as his enemy, finding it hard now to see her as a friend, of course that was only half the reason he stiffened at the sight of her, the other half was because she was pigging out at the breakfast that was laid out for her

“You’re probably as hungry as I am…” Warsong spoke out gaining the attention of the two immortals, causing a shock of fear from Luna as she got up from her chair taking a defensive stance her magic lighting up on her horn

“Peace Princess, I am friend, not foe, despite our deeds in the war, will you accept my friendship?”

He said offering her his hoof the newly restored Princess accepting it before speaking up

“We are….Sorry about all that happened, the war crimes we committed…Please forgive us”

the stallion nodded and smiled

“This food looks good; I'm so hungry I could eat a dragon’s fill.”

Celestia smiled as she lowered her tea cup “Please, eat up I’m sorry that you couldn’t get something to eat after I released you Warsong.”

He shook his head as he took a seat in the middle of the table “It’s fine your highness please don’t apologise” he replied before he himself began to eat, after some time had passed he swallowed and decided to speak up

“I guess I wasn’t needed after all…Though…I can’t return to stone anymore…It was a one way ticket.”

The sisters remained silent for some time, Luna had stopped eating and Celestia gazed at the table but Warsong quickly reassured them

“It’s alright though, if I can gauge the potency of the spell I used correctly my brother should be returning soon, though I do not know when exactly…I believe it’s time that like you Princess Celestia, I take on a student of my own…Preferably one of my descendants.”

“I can help you out there, I have been keeping tabs on the Rhythm family, though…The only descendants you have are from your brothers side of the family”

replied Celestia gravely, Warsong looked towards Luna

“Is this true?” he asked as the night Princess nodded

“He took on a lover during the war; he must have lain with her before he fought you”

Warsong slowly nodded “What is the latest descendants name and where can I find them?”

“You can find him in Ponyville and his name…Is Bass Rhythm”