Luna sat brooding on her balcony, bathing in a mix of physical sunlight and mental despair. Her sister was gone, replaced by the paranoid creature that had guards ‘escort’ Luna to her tower after their meeting in the Garden.

I was doing you a favor. You had lost a pony you raised as your own flesh and blood. I understood what it was like to lose the one you loved most, how it could mentally destroy anyone, even us. I knew how you felt better than anypony, yet you saw me as naught more than an opportunist wanting to take full control of the throne. It hurt me when you accused me of once again trying to take Equestria over, so much that I couldn’t form the simplest words to defend myself.

Mentally Luna took a breather; sending a message of this length was difficult enough, but due to recent events something impossible to normal Unicorns was nearly as ungraspable for even the several millennia-old princess. Not to mention the fact that she would need to keep the message ‘out there’ until she was positive Celestia had received it, another daunting task. Luna waited several minutes so she could be positive she had the strength, and continued.

You didn’t believe I was capable of being healthy so soon after your mental assault on me, but you forget that both of us are immortal. You know we can store energy over our never ending lifetimes. Your attack was damaging, but duty forced me to dip into my reserves so our citizens did not need to worry about the lack of a sun.

I have so many Lunar guards because the night is not nearly as safe as the day, despite our best efforts to keep both the nocturnal and diurnal citizens protected. I wish things could be different, but—

Her message was interrupted by the high pitched creaking noise of her wooden door, obviously signaling that somepony had just entered the room. Believing her message to be explanatory enough, she 'sent' it.

“Princess Luna,” The stallion began as he came closer to the balcony, “My brothers and I are here to escort you to your trial, if you are ready.”

Did pouting and telepathy truly pass the six hours that quickly? A quick look at the sun’s (now) midday position told that mare that several hours indeed had to have passed without her noticing. For half a moment Luna feared that she had indulged in her memories again, but the logical part of her mind assured her that forgetting the memories were viewed would have been impossible, and the terror dissipated.

She didn’t need to become addicted again; it was difficult enough being cured the first time.

It took her a moment to realize that the guard was standing at attention, waiting in silence for the Princess’ answer.

“I do not know if I will ever be ready, but I will face my judgment all the same.” Luna told him with a blend of determination and finality in her voice as she began her first steps to the throne room.

*****

It was midday for the ponies of the mountain town of Canterlot, and the vast majority of them were out eating lunch with their friends or families. Merriment was in the air for the entire town… Excluding the two princesses looking down upon them from a cold, stone tower.

“He is responsible, bold, and smarter than most colts his age. I do not understand what frightens you so, little sister.” Celestia reassured Luna in her usual motherly tone.

“It is not for Dawn I fear, I know he will one day grow to replace me on the throne, and honestly I look forward to the break.” The younger mare sighed, wondering how to word where she placed her true fears. “It is… Difficult to explain, sister. My night apprentice, he wants more and more to be given to him, he orders our workers around like slaves, and once I think he used his magic to harm another pony.” Luna stopped there, not feeling the need to explain further.

“You could dismiss him from the apprenticeship.” Celestia told Luna after a moment of thinking. Her tone said that she wasn’t judging Luna, just being a compassionate sister, but all the same Luna felt like this was some secret test of Celestia to study Luna’s character.

“Why do you suggest that so quickly? Do you not think talking to him would work?” Luna asked, growing more suspicious of Celestia’s extreme idea.

“I assumed you already broached the subject with him.” She replied, her tone shifting to completely neutral.

Luna flushed with embarrassment at that realization. Of course talking to him should have worked, why had she not done that to begin with? “Thank you, sister.” Luna said as she left with a rush, wanting to speak with Sombra as soon as she could.

*****

Princess Luna had no idea where her four-guard escort was taking her or why she was being given a trial in the first place. Did Celestia really have to embarrass her sister, her only family, like that? It was either an ingenious or immature decision, but Luna couldn’t tell which reason the creature in her sister’s body would have chosen.

How Luna came to that conclusion she couldn’t tell, other than the gut feeling telling her that Celestia was dead. She wanted to grieve, to leave Equestria to its own devices whilst she flooded the world with tears for her fallen sister, but she couldn’t. The creature-that-was-Celestia would be left to control Equestria if Luna surrendered, and Luna wasn’t going to let that happen as long as she drew breath. The memories of the chaos that came from Celestia allowing Nightmare Moon to reign free still haunted Luna.

Before she could do much more thinking Luna caught a guard giving her an odd, almost confused, glance. He immediately stopped inspecting her after their eyes met and reddened a little, obviously embarrassed. Before either of them could say anything however, one of his squadmates butted in, “It looks like little Summer has a crush!” The two guard ponies not involved in the joke stomped and threw their heads up, laughing as the one called Summer blushed even more.

“It’s rude to mock your friends like that.” Luna said simply, with no idea why she felt the need to speak up. It didn’t help (or hurt) her trial in any way, all it did was waste time. Why interact with others when her fate was already decided?

Her outburst was met with tense silence from the guards, all of which wore a look of shock on their separate faces. It was as though she was some sort of outsider who was never expected to interact with others. It was a reception she hadn’t received since her visit to a Manehattan orphanage over fifty years ago, and that was likely from the awe they felt from meeting an actual princess, which was a rare occurrence in and of itself. Needless to say it was a reception she despised.

The silence went on unbroken, and the group began moving to their destination again. Luna wanted to say more, but the cold and calculating part of her brain was in command, and it didn’t care for emotions if they wasted time. She had to agree with herself, though. It was better to get the embarrassment of a trial over with.

*****

“Are you sure about this? It isn’t like our training sessions, this is the real thing. You could get hurt,” Princess Luna warned Dawn as he prepared for a journey to the Crystal Empire. It was a simple task; all he had to do was check on Sombra, who hadn’t written to anyone since leaving for the Empire. All the same Luna was fearful for her son. It was a long and cold journey north, filled with possibilities of death or getting lost.

“Princess, I promise I can handle myself, you taught me well enough to at least get there and back in one piece.” Her son said reassuringly.

Her son the modest and mature apprentice.

Her son the model citizen.

Her son who didn’t even know his heritage.

Her son who had no clue that he was going to rule Equestria.

Her son.

Luna wanted to cry. She was sending him to fix a mess she made, a mess that didn’t have to exist had she simply taught Sombra her telepathy spell. They wouldn’t have had to rely on a flimsy letter making it through the northern wastes to get to Equestria, and Dawn wouldn’t have to risk his life.

“Thank you Dawn.” Luna said as she hugged him, fighting back tears. Sounding almost needy, she asked, “You’ll be back as soon as things are fixed, right?”

“Of course.” He said as she released him, obviously a bit surprised by how attached she seemed. “I promise to be back as soon as I know Sombra is in good shape, alright?”

*****

The Royal Plaza was the same as it always had been: same stone grey floor, same bright red carpet leading up a staircase, same paint for the walls, the exact same banners honoring past heroes, even the silence. The biggest difference was that the hall was filled with ponies, most of which wearing the same exact expressions.

Hate. Fear. Confusion.

From the rich on the second floor to the commoners on the first, every pony in the room seemed to want her dead or banished. What had Celestia told them while Luna was stuck in the tower?

Luna felt herself falter a moment after feeling the stares of everyone in the room, whether it was the message to Celestia still on hold or simply being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of hate she received Luna could not tell. Her sign of weakness didn’t go unnoticed, and some began to mock her, breaking the tense silence of the room. Eventually more joined the mocking, and more, until the room was filled with nothing but words born of anger and disgust.

It wasn’t long before Celestia entered the room, silencing everyone the moment she entered. The eyes left Luna, if only for a moment. It was her sister’s turn in the spotlight.

Celestia said nothing as she climbed down the stairs and past the nobles (all of which were bowing), nor did her mouth move after she stood a mere two feet in front of Luna. All she did was stare.

As Luna looked into the eyes of what used to be her sister, she saw nothing but hatred. It wasn’t just meant for Luna, though. This husk of her sister only wanted one thing.

It wanted to watch the world burn.

Author's Note

I apologize for taking this long. A lot has happened to me recently, and I just had to put this to the side. I would like to thank Krampus, Thought Bubbles, and OddDreams for prereading for me. This was a long journey for very little product, and I thank you all for suffering through it with me.

Thanks to everyone for reading, and have an amazing holiday season!