"Enough! I grow weary of your words, why have you come before us with this repulsive offer! We shall never give command over the crystal empire to scum like you who would use it for their own financial gain! Begone and never return to this court or we shall send the into exile." The dark blue mare seethed from atop her throne. Yet another had set to corrupt her with the offer of great monetary gain. Another had failed. Luna was beginning to doubt that she would ever find a suitable ruler to take up the throne of her now departed cousin the princess of the crystal empire. She knew that her choice would effect all of Equestria if not the world, for the powers of magic and balance in the land were controlled and regulated through the legendary kingdom. The ruler of the land was directly tied to these forces so if she chose the wrong pony for the position than she would risk throwing the world into chaos. Possibly worse than the chaos inflicted on the world by Discord himself.
She shook her head to clear her mind, it had been months and still the right pony for the job had eluded her. Either the pony was to weak of heart or corrupt of soul to carry the mantle. Some sought it for power, others for wealth and fame. One had even come too her in an attempt to save their dying foal. But all had to be turned away or risk contaminating the elements of harmony. She walked down the carpeted walkway to the large double doors that led into the hallway, nodding to the guards who bowed as she passed. She made her way down the corridor to another set parallel and identical to the set she came from, save a large sun emblem embroidered on them, whereas hers had a moon. She stood by the door and waited for a few minutes, she was rewarded soon as the massive oak doors swung outward as bureaucrats and politicians poured out of the room. After many nods and curtsies she walked in and resealed the doors behind her. On the throne, similar to her own differing in the fact that a table was positioned for discussion was present at the current time, sat a stark white mare with a bubblegum pink mane hinting at multicolored at the ends.
"Tia, it is good to see you my sister. How went the meeting?" Luna asked smiling to her older sister by 4 years.
"Damn politicians talked us in circles for hours, never even addressed the issue at hoof. Bloody bureaucrats." Tia said foully, loosing her composure in front of her sister. She perked up a bit, "How went your interview?"
Luna sighed deeply "Another lusting after his fortune, sister I wonder if we shall ever truly find another to take the mantle."
Tia lost her hopeful expression, "It's a shame her daughter is far to young to take up the mantle. She has such a pure soul." She rose from her position on the throne and stretched her stiff limbs. "It is an exercise of will daily not to obliterate those fools."
"I understand sister, it's as if they don't even care about the nations good as long as they remain in the public's favor so they get Re-elected." Luna said sitting down. "I wish we could just ignore those idiots and do what was right, but we have to give the populous a voice. Even if that voice acts for its own interest."
Tia sighed as she removed the crown from her head and began to undo the facets on her leg-bands. "I just wish mom and dad were still here, they knew how to do this. Me? I'm lost." she said tossing the tiara to the ground reclining in the chair and putting her chin on her hoof. She closed her eyes and took on an expression of deep thought. Luna removing here crown from her head and casting her leg-bands to the side lay her head on her sisters lap and closed her eyes.
"Mistresses?" A warm voice rose the sleeping pair from their slumber. A tall grey earth pony stallion in a black suit stood with a calm smile on his face his hoof gently laying on Luna's shoulder. "Dinner has been prepared, if you wish to partake. If not I can draw a bath for your leisure."
Tia smiled "Sebastian, you truly indulge us. We will take part in dinner tonight, thank you."
Sebastian smiled, "As you wish mistress Tia. The table has been set with tonight's feast, a light salad followed by potatoes gratin and the main course chicken pot pie. I caught the chicken fresh this morning and the ingredients are fresh from the summer garden." Alicorns, being omnivores, regularly consumed meat. Now normally it would be impossible to find a butler that was willing and able to prepare meat in a dish. But Sebastian was no ordinary butler. He had served the Celestial family for generations, and considering the lifespan of Alicorns that was quite a long time. The dinner was marvelous, Sebastian was a master chef who was uncontested by even the most skilled chef, he could even make water taste better if he poured it.
Luna and Tia ate heartily not being able to take time during the day to stop for food. The salad was divine using a balsamic vinaigrette light enough that it didn't overpower the senses but caressed each one. The potatoes were cooked to perfection in a cheesy sauce that sent the consumer to heaven. Then they got to the pie, the gravy was delicious along with the fresh chicken and vegetables made it a luxurious experience. After dinner Luna felt full but not the point of bloating, desert had been a strawberry cake, of which Sebastian partook having an affinity for the berry. She wandered the corridors winding slowly upwards, she enjoyed the exercise after being trapped in that blasted chair all day. As she reached the top stairs she spied that Sebastian had drawn a warm bath recently judging by the steam rising from the surface. She made her way over to the tub noticing her royal plating that she had carelessly tossed aside earlier had been gathered and placed carefully upon the manikin, Sebastian's work no doubt. Luna noticed that the water had been scented with lavender as she slid into the porcelain tub. The heat seeped into her muscles taking with it the stresses and soreness of the day. Luna lay for a while content to relax in the warm water. Eventually she gathered the strength to grab a bar of soap from nearby and began to scrub, as she rinsed away the dirt of the day her worries flowed away with them.
This was due to the soap being brewed by enchanters with relaxation spells woven into the materials. After she finished washing she let the water drain and exited the tub. She stumbled on her heat weakened legs before finding her footing and slipping into a warm robe. She made her way to the balcony seeing the last of her sisters sun lower behind the horizon she gathered her power and began to summon the moon. Gradually it rose into the sky becoming the new beacon of light in the sky, tonight was a full moon so she made sure to decorate the sky with as many intricate constellations of stars and galaxies. Now she didn't actually move anything but the moon but by adjusting the night sky's light she managed to show off the rest of the universes splendor.
Satisfied with her work she plotted out the moons course and set in on the right path before leaving the balcony and retiring to her chambers. Exhausted she lay upon her lush bed and closed her eyes, no long after she drifted into sleep where she wandered through her subjects dreams banishing nightmares and aiding in the progress of wistful sleep. The morning came all to soon for the princess of the night. The sun poured in though the window casting its rays upon the sleeping mare. She avoided waking as long she could but eventually admitted she would never get back to sleep and rose.
She made her way to the dining hall where she ate from the arrangement of fruits laid out before returning to her room to don the regalia of a princess of Equestria. She made her way down to the throne room taking her time, in no rush to get back to the dull politics of the world and her depressing job of sorting through pony's to find one suitable for the throne. The day dragged on with the usual sort of corrupt business ponies and impure motives. She did come across one who seemed right but they proved to be to weak of heart. She was considering giving up for the day when the final pony came through the doors. Before her stood a bluish grey stallion, he had broad shoulders and a jet black mane with piercing red eyes and a long sharp horn. Luna had seen her fair share of stallions before but for some reason when she gazed upon this one she was awestruck. His movements pulsated with masculinity and power, his form and grace drew her in, and his eyes sent shivers down her spine waking thoughts she thought she buried in her teen years.
He strode forth like he belonged here, he glided across the stone before stopping before Luna taking a kneeling stance. Across his back he wore a simple yet elegant light blue cloak with a silver clasp. He stayed knelled for a moment before looking up at Luna. "Good afternoon Princess, I hope that I am not calling at a bad time?" he said in a voice that made her heart throb.
After a few seconds she managed to speak, "N-no we are glad that you.... came." She shook her head to clear it before continuing. "What is it thou seeks from us?" she asked.
Standing he continued to smile, "All I wish is a chance to offer my services to your cause, I heard you were in need of a ruler and I thought I may be able to offer my services."
Luna frowned slightly but quickly gained her composure, "Ah I see. And what is it pray tell that makes you think you could handle such a task?"
At this he became excited, "I may not have any formal experience in the subject, but ever since birth I have had a natural gift for commanding others. I have been a leader since as long as I can remember, in fact I almost became a politician but never found it to be very liberating. So instead I decided to become an actor, in fact you may have heard of me, I am Sombra."
All at once Luna remembered where she had seen him before, it had been a year or two ago that she had gone to see 'Phantom of the Opera' starring the rising star Sombra De'Regeiro. He was a skilled actor with a heart of gold, most of his bits he donated to different charities across Equestria. Luna herself had been awestruck by his singing voice and had gone to several of his performances before her cousin died from residual chaos magic.
"We have heard the name before." Luna said holding back a squeal. "We enjoyed thine performance in 'Phantom of the Opera'. However before we can continue talking of this we must test thine soul to see if thou art right for the position." As she said this she approached him and touched her horn to his. She instantly entered his mind, scanning though it she found strength and honesty in abundance, she saw him as a mighty ruler but also a kind and benevolent one. She knew instantly he was the right choice, but he lacked experience or training. These things were, of course, easily fixed with a little time and effort. Suddenly a plan came to her mind, a slightly selfish one but one that would also solve her problem with the crystal empire.
Celestia sighed inwardly as she listened to the politicians talk in circles bout nothing pertinent to the issue at hoof, she searched for an opportunity to bring them back on track until the door opened and in strode her sister. Surprised she looked up as she approached. "Please geltlecolts, may I have a moment alone with my sister?" The senators agreed after a little resistance and swiftly left the room, Luna approached her sister smiling and lay bear her plan. "I have found a suitable candidate for the throne, but he lacks experience. I plan on taking him to the empire to train him before handing the empire to him. I estimate the training to take around a year or more but after scanning his mind I think it will be worth it." Luna said.
"Are you sure?" Tia asked hesitantly.
"There is not a doubt in my mind, he is going to make a beautiful ruler."
"Sister! No!." Tia screamed as Luna fell to the floor, "Why, why did you take the corruption from the Elements of Harmony into yourself?"
Luna stared up at her sister weakly as black spots moved across her coat. "It was my fault Sombra became king, I was the one to fall for his ruse, it must be me that suffers the consequences. Sister, banish me to the moon with the element's. I don't want to cause any harm to you, after this is done and Sombra destroyed go to the farthest wing of the tallest tower in the crystal palace. Take what you find there and keep it safe, promise me this sister."
"I promise." Tia said tears streaming down her face as she gathered the power to activate the elements. The six orbs rose slowly of the ground and took formation around Celestia. "Goodby sister." and with that she banished her to the moon knowing it would be eons before she saw her again.
Tia walked the crystal steps to the top of the tower, Sombra had proven easy to combat with the elements but she knew that the empire would soon fade. Perhaps forever, so she walked with vigor to the top of the tower skipping every other step. Upon reaching the top she galloped to the end of the corridor and threw wide the door. There in the center of the room lay a crib, and inside, a foal resembling both her sister Luna and the traitor Sombra. It took her a long time to overcome her initial shock and think clearly, had she not promised her sister she would have left the foal there for his lineage, but she knew her sister would have wanted different and so with a heavy heart an mixed emotions carried the foal to safety, not long after the empire faded to nothing, to wait for the day a new master would surface to claim it once again.
