Chapters As Celestia and Luna finished their meeting with the various nobles and dignitaries of Canterlot, the sun was lazily hanging above the horizon. The two regal sisters looked like they always did in public.
Celestia wearing her snow-white dress gown that hung curiously a few inches above her slippers. Her wings tucked in behind her back, giving her the appearance of an angel, while her hair hung near her left shoulder, partially hiding her cutie mark. Even though she looked like she was barely exiting her twenties, her centuries of experience gave her a sort of motherly look. Which is one of the reasons why her subjects found it easy to approach her, even though she had a couple of feet on them. She's normally quite the contrast compared to her younger sister Luna.
Luna looked like she was barely twenty-one, she wore a long sleeved night-blue shirt that had a long, silver stitch down the middle, the small unstitched part was tied in place with a belt around her waist, the crescent moon as its emblem. Another belt accompanied it, holding in place a dueling sword. She wore dueling pants that matched her shirt, but fed into her black boots that met mid-shin. She had a small black cape that hung in place over her shoulders and around her neck, forming a laced collar. Her shirt itself fed into black gloves that almost met at the elbows. The only thing that showed where her cutie mark is came from her right ungloved hand, showing a crescent moon on the back of it.
Luna, of course, insisted on dressing like this even though it hadn't been used since the renaissance, and of course, Celestia allowed it, but that was much to the discomfort of the nobles. Most of them felt intimidated, even scared that at any moment she could revert back into Nightmare Moon and cut them into ribbons.
"Celestia, this is an outrage, we would not dare overthrow you!" Luna argued.
"Oh don't worry dear sister, they'll get used to your preferences eventually."
Both were walking down the hall towards their rooms, still arguing about the many diplomats. None of the many maids and butlers were in the hall, knowing all to well not to interfere when the two sisters fought. They remembered the last time that happened, the poor maid was shocked half to death.(literally)
"So what if they don't like our outfit, this is what we wore all the time before our banishment. You used to wear the same thing."
"That's exactly the point dear sister, a lot has changed since that time. There has been no need to brandish a weapon for the past six hundred years. You really do look out of place compared to everyone else."
"I might look ready for war, but as Lady Justice as my witness, I shall prove them wrong!"
Celestia raised an eyebrow in confusion at her sisters statement.
"Lady Justice?"
"Why you must certainly know, the tail is older than the tale of our very own mother." Celestia just kept her look of confusion. Luna just sighed. "seriously sister? Being the older sister, I thought you would have heard." Celestia didn't change. "Very well, we shall tell you about her." She reached into her shirt and pulled out a small female wooden figure. In one hand, she held a sword, and in the other, she held a pair of scales. Her body was covered in a plain robe, and her eyes were covered by a blindfold.
"she was originally a peasent raised as an aristocrat in ancient Roam. She decided to attend a trial one day, curious as to how they worked. What she found horrified her, she saw a clearly innocent man sent to the gallows because he hadn't paid an unfair tax to a wealthy landowner. After that she saw an aristocrat share the same fate because he was viewed as a political threat. She spoke against all of this, but in the end....." Luna turned to look at her sister, confirming Celestias shocked expression. "she was met with the blade of an assassin. They found her in a dark alley wearing a bloody robe, blindfolded. She never had an investigation. When the next unfair trial took place, she appeared with the same blindfold. A sword in one hand, a scale in the other, her robe had become white as snow. She slaughtered every single person in the jury and the judge. She walked to the accused person and said one word."
"What did she say?" Celestia asked curiously.
Luna looked at her sister with a soft smile. "Innocent." Luna looked out one of the many windows and gazed at the moon. They had been standing in front of Celestias room for a good thirty minutes or so. "Since that day, all trials have been unbiased and fair, justice condemning the guilty and pardoning the innocent. Statues of her can be found in almost every single courtroom in Equestria."
"I see sister, I shall look more into this more tomorrow, but in the meantime, goodnight Luna." Celestia said as she opened her bedroom door.
"Good night to you to, sister. We shall see you on the morrow." And with that, Celestia shut her door, leaving Luna in the hall.
Celestia did her normal routine before going to bed. She brushed her hair, teeth, and slipped into her night gown (even though it looked exactly the same compared to her normal dress gown). After letting out one last yawn, she set her head on her favorite pillow, and slipped into sleep.
Celestias senses were met with horrible sensations. She opened her eyes and was met with a never ending abyss. She was sitting in an old, rotting chair. In front of her stood five hooded figures. From left to right, there hoods were colored silver, green, orange, red, and blue.
Even though she didn't recognize them, she felt scared of them. The first one to speak was the silver figure.
"Well, well, what do we have here my siblings? A god is it? Why Celestia I thought you would never see us again. What do you four think we should do?"
"I want her crown, it is the definition of royalty and wealth."
"I say we hold a feast to commemorate this occasion."
"I say we burn her for her ignorance and piss on the ashes."
"I say we just stop and end everything."
Celestia was able to bury her fear and ask one question. "Who are you?"
They all just laughed, except for the blue one.
"why don't you recognize us?" They all said in unison as a dirty red curtain closed in front of her. "We are your inner demons, and we're here to deal justice to you."
"The envious person grows lean with the fatness of their neighbor." ~Socrates
When the curtain opened, Celestia was back in her bedroom. She was standing in the middle of her room, but she wasn't at the same time. She could see......herself lying down on the bed, gazing out the window. She didn't understand any of what was happening, but then it dawned on her.
"This is impossible, this is th-"
"The day after you banished your dear sister."
Celestia jumped at the sudden intrusion. She looked to her left and saw the silver figure standing next to her. She could see that he was wearing a theater mask twisted into a look of want, and desire.
"This is just a memory aged with time, we are just shadows in this world. This is just the first piece of evidence."
"What do you me-" she was cut off by the sound of laughing coming from her balcony window. She walked over to it and saw two sisters playing in the local par. She saw this and remembered the days she and Luna would do the same, feeling calm and relaxed at this scene. But these emotions were quickly replaced by by a feeling of disgust, longing, and want. The curtains were immediately surrounded by a golden aura, closing shut. "God damn noise, can't I have at least one moment of peace?" Celestia looked towards the bed and saw her past self holding up a hand completely surrounded in the same aura. Her eyes were completely red, tears still falling down her face.
"I see that its all coming back to you now, all the envy flowing from you in this very moment was so.....intoxicating. You never really lost these feelings, you just buried them."
"But how is this relevant? I just wanted my sister back."
"You really don't remember do you? Fine, I'll show you then." he chuckled. "It's the least I can do, this is the day of my birth."
The room flashed out of existence, and another scene appeared before the two. In front of them was another pair of siblings, although their clothes suggested that a couple hundred years had passed. This time it was an entire family enjoying their day under a tree in the royal garden, while Celestia stormed towards them. before she could get into their field of view, she was stopped by brown hand belonging to a certain two hearted individual.
"Let me go Time Turner! This is between me and them!" Celestia complained angrily, feeling nothing but disgust towards the family. Even though she knew that the family held strong diplomatic ties in southern Equestria, she still couldn't stop herself.
"But your highness, you can't just yell at every happy family that comes to stay at the palace. It's been over two hundred years since you....." he had to choke the words out of his mouth. ".....banished your sister."
Celestias face formed an expression of disgust at the mention of her sister. She didn't even want to be reminded of that day. "Never mention her name near me." Time Turner broke eye contact with celestia, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I know its hard for you to get over what you had to do, but yo need to let it go. You've done nothing but sulk around the castle for the past two hundred years, and frankly, you need to snap out of it. I know what your going through."
"You know nothing of what I'm going through!" She was about to raise her hand against him, when she saw his eyes. They looked older than Time turner, with a deep sadness hidden under a thin veil of joy he always wore. That same sadness had filled Celestias eyes for so long that she had forgotten to feel joy. " Maybe you're right, but I don't think I can ever forgive myself for what I did."
Time Turner put a consoling hand on Celestias shoulder, Motioning for them to go back inside. Everything faded back into a dark abyss.
"And just like that, you slowly lost your envy, but I've always been here. Waiting for the moment to reveal myself. Now it's time to show you who you really are."
Before she could react, Envy took out a red dagger and stabbed her in the heart.
Celestia woke up in a cold sweat, sitting upright in her bed. After calming herself down for a couple of minutes, she got out of her bed and started her daily routine. But something felt......off since she had awoken. She felt a void inside of herself. She thought it would go away if she ate something, but after breakfast the void still remained, but it had grown. I'm probably just still tired from a restless night of nightmares Celestia thought.
She proceeded with her daily routine of meetings, appearances, hearings, and other duties bestowed upon her and her sister. But throughout the day, the void seemed as though it only grew more and more with each passing hour. She couldn't figure out what had caused it until she and Luna walked down a busy street with their escort. They had reached the park, and it was the time of day when families were playing after work or during lunch. The first family she saw immediately awakened emotions she never wanted to feel again. Disgust, longing, want, and envy.
She started to get physically uncomfortable while they walked through the park. Once they left, Luna noticed that celestia relaxed once they left.
"Sister, what is wrong with thee?"
"Oh nothing, Luna. I'm just still just a little tired from this morning is all." Celestia said with a weak smile
Luna accepted her sisters answers, although she still worried about Celestia. During the entire day, envy waited in the back of Celestias mind, chuckling and smiling to himself.
"This is just too perfect."
"Avarice has ruined more souls than extravagance." ~Charles Caleb Colton
Like the previous day, both Luna and Celestia ended their final conference with the local nobles. And once again she started her routine before going to bed. She had thought that her feelings in the park were just a result of that wierd dream she had the night before. With her fears put aside, Celestia layed her head on her pillow and drifted on into sleep.
But like last night, she once again found herself looking at another figure in a black void. This ones cloak was a deep green, his mask twisted into a face of pure greed.
"I see my guest of honor is here."
Celestia frowned. "I'm guessing your greed aren't you." The figure just nodded. "Well I'm sorry to tell you, but I have never been greedy, so you might as well leave me in peace."
Greed just laughed as the void changed into a new memory. It was an image of Canterlot on a calm, cloudless night. The streets were completely empty, the street lights giving off a soft glow. The shops large front windows had all there wares displayed, giving a sense of what year it was. The calmness was interrupted by a lone figure on the streets, propelling herself forward with her large, angel like wings. Celestia then realized who the figure was as she phased into one of the shops.
"T-that's....."
"You?Why of course dear Celestia, how else do you think the gem and gold reserves became so large." He paused so he and Celestia could watch the memory play out a bit. Celestia in the memory phased out of the shop, a small leather bag in hand. She wore a black hood that connected to a black outfit that resembled Lunas, but it had a couple of major differences. The torso had a bag strapped across the front, while her belt held multiple pouches, bulging with stolen goods. "Envy goes hand in hand with greed, don't you agree?' Celestia watched as her past self pulled out a single violet gem. Her eyes filled with an insatiable hunger as she turned the gem around in her hand, greedily chuckling to herself.
"You'll go nice in a crown, wouldn't you?"
She put the gem into its own pocket and silently flew towards the castle. The scene changed into the large chamber that housed a single throne, with the princess listening to a couple of aristocrats complaining about a new tax that exclusively targeted them.
"Dear Princess, why are we the only ones affected by your new tax. Why not the poor? Why not the commoners? Why only the wealthy?" One of them asked.
"I put forward the tax because we are in an economic crisis because of the supplies sent to Germaney to help the civilians recovering from the civil war they just experienced." All the aristocrats became more infuriated at this response. Their anger going over a boiling point as they started sputtering out excuses and insults until Celestia couldn't take it anymore. "Enough!!" All the aristocrats went silent as they looked in shock at their solar monarch. "I will not listen to you squabble about your vast riches being used for the many instead of the few. "This meeting is over, I expect your next payment at the end of the month. Guards, escort them out of the castle please." The two guards at the door walked over to the group with wings flared, escorting them out.
Celestia stood up and walked out of the throne room and into the adjoining hallway. As she walked towards her goal, the guards stationed at every door saluted her as she passed, before reaching her goal. She stood in front of twin iron-wrought doors that had depictions Luna and Celestia raising the sun and moon. It had a single lock an the door, with two heavily armed guards at the sides.
"Will you be long, Princess?" One of the guards asked.
"I'll be here for the rest of the day, both of you are relieved until I raise the moon and return."
Both guards bowed and walked off, idly talking about the days events. Once Celestia saw that the two were out of sight, she took out a small key from her pocket. It had a depiction of a small raven within a a crimson sun. It was the key for the door, and for good reason.
After turning the key and opening the door just enough for her to squeeze through, she locked it behind her. The room itself, from corner to corner, was filled to the brim with gold, precious jewels, thousands of bits, and in the center, a single phoenix egg stood on a marble podium. Celestia just smiled as she looked across the room and saw her spoils, in one corner she even had her disguise from the night before.
"Wait this isn't right." Celestia said as she broke the silence between Greed and herself.
"What do you mean 'this isn't right', this is your memory. Memories don't lie."
"That is not.....that can't be..........it isn't the same phoenix." Celestia stammered out.
:What do you me-" Greed then realized what she was talking about. "Oh so you don't even remember how you 'obtained' your pet. How......unfortunate."
The scene faded to black once again, except for the phoenix egg. Celestia tried to remember the actual way she found Philomena. She knew that it was a day she could never forget, a warm summer day, a quaint little town, an unsuspecting phoenix nest-
Celestia stopped trying to figure it out and remember how she found Philomena as a realization dawned on her. She looked up to see a chuckling Greed, knowing her realization.
"The mind tends to create memories in order to repress the original."
He continued to chuckle as Celestia stared at him. After a while she started to feel an uncomfortable warmth, but after a while it grew more and more with each passing moment. She started to cough as if there were a fire, and then she saw it. The phoenix egg combusted and was sending small sparks everywhere. She looked up to Greed, only to see in his place a black liquid that descended upon her. When it made contact, it felt extremely slippery and heavy. Then, a single spark floated towards, as she realized what the black substance was.
"Envy is the spark, while Greed is the fuel."
This is the only thing Celestia heard before the spark touched her, igniting a burning hell.
Celestia woke up in a cold sweat, completely drenched in fear. She looked at her arms for any signs of burns, but found none to her relief. And after calming herself down, she went through her routine as always, and exited her room. On the way to the dining room, she saw a guard bragging to another one about something. when she approached them, the two immediately stiffened and assumed their guard positions. Celestia gave them a warm smile, signaling them to relax. She was about to keep walking but curiosity got the better of her.
"I was wondering, what were you two talking about?" she asked.
"Just this new watch I got yesterday." He showed his wrist to Celestia, a small twinkle appearing in her eyes. "Twenty-four carrot gold, it was a present for twenty years of out standing service."
Celestia smiled warmly at him, shaking his hand to congradulate him.
"From the depths of my heart, I hope you've enjoyed all those years."
After saying goodbye to the guards, Celestia continued walking towards the dining hall, not noticing her clenched fist. When she reached the door and went to turn it, she saw her fist and slowly opened it, revealing a gold watch inside of it.
"Gluttony is an emotional escape, a sign something is eating us." ~ Peter de Vries
The rest of the day had gone horribly since the first meeting. Every time something glinted off of a watch, necklace, or anything worth money got Celestia into a barely containable fidgeting all day long. Every single meeting always had that one diplomat or guard with the shiny object that caused Celestia to look at the object longingly. At around the final meeting, Celestia had already taken five watches, eight rings, and about three sets of earrings without anyone or herself noticing. Even when the meeting ended everyone was more uncomfortable around Celestia by now. Her hair had become a bit of a dull pink, her skin was a few shades paler than normal, and she overall looked tired. By the time Celestia had gotten out of her throne, she was the only one left in the room, well except for the worried duelist waiting for her at the door.
"Sister, are you all right?"
"Yes, Luna. I'm fine." Celestia walked down the hallway, with her stolen goods hidden under her disheveled feathers. "I'm just a little tired. It has been a long day for the both us of." She walked over to her door and was about to close it when she felt Luna staring at her. "What is it Luna?" Celestia sighed.
"Tia, you've been a little 'off' for the past couple days. I think you deserve a break from your duties." Luna stated matter-of-factly.
"Luna, for the last time, I'm per-"
"No your not. Tomorrow barely has any meetings anyway, so I think all the diplomats would understand if you took a couple days off."
Celestia was about to argue that she was perfectly fine, but then remembered the two entities she had met so far, constantly regretting the next one she would have to face. Celestia shrugged and gave in to her sister.
"Alright Luna, I'll take the next couple of days off. Only for you." Celestia weakly smiled at Luna before closing her door and collapsing onto her bed. "Lets just get this over with." Is all Celestia muttered before fading into sleep.
Celestia found herself again in the same black void that she had been visiting for the past two nights. Her eyes fell onto the next figure that she would be hating for the rest of the night. His coat had a slight sickly orange mixed in with a dirt brown. His mask had a satisfied grin on it, while his cheeks were slightly plump.
"We meet again, mother."
"Gluttony, I presume? You truly do look disgusting." Celestia said, scrunching up her nose in revulsion.
"You catch on quickly, Celestia." A scene flickered in the background, causing Celestia to shield her eyes before another night in Canterlot played out. "Let's see if you remember this."
A small bar in the middle class district hummed with life, giving off echos of laughter and bets from the inside. Celestia and Gluttony were pulled through the doors and into the bar, which on any other night would be tending to a weary knight or scholar from the troubles medeval Equestria offered. But this night was very different. The tables that were normally lined up in rows were haphazardly pushed to the corners of the building. The only table that wasn't moved was piled with shot glasses, a pink haired woman drunkenly slurring her words on one side, while a black haired knight was practically falling off the table. After downing another drink, the knight looked slyly at his competitor while he put the next shot up-side-down.
"That's twenty-three shots, Sunny Days. Think you can top that?" The knight said, trying not to slur any of his words.
"You wish, Shteady Shwords." She said before face planting onto the table.
"Looks like you lose, girl." He grinned while the entire crowd cheered, but that quickly died down when Sunny Days grabbed a nearby bottle of Vodka and downed thirty shots worth before face planting again. "Crap." Is all he said before falling back in his chair.
"Drinksh on me!" This caused the most cheerful of crowds to rush to the bar, while 'Sunny Days' ordered another bottle of Bourbon before passing out again.
"You were quite the glutton in the days afterwords. I enjoyed the shot contests personally." Gluttony chuckled as the scene changed to the same bar, but it had aged considerably, looking about a few hundred years older. Only one figure was in the bar. "You really let yourself go when you started drinking." The memory before them showed a Celestia that looked like a ton of bricks had hit her. "I did wish that this could've continued, but all good things must end."
One of Canterlots guards walked in and straight towards Celestia. She gave the guard a poisonous glare before returning to her drink, slamming it down like a glass of water.
"Ma'am, I know who you are. I suggest you come back to the castle with me." He got a hold of one of her arms before getting spat on. He rubbed the spit out of his eyes before sighing and sitting down next to her. "You missed three meetings already, Princess. I suggest you come with me."
"Why should I? All the diplomats only care about how they feel, never about how the ones that protect them feel." Celestia sniffled a bit. "They've even demonized 'her'. Making her into a boogeyman for their children."
"You mean Luna?" Celestia looked up at the guard, curiosity asking a question in her eyes. "I know about her,yes. Do I demonize her, no." He took of his helmet, revealing a large burn on his face.
"When I was about ten, a couple bandits raided my village, setting it ablaze. My house was one of the first to burn." HE ran a finger down his left cheek, wincing at the pain that caused it. "My brother got me out after it happened, although the damage had already been done. He carried me into the forest, but he didn't carry me that far into it." He picked up an arrowhead from a necklace that hung on his chest. "Right through the lung, started coughing up blood when the moon was at midnight. It was my only companion before villagers from the next town over found us." He put his helmet back on before standing up again. "I know what it feels like. Please, let me help you." He cautiously stuck out a hand, before being rewarded with a soft smile from Celestia.
"I think it's time to go sober for a while."
The void swallowed the scene again, leaving only Gluttony and Celestia in the blackness. Celestia looked evilly at Gluttony, tears going down her cheeks as she remembered all the years wasted in sorrow and self pity.
"What are you going to do now, shade?"
"What do you mean, mother?"
"I mean the tor-" Celestia fell knee-deep muck that suddenly appeared. It started to slowly swallow her as she tried to get free. It was the color of bile, and it gave off the same smell. The last thing she saw before the blackness again was Gluttony gorging himself on the muck.
Celestia once again woke up with a cold sweat, looking around for Gluttony. Once she calmed down, she walked out of her room and proceeded towards the banquet hall, insatiably hungry. She sat down at her usual spot, asking for some tea before giving her orders to the chef.
"What would you like today, Celestia?" One of the waiters asked.
"Hmmmm......." Celestia thought for a few moments before giving her answer. "Everything."
"Okay then, we'll just....... wait what?!"
"I said everything. Which means everything."
The waiter walked nervously back towards the chef, telling him Celestias order.
"This is going to be a long day." Said the chef before putting on a serious face.
"You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger." ~Buddha
During the entire day, Celestia had done nothing except eat. Or from the waiters perspective, gorge herself on the now dwindling food that she had consumed without a moments notice. She had eaten everything from the smallest of salads, to the largest of meals that could easily have fed a small town. By the time the sun had set, the kitchen had been completely depleted of food from Celestias eating.
"Ah it looks as though it is night. Thank you gentlemen, for attending to me."
And with that, she bowed to the waiters and chef out of thanks, and left to go to bed. She had walked for about a couple of minutes before being stopped by her sister. By the look of total exhaustion from Luna, Celestia could tell that the day court had given her an exhausting day because of her absents. And now she would be off to take care of the night court.
"Had a rough day, Luna?"
"You wouldn't believe, dear sister. They just kept asking for you all day. I swear, if they can't see you within Ten feet of the throne, they'd start getting search parties together and look for you." Luna sighed with a hint of defeat in her voice.
"It sounds like you need some rest after today."
"I know, but I'm more worried about you."
"Why are you worried about me?" Celestia looked at her sister with a confused frown.
"Well, for the past couple of days, you've been acting a bit.......out of sorts." Celestia was a little surprised at this information. She thought that she was able to keep her normal appearance up, barely being able to keep her inner demons from surfacing their desires. "You've been showing a lot of different emotions for the past couple of days. First their was what happened in the park, then when we held court yesterday, you looked as though you were hiding something, then today the chef told me that you didn't just eat for the entire day, but that you ate all of the food on the menu."
Celestia started to feel a bit annoyed at her sister for trying to help her. She didn't want any ones help, she could deal with her own problems herself. Even though she knew Lunas heart was in the right place, she didn't want her to see what she's been dealing with for the past couple of nights.
"Look Luna, I know you want to help me, but I can deal with my own problems." Celestia approached her door and stepped inside. "We all have to deal with our own problems, so just drop it."
"B-but sister, I j-"
"I said drop it." Celestia gave Luna a venomous glare before closing her door, leaving a disappointed Luna standing in the hallway.
Celestia had started walking towards her bed when she started to become dizzy. The sides of her vision began to darken and blur as she stumbled around her room. fell to the floor and started blacking out. She felt her anger starting to surface as the darkness took over her vision.
"Ah Celestia. I see that you started your little party of anger a little early, and you didn't even invite me. For shame, mother. For shame." Her vision blackened to the void once again. "But since I'm here now, let's get this show on the road."
Celestia found herself staring at the one memory she never wanted to see again. The very cause of all her envy, greed, gluttony, and anger. The day Luna had become Nightmare Moon. She looked angrily at the blood red figure, looking through the angered scowl on his mask.
"This day always gives me chills of complete joy every time I watch this." Anger shuddered at the memory playing before them. "But of course, you would hate this day."
The two figures observed the original castle that once held the solar and lunar diarchs. But unlike any other day, the moon hung stubbornly in the sky, refusing to move for the sun to rise. Inside the throne room stood to winged figures. One figure had wings as black as shadows, wearing silver armor adorned with a crescent moon. With her sword drawn, she pointed towards a figure sitting on a throne, her dragon like eyes glaring at her opponent.
"You've seen how they treat not just me, but the night and my subjects." A midnight blue aura started to surround the black winged figure, looking as though a tempest of stars were consuming her. "And since they won't accept the gifts I have given them, I shall force them to appreciate me."
The sitting figure just sighed at her sisters statement. She ruffled her wings a little and gave the kindest of smiles, one that only a sister could give. "Luna, are you sure about this? If you give our subjects more time, I'm sure they'd gr-"
"They are not our subjects, the sun loving peasants are your subjects, Celestia. " Luna stepped closer towards her sister, the tempest of stars around her growing even more violent with each step. "My subjects are those that are considered outcasts in the eyes of your subjects. The ones that could bring new ideas to this world, or rethink old ones." Gradually, Luna had made it to the throne, her blade mere inches from Celestias throat. Her voice had even become filled with hate and malice by the time continued speaking. "My subjects don't need the infernal sun. Instead, they choose to embrace their nightmares and praise my moon. They've chosen to follow Nightmare Moon. They've chosen me."
Celestia gave her sister a sad an defeated frown, knowing that Luna was far too gone, and only pure hatred was left. This filled Celestia with hate. A burning desire that whispered to her. It told her a punishment would be fitting. "Then you leave me no choice Luna." Celestia immediately teleported behind Luna, along with six trinkets that would aid her. Two gems garnered each wrist, a single necklace represented generosity, and a crown layed across her head. "I, Celestia, keeper of the sun and day, hereby strip Luna, keeper of the moon and night, of her rights as a monarch." A blazing red flame forced itself out of each of the gems, surrounding Luna in a tempest of light. "I have also decided that you shall serve your punishment by means of banishment to the very thing you protect." The inferno sky rocketed towards the moon, creating a column. "For one thousands years, you shall stay on the Lunar surface, thinking of the turmoil you put our subjects through for three months." A final scream echoed through the hall as the flame brightened the sky for a brief moment, before revealing the silhouette of a woman on the surface of the moon.
[CLAP] [CLAP] [CLAP] [CLAP]
"Now this memory has always been such a happy one for me. The way you banished your own sister to her moon, such irony. Or how you were filled with so much hate that if she wasn't your sister, the flames would've done more than banish her."
Celestia was now burning with rage.....literally. A red and white flame emanated from her very being, threatning to destroy everything it touched. She tried moving, but an unknown force kept her restrained.
"Awww, is the pyromancer getting angry? I thought that was my job." Anger laughed at his own comment. "You truly are a pathetic soul, you know that? Maybe if you let your sister kill you a thousand years ago, you wouldn't have become so soft. You're worth less than dirt."
Celestia lashed out with the fire that surrounded her, scorching Angers mask. He clutched his mask in agony as if it was his actual skin, while Celestia felt the force restraining her weakening around her. She continued her assault on her tormentor, causing more and more pain as her restraint became weaker.
With one final burst of flame, she lashed out at Anger, and freed herself from her invisible captor. Now free, she lunged at the burning figure. Her rage had gone past its boiling point, causing the flame surrounding her to become a red and gold Inferno. With her hands around his neck, Celestia could here Angers rapid short breaths through his deformed mask. A grin formed across her face as she saw the life draining from his eyes, feeling her grip tighten until he let out his final breath, and darkness embraced her once again.
The first thing Celestia noticed when she woke up was how cold it was. Even though she was on the floor, the middle of summer always left her room with a cozy warmth that kept everything perfect. She got up on her feet and generated a dull flame around her which quickly acted like a jacket against the cold. Celestia walked over to the window to see her sisters beautiful summer night, gazing at the........snow blanketed Canterlot?
"Why is there snow? It's the middle of July." Celestia moved a piece of her flame over to her fireplace, causing the entire room to be bathed in light. A thin layer of dust covered everything she could see. The only spot that was clean was where Celestia had been on the carpet. " How long have I been here?"
"For so very long, sister."
Celestia jumped at the unexpected voice. She looked around the room to see where the voice had come from, until her eyes fell upon a solitary corner of her room. What appeared to be a shadow in the corner, was actually ethereal dark blue hair shielding its owner. As the hair receded, its owner came into view. She wore a parka as black as night that accompanied a pair of black combat pants and snow boots, while a sword hung from her belt. Even her face was covered with cloth, only revealing her dragon-like turquoise eyes.
"Luna, is that you?"
"It's been such a long time since I've been called that." She moved closer to Celestia, crossing her arms across her chest. "I'd say the last time you called me that was when you tried to banish me."
"What do you mean, tried?"
Luna let out a small chuckle. "Don't you remember? About a thousand years ago you tried using your pathetic elements to banish me to my moon, but they weren't powerful enough. I've been waiting for you to wake ever since." She drew her sword, aiming for Celestias neck. "And once you opened your eyes, I could feel that it was time to end this. To end you ."
Luna lunged at Celestia, trying to cut her sister to ribbons., but Celestia dodged each strike like it was nothing. Good thing she's predictable when angry, but why is this happening? Celestia thought. Her concentration was broken when she felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder and reflexively grabbed it. When she pulled her hand back, her palm was coated in blood. She looked over to Lunas now bloodied sword, in utter shock even though she knew her beloved sister was trying to hurt her.
"Luna, why are you doing this?" Celestia asked out of confusion and fear of her sister.
"Because of what you did to me with the elements. You showed me that no one deserves mercy." Luna ripped off the cloth that was concealing her face. No longer was it the face of a loving a gentle soul, but a gnarled and grotesquely scarred shadow of itself. "Do you know what the flame felt like when it touched me?! You wouldn't even be able to begin to understand when I'm done with you!" Luna brought her sword up,then brang it down like a wrathful god. It only met the palm of her sisters hand, shielding her face from Luna.
"Luna, I might not know what you're dealing with, but I can help." Celestia pleadingly asked.
"No you can't. You caused all of this, and for that, I hate you." Luna put more weight onto her sword as she glared at Celestia. "Ever since that night, I've had no sister."
At first, Celestia was saddened by what her sister said, but then started to feel a familiar fire within herself. Her flames started turning into a red and gold inferno, causing her wounds to cauterize and the sword to burn. Luna dropped the sword from the sheer pain, while Celestia could only feel one emotion while she picked up the sword........anger.
"I had no choice, you were out of control. The last thing I could afford to do was silence you right then and there because of what you felt. We were rulers, we are rulers. But you instead decided to keep the moon in place so our subjects could 'Appreciate your night'." Celestia used her flames to push Luna to the ground,holding her there with her sword pointed at her. "I had no time to deal with a a child throwing a temper tantrum. Look at what you've done!" Celestia gestured towards the window, out into the midnight snow. "Because of you, the country is in a frozen Hell." Celestia slashed at Lunas left eye, leaving a gash that started above it, and ended at her cheek. "And the only way for me to even salvage our land, is for you to die."
Celestia raised her sword, but was stopped when an icy cold feeling started climbing up her legs. She looked down and saw Luna, her Luna underneath her. Luna had a scared look across her face as she froze Celestia in place. Celestia tried to stop the freezing by melting it, but the ice just continued. By the time the ice reach her chest, several guards ha burst through the door, but were quickly shooed out by the last of Celestias flame. Before the ice reached her eyes, Celestia could only see red, and then darkness.
Black. That's all that Celestia could see, and endless ocean of nothingness.
"Hello?" She asked, only getting an echo as an answer. "Is anyone out there?" Still, silence.
Celestia didn't know what to do, but all she could do was walk. She walked for what felt like ages, going into a random direction she had chosen. She could feel her muscles screaming at her, begging her to stop and rest. But she tried to press forward, only to collapse on the ground, unable to move. Celestia just layed there, letting the silence that surrounded her envelope her, consume her, even bind her to an incoherent mind full of nothing. She didn't know how long she sat there, Celestia only knew of a faint sound that broke the silence, a sound she never wanted to hear again.
Her sister crying.
Celestia looked up to see a familiar midnight blue room, along with a blue haired teen crying into her pillow. The teen looked around to be sixteen or seventeen years old, she wore an extremely dark blue dress that had a slightly dirtied pair of blue wings covering her. She slowly picked herself up as she continued to stare at the past memory. Celestia moved over to her sisters bed, looking down at the still crying memory of Luna.
"Just like how I found you almost every night for a month, crying yourself to sleep." Celestia said as she tried to brush away a few stray locks of hair away from her sisters face, only for them to pass through her hand as if she were nothing.
Celestia looked up from her sister as she heard the door opening, revealing a sight she hadn't seen for a long time. It was herself, albeit a younger version of her self, looking around the age twenty-three or twenty-four. Like Luna in the present, Celestia younger version wore a type of duelists outfit, although the colors were a gentle gold and white. The past version of Celestia moved towards the bed and sat down on the opposite side of where her future self was.
"What happened Luna, and why are you covered in dirt?" Celestia asked, picking up Lunas head so she could look at her. It was obvious she had been crying for some time.
Luna sniffled a little. "I was just walking around a bit, you know, trying to show our subjects that they shouldn't fear our lovely night."Luna said, a few stray tears making their way down her cheeks. "But when they saw us, we could see the fear in their eyes. We tried to tell them our night isn't to be feared, but they ran. We tried going after them, but we tripped." Luna buried her face into Celestias chest, crying a little as she did so.
"Shhh, It's alright Luna, I'm here for you." Celestia cooed as she stroked her sisters hair. "They'll come around to loving the night eventually." Celestia lifted Lunas head and stared into her cyan eyes. "But, at least you have one person that loves the night."
"Who?" Luna asked, slightly sniffling.
"Me." Celestia pulled her sister into a warm embrace as she said those words.
"Hey Tia."
"Yes, Lulu.'
"Could you play the song mother always would?" Luna asked, looking at her sister with hopeful eyes.
"Alright." Celestia shifted a little so she and Luna would be more comfortable. Lunas closet opened up, revealing an aura encased violin floating out. Celestia smiled warmly as the same aura surrounded the keys on Lunas piano, and then she began to play.
By the time Celestia finished the melancholic song her sister adored, Luna had already fallen asleep, lightly snuggling into her sisters white wings. Celestia didn't care though, for as long as Luna needed her, Celestia would continue to play for her, even long after Lunas dreams took hold, up until dawn and through the day. She would protect her sister, even if it might cause her sorrow.
Celestia continued to stare at the quickly fading scene, tears evident in her eyes.
"That is the day I was born." Celestia felt a hand rest on her shoulder. "The sorrow you felt for Luna only continued to grow Long after Luna was gone." Celestia looked up and met a pair of cyan eyes looking at her through a sorrowful mask. "I tried to tell the others not to make you go through this again, but they didn't listen to me." Sorrows eyes saddened as she continued. "I might be the oldest, But they never listen to me. All I can offer now is a sliver of hope." Sorrow lifted her mask, and what Celestia saw surprised her.
She was met with the face of Luna, well, when she had found Luna that night in the memory. Sorrow pulled down her hood to reveal short blue hair that was matted down by water. Her cheeks had tear stains on them as if she had been crying for hours.
Celestia was taken a little aback by how Sorrow looked, but then composed herself to answer her question. "How can you help me?"
"You must give us your sanity." Sorrow said, her voice full of dread.
"My sanity?"
Sorrow nodded."Every day you cling to it, the stronger the others will become. Already, you've seen what they are capable of." Sorrow took both of Celestias hands into her own. "But if you give us your sanity, the others will merge, and take hold. But you will become the one thing they despise, and keep them in check." Sorrow gave Celestia a hopeful smile as a stray tear ran down her cheek. "You will become love."
"But what about you?" Celestia asked Sorrow. "Won't you merge too?"
"No." Sorrow sighed. "I am the oldest. I'm the only one that never wanted to hurt you. All I want is for you to be happy."
Celestia pondered Sorrows offer, until she decided on the answer that would change everything. "Alright, I''ll do it"
Insanity is the Sanest Solution
As Celestia and Sorrow dropped to the ground, Envy, Greed, Gluttony, and anger slowly materialized out of the darkness, each taking on a new shape. Envy, Greed, and Gluttony took on the forms that gave them birth. Only Anger appeared as as different entity, taking the form of Nightmare Moon. Each one of them had a smug grin on their faces, slowly forming a closing circle around the prone Celestia and Sorrow.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Are you trying to hold us back again Sorrow?" Envy said with disgust. "You were always the weakest of us, dear sister."
"Then how have I been able to keep you in check for all these centuries?" Sorrow said with a smug grin.
"That's only because your the oldest, you insolent brat!" Anger raised his sword at Sorrow, causing her to slightly flinch.
"Stop pestering her!" Celestia said, holding Sorrow in a tight embrace. Not only to protect her, but to ease Celestias own mind. "Your about to get what you wanted, so stop arguing and let's get this over with."
All the shades surrounding Sorrow and Celestia fell silent, only nodding to one another. In the same order that they appeared to Celestia, each shade burst into a torrent of a red and gold flame, turning the circle into a fiery ring. Celestia closed her eyes and tightly held onto Sorrow, thoughts of how she had hurt the one she loved the most, yet somehow held a shade that looked exactly like her. Maybe this was redemption, or even penance, but the only thought that made Celestia pause was thinking of how she could help Sorrow. These thoughts were quickly halted by the fiery ring finally engulfing them, causing unknown amounts of pain to Celestia as she let out a scream of pain. For a few hellish moments, Celestia saw nothing but an inferno, but then came the blackness she had become accustomed to.
Celestia woke up with a pleasant smile on her face, taking in her new surroundings. She was in a deep midnight blue room that had a piano, small closet, dresser with vanity mirror, and glass door leading out to a balcony. When she looked up to the ceiling she could see hundreds of diamonds shining back at her, creating the illusion of the night sky.
Celestia felt something move in her arms. She looked down and was greeted by a blue cloaked teenager slowly stirring as she moved against Celestias dueling clothes. Sorrow looked up to Celestia with her cyan eyes.
"I-I'm sorry." Sorrow said, tears welling up in her eyes. "I tried to keep them at bay, but I couldn't. I'm sorry Love."
"Shhhhh. It's alright Sorrow, you did your best." Celestia used one of her wings to pull in Sorrow a little closer. "It wasn't your fault. And besides." She smiled at Sorrow with the love only an unbreakable bond could create. "I'm your big sister, the reagent of the sun. And your my little sister, reagent of the moon. As long as we're together Luna, you'll never fell sad ever again."
The newly christened Luna smiled, letting her new blue wings unfurl out from her back. "Alright, Lo-Celestia." Luna looked out towards the balcony and could see the sun slowly rising over the horizon. "Hey, sister?"
"Yes, my little moon."
"Do you think you could play me a song?"
"Your favorite one?"
Luna shook her head. "No, I want one that captures this moment."
Celestia smiled softly at her sister. "I know of one, but I'll need your help, Luna." She got off of the midnight blue bed and picked up the violin lying on the ground. "Have you ever heard the song rain?"
Luna smiled as she walked over to the piano, starting out the song both sisters knew. Celestia smiled as her part came up. The entire time both of them were playing, they were having a silent conversation that needed no words. Their pain, their fears, their love bloomed like a field of flowers. But unknown to both sisters, they were crying. Not tears of sorrow, oh no, they were crying tears of joy and hope. Even though Sorrow knew that this world she and Celestia were in was just an illusion, she didn't care. Because for the first time in her miserable existence, she felt no sadness, only the warm embrace of love as she and Celestia cried for one another.
The newly merged shades opened the eyes of Celestias former body and took in their new environment. They had done it. They had become one consciousness, taking control of this body. The new entity saw that she was in a padded room that had only one exit and a large rectangular mirror. She tried to move her wings, but they didn't budge. She tried using her magic, but nothing happened. She looked down and saw that she was wearing a straight jacket.
"Celestia, how do you feel?" Asked a voice coming from the window.
Ugh, I don't want to be called that horrible name. The new entity thought. But I think I've got a new one that I like. Oh, I like it very much.
"I ask again, are you alright Celestia?"
"My name is not Celestia, you insolent welp. I am Solar Flare, and I will see the world burn." Solar Flare looked towards the mirror as her pink hair became an ethereal torrent of a gold and red flame. "But you know all too well about that, don't you Luna?" Solar Flare heard a small gasp from the other side of the mirror followed by the opening and shutting of a door. "You know that Celestia is no longer hear. Only I am, and I will watch this world burn.?" She started chuckling as she heard the desire to burn whisper in her ears, and her chuckle turned into the laughter of a lunatic.
Luna held her head in her hands as she cried in the hospitals hallway. She knew that the same darkness that had possessed her so long ago now had taken over Celestias mind. All Luna could do now was pick up where her sister had left off. Luna got up and slowly made her way to the exit, rubbing the medical patch covering her eye.
Looks like Celestia finally snapped. You'll buckle too soon you know.
"Quiet you. I took your body in order to make amends with Celestia. I swear to Lady Justice, that I will never fall to you Luna."
Now your just fooling yourself, Innocence. I will have my body back. and I will meet my new sister. So remember this, Innocence, today is my sisters birthday. And I will meet her in the flesh.
And with that, she walked off into her night.
Author's Note
Hi there. I hoped you liked the story. I promise all of you there is going to be a sequel! And remember, like and fave!
