//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: Questions, Answers, and more Questions. 
// Story: Lulamoon's Legacy 
// by Crowborn 
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Luna took a deep sigh, indicating she would be the first to speak.

"It all started almost a thousand years ago, ten years after the fall of Discord, and six years after the mysterious disappearance of the Crystal Empire. We began to receive reports of strange and horrible monsters never before seen to ponykind that were attacking several of our remote villages, slaughtering many innocents."

"They feasted on the flesh and blood of their victims, and the more they ate, the stronger they became. It was clear that we would have to take immediate action."

Luna paused to sip her tea, and Celestia continued where Luna had left off.

"We gathered our armies and began a purge of these horrendous creatures, and at first, we were winning. But we learned quickly that these creatures could not be slain by normal means, they could only be killed via magic. Still, we persisted on, and though we lost many a good pony, victory seemed within our grasp,"

"But then she came. Massacre, the Spirit of Carnage." Both Celestia and Luna visibly shuddered.

"She slaughtered not only many of our troops, but almost all of her own, not caring in the slightest whom she killed. In desperation, we tried to use the Elements of Harmony against her, but they were little more than an annoyance to her, as she found Harmony within Carnage. Our soldiers could not stand up to her, only my sister and I, and our magic, were able to stand up to her, but still she was too much for us alone to overcome,"

Trixie blinked, shaking her head, a look of confusion upon her face. "What? Harmony in Carnage? What the buck is that supposed to mean?! That doesn't make any sense!"

Both of the sisters frowned, and gave each other an uncertain look.

"We don't know, it is the only answer she offered, but it stumps even us to this very day...We are not certain of by what she means. Regardless, the Elements proved ineffective against her." Luna replied, shaking her head.

Celestia nodded, and then continued on with the story.

"She boasted that she had finally defeated her sister, Gentle, the Spirit of Benevolence, another being we sadly had little knowledge of at the time. From what we know now, everything that exists has an equal yet opposite counterpart. The Sun and the Moon, Chaos and Harmony, and so on.  Thus we suspect Gentle was Massecre's counterpart,"

Trixie gave a nervous glance, "Was?"

Celestia gave a solemn sigh. "Massacre had rent her sister in two and casted each half across Equestria in opposite directions."

Trixie gasped in horror, but otherwise remained silent.

"We were fighting a losing battle, but unbeknownst to us, a pair of brothers and a pair of sisters had each embarked to locate Gentle's body. They each had been given a vision and told where to go by Gentle herself."

"She was still alive?!" Trixie gasped, but Celestia merely continued on with their story.

"The Im'mer brothers went on a journey to find the torso, and the Lulamoon Sisters went to find Gentle's lower half. Upon finding them both, we are told Gentle, in her last dying breath, bequeathed all of her power and her very essence into the two brothers and the two sisters, awakening within them a new form of magic that had never been seen in our world before. From their breasts were birthed the First Guardians, and they themselves became the first Archmages. Together, both the Brothers and the Sisters, alongside their new Guardians, fought back and defeated Massacre and her forces, using a ritual to banish and seal her away from this world forever."

This time, Luna spoke up, "It is from them that House Im'mer and House Lulamoon was born. For a time there was peace, but after fifty years had passed, she returned again, but once again those of House Im'mer and House Lulamoon were able to stop her. However, in yet another fifty years, she appeared again, and was defeated, and this continued for the next five hundred years until an Archmage from House Lulamoon, named Bella Lulamoon, and her Guardian bound Massecre's essence into a stone and then casted it into the void and crafted a seal to prevent her from ever returning again. The cycle stopped, and my sister had believed the menace to be over..."

Trixie flattened her ears, "but...?"

Celestia frowned, "But as of yesterday, the Seal has begun to crack, and we fear that Massacre may yet again return."

Trixie shook her head, too many thoughts and questions swirling in her head. "Wait, how come Trixie has never heard of this before? Trixie thinks she would remember reading about this in the history books! Blood Monsters, Spirits of Carnage, and Powerful Magical Seals aren't something you just simply forget about!"

Lula wrapped her in another protective hug, but whispered softly so the Princesses wouldn't hear, "I don't know for certain, but I feel like there is still much they aren't telling us...."

Trixie gave a small nod as Celestia began to reply.

"Equestria is in an era of Peace and Prosperity that is unheard of in many a millennia. If ponies knew of Massacre and her deeds, I fear it could do great harm to that peace."

"But that doesn't--"

Celestia's eyes turned a strange cold, and Trixie felt an oppressive aura emit from the Princess, making Trixie shudder, briefly, in fear. If Luna noticed any of this, she gave no indication. All of this, after all, occurred in but a split of a second and was gone just as quickly as it came.

"And because of that, I think it would be best if we continued to keep as low of a profile as we can. Massacre must not return, for she will she destroy both the Peace and Prosperity of our land, and bring harm to countless innocent ponies. She must be stopped, wouldn't you agree?"

"Of course, sister, we believe everypony would agree. There should be no need to ask," replied Luna.

Celestia gave that same motherly chuckle that she was known for, "I know, but you know how I worry, Luna.'

Celestia's tone had never changed, always that sweet and kind, motherly voice she always had, but Trixie had never been more unsettled in her life. She noticed Lula was even hovering even more protectively around her.

She then noticed the two Princesses were staring at her, awaiting a reply. Well, unsettled or not, Trixie wasn't about to disagree with royalty, especially not if she knew what was good for her health.

" O-Of course, The Wise and Humble Trixie couldn't agree more! Though she still has many things she doesn't quite understand...."

Celestia nodded, "Feel free to ask away. I'm sure we can alleviate some of the confusion that must surely be swirling within your mind."

Though Celestia had said it in her same sweet voice with her usual kind and gentle smile, Trixie knew there were a few questions that she would be better off not asking at the moment.

She took a shaky breath to steady her nerves before continuing, "Well, for starters, why did you two not know much about these two....spirits, you called them? Anyways, Trixie does not see how one wouldn't know about Massager--"

"Massacre." Luna corrected.

"--Er...Massacre or whatever, if she was as...brutal...as you claim. Wouldn't there be word or at the very least, rumors beforehoof? Trixie finds it hard to believe that you wouldn't have at least heard of such a thing beforehoof."

This time, Luna gave the reply, "An astute question, little one. We believe both Massacre and Gentle came from another world, unlike Discord, whom was born here in our own. How they came to be here is unknown. The one who could tell you is Discord, but he hasn't been very helpful on that subject."

Trixie could have sworn she heard a distinct laughter echo in the distance before fading off, but neither Luna nor Celestia gave any sign of hearing it.

Trixie didn't see Lula react to it either, so she decided to dismiss it for now. "And this whole Harmony/Carnage thing doesn't make any sense! How can there be Harmony in Carnage? And how does that protect her from the Elements of Harmony? That doesn't make any sense!"

Luna frowned, "We do not know. We are just as confused about it as you are, it is what she told us, though she could be lying, I suppose."

Trixie scoffed, "Well, of course she's lying! That explanation doesn't make any sense whatsoever! Trixie wouldn't bet a single bit on any word 'Massager--'"

"Massacre."

"--whatever--says, based on what you've told Trixie. She clearly must be lying or have screw or two loose at the very least!"

"Perhaps, though I have a feeling it isn't as straight forward as that," Luna said with a frown.

Trixie rolled her eyes, but she still had many questions left to ask. "Also, if Trixie's family all had 'Guardians' then why hasn't Trixie seen any of them before? Or anypony else for that matter? And why can nopony except me and you two see or hear Lula? And why do things keep shattering when Trixie stomps on them?"

Celestia began to take another sip of her tea, but frowned upon finding it empty. Whilst Celestia poured herself another cup, Luna gave a long sigh.

"Luckily, the first three questions can be solved simply. Guardians can only be seen by Awakened Archmages, Alicorns, Spirits, and other Guardians. And possibly by Changeling Queens, but that has never been confirmed."

Trixie blinked, "Awakened Archmages? What does that mean? What are those?"

This time, Celestia gave the reply, "Awakened Archmages are any Archmage whose Guardian has emerged. Usually, such a process takes a couple of years of training to achieve this, though there have been a few cases of this happening in stressful or life and death situations, or in times of great need or danger."

Luna then spoke up, " This is why we had thought you had training, though we see now that this wasn't the case. As for your last question, it is not unusual for an Awakened Archmage to experience enhanced magical prowess, physical strength, and endurance, in a similar manner as an Alicorn. It may take some time, but you will adjust to it."

"Wait, Alicorn? Does this mean Trixie is a Princess now?"

Both Celestia and Luna chuckled, before Celestia replied "No. You are no Alicorn. Your magic simply scales on a similar level, and offers similar augments, but they are not the same thing. Though, this similarity is what grants we Alicorns the ability to perceive an Archmage's Guardian. Alicorn magic is birthed by Harmony. Yours is not, nor ever will be."

Trixie wouldn't admit it, but that stung.

"Is that why Trixie saw magical batwings when all this weirdness started? Because it's similar?"

Both of the Princesses' eyes widened, before Luna gave a small smile. "Perhaps the situation is not as hopeless as we once thought, sister."

"Indeed."

"Wait, what is that supposed to mean? What does the whole batwing thing mean? Trixie only saw them for a few seconds! Trixie is pretty sure they were just a dream, right?"

"I think that is enough for now, don't you agree, sister?" Celestia asked with a grin barely hidden by her usual formal masked  expression.

"Agreed, sister." Luna replied with a nod, then she turned to Trixie, "T'was no dream, but rest assured this is good news.   This meeting is now adjourned, and a guard will escort you to a room for you to stay for the night. Training begins tomorrow morning. I suggest you get an early rest. You'll need it."

And with that, several guards entered and began escorting Trixie away.

"Wait! But Trixie still has so many questions! Princess, please--!" Too late, the doors closed, cutting her off. The guards wordlessly escorted to her new room.

When the door was closed and she was sure they were alone, she took a deep breath, "Lula? Do you know what the whole batwing thing is all about?"

Lula frowned, seeming to ponder it for a moment, "Mmm...no. Nothing seems to come to me. I guess its not something I know. Sorry, little one, it's a blank for me too, it seems," she sounded genuinely disheartened by that.

Trixie almost stomped her hoof in frustration, but managed to think better of it.  "THAT IS IT!! TRIXIE REALLY NEEDS THAT SPA DAY!" She shouted, frustrated with all that had happened today. She stormed her way out of the room, out of the castle, and into the Canterlot Spa Center, paid her thirty bits, and marched her way to the jacuzzi room and eased her way into the tub.

Today was just too bizarre for her, and she had had enough. Too many questions roiled in her mind and barely any answers. The whole day was ludicrous! She must be dreaming. Archmages, Massager--Whatever! It was all just too crazy to be true!

Though, her gut told her it was true and this wasn't a dream, but that only added to her frustration. However, right now Trixie needed to relax, and there was only one way to do that. She lowered her muzzle beneath the warm water of the Jacuzzi, and then screamed. And screamed and screamed.

Lula wanted to say something to comfort her, but she could feel that Trixie needed this, so she resigned to sitting next to Trixie and rubbing the little one's shoulders. When Trixie was done, they walked back to the Castle and back to the room they were given for the night. Trixie quickly climbed into the bed and went to sleep. 

Meanwhile, Lula watched her little one with a worried look upon her face. She could feel the turmoil of emotions still swirling within her. If only Lula could comfort her more.....