//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Responsibilities // by pyrobug0 //------------------------------// It was strange, reveling in an unnatural peace. For centuries, the sun and the moon had been fickle tormentors of all below them, raising and lowering in a heartbeat, only to change places just as quickly minutes or hours or weeks later. Now, for the first time since before Celestia was born, they were still. The sun sat, half risen in the east, casting an orange glow across the sky that faded gently to a deep purple. The moon sat just above the horizon in the west, dimmer than the overpowering radiance of the sun, but still beautifully bright in the dark part of the sky that the sun’s light didn’t reach. They hovered, unmoving, and below the perpetual twilight of the sky that spanned between them, the ponies celebrated the fall of chaos, and the rebirth of harmony. The rebirth of Equestria. Some part of Celestia’s mind told her that the celebration had been going strong for almost three days now, and it showed no signs of slowing. She stood atop a plateau, overlooking the field where she and Luna had defeated Discord, and where thousands upon thousands of ponies now congregated, toasting his fall. They danced and drank and cheered with joy and laughter and love that, even in her most hopeful moments, she hadn’t been sure they still possessed. In the distance, the darkened remains of Discord’s castle lay crumbling. The impossible architecture had succumbed instantly when the natural forces regained control, buckling and shedding ill-supported towers and trappings in a grand testament to gravity. Now, only its less insane elements remained, and still they slowly decayed and fell away under the constant strain of order. And every time a nightmarish spire or a twisted facade fell away, a cheer rose from the crowd, and they partied with renewed vigor. Celestia watched the ponies below - the ponies she had saved from tyranny. She watched them sing and laugh and embrace. She felt as though she could burst from the joy and warmth swelling in her chest as she watched them. In the rare moments of her life, she had known happiness. But none of it began to compare to what she saw below her, and what she felt herself. Like an unthinkable weight had been lifted from each one of them, and now they could finally raise their heads and see their own world. She continued to watch them as she felt her sister glide silently down, landing next to her. “Here you are, Tia,” Luna said, her voice still light with the laughter of the celebration. “Aren’t you going to join everypony?” “In a little while,” Celestia assured her. “I just want to watch them for right now. I just needed a short break from the festivities.” “Of course, sister. You should rest. The battle was hard and draining.” Celestia shook her head slowly. “It’s alright. Watching them gives me strength. They’re all so happy. I know this was worth the fight.” The sisters watched the ponies below in silence for a time. Finally, Luna spoke again. Her voice was quiet, and devoid of her earlier mirth. “Still, you should rest if you are tired. When this is over, there’s another burden waiting for us. One which we will likely have to shoulder for much longer. We must be ready for it.” Celestia’s smile faded slightly. She looked to the sun in the east. Luna was right. Just as she knew instinctively how many days had passed since Discord’s defeat, she knew that soon the sun and the moon would have to resume their treks across the sky. Not erratically, as they had done for centuries, but rhythmically, predictably, metering out the days and nights with timeless reliability. Turning her neck, she looked at the cutie mark that now adorned her flanks. She thought of the mark on Luna. Ever since Discord had fallen and they had appeared, the two of them had known that it would be their responsibility. They could feel it in the back of their minds, like a soundless voice. When the time came, they would send the sun and the moon on their daily voyage. And when they did, they would take their places as the new princesses of Equestria, and lead ponykind back to prosperity. Back to harmony. “Tia?” Luna’s voice brought Celestia back to reality. “Do you really think we can do this?” “You mean raise the day and night?” she asked, looking at her sister. “I know we can. You feel it too, don’t you? This is our power now. We...” “No, not just that. I mean, rule Equestria. There’s so much that needs to be done, so much to rebuild. And neither of us has done anything like this before. Can we really give these ponies everything they need.” Luna gazed out over the celebrating crowd again as she spoke. Celestia followed her gaze. Then she turned to face the younger mare. “Luna,” she said gently, waiting for her sister to face her, “we’ll find a way to be what they need. It won’t be easy. We’ll probably make mistakes. But our friends will be by our side to help us. And we’ll have each other. We’ll learn and discover our paths together. I promise, no matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side.” Luna smiled, giving her sister a look of affectionate disbelief that she did so well. “Tia, that’s silly. You can’t be beside me all the time.” “Fine, maybe not.” She moved forward and wrapped a leg around Luna’s neck, pulling her close. “But I’ll always come for you. Always.” She felt Luna’s own legs wrap around her, hugging her tight, and she felt the doubts in her own mind fade in the warmth of her sister’s embrace. When they finally pulled apart, Luna looked away sheepishly. Her eyes slowly raised to the sky, and held there, lost in thought. When she spoke, her voice was thoughtful. “You know, Tia, I’ve been thinking: perhaps I’ll do something with the stars.” “The stars?” “Yes. For so long, they’ve been unpredictable - never in the same place twice. Just one more reminder of the inconsistency of the world. But still... they’re so pretty.” Celestia smiled gently. “So you’d like to fix them in place?” “Something like that. Or maybe I’ll bind them to move with the moon. But more then that, I was thinking... I should arrange them. Into patterns, or shapes of some sort. I’m not sure yet. But I... I just... want ponies to be able to see them and recognize them, and realize how beautiful they are.” Celestia’s smile widened. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’m sure everypony will love them. Maybe you could give them names, too?” “Yes, maybe so...” Luna said with a smile. They stood in silence again, their thoughts wandering among the distance cheers and sounds of the celebration. ============================== Celestia slowly opened her eyes to find herself still lying on her bedroom floor. It was the first time in months she hadn’t woken chilled by sweat and deafened by her own heart. She raised her head and looked around her. Silver Platter was sleeping softly next to her. She smiled at the loyal earth pony and carefully rose to her feet. Her attunement with the world’s magic told her that the sun would need to be raised soon. She walked to her dresser and tried to make herself more presentable, noting that she would need a bath before day court convened. When she finished, she turned back to Silver. The mare looked so peaceful, Celestia was tempted to let her sleep. Perhaps she could levitate her back to her quarters, since it would hardly be proper for a servant to sleep in a princess’ chambers alone. Celestia thought better of the idea. If she did and Silver found out about it, the attendant would likely die of embarrassment. Instead, Celestia gently shook the earth pony’s shoulder. “Silver? Wake up.” Silver stirred and opened her eyes with a sleepy murmur. She looked around in groggy confusion before her gaze settled back on Celestia. “Oh, Princess,” she offered quickly. “I’m sorry, I must have fallen asleep. I…” “It’s alright, Silver. I’m sure you were as tired as I was.” In a flash, Celestia remembered their conversation from early in the night, and realization dawned on her. “Have…you been sleeping well?” she asked, feeling guilty that she hadn’t done so before. Silver lowered her eyes sheepishly. “I think… I will be now,” she said after a moment. Celestia nodded. “I’m glad. Perhaps you should return to your quarters and continue to do so?” Silver looked towards the curtained window on the far wall, and shook her head. “It would appear that the sun hasn’t risen yet,” she said, climbing to her feet. “As such, my duties have not yet concluded.” “I can raise the sun by myself, Silver. You don’t need to…” “Princess,” Silver insisted firmly, “I am at your disposal for as long as the night lasts. To do otherwise would be a dereliction of my duties, and I have no such intent.” Celestia couldn’t help but smile. “Very well,” she nodded. “Shall we go, then? We wouldn’t want the sun to be late.” She opened the doors to the hallway and stepped out, Silver close behind her. She noticed the guards give her peculiar, fleeting glances as she passed. It occurred to her that they had probably overheard the… louder parts of Silver and her conversation last night. She imagined they also had their own feelings on the matter. These were night guards – Luna’s envoy. Perhaps later… “If you don’t mind me asking, Princess,” Silver interrupted her train of thought, “how do you know when to raise the sun? Down to the minute, I mean?” “The sun wants to move across the sky, and the sky wants it to move. On its own, the sun is difficult to move. However, there is a moment at dawn when the wishes of the sun and the sky are most in harmony. I simply wait for this moment, and push the sun on its way when I feel it arrive. Forces we can’t see do most of the rest.” “I asked Princess Luna about it once,” Silver said with a chuckle. “She said something very similar, but she described it as ‘the path of least resistance.’” Celestia nodded and chuckled herself. “That sounds like her. She was always more scientific. Less poetic, I suppose.” The two mares walked in silence for a while after that, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Celestia realized that it was the first time since their battle that she’d been able to think of her sister and not be overcome by regret and guilt. It was still there – she wasn’t ready to forgive herself for everything that had happened yet. But, for the first time, she felt like one day she would. She’d find a way to accept her mistakes, and move forward, past the things she could no longer change, and into the future. And then… She came to a stop. Silver stopped beside her, turning up to face her. Celestia was quiet for a moment. Then she spoke. “Silver, I will save her. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll find a way, even if it takes me a thousand years. I swear to you, I’ll bring her back.” Silver Platter was quiet for a moment. Then she smiled gently. “Thank you, Princess Celestia.” Celestia began walking again, Silver following. After a while, the princess spoke again. “In the meantime, I’ve been thinking…” “Yes, Princess?” “We’ve been putting significant effort into public education development lately. Perhaps we could find the funding for a few extra classes in schools? I think growing minds could benefit from astronomy lessons.” “I think you’re right,” Silver agreed presently, lowering her head to hide her smile. “Alright, then, I’ll leave the arrangements in your hooves.” “Me, Your Highness?” “Certainly. After all, astronomy classes would be a nighttime affair, and so would fall squarely under your jurisdiction. Or do you intend to have our foals studying text books with a perfectly good sky above them?” she asked, turning to face Silver with a smile. “Yes, Your Highness. You’re right. I’ll begin at once, then.” After another moment of walking, she added, “Though, if I may say so, Princess, you’ll also have to work hard to make sure the children have a sky worth looking at.” “Yes,” Celestia conceded, “I suppose I will.” The two walked in silence to the eastern balcony to summon the new day. ============================== The following night was remarkable to all who observed it. Everypony agreed the stars shone a bit brighter, and shooting stars streaked across the sky a few times more often. Even the moon, with the visage of a monster emblazoned on its surface, seemed to offer a gentler light. The night seemed to offer more than fear and uncertainty. For the first time in months, it offered hope for those still to come.