//------------------------------// // Shadow of the Day // Story: The Truth // by Blue Turtle //------------------------------// The Truth: Chapter 3 There is no greater threat than one's apathy. If one thinks thou is mighty than thou shalt be tossed away like a stone. If thy voice wishes to be heard then one shall be consumed by silence. If one wishes to get things done in this world then one must work. Without this we become lazy. Though this shan't mean it's not ok to help one another. It is always good to help others but no free rides my little ones. -Levier Aldona Luna sat silent on her throne. Sunny Shadow walked up to her. "Princess. I'd like to apologize for what I said earlier. It was wrong of me to say such awful things. I could not imagine the pain you and your sister had gone through nor how much she wanted to speak with Twilight and Cadence." The small mare said softly. "Are you saying that because you're truly sorry or because you feel bad now that my sister is..." Luna's voice stopped. "Well... to be honest it's both. What I said was awful. And now that she's you know... gone I can't apologize to her..." Sunny Shadow choked out. "I'm so sorry... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry.." Sunny Shadow repeated over and over again. Each time she seemed to become smaller and small, lowering her head to the ground. "It's not your fault. Please don't blame yourself." Luna said quietly. Sun Shadow nodded slowly. The mare turned and walked away. *** Cadence sat on a red couch with Twilight. She wouldn't stop crying. Twilight did her best to comfort Cadence but she herself wasn't feeling the best. She wanted to cry but she couldn't. "Please Cadence you need to calm down..." Twilight tried to say. "I can't! She was there and now she's gone and I can't take it, she can't be dead! Twilight there has to be something we can do! Please!" Cadence mumbled out. Twilight sighed. "We have to wait for what the doctor says. For now we have to sit here and wait." Twilight said, putting a hoof onto Cadence's shoulder. "Ok. We will." Cadence said. She wiped off the tears and looked at the door. Twilight was right. Sitting there and crying her eyes out wouldn't help. She had to wait, Then she had a reason to cry. Twilight got up and looked outside. Discord sat in the garden alone. "I'll be right back." Twilight said before opening the window and flying out. She wasn't very good at flying just she could at least glide. "Discord? Are you ok?" Twilight asked. "Twilight deary you're a smart pony. You should know the answer." The draconquus said in the pouring rain. "Sorry..." Twilight said as her voice trailed off. "Don't be..." Discord said softly. Twilight sat next to him quietly. A few moments of silence passed between them until Discord finally spoke. "You know... Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't known Celestia; Even though we were always enemies. She... in a way saved me from Radiant Malevolence. I guess I owe her that." Discord said before lifting his head upwards. He looked at the dark clouds as they passed by ever so slowly. "Yea... You know Discord... I don't know why but I feel like Celestia will be fine. I don't know why but.. It just feels like everything will be ok... But listen to me. I'm just being naive" Twilight said, but scoffed at her words by the end. Giving a chuckle at the end. "Twilight you know it's always ok to hope. You're allowed to hope. No pony or draconquus in this case is stopping you." Discord said looking over to Twilight. She took a moment to think. "You're right. It's not naive to hope." Twilight said thoughtfully. "Exactly. There's the smart pony I know." Discord said with a small smile. "Hey Discord... I have a question; Who or what was Radiant Malevolence anyways?" Twilight asked. SHe figured he'd know seeing as he'd fought it and lost. "It was the embodiment of hatred. Hatred towards me and for what I had done. Let's just say I made a big mistake taking Luna." Discord said. "I think we should go back inside. It's gloomy out here and we need to dry off." Twilight said before getting up. Discord walked in. It was odd to see both together like that; Seeing as Twilight was the one to trap him in stone the second time. But nice nonetheless to see them finally getting along. *** Luna stared at her sister in the infirmary bed. luna remember how when she first came back Luna had to stay in the hospital to make sure she was healthy; The cleansing had taken a lot out of her too. Celestia was so quiet, only occasionally breathing. The oxygen mask over her face condensed as she did. Luna lifted up some of the pink mane and stared at it for a moment. "How are you feeling sister?" Celestia said as she walked in. She had a wide smile spread across her face. Luna only stared at her edb sheets. "Sister we need to speak with thee." Luna said in a somber tone. "Alright then... Go ahead." Celestia said, The smile disappeared. "When we were banished.. we had a foal in us." Luna said quietly. Celestia's eyes grew wide. "We had her on the Moon but.. it only took a few breaths before dying from lack of air." Luna said, cringing inside. "I-I.." Celestia began to say before hitting herself. holding her hoof on her head. "It's not your fault sister. There was nothing you could have done to know." Luna said quietly. "No. I should have sensed something. I'm such a fool... I knew I heard somepony crying out for me to send some air.. I'm such and idiot.-" Celestia said again, raising her hoof to hit herself again. Luna however pulled it down. "Please dear sister. Don't hurt thy self." Luna said quietly. Celestia nodded and hugged her sister tightly. She repeated the words "I'm Sorry.. I'm so so sorry..." Luna sat quietly and let her sister hug her. Now it was Celestia in that bed. Luna stood quietly, Silence hung in the room. Teh door creaked open and a pink alicorns stepped in. "May I come in Aunt Luna?" Cadence said softly. Luna nodded and waved her in. Cadence walked over and stood next to Luna. "Aunt Luna.. I'm sorry. I wish.. I wish I had done something other then lose it." Cadence said, closing her eyes to think. "It's alright. If I hadn't been so shocked myself then I would have lost my head as well." Luna said somberly. They stood there a for a while. The heavy silence broken by the soft tweet of a chickadee. chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee "Cadence I have a question." Luna asked. "Go ahead." Cadence said back, cocking an eye at Luna. chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee "Are you afraid? Of Celestia?" Luna asked with a lump in her throat. chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee "No. Of course not. Why would I be? I have no reason to." Cadence said, confused at Luna's question. "Just asking. I know some ponies are. Though to be honest my sister tries to be very kind and inviting. " Luna said looking up. Celestia took a deep breath and exhaled,fogging up the mask. chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee "She is. I've always loved Celestia's bravery. She'd do anything save her ponies." Cadence smiled. "She would do anything..." Luna choked out. chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee "What do you mean Luna?" Cadence asked with a worried tone. "You wouldn't understand. Forget what I said." Luna said in a half annoyed voice but truly she was afraid. No pony could know the truth. The awful terrible truth. Cadence nodded sensing Luna didn't want to speak anymore. chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee Though it was raining the little bird sang. "That little bird is singing it's heart out isn't it?" Cadence chuckled. "I suppose it has something to sing for." Luna said, feeling the conversation lighten a bit. "I think we should give Celestia a little space. She wouldn't want us standing over her and worrying. We have work to do after all." Cadence said after thinking for a moment. "I suppose you are right. Let's go and 'meet up' with Twilight." Luna said before turning around. Cadence walked out but Luna stopped for a moment. "I'll catch up." Luna said before anxiously turning around. Cadence nodded and walked away. Luna looked at her sister and smiled softly. "Our secret is safe sister." Luna said quietly. Celestia took another deep breath again and Luna walked out. chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee *** Twilight sipped her tea slowly as Luna and cadence joined her. The room was warm and the air light, Unlike outside where the air was damp and heavy. The captain of the guard waited patiently for them. "So what now? Should we prepare ourselves for an invasion by their forces?" Twilight asked with a tired look on her face. "I don't know. With Celestia being how she is she won't be able to defend herself against anyone for that matter." Cadence said putting her hoof up to her head to think "I suggest we draw our forces round the whole castle. Equally as we can. Cadence, Twilight. This is a terrible thing to ask but.. will you fight if the forces do indeed come? Will you be able to kill someone if you must." Luna asked. Twilight closed her eyes while Cadence looked at her. "I've already killed seven ponies today. Though I regret that... I know I will protect Canterlot if I must." Cadence said. Twilight was lost in deep thought. "Twilight. If you're worried about what your friends would think then you may ask them yourself. I have called upon them to Canterlot for now." Luna said to the purple alicorn. "A-Alright..." Twilight. She got up and walked away. "Miss Twilight. I know how you must feel. Please make a wise choice. We can't have any mental breakdowns." The Captain said somberly. Twilight nodded and trotted off. *** "They're asking you to do WHAT!?" Rarity gasped. The Throne council room grew quiet. "B-But that'd mean you'd have to... kill somepony? " FlutterShy said, The clear horror of the word oozing from her being. "That doesn't sound like fun." Pinkie Pie said, Confused disgust spreading across her face. "Girls. Please quiet down and let Twi speak for a moment." AppleJack said with a look of remorse on her face. Rainbow Dash grumbled and crossed her arms as she hovered in mid air. FlutterShy however still stood there shaking like a leaf. Pinkie Pie looked out the window angrily. Rarity held her hoof over her mouth. "I know.. I know that I have to protect the innocent ponies in Canterlot.. but I don't know if I can do it. I've been taught all my life that violence isn't the answer but- But what if I'm supposed to protect?" Twilight said looking up to her friends for answers. "Maybe you could form a barrier! That would help get everypony out!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly. "That's brilliant Pinkie!" Rarity said with a pure grin on her face. "Alright. Then it's settled. We'll tell the Captain and Princess Luna about the plan." Twilight said confidently. Before anypony could blink the six were bursting through the door. The Captain looked up at her. "Sir we have a plan." Twilight said. "Go ahead then." The Captain said, listening carefully. "Ok the plan is Twilight here will create a HUUUUGE barrier around Canterlot, The civilians will get out and BAM you guys can fight as hard and long as you want and not hurt anyone." Rainbow Dash said, hovering around. Luna blinked for a moment and looked at the guard. "That might just work." the Captain said. *** Twilight's horn glowed brightly and a magic aura formed around the city. Her friends stood behind her. "Alright. barrier's up. Now we just need to get everypony out of here." Twilight said with a sigh of relief. "Already on it!" Rainbow Dash said, speeding off. It took hours to finally get everypony out of Canterlot and into the underground bunker. Just as the last ponies were sealed in The invasion had arrived. It looked like a large black swarm. Twilight knew her spell wouldn't last forever but it did so long enough for her amor clade friends to join her. "I guess this is it girls. We fight together as a team; No one leave each other's sides." Twilight said with a smile. "Yes Ma'aaaaam!" Pinkie Pie said. "I hate to say it but this is kind of exciting." Rainbow dash said, taking a moment to think. AppleJack nodded. "You guys leave if the situation gets really bad ok?" Twilight said softly. "I'd never! We won't leave each other's sides until we can't move a muscle remember?" Rarity said, almost disgusted by the thought of her friends leaving Twilight behind. Discord walked forward. He seemed angry at the invasion force. Twilight looked up to him from her ledge. "Just watch each other's backs." Apple Jack said quietly. FlutterSHy had no fighting experience whatsoever so she stayed inside the Bunker trying to calm down the ponies. "Um.. Please calm down." FlutterShy said into the microphone. The crowd looked at her like she was crazy. It grew silent, only moments before all yelling and screaming. "I know you're all scared but.. I think if we all sit here quietly then um.. we'll all get along until the door opens up..." FlutterShy said again into the small microphone. The dark Bunker was huge; Enough to hold at least another 1,000 or so ponies. The ponies grew quiet. And so they waited *** The first blast of magic was an accumulation of the forces. The burst of pure white magic shook and cracked the barrier. It didn't take long before it chattered. The invasion charged forward, Blasts of magic were thrown everywhere, kicking up any dust and rocks. Luna stood over the battle, waiting. "GIVE HER TO US" A pegasus in a cloak yelled out and tried to stab Luna. Luna threw off the spear and kicked the pegasus into the ground. Luna shook teh blood off her hoof and waited. Twilight flew up to her, her face was covered in blood. "Luna; What are you waiting for?" Twilight asked angrly. "The leader is waiting for our forces to win. He or She plans most likely to try and cut us from another side." Luna sadi patiently. "I take it you've had this happen to you before?" Cadence said, having to flap her wings harder in the armor. "No but Celestia and I actually used this move before. Quite smart if I must say." Luna said. And incoming bolt of magic was thrown off by Twilight. "So what; We'll wait for him/her and defeat them? I doubt they can take on three alicorns." Twilight said confidently. "I suppose there's a possibility. But for now you two head back onto teh battlefield." Luna said, Cadence and Twilight nodded and dove back into the dusty city. It was easy to see the large blasts of purple and blue energy coming from them. Mom.. Dad. If you hear me I want you to know that I love you... And i'm sorry me and Celestia kept our secrets so... I'm hoping that maybe by protecting the ponies wwe love that we can repent for our deeds. luna thought. Her deep blue eyes looked towards the battlefield. chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee Luna looked to the little bird. It tweeted at her then flied away as the sound of a magic blast boomed. Luna could feel it in her chest and her bones. *** Rainbow dash reared up and kicked a cloaked soldier in the head, She had lost her spear a few moments earlier. None of her friends were in sight. The dust was everywhere and she could barely see any farther than six or seven feet. A white unicorn ran up to her. "Rainbow Dash this is not the time to being running off." Rarity said before trying to shake the blood off her hooves. "Sorry. One moment you guys were there and then you weren't." Rainbow Dash chuckled and looked at her friend. Rarity was cleaner than Rainbow yet was still covered in blood. It was almost pretty; The red splattered over the blue diamonds. But it was also difficult to think how it got there in the first place. To think a classy pony like Rarity killing somepony seemed ridiculous. "Let's regroup with the others and get this over with. I hate dust." Rainbow Dash said before running off into the dust. Rarity ran behind her, The two dodges blasts of magic, spears, Any weapon really. Rarity ducked behind the side of a crumbling building. Rainbow Dash opposite of her. Charging down the street was a whole squad of cloaked soldiers. Rarity had a desperate look on her face. "Rainbow Dash. It's been an honor being your friend." Rarity said, looking towards the blue pegasus. "Don't talk like you're gonna die. We'll make it through this k?" Rainbow said. Before speaking another word the two charged out. Only a few blocks away Pinkie Pie and AppleJack charged through the empty streets. Bodies of cloaked ponies were strewn across the street as well as guards. "C'mon Pinkie we gotta find Rainbow ad Rarity!" AppleJack yelled out. Pinkie Pie nodded and put on more speed. They came around the back of the same squad of ponies Rarity and Rainbow were fighting. With four more ponies to fight the lasts of the squad stood no chance. Twilight flew down from her conversation. "Sorry for leaving you guys for a moment. Kinda had to settle things with Luna." Twilight casually said before shooting a beam of magic at a cloaked soldier. Rarity blinked and wiped some blood off of her forehead. "You know Twilight. It'll take about a month to get all this blood off our selves." AppleJack somberly joked. It almost didn't seem real. *** Celestia drifted through the inky blackness. "No! It can't be! I don't want to be here again!" Celestia thought she said. Truly she screamed. Celestia turned herself up right and flew down the to the slightly lighter ground. It was a flat plane. It was so familiar. She had been there before. A long time ago. She remembered why and didn't like it. She wanted to lay down and cry. She wanted to wallow in her own self pity. She hated this place so much. This place took away her sanity. All because of it. Aurinko. The White Demon. Aurinko never meant harm but it did anyways. There was no way to defeat it and no way to get rid of it. There was nothing she could do. Celestia was utterly helpless. "THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING AGAIN. NO NO NO NO!" Celestia shouted and yelled. She angrily stomped around the black plane. She felt like a child again who had to do something they didn't want to. She hated to admit it but she felt helpless. She sat down on the ground and looked at the large tendrils of magic. "Aurinko always shows up if I wander around these things... I guess I should stay here?" Celestia asked herself It was impossible to really think there because instead her mouth opened. Celestia shook her head and waited. But her worst fear appeared right in front of her when she blinked. Aurinko had took on some changed from last time she saw her. "Hello Celestia." Aurinko said with a hiss in it's voice. "Aurinko.. you've changed." Celestia said quietly. "As have you. You abandoned the power I gave you." Aurinko said with another hiss as she circled around Celestia. "Your power was poison. You liar" Celestia said like she spitting a bad taste out of her mouth. "Liar!?! How dare you! You sent Discord packing and got Luna back!" Aurinko said angrily. "I also killed Levier!" Celestia said with tears in her eyes. "That mare stoned herself! You had nothing to do with it! It's not your fault you protected your ponies!" Aurinko shouted. Her voice boomed across the plane and the magic tendrils pulsed more magic. Celestia felt Aurinko glare at her with her glowing eyes. "You failed Celestia! It's your fault Luna was banished and your fault Chrysalis almost won the day! You made the same mistake twice! And what about poor Sombra?! What about Mira?! You make the same mistakes over and over again! You couldn't even protect yourself against seven ponies! Cadence could take them down with one spell!" Aurinko shouted again. Celestia shrunk down. "I-I... I'm sorry..." Celestia said. She was already turning grey. "I failed... I let Luna down. I let Sombra and Mira down. I let Cadence and my kingdom down... I let Twilight down... I let down my own parents..." Celestia said as her own words hit her. She looked at her shaking hoofs and buried herself in them. "Take this power Celestia! I beg of you! Without power... we are weak spineless creatures! Take this power and stand on your own four hooves!" Aurinko said proudly. "You're right." A smirk grew across Celestia's face. "I will take your power Aurinko. This time I won't fail." Celestia said. Her face was anger yet at the same time somber. "Good my child. This time I will give you more than last tme. No pony will stand in your way. This time the day will be ours!" Aurinko said proudly again. "Yes... yes! Enough power to save everypony! I can do it now! I will protect my ponies! I will protect my friends!" Celestia yelled happily. Aurinko smiled at the insane mare. Aurinko never meant harm. She just wanted to help. But her help... it was harmful really. Her power brought insanity with it. Her very words could bring a pony to breaking point. Celestia's eyes were pitch black all for her slitted pupils. Two blood red eyes peered through the infinite blackness. sol inmortuorum Quomodo resurgunt? Nisi mortuus esses. Nunc denique? Haec essent notoria Aut ita malum Ego autem abscondam, et fluent oculos vestros sanguine ostendere The poem eased through her mind. "Aurinko... My ponies will hide from me..." Celestia said thoughtfully. "Their safety is more important. Do not worry about them for now. They'll understand eventually." Aurinko said calmly. Celestia nodded unwillingly. She was still unsure. Celestia's normally flowing mane hung down, like all the magic had just gone out of it. "Do not fear my child. You will always be loved by me." Aurinko said before rubbing Celestia's head again. Celestia nodded and sat down. "Sorry for acting like a child." Celestia said slowly. "No need dear. I suppose we can all throw hissy fits. I apologize for yelling at you."Aurinko said. A white creese opened up in the sky. "I suppose it's time for me to leave." Celestia said. She rose up and the blackness opened up to pure shining white light. "The doors that way Celestia." Aurinko said, smiling to her. Aurinko gestured upwards as the blinding light began to swallow up the darkness. Celestia smiled a bit and was pulled into the doorway. *** Twilight looked around. They had been fighting almost all day. Rainbow Dash and Rarity were starting to get tired and she could feel fatigue pulling at her muscles. "We could use some help... all the other guards are busy fighting others too..." Twilight said in between heavy breaths. "Darn it... When is Luna fight the leader or something? We've basically won." AppleJack said. Pinkie Pie nodded, Her deflated mane moving slowly as she did. AppleJack sighed and looked up. Rarity's eyes grew wide. Standing ontop of a ledge was an alicorn. Not just any alicorn though. Celestia. She stood over the city, Her face contorted in rage. Wind pushed away the dust, finding most of the city destroyed. The late afternoon sun was directly behind her. Her loose mane hung down. A pony charged behind her but Celestia dove under him and threw him off the building. The pony plummeted to the ground with a thump. Celestia lifted her wings and soared down. She landed right next to Twilight. "Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, Go gather up the rest of the guard. AppleJack and Rarity come with me." Celestia said. The five nodded and went their separate ways. AppleJack seemed a little hesitant. Only hours earlier Celestia had been laying on a hospital bed. Now she was up and about like nothing had happened. They walked for a while until Rarity finaly spoke. "Uh.. Princess shouldn't you be recovering? I mean you took quite a hit yesterday..." Rarity said quietly. Celestia shot her a glance that could send fear into anypony. "I will protect my ponies at all costs." Celestia said coldly. But by the end she smiled and rubbed Rarity's head. "Please understand that." Celestia said softly. She smiled lightly and walked forward. Rarity sighed in relief. She felt a bit more comfortable but AppleJack still felt something was off. Celestia's mane normally flowed but now it was loose. It was no longer just pink either. The tall alicorns also seemed to stumble every so often. Rarity shook her head and her nose twitched. "Goodness it smells..." Rarity said, averting her eyes from the charred remains of cloaked ponies. Celestia took note of this and noticed both AppleJack and rarity were shaking their heads. "Never avert your eyes from death my little ponies. You must look at the ones you kill." Celestia said quietly, her eyes looked directly into the skull of a dead cloaked pony. AppleJack gulped and looked into it as well. Celestia was testing them. Rarity knew this as well. She looked at it as well. Celestia stood stoic, able to stare at it. Rarity's lip quivered. AppleJack bit her lip. "You're allowed to be afraid. Never stare at death for too long. That won't get you anywhere." Celestia said coldly and walked forward. "So what was that test all about?' AppleJack asked. "You know me and Luna have been around for a long, long time. In that time there have been countless fights and wars in which me and Luna had to participate in. I have stared death in the face for thousands of years. I have watched friends, teachers, students, loved ones die right before my eyes in that span of time. And not once have I looked away." Celestia said while walking forward. AppleJack blinked and felt like an idiot for asking the Princess. Good going AJ you made her remember everypony who's died around her. Applejack said before hitting herself on the head. The armor clanged as they walked forward. Celestia stopped. "It's ok AppleJack. There's no need to hit yourself. I can't have you hurting yourself." Celestia said with a small smile. Rarity stopped and blinked. The bunker door was hidden well. Except however most of the dirt had been blasted away. "As soon as your other friends arrive with the guards then we will defend the bunker door. The invasion force does not have a lot of soldiers left." Celestia said. She sat down and rubbed her shoulder. It made a crack sound and Celestia sighed. "Much better." Celestia said before getting up again. Rarity looked at her strangely. "Are you ok?" Rarity and AppleJack asked in unison. "Just an old wound. Nothing special. It happens every time I use quite a bit of magic at once." Celestia said thoughtfully. Rarity nodded and checked AppleJack's armor before having her own inspected. Celestia stood quietly as Rainbow Dash sprinted forward. "There.. Luna! Trouble!" Rainbow Dash shouted. She tripped and fell over. Celestia looked at her. Her eye twitched. Rainbow Dash got up. "The forces are still coming but.. Luna..." Rainbow Dash tried to say. "Defend the bunker until I get back." Celestia said angrily. She walked off. Rarity and AppleJack looked at each other with worried eyes. After just hearing about how everypony around Celestia died it made them worried. What about her own sister Luna? the only one who hadn't died of old age?