The Truth: Chapter 6
I often find myself pondering what it means to be an alicorn. I have rarely seen what you may call a 'True alicorn' beings born as alicorns with significant magical abilities. Winged Unicorns or 'biological alicorns' that are born by, let's say a unicorn and a pegasus. They do not possess the abilities of True alicorns. However there is a third kind of alicorn. One that is born of a certain race and reaches spiritual enlightenment. This transforms the original being into an alicorn. The only 'kind' of alicorn that is 'immortal' is the 'true alicorn'. True alicorns are attached to some object. Such as the Sun or Moon. Celestia and Luna for example. I have come to the conclusion that the Sun and Moon are apart of our rulers. The Sun and Moon heal the force that keeps them 'alive'. As long as Celestia and Luna are alive the Sun shall not explode nor shall the Moon crash into the planet or get sling shotted off into space.
-Stars Swirled the Bearded
Celestia lye awake in bed. The comfortable room was dark, Celestia had put the fire out. She wanted to be alone. She was tired after all. Who wouldn't be? Honestly Celestia was surprised she hadn't given up yet. Why not just let go and get the terrible feelings off of her. Twilight had hurt her... and Luna.. Luna couldn't stop her either. It's not that Luna couldn't hurt Twilight; She very well could if need be. But she wouldn't. Luna cared too much for the purple alicorn. The pony who had saved her form an eternal nightmare. Celestia herself could not. Luna assured it wasn't her sister's fault but the cracks in her voice told Celestia everything. Luna, deep down, felt that it was Celestia's fault. And she didn't blame her. Celestia had been so careless and Luna paid the price.
It's all your fault
Your fault!
Sister you monster!
How could you?!
I despise your very being!
The tall alicorn took a deep breath. She let go of the magic in her mane and it turned pink. It helped ease her a little bit but not much. Her student, one of the ponies she'd care for so much... betrayed her. Why didn't Twilight know Celestia wasn't that... that monster anymore?
Fear
Twilight was afraid. That fear spread to her friends. And with that brought chaos. Chaos that made ponies do terrible things. It was a shame really. Twilight often spoke of facing fear but Celestia guessed that the fear had been too much for such a young mare.
Poor girls... they were probably scared out of their wits...
Maybe she was wrong maybe she was right. But either way it didn't change the fact they knew. She'd put them through so much, and now this?
Terrible.. simply terrible...
Celestia moved the damp pillow over her head. When she was little the pillow hid her so well. But back then she was more rather hiding from Mom and Dad then hiding from her fear. With an angry spike she threw the pillow ta the wall.
I bust my plot doing so much for this country for over a thousand years and I get this for thanks?! Ridiculous!
The pillow hit the wall with a thump and she let out an angry grumble. Celestia let out a sigh and wiped off her eyes. She shook her head and put on her brave face.
I've got work to do. With the Celebration coming up I better get to it and soon.
Celestia stood up and magic returned to her mane. Yet it refused to move.
Wonderful. It will take a while before it moves again won't it?
With that the alicorn sighed and looked towards the door. Her eyes fixated on it. Her feeling shifted again and again. Don't go. Go. Don't go. Go. But after a brief moment of thought she left the room. Ponies bowed respectively as always. Good to know Twilight and company hadn't blabbed out her secret to the world.
They're too smart to do that. They all know very well the anarchy that would break out...
At the very least she had that going for her. But something felt wrong. She stopped immediately in the middle of the hallway. It felt as though the walls of the room had caved in on her; Maybe they had? Maybe her eyes were lying to her? But no. She was certain that wasn't what was going on. It felt like something had punched her in the chest.
Great... this again? really? Stupid solar flares...
She swallowed and took a deep breath. This happened occasionally; large solar flares brought on by stress would come back and bite her later.
A small purple filly followed behind her. Her new student; Twilight Sparkle. She could tell this filly had great potential, however she needed to hone her skills. The small purple filly was timid and wasn't much of a talker. Though she was respectful and quite studious (At least as her grades told the alicorn) Celestia let out a sigh when it hit her. The crushing pain had spread itself across her body. She stood frozen.
"Princess are you okay?!" The small purple unicorn cried out as Celestia slowly fell to her knees. Several ponies rushed over to help their monarch.
The pain was immeasurable. As if every fiber of her being got smacked into a wall. But just as quickly as it came it stopped.
"I'm fine. Sorry for the little outburst." She spoke, trying to keep her composure. The ponies nodded and left but the small filly looked up at her with worried eyes.
"Um.. Princess are you sure? you looked like someone stabbed you or something." The unicorn said. Clear worry showed in her.
"It happens. Occasionally I just... just... You very well must know what happens when you get stressed right? You start to feel in a tight space?" Celestia answered the filly's question with a question. She obviously couldn't explain it to her.
"I guess..." The filly said, not quite certain with her words.
"Well for me it's kinda like that but worse. But don't worry I'm fine." She smiled at the filly. The filly bit her lip and nodded. And then they walked away.
However this time Twilight wasn't by her side. She was alone in a sense. The pain subsided as quickly as it came and she went on her way. Within a short amount of time she was back on her throne. Going about the afternoon as if nothing had happened. However it didn't stop Luna form glancing at her for long periods of time. Her worried face in turn depressed the sun princess.
"Luna i'm fine. I appreciate your worry; I really do. But it's okay. this will smooth itself out... eventually. We just need to be careful." Celestia said, facing her sister. Luna nodded slowly the glanced back at her papers.
"Just don't strain th-yourself. We don't' want you to go stone cold during ceremony." Luna said with a sigh. Her turned back to her work. She was slightly aggravated with her sister's response.
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After several hours of random tasks being done and documents being signed Luna could finally get some rest. She loved her night but that didn't mean she didn't want to sleep. Celestia had already retired; She'd finished all her work for the day. Night court was over and done with so Luna could finally go to bed. With a short trip up the stairs Luna could finally relax. However she opened the door to find her room dark. Normally Celestia would stay up until Luna came in.
"Sister?" Luna asked. Unlike normal ponies Luna had some sense for night vision, but the inky blackness of the room made it all the harder to see.
"Ugh.. where's the fireplace when you need it.." Luna said, fumbling around in the darkness, but it just seemed like she walked on forever. Luna immediately stopped. Fear began to constrict her until she ran, faster and faster but she couldn't find anything to run into. Just darkness.
"Somepony, Help! Please..." Luna said as she came to a trot. Not after long she was just walking. Luna's eyes darted around in the darkness. She'd been here before too.
"Hello child..." Aurinko said. She looked as if she'd had taken Celestia's silhouette.
"Stay away from me!" Luna shouted. Aurinko held her hooves up in defense.
"Calm down child-" Aurinko said calmly.
"Don't try that on me again!" Luna hissed.
Aurinko blinked. For once she could not influence Luna.
Damn Elements of Harmony. Aurinko thought. With that she faded into the inky blackness and Luna's vision returned.
Luna stared into the eyes of her terrified sister.
"Luna are you alright?!" Celestia said. Luna shook her head.
"Aurinko was trying to corrupt me again. But don't worry I fended her off." Luna said with grimace. Celestia sighed with relief.
Luna stood up and walked over to her bed.
"Do you mind if I sleep in? I'm tired..." Luna said hugging her pillow close to her.
"I don't mind at all. I suppose I could lower the Moon for you." Celestia said quietly to her younger sister. Luna nodded and the magic disappeared from her body. She looked as if she'd just came back form the Moon again. It didn't take long for Celestia to do the same and resume her pink mane.
"Thank you." Luna said tiredly. She'd already put the blankets over herself and shut her eyes. A sunny yellow aura surrounded Celestia's blankets and pulled them over herself. She nestled into them comfortably.
"Goodnight sister." Luna said quietly.
"Goodnight." Celestia said as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
Though Luna was asleep she was truly dancing around other's dreams; seeking out nightmares. That'd been her job after all. She loved doing so really, helping others overcome their ears. Recalling Scootaloo's own fears it reminded her slightly of when she was a filly. Lily had been telling ghost stories and Luna freaked out. However Celestia got her to calm down about it. Luna chuckled as she flew around the vast dream space. Without any dreams the dream realm was blank and boring; This how it mostly was during the day, save a few specks of dreams. But during the glorious night it was an array of color and light. The edge of these window-like structures were colorful splatters of light. She could fly around with ease, dodging around dreams whilst being able to dive into nightmares. Nightmares were like corrupted dreams; They still had the window like structure but the rim was not a splatter of beautiful colors and light. No. It was in fact a rift or sorts; one opening into the nightmare dreamscape. This place was where demonic beings were born of hatred. The rift spit out pitch black and dark blue lashes of dark emotions. These would of course effect the waking pony. But Luna's job made her destroy these; However the only way is to get the mare or stallion to face their fear. Not simply get over and done with it but recognize it. Fear was an important aspect of life after all. Without it somepony could be blind to danger- life threatening or not. With these thoughts reminiscing in her mind Luna pushed farther across the far and wide realm. She however was careful she was also fast. She knew she could not possibly look in depth into every single dream of every single creature on the world. Hence why ponies and other creatures alike still had nightmares. Eventually she found exactly what she was hunting. The corrupted window spewed out darkness. Spastic whips of darkness threw themselves around. Luna sighed and flew through the window. It was a large sunny field under a cloudless sky. The field stretched out and on for a while until it got caught between two mountains and the only way out was a deep ravine due north and to the south east where it opened once more was a small valley so thin you'd have to walk in single file. As Luna landed with a soft thump she looked around. It didn't look like any nightmare she'd seen before. Everything was so peaceful. The dark blue alicorn looked around, walking around a bit in the grass. Luna blinked and saw exactly what she was looking for but wasn't so sure if she was correct at what she was seeing. Turned towards a small pony was Celestia, except she looked thin. Very thin. Her sister's mane was pink like it used to be. There was no green in it whatsoever. Or blue for that matter. Luna had to be careful however; After all she didn't immediately know who's dream she was in. So with a quiet spell she became invisible, And not a moment too soon either. Celestia turned to look at teh spot Luna was. The thin alicorn sighed and laid down.
If she's so thin why doesn't she just eat the grass...? There's plenty of it Luna thought in silence.
Just then Celestia's head shot up and she rose to her hooves. Walking from the soft rolling hills of the plains was Twilight. She was walking towards Celestia it seemed.
Perhaps I'm mistaken and this Twilight's dream? Luna thought. She was angry with Twilight for what'd she'd done. So for now Luna contemplated what she'd do if it was the purple alicorn's dream.
Twilight burst off into a sprint towards Celestia and as soon as she came into a few feet Celestia turned into a puff of smoke, screaming as she did. The sound sent chills up the dark alicorn's spine. Luna didn't notice before but Twilight had been crying. Twilight stood for a few moments, either in disbelief or sadness. Luna quickly dissipated her spell and came into Twilight's few. Twilight stared at her. It was all to obvious to see she was afraid of what Luna might do to her.
"Princess Luna... I-I" Twilight tried to say as she stumbled over her words.
"Twilight. Calm." Luna said, lifting up her hoof then slowly moving it downwards. Twilight nodded.
"Luna... I want to apologize..." Twilight said quietly. There was shame written all over her; Her submissive stance made her look very small.
"Is that what this nightmare was about? You want to apologize. But you're afraid to. Aren't you?" Luna said. Twilight took a moment to realize Luna had read her like a book.
"Yes...I.. I did a terrible thing a-and now I bet Celestia even cares." Twilight said with a lump in her throat.
"If you think my sister would just give up on you then you know less about her than you think." Luna said. Though her words seemed cold her tone told a different story. It held a soft warmth to it. It was reassuring but not over the top.
"But.. I... I hit her. And I yelled at her and told her she was..." Twilight's voice trailed off as the lump made it harder to speak.
"Twilight you must understand that Celestia loves you. Why do you think she didn't attack you? Or why she went head on into battle when she wasn't even done recovering?" Luna said, the warmth around her growing slightly.
"Could it be okay if you didn't tell Celestia about our.. chat here? I want to apologize truthfully." Twilight asked softly. Luna nodded.
"But of course. But next time try to keep your fearful angry to a minimum." Luna said as she flew out of the nightmare.
She could already see the darkness being thrown from it and replaced with the bright colors and light. It didn't take long for the darkness to be destroyed. With a slightly happier sigh she flew onward, searching more nightmares. Thankfully the dark rifts had been small that night. Which struck her as odd for once.
It'd seem like there'd be more tonight... Luna thought in silence. She beat her wings a bit harder to come to a hover.
Luna yawned. It was time to wake up. Luna opened up a rift back into the waking world and found her sister asleep in her bed.
"Sister. Time to wake up. The Celebration's soon." Luna said, walking over to nudge her sister. Celestia yawned and stretched. With that she rose up.
"Thank you Luna. Sorry for having you wake me I suppose I snoozed." Celestia said quietly.
"It wasn't a problem Tia." Luna said with a smile. Celestia rubbed her eye and smiled back.
Like all mornings they came down, ate and bathed. Then got ready for the day. However Celestia's mane hung down as well as Luna's oddly enough.
"That's strange.." Luna said as she held the dark blue hair on her hoof.
"Indeed." Celestia said as it struck her odd.
"Well let's not dally. We've got Celebration to attend!" Luna said with enthusiasm.
It didn't take long for them to arrive on the large circular area. With the golden pedestal like structure in the middle. Celestia would fly up and raise the Sun as she did why Luna now would lower it, diving behind Celestia before coming back up and hovering below her sister. In the winter the process would be switched on the opposite side of the city. Celestia and Luna walked forward and in front of the structure, ponies clearing out of the way. The large crowd didn't seem to mind that their rulers' manes fell . Nor that it was the crack of dawn essentially. It took no words for the ceremony to begin. Luna easily lept through the crest of the structure and dove down. Ponies gasped. Celestia quickly turned to face them all and spread her wings and took off from a stand still. Ponies gasped. Celestia's horn glowed and the Sun began to rise up behind her and then out of the literal blue of the horizon Luna flew upwards after her Moon disappeared under the horizon. Behind Celestia was the sun, perfectly outlining her silhouette as Luna's darker hovered under her. The ponies gasped in awe then erupted into cheers. The alicorn's held proud smiles on their face. For a moment in time they were in perfect harmony. Such a wonderful feeling truly. Slowly the two descended.
"That was amazing!" One small filly said with glee as he looked up to Luna and Celestia.
"Why thank you." Luna said, her blue eyes lit up.
The filly giggled happily and ran back to his mother. Luna had a small smile on her face as they walked away. Celestia couldn't help but feel happy. But something became apparent. Like something was wrong.
"Luna.I believe it's time to check the portal to Tartarus." Celestia said with grimace. Luna looked at her in confusion.
"Sister you must be mistaken. We checked the portal one moon ago." Luna said.
"Something just feels wrong..." Celestia said, her purple eyes looking around. Luna sighed.
"If it will make you feel any better then we'll go and check." Luna said, slightly irritated. Celestia nodded and they continued to walk until reaching the throne room in silence. It didn't take long to get everything in order for their journey.
"I suppose it's time to go. Luna said on top of their balcony.
"Indeed." Celestia said softly. With that they took off and into the air. It'd been forever since she'd flown.
Luna shifted her weight and veered off to the left, Celestia doing the same. No pony could follow them and it was too dangerous to be close to the entrance of the cave. As they sped past Ponyville it looked as if two pegasi had been racing., But they were going far to fast to be pegasi. With concerned faces below them the alicorns picked up speed effortlessly. They headed towards a specific place. One they rarely checked on, for Cerberus had defended it well. Though Cerberus was more for insurance rather than to keep the demonic forces from escaping. The taller alicorn dove down into a forest clearing, the blue one behind her. With a soft thump of hooves on the ground they landed. The huge cave opening before them moaned. Written across the top of the cave in golden text was a magical seal that would close off Tartarus from the world for eons. Or at least that was it was supposed to do. Normally the golden text had a soft glow to it but as of the moment it simply glimmered in the darkness.
"Sister. The incantations Mother and Father placed have weakened." Luna said with grimace. She peered into Celestia's eyes. Celestia pursed her lips and her purple eyes glanced back at the text.
"That must mean Mother..." Luna said. Or at least tried to before a knot in her throat stopped her.
"No. Mother promised." Celestia before gritting her teeth in angry.
Luna could only look somberly at the cave. Celestia however would have none of that. The tall alicorn summoned her will into her horn and forced it out into the cave. A beam of golden light shot out and into Tartarus; passing right through the seal with ease. Celestia and Luna's magic would transfer through Tartarus without opening the portal. The beam of light shone brightly even though the cave was pitch black. As it went into the invisible portal it disappeared but the last bits of light from it stayed behind. Bidding it's source goodbye before going back into the air. luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could hear everything; The coos and cries of the forest from afar, the steady inhale and exhale of her breath as well as her sister's. It seemed as though the birds and animals of the forest had already knew not to stay around the gate. The two of them were alone.
"Sister..." Celestia said as her lip quivered. There had been no response from their mother or father even. In silence the two re sealed the gate, Aware of their parents' fates.
The two alicorns took off. Sadness and fear overwhelmed them, as their minds raced they never once saw that they were descending into the forest itself. Luna only noticed as her hoof brushed the canopy. A simple mistake. They ascended once more this time trying to pay more attention to their surroundings. It wasn't that late in the day but it felt so dark. Celestia sighed as they flew. They passed over Ponyville slowly; Or at least slowly compared to how they came. But they flew on, eventually arriving in Canterlot. The lively look in their eyes was gone. Like all the color just disappears. On top of their balcony Celestia looked over the kingdom. She didn't want to go back into the throne room. But neither did Luna. So they stood there. Neither expected the other one to go. And that was perfectly fine as of that moment. Especially with the warmth dripping down their faces. Celestia faced Luna, who was just about to head down. Celestia opened up her hooves for a hug Luna sniffled and ran into her sister's embrace, weeping. Celestia pulled her sister closer.
"It's okay..." Celestia said softly into Luna's ears. Luna's lip quivered and she looked into her sister's eyes.
"Thank you sister." Luna said, resting her head on Celestia's shoulder.
"Don't fret Luna. I'll attend court. For now you may stay up here if you please." Celestia said smoothly.
"No. I'll come with you." Luna said with a small smile up to her sister. Celestia smiled back and they stood up. Luna wiped off the warmth and they walked in silence. Sure, she was sad. But at least Celestia was there. Their hoof steps echoed down the hallways, shattering the silence. Just then three tillies ran up to Celestia and Luna. Luna remembered that a School was coming to Canterlot Castle today. She'd completely forgotten. The three fillies blinked. An orange pegasus with a dark pink mane blinked. The white unicorn's mouth hung open as her curl lavender mane danced around with her head's movement. The yellow earth pony smiled at them.
"Good afternoon Princess.. Princesses? Princesi? no that's not right..." The unicorn chirped.
"It's good afternoon Princesses!" The ornage pegasi barked. The unicorn stuck it's tongue out.
"Good afternoon to tho-you." Luna said calmly.
"Is somethin' wrong with yer manes? Don't they normally wave around." The yellow earth pony said, throwing in some hoof motions. Celestia glanced at Luna.
"Oh you see our manes are not perfect so sometimes they stop." Celestia said slowly. She didn't really know. That's when her heart lurched. Another solar flare? Celestia contriscted the muscles in her chest to prolong it as long as she could but by ten Luna and the filles noticed she was trembling slightly.
"Princess Celestia are you okay?" The ornage filly asked worridly.
"I'm fine..." She slowly said, before coming back into her composure.
In all truth she and Luna were far from fine.