“So you really just walk in like this?” Luna asked Twilight as they strolled through the palace in Canterlot, the guards nodding with smiles to Twilight as they walked.
“I grew up here, and the palace guards stay for a while. They all know me.” Twilight said, stopped to say hello to a particularly old guard before they went on their way.
“Evening Lady Sparkle, she’s in there.” A guard said when they started down a hallway that led to elegant wooden doors. They bowed their head and stepped aside. Twilight knocked three times and entered, Luna following suit. The guards eyed her, but other than that the knight didn’t feel too out of place.
“Finally, I’ve been counting the days for nearly a week now!” Celestia exclaimed, standing up from her desk to engulf the girl who strode up to her in a big hug.
“There was a big line for registration and lord knows they’d only let Luna walk around if I was with her this time of year.” Twilight replied.
“A month and a half is too long, I always hated tournament seasons. I’m always far too busy to visit, even when you’re just in another part of the palace. Good to see you, Luna.” Celestia said, clasping Luna’s hand.
“And you as well, Celestia. I have to ask, have you made any progress in your research about my past?” Luna asked. Celestia adopted an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry, but even just now I was engulfed in paperwork and public meetings. Every man woman or child with a title believes themselves entitled to have an audience with the Princess to discuss the tournaments. I mean they are, but it’d be nice for some peace and quiet.” Celestia explained. Luna and Twilight looked at each other and nodded. Celestia’s expression went from dreading to curious.
“I know that look, Twilight. You know something I don’t, but you’re giddy with excitement so I know it isn’t something good.” The Princess said rather seriously.
“It’s not innately bad, we just don’t know how you’ll take it.” Luna said.
“Did you get the archives in Sir Vincent’s will?” Twilight asked. Celestia cautiously nodded and pointed towards a rather old leather wrapped tome on the bedside table.
“I managed to pinpoint the part concerning him, it’s marked, but I haven’t been able to do more than glance at the cover before falling asleep every night.” Celestia said. Twilight opened it and started flipping through the marked areas.
“I knew who my mother was, since you are my Princes I can’t ask youto keep a secret but I must beg of you to hear us out.” Luna started. Celestia didn’t know how to respond to that, but before she could think of anything to say in order to do so, Twilight walked over and handed her the tome.
On the slightly aged pages there was a picture of Luna’s crest. Celestia looked up at them both, Luna giving Twilight a questioning look. Twilight shook her head and motioned for Celestia to lead.
“The crescent moon in the night sky, an ancient and powerful crest for an ancient and powerful family. The royal family’s crest of the sun started with Solaire, before it was… The crescent moon… The last queen to use the crescent moon was… Nightmare Moon… My Grandmother. We’re related?” Celestia read, finishing by looking up at Luna in surprise. She nodded.
“I did not know the origin of my crest, but I did know that my mother was also your mother, Queen Solaire.” Luna said softly. Celestia was speechless, an unreadable expression on her face.
“My sister?” She asked in a whisper barely loud enough to beconsidered speech. She slowly rose to her feet and looked Luna dead in the eyes. It was Luna’s turn to be surprised as tears fell from the Princess’ eyes and she put a hand over her mouth before pulling the Knight into an embrace similar to the one she gave to Twilight.
“My sister… My sister, if only I would have known I… Do you know how that scar happened?” Celestia started, her voice wavering a bit as her tears flowed, gently touching Luna’s scarred cheek as she looked at it. They were tears of joy and sadness all in one.
“Are you aware of the old Prophecy from the Seer’s Court that resurfaced lately?” Twilight asked. Celestia nodded and looked Luna in the eyes again.
“If you are the moon shrouded in darkness then I knew I was right to write that old poppycock off as just that… I don’t think you even want the throne, let alone conspire to steal it.” Celestia said, laughing a little bit as she managed to stop her tears as she pulled Luna into an embrace again. Twilight noticed the light sound of retreating footsteps at the door, but ignored it for now.
“But sister, My place is without question at the throne.” Luna said with a light smile. Celestia quickly put Luna at arms length, gaping at her.
“At the throne, not on it. Standing or sitting beside you or in my proper place directly behind your right side.” She continued. Luna thought for a moment, almost dumbfounded, but soon gave an awkward laugh that turned into a sweet laugh.
“Is that an offer to be my Hand?” She asked incrediously.
“Merely a suggestion, I’ll win this tournament to that goal; to prove I am capable.” Luna repied. Celestia chuckled lightly and sat down, not sure how to really act anymore.
“Tournament be damned. You’re courting the girl who’s practically my daughter, you’re one of my best friends and I trust your skills. You were born in Equestria and raised by an Equestrian knight and you openly admit your only desires are of that to serve. Not to mention you’re my sister…” Celestia started, but trailed off at the end.
“Wait if you are my sister and that Prophecy is as old as we are… and you said that scar…” She continued. After a moment she bolted upright, fury in her eyes.
“Someone in my court did it to you?!” She nearly demanded. Luna was almost afraid to name those responsible, lest they be turned to a spatter on the walls. But she nodded anyways.
“I heard someone running just a moment ago… We didn’t put up the normal eavesdropping enchantment so I imaigne those who did will show themselves soon.” Twilight said softly. Celestia looked at them and then at the door. She sat back down and groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“I don’t know if this is the worst or the best tournament season so far, but it’s definitely the most straining…” She groaned. Twilight quickly hugged onto her side, Luna following suit. They all grinned and Celestia chuckled slightly as there was a bit of a clutter outside the door. Celestia stood back up as it intesified.
“I said get out of the way! There is a Usurper in there! The Princess is in danger!” Someone yelled. Celestia and Twilight recognized the voice as the Elder Seer, the Seer on Celestia’s council.
“Stand down, your duty has been done to the best of your abilities, you can’t have known what the woman was. Let us do our duty now and protect our Princess.” A much more commanding, yet not nearly as demanding, voice said.
“That’s my brother…” Twilight said.
“Sir, the woman you speak of came in with your sister. I trust her judgement more than I trust our own.” One of the guards blocking the newcomers’ passage retorted.
“What?... Even the best are wrong, soldier. Please just step aside, I will see you flogged if you continue to disobey.” Shining said.
“Oh for heaven’s sake just let them in already!” Celestia called. Within moments the door opened and a contingent of the elite royal guards entered.
“Sorry sir, but we report to her over you…” One of the door guards said apollogetically as Shining passed. The new guards isolated Luna from the other two, pointing their spears at her, as an old man in robes scowled at her.
“That scar, it’s definitely her. Take her to the gallows, she is to be hanged a traitor.” He said and turned.
“Stand down, men and woman of the elite guard.” Celestia said in a voice even more commanding than Shining’s, and definitely more demanding. They sort of stood there, spears still pointing at Luna, as they awkwardly looked towards the now furious old man and the Princess.
“Do as she says. Councilman, we didn’t come here to murder, we came here to protect. Obviously the Princess wasn’t in any danger so I’d like to hear the story before I start arresting people, let alone sentence them to death. And my men answer to me or the Princess, not you.” Shining said, stepping up to Luna. She sighed in relief as the men raised their spears without hesitation.
“Robert, Edward, please escort the Councilman to his chambers and make sure he doesn’t leave.” Celestia commanded, barely containing her fury. The doorguards quickly did as they were told, ignoring the angry threats and spoutings of the old man.
“I have a feeling we’re on the wrong side of this particular situation…” Shining said, watching as the man was nearly dragged away.
“For starters he nearly sentenced my betrothed to death…” Twilight said lowly.
“Betrothed?” Celestia and Shining asked simultaneously.
“Last week, but that’s beside the point.” Twilight said.
“We’ll talk about that later. For now, Captain, what do you know about this woman?” Celestia asked. Shining rubbed the back of his head.
“Well I just learned she was betrothed to my sister… But with this knowledge I can safely assume that you are Sir Rose that Twilight speaks highly of. Your name comes coupled with honor, honesty, modesty and above all else; one who never gives up. I imagine there’s more to that if you ask me such a thing, Princess.” Shining answered.
“I only just learned of it moments ago, but my mother had a second daughter… One that was prophecised apparently…” Celestia said in response. Shining looked confused for a second, but his eyes widened and he looked between Luna and Celestia a few times. His men looked confused, though.
“She is your sister?” He asked. The three of them nodded and all of the guards gained looks of surprise.
“That man saw my future and mistook it. I only want to serve, yet what his clouded eyes saw was decuit and trechery. Only a few months after by birth, they tried to assassinate me with a poisoned blade. My father stepped in before the fatal blow could be dealt, but the assailant dropped his blade. It was a poison that ate the flesh like rot, and I think you can guess where it landed. After that the Queen sent me away to safety with my Father to look after me.” Luna explained. Shining was silent, as were his men. A few of them even leaned against the walls in bewilderment.
“And you know it was him?” Shining asked after a few moments of silence. Celestia looked at Luna, but Twilight was the one who answered.
“It’s even in the archives here… ‘My Council Seer explained to me that my second born had to be dealt with, admitting to the attempted assassination of my daughter… I cannot raise a hand against him, though. In this time of war and suffering the people will flock to anything… I’m forced to compromise with him and send my beloved second born daughter away. Vincent has demanded that he be the only one to care for her. I know he doesn’t hate me for letting this happen, but I can’t help but think he does…’ Twilight read.
“It’s from the diaries recorded in here, only the Princess has access to them.” She continued.
“I can confirm that it is the same person, he is named throughout what parts of it I’ve managed to read.” Celestia said. Her fury intensified when Luna told her story, even moreso when Twilight confirmed it. All of the guards and Shining, even Twilight and Luna, were at least a little scared of her. Celestia realized this and slowly sat down. She was actualy shaking slightly with how furious she was. She took a few deep, shaky breaths and tried to calm herself.
“You are dismissed, close the door on your way out and Shining pleae go and relieve Robert and Edward to come back here and resume their duties and station someone else in their place. I fear for Grumman’s life if I try and see him now… and I can’t sentence him to death or even throw him in the dungeons for it… I’ll deal with him after the tournament is over and done with but for now he is stripped of all his titles and prestige.” Celestia said unnaturally calm as her shaky hands gripped the wooden arms of her chair with enough force to give out a faint creaking noise. Shining nodded and they all saluted before leaving.
Almost as soon as the door closed, Luna and Twi quickly pulled Celestia into a shared embrace.
“It’s alright, Sister… I am here now, that man cannot cause me any more harm.” Luna said softly to her as Celestia gripped them tightly. Celestia started silently crying again as she buried her face into Luna’s shoulder as they crouched down to her level.
“I… but he already h-hurt you so much… I-I… I wish I had known…” Celestia started. Twilight was actually a little frightened at her, she had never seen the Princess in this sort of condition. Celestia’s words dissolved into light sobs as the three held their embrace for minutes until Celestia finally managed to calm down enough to stop shaking. Luna held her at arm’s length then, looking her dead in the eyes.
“Look at me, Sister. You see a scarred face, not a face that is suffering. What happened has happened, it made me into the person I am right here and now. Perhaps what that man did was right, or at least the basics of it. We can’t know if I would have become power hungry and treasonous should I have lived like I would have. What I do know is that I could not be more happy with my life now. Well, I could, but that would mean you have to smile and be done with this crying. It pains me to see you cry.” Luna explained. Twilight was surprised, She had rarely ever heard Luna speaking with such emotion, let alone to another. Luna was even surprised by her own words.
“Luna… I think this is the best torunament season yet…” Celestia finally said after a ghost of a smile appeared on her face and she again buried her face into Luna’s shoulder. Luna giggled softly and gently stroked her sister’s hair as she calmed down. After a moment she pulled Twilight closer and they all put their heads together.
“This right here, this is a bond. It’s a bond of love and friendship, of family both blood and otherwise. It will never go away, and we will always be here. It’s hard to make one suffer when they are three in one.” Twilight said. Both she and Luna kissed Celestia on the forehead when they looked up and Celestia wiped her eyes, taking a few deep breaths to finish calming down.
“That’s the first time my composure has ever completely crumbled like that, and for once I’m glad it did…” She said, sniffling a bit, as she gave them a shy smile. Luna looked out of the window and saw that nearly an hour had passed, so she stood.
“I wouldn’t want to leave you for the world right now, but if I’m going to earn my place as your Hand then I have to go prepare…” She said.
“I’ll stay with her, and we’ll both be there when the time comes.” Twilight said. Celestia nodded and glanced over to her desk that was still stacked with documents. “And of course I’ll help you with your paperwork as usual.” Twilight continued with a giggle. Luna leaned down and they kissed before she left. She looked back and saw Luna actually pick Celestia up and carry her to the bed, where she laid her down and sat with the Princess’ head in her lap; stroking her head. Luna never thought she would ever see the Princess in such a state.
“Robet and Edward, right?” She asked when she closed to door to find the door guards back. They nodded. “If you value your image of the Princess, then I would neither let a soul through or look in yourselves. They nodded again, saluting her afterwards.
She nodded back and quickly made her way back out of the place towards the tournament grounds where Rarity should have finished setting up her smithy by now.