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// A Hopeless Plan 
// Story: Myths of the Night 
// by VelasBane 
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	It was only when the group of friends reunited in Luna's room that the mourning reached its height.  Rainbow Dash was already inconsolable with the disappearance of Scootaloo; hearing that Twilight Sparkle was also gone destroyed her.  Luna watched with a broken heart, unable to offer anything to them; Orion stood next to her, with Posy and Vela to his right.  Soon the grieving friends had quieted and sat in a circle, heads bowed and close together.  Applejack leaned heavily on Rarity, weak with pain.  Luna took a step forward to join them, but Orion’s voice cut through the silence and stopped her.
“Princess Luna, how far would you go to fix what has been wronged?”
“To the Black Lands and beyond,” she replied without hesitation.
“Who rules in your stead, then?”
“Celestia.”  She stared down at Orion.  “She did it for a thousand years; she can do it again.”
Orion did not look up at her.  “The legends say that a gate to the Black Lands exists near my home.  Whether you believe that you can venture to the land of the dead or not, I can bring you there.”
“I know of this place,” Luna replied quietly, looking back to the group of friends.  “Such a journey is perilous; the legends from our ancestors said that none who attempted to enter the Mouth of Cerberus were ever seen again.  But if it is the only way to bring Twilight Sparkle back, then I must go and try.  Perhaps the legends are true.”
A hoof stomped on the floor, and Luna glanced up.  She saw Applejack standing, parting herself from Rarity, and taking a firm step forward.  The other four watched her closely.
“I’m goin’ with ya.”  Applejack’s voice was hoarse with grief, and she limped heavily as she walked toward Luna; but there was a grim determination in her eyes.  “If it’ll bring back Twilight an’ help us get Scootaloo, you c’n bet I’m goin’.”
The entire group came forward; Rainbow Dash, then Rarity, then Pinkie Pie, and finally Fluttershy.  They stood, shoulder to shoulder, their faces showing a range of fear, pain, and grief; but none would be talked out of it.  And in the back of her mind, Luna began to wonder if there would be some benefit to having the Elements of Harmony along - perhaps they would be of more assistance than she imagined.  The idea, however, did not sit easily with her - the risks were great, and she couldn't help but try to talk them out of it once more.
“I cannot ask you all to join me.  We go to a land of death to bargain with He Who Calls; I have a better chance of returning alive with Twilight than any other, and slim odds are barely better than no odds at all.  I am the only one who could hope to leave the Black Lands if I am allowed in; I don’t know what would happen to…”
“Twilight would go for us,” Rainbow Dash snapped.  “She’s our PFF.  We have to go.”
“And you cain’t stop us,” Applejack said firmly.   She turned to her brother.  “You take care of the young’uns an’ the farm while we’re away, Big Mac.”
“Now wait a minute!” Apple Bloom shouted, stamping a hoof.  “Scootaloo’s our friend, too.  We ain’t bein’ left behind!”
“Dear ones,” Luna said soothingly, kneeling down.  “I know your courage and loyalty to Scootaloo are beyond question.  But please understand; we are going to a place nopony from Equestria has ever gone to or returned from, and the Black Lands are far too dangerous for even Twilight Sparkle’s friends.  I cannot allow you to come with us.  I shouldn’t let them come at all, but the Elements may be of more use than I can guess at.”
“Please stay with me.”
Luna’s head shot up with alarm at the voice.  Celestia stood wearily in the doorway, looking weak and drained.  “I have lost my protégé and will soon lose my sister.  Please stay and help me here.  I cannot lose any others.”
Luna stared levely at Celestia, stung that her older sister had already written her off for dead.  True, she had little hope of returning alive, but at least Twilight Sparkle’s friends had some hope - Celestia had given up completely.  However, the distraction worked; Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom couldn’t resist the invitation to be Celestia’s guests, but Rarity’s younger sister stomped up to Luna and stared up at her intensely.  “You bring our friends back, Luna, or else you have to answer to us.”
Luna smiled thinly.  “I swear to Lady Theia that I will return them home.”
Though she was unfamiliar with the name, Sweetie Belle could tell that it was a solemn promise; so with a firm nod she turned and trotted back to Apple Bloom.  The Apple family then stood together, eyes closed and silent; Sweetie Belle and Rarity lay down side by side, the older sister talking about the things they would all do together when they came back. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie sat together and apart from the siblings, steeling themselves for the journey ahead; fear passed over all of their faces numerous times as Luna watched.
Soon Applejack and Rarity joined them.  The five again sat together, heads close and eyes closed.  Applejack was speaking quietly to them, but Luna couldn’t make out the words; nor did she feel pressed to impose on their circle.  She instead turned to face Orion, Vela, and Posy; the two youngsters were crouched side by side, watching the five friends.  Orion stared up at Luna with a strangely detached look in his eyes.
“Retire for the time being, friends,” Luna said slowly, keeping her gaze on Orion.  “Meet in the main hall at sunset and we will leave then.  Orion, may I have a private word?  Perhaps Twilight Sparkle’s friends can show Vela and Posy the castle?”
The two pegasus fillies were plainly terrified to be parted from their guardian, but Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy approached them warmly.  The thought of comforting the two young ones seemed to lift their own spirits, and the fillies were smiling before they had even exited the room.  Rainbow Dash alone paused at the doorway to glance back at Luna, then she trailed behind Big Mac, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom to bring up the rear.  Once the sound of their voices had faded into the depths of the castle, the younger sister rounded angrily on the elder - and Celestia took a step back, her face melting with misery as she was so confronted.  Fighting back a sob, Celestia spoke brokenly to the rage and betrayal simmering in Luna’s eyes.
“Luna, I beg your forgiveness.  Please.  I wronged so many today - I have failed my country.  I have failed you, our parents, our subjects - I have paid dearly already.  Please do not make me suffer more.”
“Why would you not believe me?  I could have warned you.  Maybe we could have done something.”
Celestia looked down.  “How could I?  We have been at peace for so long.  I did not think that such old terrors would come back to haunt us.  How could I?  Legends - all old legends and stories.  I wanted to believe we were done with this.  All of these wars and horrors.  We could protect Equestria with the help of the Elements of Harmony.  But this is something... If I had listened to you, Twilight Sparkle…”
“We will bring her home, Celestia.”
Orion and Celestia shared a look; the former spoke gently.  “He Who Calls is no easy beast to bargain with.  He will often only exchange a life for a life, and even then it is rare.”
“I know this.  I will offer my life for Twilight Sparkle’s.”
Orion simply closed his eyes and bowed his head.  It took nearly a full minute for the emotions to register on Celestia’s face - shock, confusion, horror.  Finally, she found the words she needed.
“Luna, you can’t!”
“Celestia, you ruled Equestria without me for a thousand years.  If it will bring back the one pony who can save us all, I will offer my life to He Who Calls.  Surely he will accept the offer.  I am an immortal being - she is but a humble mare.”
“It could work,” Orion said with a shrug.  Luna glanced down at him.  “It isn’t a fair trade on our end, but-“
“You will callously bargain with my sister’s life?” Celestia bellowed out with horror.  For the first time since he had come down, Orion showed true fear; he took a step away from Celestia’s rage, but Luna quickly stepped between them.
“Celestia, I have made up my mind.  Had you listened to me, perhaps we wouldn’t have to go to these ends.  But now we have to believe in old legends to have any hope of saving Equestria.  I will go to the Mouth of Cerberus, and if I am allowed into the Black Lands, I will bargain for Twilight Sparkle’s life.”
The white alicorn stared numbly at the blue, and suddenly Luna could see a thousand years of heavy pain and loneliness weigh on Celestia’s shoulders.  Luna felt a stab of pain in her chest and turned her head away, closing her eyes.  She heard her sister’s sharp exhale and heard her turn her back on Luna, as she had all those years ago - a bitter taste rose in Luna’s mouth, and she turned her head to stare at her sister’s back.  This time she would go on her own accord to fix the mess that Celestia had made - she wouldn’t be sent away on Celestia’s.
“I will send home the Elements of Harmony so that Equestria can remain safe, even at the cost of my own life.”
Celestia said nothing.  She was utterly defeated, and her body reflected that weakness.  She drew in a deep breath then, with a great deal of effort, straightened herself.  A deep sadness radiated from her, but her voice was like stone.
“So be it.  May the blessings of all of Equestria go with you and your company, and may Hyperion and Theia grant you a safe return home.”  She paused, adding a low “All of you,” before striding out of the room.  The door closed softly behind her, and Luna stared absently after her.
“Perhaps we’ll find that He Who Calls will be gracious when we arrive and send us all home alive,” Orion offered, sensing her discomfort.  But Luna shook her head slowly and turned away from him; he couldn’t possibly understand.
“Or none of us,” Luna retorted.  With a weary sigh, she went to her bed and stretched out so she could face the window and stare outside.  “Please leave me.  I must be alone for a while.”