//------------------------------// // Chapter Seven: War is Inevitable; The Sundering of the Elements, and of Families // Story: A Princedom Divided - Book 1 of The Princess and Her Guard Duology // by Moonlit Novel //------------------------------// Chapter Seven: War is Inevitable; The Sundering of the Elements, and of Families We arrived at the element of Kindness's house, as I said before, and Luna had knocked on the door, it took a bit, but soon the door opened and there as the second most beautiful creature I had ever seen—the first being Luna of course—a yellow pegasus with a long pink mane and tail, her demeanor was one that one would expect of someone who had never met another pony before, one of nervous fear. ”Oh! Hello Pr-Princess Luna” said this beautiful, but apparently shy creature. “Fluttershy, I need you to go with us to help us inform the town of very dark news, news that I am scared to say is true, as I was there, as was my personal guard and a few others of what was my Lunar Guard, now my part of my Evening Armada” she said and our group looked at her surprised at her choice of words, almost as if she had decided she was going to fight Princess Celestia whether anyone liked it or not. Not for herself, no she was not like that I learned that from my time with her, no, but for the ponies of Equestria. ”What news, Princess? Did something happen to Celestia? Are the ponies of Canterlot OK?” asked Fluttershy as she grew increasingly louder from the near whisper she once was at once she started to get on a roll. “I will explain everything at the town hall, but I need you to get the rest of your friends and to inform Rainbow Dash that she needs to keep an eye out for the Solar guard, they have been tricked into thinking me and my group of ponies are enemies of Equestria...” said Luna and I looked at her, something told me this was not going to be a slam-bam victory, no, this was going to be... “Of c-course Princess! I mean if you really need me too...” said Fluttershy as she started to trail off the confidence she had gain quickly evaporating as she took a look at our group, sure there were 3 females in our group, but with 4 males, and 3 of them more combat oriented, and myself, being fully armored, and equipped with my sword and shield, the group looked more fearsome than she was ready for... Luna ran into a young colt by the name of Pipsqueak, with whom Luna spent a few moments, smiling all the while, though it was a sad smile, one you would hope to never see on the face of the one you love, or even anyone else to be honest, rather you would want them to smile happily, or rage about, not that torturous sad smile. Soon however we left the young colt, Luna telling him that he should be in bed and he shook his head that he couldn't sleep while his favorite princess was in town which brought that sad smile back in full force... “How old are you son?” I asked speaking up for the first time since Luna sat with Pipsqueak the young colt stood up and said proudly that he was a month away from reaching double digits, something that made me smile sadly myself, this war that was inevitable would encompass the whole of his childhood, and that of his children if we are truly unlucky... We soon reached the Town hall, where Twilight Sparkle, the favorite student of Princess Celestia stood and was about to say something, but seeing the non-aggressive way we walked in she seemed to realize that something was off. “Ah, Twilight Sparkle, student of me sister...” said Luna, my jaw clenched, and my stance definitely grew more defensive “Princess Luna, is it true? Did you really attack Princess Celestia?” asked Twilight and before Luna could speak I tore in angrily “Tartarus she did! Celestia attacked Princess Luna's Lunar Guard, and instead of attacking she spirited them, and myself out of there!” Luna gave me a reproachful look but I didn't care at the moment as I continued, “Celestia has making herself out to be the victim, when in fact the victim here is Princess Luna herself!” I said and I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked towards it and it was Blue Star, she shook her head and motioned towards Luna who's eyes were starting to tear up. Taking a deep breath I fell silent as Luna walked up to Twilight. “Twilight Sparkle, I do not expect you to 'betray' my sister, but you and everyone here in Ponyville have a right to know what happened, what is happening because of such, and what will happen.” said Luna as she hung her head “Princess... Luna... I... I'm sorry” I said speaking up again but in the end I fell quiet. “Are you telling me that Princess Celestia lied to me? Are you telling me that my brother is now a traitor!?” asked Twilight a little bit of anger slipping into her voice near the end and to her credit, Luna did not even flinch, no instead her head rose sharply having her eyes meet Twilight's. “I do not assume such, in fact I assume the one you have been corresponding with is not my sister, my sister would not have attacked me, especially so directly. Even when I was attempting to cause eternal night she didn't try to attack me directly until there was no other choice.” said Luna her tone sharp biting back into Twilight, causing the young purple unicorn to flinch. “Now if you want to know more, I suggest you let me get up to the podium and talk, I will answer what questions I can after I have explained the situation” Twilight nodded some tears in her eyes, never before had she been scolded in such a manner, but perhaps this would be a good thing for her... Luna was soon called up to the podium by Mayor Mare whom seemed to be leaning towards allying herself with our cause, which surprised me. After the speech given by Luna, one that covered everything we knew, from how Celestia had grown to be a lot more hostile over the last month and how she believed this was not truly of her sister's design, that she honestly believed something was terribly wrong with her sister. To how she was looking for volunteers to aid her in what would be, and she did not sugarcoat it, the first war Equestria had seen since its founding. She also pleaded with the elements themselves, Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, and Magic, to aid her in a forming a pact of honor with whomever this being was that had taken her sister's place, that this war would not affect the movements of the celestial bodies. Something that all of them agreed to quite readily, until something happened, something that surprised me, a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail flew up to Luna, with whom I was standing beside my stance shifted to a much more defensible stance as the pegasus landed. This pegasus was the Element of Loyalty, Rainbow Dash. The Element of Honesty, Applejack―an orange Earth Pony with a blonde mane and tail tied in a... Ponytail―also walked up, followed closely by the Element of Generosity, Rarity―a white unicorn with an elegant purple mane and tail. “Girls?” said Twilight in a hurt voice, surprised as I was when they took positions behind Luna obviously supporting her position. “Ah'm sorry Twilight, but ah have a feeling Princess Luna here is telling the truth, and ah would be a right fool to not support her” said Applejack, her voice heavy in a country accent. “Sorry Egghead, but something tells me Luna is the one to be with, if she really thinks that Celestia has lost her mind, than maybe a little loyalty to someone fighting to protect Equestria is what we need.” said Rainbow Dash as she leaned back calmly “Rarity?” said Twilight in a hurt voice and Rarity fixed her eyes on Twilight's. “I'm sorry dear, but Luna could have just taken over the town, without much trouble, but instead she came to us in peace, and is asking us to help her, she isn't forcing us. Given the situation, I would have to say that is mighty generous of her” said the fashionista as she looked at Luna, “No, it is more than generous, and I do believe that Luna is trying her best to prevent this war for as long as possible “There doesn't have to be a war, Luna can just give herself-” started Twilight and suddenly stopped as she was glared at from all sides, even Spike, her young dragon assistant glared at her, Fluttershy and Pinkie said nothing though they kept quiet, uncharacteristically so for Pinkie, from what was known about her, the bubblegum pink pony was normally bouncy and noisy regardless of the situation. “You can't tell me that you are going to betray Princess Celestia? All because of the horseapples her jealous sister is spouting! Really Luna! I thought you learned your lesson a thousand years ago” said Twilight angrily “Twilight, you do not have to like it, but use your logic, would the Celestia we know and love practically attack Luna?” asked Spike and Twilight looked at Spike in shock, apparently surprised that he wasn't supporting her in this. “Not you too, Spike! No, you know what fine, I'm leaving! When Celestia destroys you traitors then you will know you were chose the wrong side” said Twilight and just before she got to the door I spoke up, the first time since my outburst “It is never the wrong side when you fight to protect something” I said and Twilight froze he hand on the door handle before she turned and glared at me and then at Luna. “I hope for your sake you don't suffer, because I will be fighting alongside my teacher, Celestia” she said before stomping out and slamming the door shut behind her causing the majority of the room to flinch, Luna and myself excluded as I knew this would happen, I knew we could not win everyone over, but it seemed that the town of Ponyville was ours without a fight... Soon after Twilight left the town hall it was discovered she had in fact left for Canterlot later that evening, Rainbow Dash did offer to get her back but Luna shook her head. “No, Rainbow Dash, we will see her soon enough, Spike the Dragon, please write a missive to the impostor, inform her I wish to meet her at a neutral location to discuss the rules of war” said Luna in a regal voice, but all one had to do was look at her to know that the fact the Elements of Friendship were torn asunder, because of a war not yet started, what causing her great grief. Soon there was news brought to Luna via one of the young children, something that tore at her heart all the more, that the blacksmith in the town was willing to make armor for her forces, and that several adults were looking to join her forces... Soon another missive arrived, this time by an out of breath Unicorn whom handed it to me, surprised, I took it and saw it was in fact addressed to myself. Opening the missive I noticed it was from Twilight's brother, Shining Armor... Moonlit Novel, I am writing to you because I know that you are undyingly Loyal to Princess Luna. Please Meet me at the Train station, Feel free to bring as many guard As you so choose. I do come in Piece, and wish to discuss the Current matter at hand, the Apparent threat to Equestria, and The danger you and Luna are in. I pray this message finds you soon And that you see me before I am caught By Celestia's forces. Shining Armor Former Captain of the Solar Guard 'Former captain? This does not bode well' I thought as I turned to Luna and proceeded to inform her about the missive from Twilight's brother, to which she promptly informed me to take with me no less than 12 guard, four unicorn, Earth ponies, and pegasus each. “Yes, Princess...” I said and Luna caught my hesitation “Are you alright Moonlit? I know that we have not gotten much sleep since arriving in the Everfree, and if you do not feel comfortable with meeting with Shining Armor, we can send someone else” said Luna a lot of caring in her voice and I shook my head. “No, Luna, I am worried, Shining Armor is a relationship with Princess Cadence, for him to go from loyalty to Celestia to... Well this...” I said. That caught Luna's attention. “Do you think that he is disloyal to the impostor? Or do you think that he is trying to trick you?” asked Luna and I sighed “I have no idea, but if he is joining us, then that would be a large boon for us, even more-so if Princess Cadence joins us...” I started stopping unsure if I wanted to continue “But?” Luna prompted “But if he is still loyal to Celestia, than we will have a problem, and this could very well be a trap...” I finished and Luna nodded in agreement “Is it worth the risk?” she asked me, or rather prompted me, knowing that at one point she had to make a similar decision. “Yes, or rather it has to be” I said obviously hoping the best... I was soon on my way to the train station, after Luna assured me that she would take every precaution to keep safe, and I left orders with the Lunar Guard that regardless of when she orders she is to be protected. “I'm glad you could make it, Moonlit” said Shining Armor as he stepped into the light out of the train station building, he looked rough, fur matted and a few cuts and what looked like a black eye. I frowned, my magic on autopilot as I scanned him and soon learned these were old wounds, and not ones anyone could willingly allow to happen to themselves... “What. Happened?” was all I said and Shining swallowed and started to explained that two days after the Gala he awoke in the dungeon being beat by a few of his own guard. He also explained that Celestia came down to visit him telling him that she could get all of this to stop, as long as he swore his loyalty to her, and that if he didn't she would have Cadence join him there. The whole thing took an hour to explain, and the sun was slowly setting and the moon slowly raising by this point. “... I have nowhere else to turn, Cadence is in trouble and-” I sighed while he continued to beg and plead... “Have you seen enough Princess?” I asked her and she walked into the train station “I have... I am sorry that you have gone through all of this Sir Shining Armor, but we need to know what do you plan on doing?” asked Luna as she stared the former Solar Guard captain in the eye, “What lengths are you prepared to go to, to save your beloved?” “Princess Luna, I formally request to join you, to save Equestria, all I ask in return is that you help me save Cadence”