~~~Part 1~~~
There's a saying about living forever: you don't. All the movies and magazine ads will tell you "Look young forever!" or "FOREVER STARTS TODAY!". They aren't wrong: you can look younger, but you'll still grow old. Bitter. Alone. As for 'forever'...putting "live" in front of it: who wants to live forever?
I guess this is coming simply from my experience. Having lived over 2 millennia, what have I gained? I banished my only sister, failed to protect an empire...and I never got to say sorry to the one stallion I hurt the most. Oh yes, there've been many. Perhaps even one too many. But as I held each one's hand as they died, I could never bring myself to cry. None. Until him. He always smiled, even in the worst of times. He ruled by my side for as long as I could remember. Everyday wasn't another day of meetings, law discussions, and politics; it was all distractions to get to the pot of gold. But it’s all in the past now.
2000 years later I'm still the same foal: not learning from the past, trying to prepare for the future. I've worn a mask my whole life. To the people, I'm their princess: sometimes a God, sometimes a judge.
Never a friend.
Even my protégé, Twilight, has fallen into the same line of thought. Oh sure, I've taught her what she knows about magic. I'm her teacher. But even at our weekly meetings, even at our tea times...she was always proper. Never a word out of line. I longed to go on the adventures she often wrote to me about. These days, she seems very distant. She now runs a magic school in Manehatten. Last I heard, she had even gotten a protégé of her own. Oh the days of old...
Even though I've had great times, I can't run away from my past. Every night, as I see my sister raise the moon, I can almost feel her cold glare cast upon me. When I look out my palace balcony, I see the crystal empire not as a sign of my protégé’s success, but my own failure to act. All around me, my entire palace is decorated with the portraits of heroes I fought with, taught with, and suffered with. But still...that one mural haunts me always: the ultimate symbol of my cowardice.
I...don't know how much longer I can do this.
Celestia
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 1: No Trace
Canterlot Castle
Celestial Bedroom
11:00 PM
"Alright! Back up!" Yelled Chief Shining Armor. "Soarin, keep the media back. Spitfire! I need the list of attendees."
As the two Wonderbolts sprinted into action, Shining mulled over the scene. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to look at: just some scorch marks and a chalk outline of where the original blast seemed to have occurred. There was no body to be found, nor any sign of a bomb going off. Just random scorch marks.
Shining looked around the room. Everything looked fine. The bed itself was neatly folded. The closet had been the first placed searched for an intruder, but not an announce of DNA was found. Meanwhile, the first responders, AKA the Wonderbolts, had burst in when they had noticed that the princess had disappeared for more than an hour.
The lead Wonderbolt returned. "Here's the list of guests. We've taken some into custody, mainly those who were seen around the time of the disappearance."
Shining shook his head. "That won't cut it."
"Hm? Surely it must have been someone who attended the event. No one else was able to get in prior to this event." Spitfire pulled out a map, detailing her security routes after her performance.
"Here's what I know. Guests come in at 6:00 PM. They enter from the main entrance drawbridge. Soarin and Fleetfoot had taken their separate squads to check the skies. At 7:15 PM, the gates were not only closed, but no disturbance had met the two captains or their subordinates. Now, as you can see from this map...there are not possible entrances from anywhere else other than the sky-"
"Wait." Shining interrupted. "What about the sewers? Back alleys?"
Spitfire shook her head, "Highly unlikely. Prior to the event, 2 days to be exact, magic builders came in and installed not only a security system in the sewers, but also a motion spell that alerts patrols in a nearby area with a loud honking sound. There are ways to disarm it, but to do so would take a potent spell decryptor."
"Now, back to the schedule. At 7:45 PM, the main Wonderbolts show began. Soarin took his team, Squad A, and did their performance for about 10 minutes. Pretty amateur to be honest-"
"Oh thanks Spitty." Soarin said, as he landed nearby. "Good to know you have such humor at this hour." He was sporting a light blue uniform, similar to what he wore to previous Galloping Galas. His various awards hung from his chest.
Spitfire sneered. "Please. Just because I'm on security detail doesn't mean I wasn't watching your performance." Almost as if having a showdown, she turned and flashed her own awards, far numerous than his own.
Soarin smiled. "And what the good captain's opinion?"
"You-"
"Enough!" Shining yelled. "Can we please get back to the important part? AKA WHAT HAPPENED?!"
Spitfire coughed. "Right. Apologies. Anyway, at 7:55, Fleet took over with her performance. She was feeling a little under the weather earlier today, so she finished at 8:00, which was when I gave my speech directly to Celestia from the stage. In that time, I had taken note of several other guests. Several foreign dignitaries, but also a few recognizable faces." She pulled out several photos. "Rarity and Coco Pommel from Manehatten. The Book Keeper Spike. Pinkie Pie from Cake & Bake. And even your own sister," she pulled out the last photo. "Head Mistress of Dawn's End Magic School, Twilight Sparkle."
Shining studied the pictures carefully. Almost smiling to himself, he stuffed them into an evidence bag. He could be emotional later. "Ahem. Continue."
"I finished the routine at 8:15-"
"A beautiful route."
"Uh." Spitfire stopped, looking at her subordinate. Was it possible for a yellow pony to be so red? "Yes, uh, right. So as I finished, I landed right in front of her to receive a rose-"
"Always knew you swung that- OW!" Soarin cried out in pain as Shining smacked him.
"And then I was backstage around 8:30. I went to meet guests at 8:45. Then my patrol began at 9:00. The gala was going strong downstairs. I met Princess Celestia herself around, I'd say, 9:30. She seemed very happy with the festivities but had to go to her chambers."
"And she didn't say anything about what she would do in there?" Shining questioned.
She shook her head. "She invited me for tea, but I refused. So I finished my routes and met with Fleet at the Banquet Hall. From then on, it was her problem. I saw a few guests leave, but nothing suspicious. She took patrol around 10, about 20 minutes after I went for a nice drink."
Shining nodded his head. "And what did you see when you got in here?"
Spitfire sat down on her rump. "What you see right now. No princess in sight. Fleetfoot had asked me if I'd seen Princess Celestia but I said she was just up in her room. So Fleet just went on her route."
"How do we know she didn't sneak into the bedroom and do away with Celestia?" Soarin asked.
Shining took over. "Impossible. These burn marks indicate a high level of magic proficiency or a very small, compact bomb. Spitfire, you didn't see Fleetfoot acting weird or walking weird, did you?"
Spitfire mulled over her memories. "No. She was feeling under the weather, but not staggering or anything. She walked just fine."
"So we can eliminate her from potential suspects?" Soarin responded.
Shining's face darkened. "Everyone is a suspect right now, even you two."
"What's to say you didn't do it?" Spitfire retorted.
Shining was quiet for a moment. It was true he had only just arrived on the scene, meaning even he was a suspect. "Believe me if you want to or not. I didn't do it."
"Then neither did Soarin, Fleet, or I." She responded. "We are here to help as well."
Shining stared at the duo. They were confident and brash, young to boot. But he needed all the help he could get. "Fine. At least we know that Spitfire saw Celestia at 9:30 PM. That means our window was anywhere from 9:30 to 11:00. But there are still some problems." He walked over to the scene. "No body? No shards? No bomb material? Whoever did this was either very skilled or bought an A-grade disintegration bomb." He walked back to the table.
"As for the list, gather the ones you detained. The rest will be screened and questioned before being allowed to return home." He looked at the photos taken.
Oh Twili, I really hope you aren't mixed up in this.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 2: The Suspects
You'd never have believed seeing what I saw. Here I was, chief of the police (Technically also Captain of the guard) for just one, ONE, night, an evening, 4-5 hour watch and the PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA IS DEAD. Well, I shouldn't say that. But, then again, there was no body, no DNA samples, no witnesses, NOTHING. I'd have a better chance of finding Luna guilty simply on motive. However, the Princess of the Night had been in the Griffin Kingdom, negotiating. She was never one for parties.
Cadence is at home, completely distraught. I told her to look after the little one until I was able to catch a break, but with the way investigations are going, I don't I'll get a break. We brought in the detained suspects one by one. All of them had been caught leaving the gala around the approximate time Celestia was reported missing. Many were elites of Canterlot who refused testimony until a lawyer came in. They were let go; no one had the time to deal with immature guests whose minds were only fixated on money and high class.
Of the suspects, three were detained for further questioning:
Octavia. A musician from Manehatten originally, now living in Ponyville with a roommate named Vinyl Scratch. She was set to perform for the night but was instead replaced by another performer. She claimed she had gone to save face and make sure that the replacement was not a screw up. Security said they let her in not by ticket, but by "personal request". A guard went to Celestia who, the guard remarked, "Was shocked she was NOT playing in the orchestra." Octavia was allowed to pass, but not without suspicion. We are currently looking for her replacement.
According to Octavia, she held no resent for the Princess. This was not the first time she had been canceled at a social gathering. Naturally, I was on guard as to her real emotions. Twili had concocted an interesting spell: when cast, the eyes of the caster can see particular details in another pony's face. The spell had a circle radius of 3 meters. In the interrogation room at Canterlot Castle, it was enough to engulf the room.
Naturally, Octavia's emotions were all over the place. Every time we talked about the replacement, she would hesitate slightly. Every time we talked about Celestia, her mouth did almost a miniature frown before returning to a serious look. She kept twitching every time we attempted to make an emotional connection, whether to her roommate or her parents. When asked directly where Celestia was, her eyes continued to dart from my right shoulder to my forehead.
But the most interesting part was not just her reaction to words and actions, but also who said them. Whenever she talked about her past gala experiences, her right eye and left hoof would twitch. Asking her about Celestia yielded the same previous facial responses, but when she talked about Celestia of her own free will, her eyes moved from left to right.
Of course, none of this can be taken as real evidence. The testimony is what mattered. As far as she was concerned, she arrived at the gala at 7:00 P.M., about the time she would be doing a performance. However, the guard holding her up took another 20 or so minutes. She made it to the end of the performance at 7:30. Afterwards, she went to see the Wonderbolt show at 7:45, followed by a chance to meet with the princess. She noted it was definitely past 9:10 when she got her little audience with the princess. She left the Gala around 10:15 after having danced with a few foreign dignitaries and gentlestallions.
While I didn't see too many things wrong, the one complicated point was the now-missing replacement. Octavia revealed she did not know the real name of the replacement, but knew that she was very good at cello. When we asked other band members, they all, more or less, responded that the person playing the cello was believed to be Octavia. Not many of them had met her face to face, as they were all just recently chosen to be in the band for the Gala. However, Octavia's career spoke for itself. No one doubted her abilities. No one at the Gala seemed unimpressed by her "replacement’s act either. Octavia noted that, while watching the last parts of the performance, the replacement played absolutely heavenly. But not just that: the musician looked almost identical to Octavia. She passed it off as nothing more than her own jealousy getting to her. The replacement was obviously gifted and Octavia could respect that.
We detained her to a room in Canterlot Castle for further investigation. While she was cooperative, I'd never seen anyone so snarky, unless you were talking about Mrs. Tiara and her new husband. I swear, that mare gets married sooner than I can open a can of soup and eat it. Weird analogy. Anyway.
Our next suspect was certainly...different. She introduced herself as Maud Pie in a voice that just- UGH. I don't even know how to explain the blandest, rockiest, grayest...UGH. Alright, keep it formal Shining.
Mrs. Pie introduced herself as Pinkie's sister. She had gone there to deliver the cake in Pinkie's absence. Apparently, Pinkie had left for a trip to Neighbraska to deliver a cake to some party pony. Maud didn't share the exact details. We then asked her about her movements this evening.
She had arrived at 5:45 P.M on the dot in the kitchen. She was met by a chef (who we discovered that his only threat would be giving people diabetes for eating too much of his exquisite cuisine) and handed over the cake. It was massive and required at least 2 ponies to carry it. Unfortunately, the other chefs were busy working on their cuisines, so Maud and the delivery chef took it into the freezer. Upon further questioning, she explained that the cake was vanilla flavored with various fruits inside. Further analysis of the fruits say it came from Apple Orchards. Once everything was set, from filling out paperwork to getting the cake to the fridge, she left the party but stated she would return around 9:00 P.M., after a meeting with another client.
Naturally, the cake was tested before being given to the public and was found to be absolutely del- I mean safe. She wasn't even at the party from 6:00-9:00. That throws her out pretty fast for suspicion. However, when asked about where she went, she refused to even speak. Maud refused to speak further on the matter of either the client or her location over the course of the gala event.
Knowing we probably couldn't get more information, we asked her about how she was invited and why. Naturally, she deferred to Pinkie Pie who was originally supposed to deliver the cake. However, Pinkie did tell Celestia that she would be sending somepony else to bring the cake. For some reason, Celestia responded that they already had other cakes and it would be no problem if she didn't bring one. Naturally, Pinkie did her best to renegotiate with her other client, but theirs was a birthday party, and it would not do to have no cake at a party. She then called up Maud who was more than willing to make the delivery.
We attempted to loop back to why she had left and returned, but she was still mute. While we didn't think it was important, it was certainly NOT outside the box of thinking that she had gone to prepare how to do away with Celestia. A magic bomb that could disintegrate an alicorn would take time to prepare. It would be easier for her come back in as well, as the chef would vouch for her. Yet, one thinking kept coming up blank: she had no motive. Still, motive or not, Spitfire suggested be keep her back for further questioning.
Our last suspect was on the "no admittance" list. Fluttershy, element of Kindness and friend of my sister, Twilight. Actually, they were all blacklisted for the event, including Pinkie Pie (who was allowed only because, well, if you pay money for such a delectable cake, you want it to get to your destination). While they were vital in the role of protecting Equestria, their manners were...crude...at the last gala and since then, have not been invited back (unless you count Pinkie, who was, again, paid). When asked why she had shown up, she merely shrugged and asked why she wasn't allowed, after 5 years had passed, to come. Princess Celestia sent word that Fluttershy may attend, but must stay inside, so as not to upset other guests or animals.
Her time at the event was quite ordinary. She arrived around 6:10 P.M. She went to the Wonderbolt's show, met with the Princess, and even spoke with Luna. However, her story began to get a little weird around 10:45. Supposedly, she said had left the gala and was on the way home. Eye witness accounts say different. Guests in the garden area noticed a pegasus far from where guests were allowed to venture. One particular mare noted that she seemed to have completely vanished. Varying reports say they saw her anywhere from 10:20-10:50.
She denied it all. Even showing us a ticket that she was planning to use to get back to Ponyville couldn't get us of the line of inquiry. That was when she became increasingly violent. Fluttershy stood up and confronted me eye to eye, having previously just stared around the room or down at her hooves. She claimed that we were just trying to get her in trouble so she couldn't come back. I did the best thing and left her there. She was detained for further questioning.
None of this mattered though. Without a body, without a murder weapon, this case would go nowhere. Not even the forensics could see any magical residue. Celestia was simply...gone. But that was when it hit me.
Fluttershy had mentioned that she was able to speak with Luna, despite the fact that Luna was not present. I was shocked I had missed that fact. We dragged her out of her room and back into interrogation we had set up in the princess' study. Upon questioning her how she had spoken to Luna, Fluttershy calmly replied that she had seen the princess in a solitary corner. Thinking that she was just not used to big parties, Fluttershy spoke to her. She said that Luna had returned earlier than expected and she planned on trying to make it to her room quietly without someone seeing her.
Something wasn't adding up. We contacted the Griffin ambassadors immediately and found out she had left early. However, no landing station anywhere near Canterlot reported her return. Even her guards and entourage were missing. No one reported her return here. Yet, Fluttershy saw her.
Too many things were left unanswered. Where was Octavia's replacement? Who was Pinkie delivering to that she had to get a replacement to bring the cake? How was Luna at the gala, yet no one reported her return? And the big question:
Where was Princess Celestia?
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 3: Trial
Canterlot High Court
3:00 P.M.
The court was absolutely silent. No one dared break it. They only had to wait on the jury's final verdict.
It had been 2 weeks since the disappearance of Princess Celestia. All of Equestria was on alert. Reports came in of sightings of Alicorns in the Everfree or near the Apploosan hills. No alicorns were found. A reward was put out of 1 million bits, yet not a single soul received the reward. Princess Luna had returned by now and was, of course, interrogated. She willingly went in and was questioned. She was planning on returning early, but one of the guards was too tired to fly the night. They settled down in a small inn for the night. The innkeeper had not reported her presence due to having been bribed by Luna who did not want to be disturbed. She arrived a day after the entire event.
Luna's grief was palpable. She sent search party after search party. She refused to take the throne. The day courts were delayed. Laws and ordinances couldn't be passed. It was too big for her hooves. In the end, she took charge. The day courts were up to speed. Criminals and appeals went through. The world started working again, but not without whispers. She could hear them even when she blocked them out. Luna heard every vile word said about her from the maids of the house to the elites of Canterlot. Not many were taking a liking to her ascendancy to the throne.
Riots and mass protests rose. They were swiftly dealt with. Lawsuits and accusations plagued the day courts. In the end, the highest court in the land tried Luna for suspicion of political murder. Shining Armor stood on the stand as well as the three senior Wonderbolts at the Gala, Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Soarin. The trial went on for all of a day. Without a body, the weapon, or anything, nothing the prosecutors could say helped. Yet, even then, there was still disagreement.
And thus, another trial was held. This case was very special. To finally quell all dissent among the citizens, magic analysts and scientists examined the scene for any possible magical residue, any sign of aggression, or DNA. They combed the entire room as well as all secret passages in the castle. There was absolutely nothing that pointed in the direction of a murder. Naturally, the defense attorneys countered that perhaps the princess had just given up and left. That did not sit well with the court at all.
On top, 3 suspects, Octavia, Maud Pie, and Fluttershy were brought in for testimony. Octavia explained how she was supposed to show up at the gala, but ended up being replaced for the big performance. She admitted to being mad at the time, but decided to go to save face. The court asked for the name of the replacement, which she was entirely unable to do. Another dead end.
Maud was even worse. She refused to speak openly and was caught several times changing her story. In the end, she was discredited as a witness.
Fluttershy, on the other hand, became the number one focus. The big question: how did she speak to Luna when Luna was not even present at the Gala? Fluttershy insisted that she had spoken to Luna who, in turn, denied that she had spoken to Fluttershy during the event. Luna was once again on the chopping block and the prosecutors were quick to ready the guillotine. Over the next week, they continued the investigation at Canterlot while trying to bring forth more witnesses as well as getting Luna and Fluttershy's stories straight.
And so there they say. Not saying a word as the jury returned.
A gray pony stood up. "We the jury find the defendant," he began in a soft tone. "Fluttershy, guilty of treason and political assassination." A collective gasp rose from all mouths. "On the charge of association with Luna for the purpose of politics, we find Luna and Fluttershy...not guilty."
The judge nodded. "Does the defendant have any final words?"
Fluttershy shook her head. "Very well." The judge looked at Luna. "As you are the new ruler and are cleared from suspicion, you may deliver a punishment."
Luna's expression was grim. The media waited on her response. She knew full well mercy was not an option, but did she have what it would take to deal the punishment?
She cleared her throat. "Fluttershy, Element of Kindness, I sentence you to banishment from Equestria. You shall not be allowed to return until new evidence of your innocence has surfaced."
Tears streamed from Fluttershy's eyes. "Wait, Princess Luna-"
"I am sorry, Kindness." Luna's own eyes were hard as steel. "This is what must be done."
In a moment, sadness turned to bitter rage. Fluttershy stood up. "I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE LUNA! Equestria is not safe from you! Celestia may have hidden it, but you are a hollow shell of her! You will never find the Serum! Never!" The guards restrained her as she lunged at the Princess.
"YOU. WILL. PAY!!!!!"
~~~3 Months Later~~~~
Somewhere South of Canterlot; Prison
1:00 A.M.
Fluttershy stared down at the floor of the cell, contemplating her situation. Biting back tears, she punched the walls of her cell.
"I shouldn't have come back." She said to herself. "I knew she wouldn't see my side of it. Why won't she listen to me?" The moon penetrated the bars of her cell, illuminating the darkness that seemed to engulf not just her cage, but also her soul. Nothing seemed to bring her peace these days. When she ate, she would always mutter to herself. At night, her dreams gave her no bliss. In the end, she had resorted to staying awake all through the night.
The crime for returning to Equestria when one is banished is high. There is no trial. They found her in Luna's room 2 weeks after her initial banishment. They interrogated her for all of 3 days. She revealed nothing. Her friends came to visit, to plead her to tell them what her business was for returning. One by one, they stopped coming. Even Rainbow Dash, who had promised her that she would always be there in Fluttershy's time of need, finally came to the conclusion Rarity, Applejack, Twilight, and Pinkie arrived at as well: she had finally lost it.
She knew her duty was a sacred one. If the Formula got into the wrong hands...Fluttershy laid down on her bed. "I must protect it at all costs-"
"And you have."
With a jolt, Fluttershy flew to the top corner of her cell. Standing there, near the toilet, was a hooded figure. "You've done well, Miss Fluttershy. Keeping even the Formula away from my spies? Even from your friends? You are something else."
Fluttershy glared at the intruder. "Who are you? What do you want? How do you know about the Formula?"
The figure giggled. "I know many things. It's one of the benefits of living a long time." It moved to the side of the bed. "But not everyone has the best memory I'm sure. Oh, I know Luna must have been dying to know the Formula to counteract the Serum." The figure glared its red eyes at Fluttershy. "It will do her no good."
"You're wrong." Fluttershy replied bravely. "Once she has the Formula, she can reverse the tide. The Empire will-" In an instant, she was strapped to the bed with magic restraints. "Hey! Let me go! Please!" A gag appeared in her mouth.
"Now now, Kindness." The figure chided. "I can't have you alerting the police, can I?" The figure tapped her horn to Fluttershy's. Her eyes went wide as she shook her head, beginning her to stop.
"Ssshhhh shhhh. Only dreams now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
End of Part 1