//------------------------------//
// Chapter Eight: The Darkness 
// Story: Responsibility and Rage 
// by adfghjkl 
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CHAPTER EIGHT

“Is…is he dead?” Luna’s voice shook and she prodded the statue with her hoof. 

Celestia frowned. “No. Discord can never die or be killed, only imprisoned, like he is now.” 

The blue alicorn’s eyes widened in fear. “Does that mean he can…you know…” 

Celestia nodded at the inevitable truth. “Yes, he can escape. But he won’t for a very long time. Maybe even forever. I don’t know how the Elements of Harmony work.” 

Luna sighed, then studied the area around them. The land was fine and back to normal, and the ponies were going about on their daily business as usual. 

“Come on, Luna. The sun is setting. And you know what that means…” Celestia tried her best to cheer up her sister, but she knew the recent encounter had left them both tired and pondering.

Luna didn’t follow, instead she sat down in the grass and lowered her head. “Tia, I don’t get it. Why would Discord come back? What did he want?” 

Celestia sighed and wrapped her wing around her sister. “I’ll tell you when we get back home.” Luna shrugged off her sister’s comfort and stood up, facing Celestia.

“NO! Tell me now! I want to know why! TELL ME!” A fearsome roar erupted from Luna, seemlingly shaking the earth around them.

Celestia gasped and stepped backwards, studying Luna’s eyes. Her eyes were no longer her sister’s, a thin black slit replaced Luna’s usually caring and gentle eyes. “Luna…what…what happened to you?”

Luna’s eyes returned to normal as she sat back down. They were full of fear and surprise. “I…I don’t know what came over me. Please forgive me. I…I…” 

Celestia smiled and helped her sister up. “It’s all right, Luna. You’re safe.” Celestia carried her sister back to Canterlot Castle. They went into the elder sister’s room and sat down on the bed. “Luna, when I first saw Discord, he told me something I didn’t want to hear. He told me that he made a pact-“ Celestia saw Luna’s confusion. “He told me that he made a deal between our parents and himself.” 

Luna still was confused. “What was the deal?” 

Celestia lowered her head, bracing for Luna’s response to what she was about to say. “He said that he would leave, forever. But in return, mother and father would leave us when we were ready. Discord broke his promise, and he came back to seize the throne from us.”

Luna stood up, absorbing the truth. "Why would he do that?"

The older and wiser alicorn was stumped by what seemed like a child's question. She paused for a period of time, leaving Luna to infer that Celestia did not know the answer.

“But now that he’s gone, he can’t hurt us, right?” 

Celestia nodded. “No, he cannot hurt us.” 

Luna smiled, “Thank you for telling me.” Celestia hugged her sister. “Wait! I have to go raise the moon! The sun is setting!” 

The white alicorn nodded and they both raced onto the balcony. Luna’s horn instantly began glowing and she flew up high into the air. Celestia watched in awe. Luna raised her hooves and felt the night carry her like it did before. She was feeling the same kind of relaxation that she had felt before. Pure happiness. 

“LUNAAA!!!” Celestia was screaming below the balcony and racing up towards her sister. Luna opened her eyes and quickly caught a glimpse of her sister, sobbing and screaming, racing up towards Luna at unbelieveable speed. Luna was about to yell back, it didn’t seem like anything was wrong. 

Suddenly, Luna caught a glimpse of some kind of purple magic engulfing her, restraining her movements. She didn't have any time to think.

And then the darkness took her.