//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine: The Only Way // Story: Responsibility and Rage // by adfghjkl //------------------------------// CHAPTER NINE At first, time seemed to freeze for Celestia, just a muffled flurry of wingbeats, screams, and tears was all she could hear at that very moment. Then the truth caught up with her. Celestia raced up and blasted every ounce of magic, every ounce of power and energy that she had ever possessed at the purple energy that was now fully embodied over Luna. The magic did nothing to it; it just kept a firm hold on Luna, while the poor young alicorn was struggling to get free. Celestia flew higher and higher towards Luna. If magic couldn’t stop the purple energy, what else could? Suddenly, Celestia was abrubtly stopped and flown in the opposite direction by two alicorns, one had a beautiful purple and orange flickering mane, the other had a flowing mane as black as night. Mother and father! “Wait! Stop! Luna’s that way! We need to help her!” Cosmos and Galaxia set their daughter down under a tree outside Canterlot. “Celestia, let us explain, we don’t have much time.” Celestia panicked at the urgency of her mother’s voice that was always so calm. “We foresaw in a prophecy that Luna would become corrupt, and seek to destroy the world. Now, we both had our doubts, but our friend Discord must have known about it. So he unleashed a wave of corruption focused into a cloud of purple magic.” Tears ran down Celestia’s face. “The one that is killing Luna right now?! We need to help her!” The two parents sighed and shook their heads. Cosmos spoke. “That is why we are here, Celestia, to tell you what you must do to help save Luna.” Celestia was getting frustrated. She had never felt like this before. “Then tell me how I can help her!” Cosmos and Galaxia exchanged glances, and then sighed. “This will test you like you’ve never been tested before, Celestia. You…you must use the Elements of Harmony against Luna, it is the only way to save her.” Celestia cocked her head and sighed. “Well, if that’s all I need to do…” Galaxia put her hoof on the alicorn’s shoulder. “It’s not all that simple. Getting the magic out takes a whole lot of time and magic, and where would we keep the beast that Luna is changing into right now? We cannot let that roam free in Equestria, Celestia.” Celestia stomped her hoof. “You are making me decide Luna’s imprisonment?!” Cosmos stepped forward, silencing Celestia. “No Celestia, we have already decided that. Luna must be sent to the only place where she can be alone, and never be set free, while our magic will help get that evil out of Luna.” Celestia lost her patience. “Quit it with these riddles! Where must I send Luna?!” A tear fell from Galaxia’s eye. She muttered an unintelligible sentence. “Where?! TELL ME!!!” Celestia had never spoken that way to her mother before, but she needed to know. The life of her sister was at stake. “You…you must send her to the moon.” Celestia silenced, trying to unhear what her mother had said. No, it can’t be true. “Can’t you? Cannot you imprison Luna? After all we’ve been through together…I…I…can’t!” Galaxia and Cosmos were both feeling the pain of their daughter. “You must. We cannot interfere with events here. We must go, Celestia. Just…do what you know is your responsibility. It is the only way to ensure that the ponies of Equestria will live. Luna will know this, and she will forgive you.” Celestia tried to blink away her tears, but they would go away. “Okay, I’ll do what I must do, for Equestria, for you, for Luna.” With that, her parents disappeared into the cool night air. The moon was high in the sky, so Luna must have been able to raise the moon. Maybe it’s not as bad as they think. Celestia thought. But Celestia knew better. She knew that she could expect nothing when it came to Luna. So she strode back to Canterlot Castle, where her fate, Luna’s fate, stood.