I forgive you
As the last round, flat, white stepping stone covered the final element of harmony; Celestia looked at her hoof work with satisfaction. The white alicorn with a daybreak mane ruffled her feathers and sighed at the tiredness of using her magic so late in the day. It was still early, but Celestia would allow an early night; for her sister. The stepping stones each covered an element of harmony. Magic was in the center with the others surrounding it. Celestia went back inside the castle of the Everfree forest to wake her sister Luna and begin her plan.
Luna snored softly in her bed; her indigo chest rising and falling with each breath. Her starry mane simmered and rippled around her. She had slept in her dress armor again, noted Celestia. She smiled down at her sleeping sister, remembering their lives together. She had become slightly depressed about the decline of ponies enjoying her beautiful nights and taken to sleeping excessively. Celestia had resolved to do something about her sister, and now was the best time to do that.
“Thou art snoring, sleepyhead” Celestia shook Luna with her hoof. Luna fluttered her wings, but remained asleep.
“AWAKEN” Celestia boomed with the royal Canterlot voice; causing Luna to fall back out of bed.
“Why hast thou awakened us so early” Luna's pupils coalesced into slits within her blue eyes.
“We see that thou are using thy bat pony enchantment on thou eyes again” Celestia chided her sister “The subjects will start calling thou a monster and a villain”
“Let them speak as they will, we are unconcerned” Luna started untangling herself from her blankets “We doubt they even care about our apperences”
“Even if they call thou 'Nightmare Moon'” Celestia questioned.
“Would be better if they did, at least they would acknowledge us; even fear is better than ignorance” Luna stood. “Besides, thou has not answered our question of why thou awakened us at this early hour”
Celestia sighed “We wanted to spend time with our sister, thou have been too depressed and we wanted to bring the night early”
“The subjects would surely revolt at thy decision” Luna's eyes narrowed.
“Let them, we shall explain our actions, and thou would have visitors this night” Celestia smiled “Besides, thou teach us about controlling thy moon, and we tech thou about our sun”
“We could deal with a few angry peasants for some time with our beloved sister” Luna smiled.
The two princesses continued to the throne room balcony to exchange their duties. After Celestia lowered the sun, Luna allowed her to try raising the moon. Celestia arced the moon through a wobbly path, but had gotten the hang of it quickly. In the shadows a gray unicorn with whit beard and mane smiled. The two sisters were finally getting along, maybe his spells to calm them were working.
“We thank thou” Luna took another bite of her muffin
“Anything for thou, dearest sister” Celestia finished her dinner and went to bed.
Luna was busy that night with many concerned ponies asking why night had come two hours early. The later it got, the more agitated the ponies that visited seemed. She calmed the ones she could, relating her sister's actions. While many accepted this, Luna did have to increase the royal Canterlot volume for a few. One or two had to be removed by her personal guards. It was almost time to wake her sister.
A tired and bleary-eyed Luna trotted int Celestia's room. The day had been hard and taxing, and Luna wanted it to just end. She looked upon her sister's sleeping form, admiring the powerful ruler she had become. 'Celestia could easily rule without us, but I'm glad she makes time for me' Luna thought. Gently, she shook her sister's smiling body awake.
“Luna thou looks… well” Celestia smiled.
“We just want this night to be over” Luna replied.
“Well we were hoping we could eat first, allow thy beautiful night to linger” Celestia sighed.
“No dearest sister, we will not be subjected another night of restless subjects” Luna's eyes narrowed.
“We will handle the subjects, thou will not hear them complain again” Celestia's smile faded “They will listen to us”
Knowing her sister's words to be true, Luna allowed Celestia to have her way. Luna waited as Celestia donned her ceremonial armor of the day and the went to their favorite dining area. Celestia ate breakfast while Luna ate dinner. After their meal they went to the throne room balcony to exchange their duties. As promised, Celestia allowed Luna to set the sun. It had a more erratic movement than when Celestia moved the moon.
“We are proud of thy accomplishments, dearest sister” Celestia grinned “now sleep, for thou look tired”
Nodding in agreement, Luna trotted to her room. She didn't even remove her armor as she flopped into bed.
“Is that what she told thou” Celestia sighed at the gray Pegasus before her “Yes, we allowed our sister some leeway, thou ignorance of her was most unbecoming”
“I apologize, your majesty” the Pegasus ruffled his wings “if there is anything we could do...”
Celestia smiled “Indeed, our loyal subject, we command a celebration for our sister; thy will be able to do it tonight”
“Certainly” the Pegasus know it wasn't a question, but an order. He quickly trotted out of the throne room to start preparations. Celestia was pleased with how that had transpired, she loved when a plan came together.
That night Celestia and Luna went about their actions as usual. Feeling rested and refreshed, Luna had awoken early and bathed as a servant cleaned her armor. It was enchanted to not need cleaning, but she didn't want her servants getting soft. After exchanging duties with her sister, and walking her to bed (Celestia was so strange sometimes), Luna went to the throne room to accept petitions. It was dark in the room and Luna reminded herself to reprimand the staff for the oversight. Upon lighting the torches she was assaulted by a loud 'surprise'.
Luna looked on in shock at the party her sister doubtlessly had a hoof in. Smiling she joined in the festivities with both commoners and local royalty alike. She would have to make sure the servants understood this was only to happen once, but that could wait. Celestia could not help but overhear the revelry, and smiled. This plan was going to be perfect.
At noon the next day Celestia decided to complete her plan for dealing with her sister. She went to her sister's room to wake her. Luna was still wearing her ceremonial armor and had frosting ringing her mouth. She was such a messy eater when it came to desserts. Celestia's horn glowed and she used a special spell to awaken Luna. While she didn't do this often, it would not do for her sister to be sleepy.
“Awaken, sleepyhead; we have a surprise for you” Celestia cooed
“Art thou confused sister, tis but noon” Luna looked confused “Far too early for our royal duties”
“We wanted to give our subjects a grand gift, thanking them for their hoof in thy celebration.” Celestia explained “It would not do for just one of us to give it”
“We know thou had the celebration arranged for us” Luna arose form her bed “but we shall assist thee nonetheless”
They walked out into the gardens and Luna noticed the stepping stone arrangement. It looked magical and she wondered why she had not noticed it before. Celestia told her to stand on the center stone and Luna obeyed. Instantly she felt a surge in her power.
“We would appreciate it if thou moved thy moon to cover our sun” Celestia instructed.
“Tis not that treason, dear sister” Luna replied.
“We shall allow it” Celestia assured Luna “Our subjects will know that we are not above our sister”
“If thou art sure 'Tia” Luna slowly moved the moon before the sun; causing an eclipse.
In the darkness Luna saw the stones beneath glow with the colors of the elements of harmony. She stared in marvel at the rainbow colors.
“We would like to thank thee for thy lessons, dearest sister” Celestia smiled.
“How art thou doing this” Luna stared at her sister.
“We are using the power of the sun” Celestia smiled “we are aware the battle with Discord sapped our ability to use these, but we found a way”
“'Tis fantastic 'Tia, we can defend our subjects against greater threats ” Luna smiled “should they arise, but surely thou could have told us without the display; so why use them now”
“So we could be rid of thee, dearest sister” Celestia's voice had an edge of malice.
“What” Luna tried to move “Thou has performed a fine prank on us sister, now please release us”
“This is no prank” Celestia deadpanned “Why do you think we learned how to move the moon”
Luna was shocked “we are stuck dear sister, we apologize for any transgressions, but are confused at to why thou art doing this”
“SHUT UP” shouted Celestia “I want to rule alone, not with you; this was always my plan”
Celestia's sudden change in syntax perplexed Luna; but her predicament was not forgotten.
“What art thou going to do to us” Luna leveled her eyes.
“There is no 'we' or 'us' anymore” Celestia spat “*I* shall sent *you* to the moon; I never wanted to rule beside anypony, not mother nor you”
“The populous will not stand for this, thou will be found out” Luna glared
“The victor writes the history, none are the wiser” Celestia smiled “You shall be forgotten within fourscore years; Nightmare Moon”
At this, Luna was shocked. She couldn't move, so she resigned herself to her fate.
“Goodbye Luna” with that Luna was gone; a new shadow appearing on the moon
Celestia used her magic to lower the moon from in front of the sun. She knew that there would be questions soon and she had to prepare. The great thing about having a castle in the forest; it slowed the commoners and threats alike. Sometimes, they were not mutually exclusive. Celestia rolled in the dirt, blasted some craters and trees, and allowed her mane to fall limply. A few hours later the first ponies arrived to ask questions.
Celestia waited in her throne room. She had the guards and staff come out from hiding in the dungeons. Her excuse was that she had to handle her sister alone and couldn't bare her subjects being harmed. Ponies far and near had been directed to the clearing below her balcony. She had directed servants to clean the battle area as ponies arrived. Once there was a large enough group, Celestia addressed them
“It is with a heavy heart that I tell you; we have become I” Celestia looked beaten and dirty.
“This afternoon my sister, Luna, tried a coup to gain the throne” her tears looked convincing.
“She went under the title 'Nightmare Moon'; I can only blame myself” Celestia visibly broke down.
“I… should have… seen it coming… by my… dearest… sisters… actions” she said between sobs.
“I… I can't do this; you know the basics” Celestia wiped tears from her eyes “I need a few days and I shall… reveal everything… later”
With that she dismissed everypony there and retreated inside. Her plan had gone off flawlessly, without her sister she could expand Equestria as she pleased. It was time for a good, hot, bath. She did not even hear the jingle of bells as a lone unicorn retreated deeper into the shadows.
Awaking near evening Celestia went outside to raise the moon alone. Upon reaching the entrance to her castle, she saw Star Swirl the Bearded standing over her stonework. He was contemplatively facing the forest, waiting.
“Good evening, Star” Celestia greeted.
“Good?” Star Swirl didn't turn “What is so good about sending your 'beloved' sister away and lying to your 'commoners'”
Celestia froze. Star Swirl knew what she had done. She thought she had accounted for every pony. Her plan had been perfect; she would have to deal with this, but she actually cared for him. While they didn't see eye-to-eye (what pony could, except her sister) he had been her trusted advisor and friend.
“You can't harm me, I mean too much to you” Star Swirl started walking away “even if you could still use the elements”
“Mother… ” Celestia began.
“Was the only one who could reliably use them” Star Swirl turned to her “you know what happened to her, and the elements only allowed you to use them because of Discord; lesser evil and all that nonsense”
“Care for thy words, lest they be thy last” Celestia stepped forward.
“And why do you keep changing syntax; those mirror worlds starting to affect you” Star Swirl sat down “Fine, look to thy hooves; -princess-”
“Ha, you couldn't” Celestia noticed the stones beneath her “You have no more power with the elements than I”
“Does not matter, with enough energy” The old unicorn began.
“You'll die” Celestia spat “can you -live- with that”
“I have lived long enough, as have you” Star Swirl monotoned “but I'm not going to destroy you, that is for another to decide”
“What do you hope to accomplish” Celestia tried to step forward, but was stuck.
“I'm going to make your lies the truth” his horn erupted in multiple over-glows.
“What” Celestia was engulfed in light.
True tears flowed freely from the alicorn princess. She had lost her beloved sister, trusted advisor, and two of the best ponies she had ever known. Unknown to her Celestia's memories had been rewritten. To her, Luna had become Nightmare Moon out of jealousy, and caused Star Swirl's demise. Celestia wept for her losses, but she forgave her sister. Star Swirl's body was never found, and Celestia had forgotten more of her mother.
Celestia noticed that the stones she had laid out were now rounder. The elements were fused in and might never work again. She removed the armor and vowed to never wear it again. In a few centuries she would have to take on a student for her sister's return. Maybe if Luna had seen she had changed. Maybe friendship had some power, Celestia certainly wished for a friend now that her friends were gone. She would have to build a new castle, this one had painful memories.
Alone on the moon Luna stood. She was still in her ceremonial armor; disbelief and loneliness weighed upon her heart.
“I forgive you 'Tia” Tears streamed down her face “but woe unto the pony you choose to defend yourself from me, for they shall meet Nightmare Moon”