//------------------------------// // Bonus: Original Chapter Four - "Discussion" // Story: The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Date Twilight Sparkle // by Codex Ex Equus //------------------------------// Celestia popped back into existence, hitting the cobblestones and skidding, throwing up a trail of sparks so large it threatened to set the nearby shrubbery on fire. She turned the skid into a charging gallop, racing up the stairs to Twilight's castle and crashing through the doors. “TWILIGHT! LUNA!” she bellowed, entering the castle's main hall at full speed. “YOU–” She stopped in place instantly, the crystal under her feet momentarily igniting from the friction, as she realized both Princesses were right there, just starting to climb the main staircase. “Oh.” “Princess Celestia! You made it after all!” came Twilight's happy response. “Luna told me you couldn't be here for this visit.” “That's because she told me she couldn't.” Luna's response was less welcoming, and Twilight pulled back as the Night Princess brushed past her to stand in front of Celestia. “In fact, she made it very clear that she had no interest whatsoever.” Celestia's eyes narrowed. “Maybe I just needed to think about what it would mean not to be here. Maybe I needed a bit more time that just a few minutes to think it over.” The two began circling each other warily, eyes locked together. “You have no right, you know,” said Luna, almost casually. “To get my hopes up like that, after everything you said, and then just change your mind?” “Um...” “This, coming from the mare who practically insisted I do this?” Celestia moved lithely as she circled, hoofs lifting high, muscles tensed. “All of this is your doing, sister. Had you kept quiet, I wouldn't even be here.” “UM.” Twilight was sounding nearly frantic now. Taking a deep breath, Celestia let it out slowly, then turned to face the smaller alicorn, deliberately showing her back to her sister. “Twilight?” she said pleasantly, “Please go let the townsfolk know that they should evacuate Ponyville at once.” “What?!” cried Twilight, ears folding back. “Why?!” “Because this.” Like lightning, Celestia's back legs folded up and she bucked Luna square in the face, sending her flying through the doors to the palace. “Oh, and you may want to leave through another exit.” Luna burst back in through the wall next to the doors, showering the room with crystal debris. Celestia flinched back as shards pelted her face, which let Luna catch her under the jaw with her hoof. But Celestia brought her hind legs up as she somersaulted back, wrapping them around Luna's midsection, and the two Princesses went tumbling across the floor as Twilight fled. It had been centuries since they had last fought, and Celestia had forgotten the power her sister's small frame packed. She was reminded when Luna ended up on top as they came to a rest and landed several punches that pounded her skull into the floor, cracking and then shattering the crystal. With that power, though, came a tendency to rely on it over all else. Specifically, Luna always forgot that they had wings. Celestia reminded her by bringing her own wings up and striking Luna on the sides of the neck with their leading edges. She let out a cry and fell back, letting Celestia climb to her hooves. She kept Luna on the defensive with a flurry of wings strikes faster than the mortal eye could follow, then suddenly raised both wings straight up. Luna moved instantly to block the attack, but Celestia simply brought the wings down as she leapt up, the force of her jump vastly amplified by the wing flap, and all that energy was transferred into the kick she delivered to the underside of Luna's chin. Luna hit the main staircase at the halfway point, sliding the rest of the way on her back, plowing up the stairs themselves as she went. Celestia didn't give her time to recover, striking her with a flying tackle, pinning her sister's limbs with her own as they somersaulted forward through a pair of doors and into the castle library. Celestia kept control as they tumbled, and hurled Luna towards the opposite wall as she came around. Just before striking the wall Luna jerked to a halt, held in midair by her own magic. “Really, sister, magic?” scoffed Celestia. “I'm disappointed. I didn't know you'd lost so much confidence in–” Celestia cut off as the pages from every book in the library suddenly burst from the shelves wrapped in blue light, surrounding her like a blizzard. Before she could react the ball of paper was ignited by Luna, with an effect not unlike a fuel-air explosion. Calmly, Celestia strode out of the fire, shaking her head. “So disappointed. I am THE SUN. Fire could never be more to me than–” The air suddenly burst from her lungs as Luna firmly planted a hoof in her stomach. “No more than a distraction, yes, sister?” Luna snarled triumphantly. “Perhaps you'd like for me to spell the word as well?” Her wings rose, in imitation of Celestia's strike from before, and magic suddenly enveloped her body as well. Oh no was all Celestia had time to think before suddenly finding herself five floors above where she had just been standing, stumbling dazedly around what seemed to be... yes, another library. Well, it is Twilight's castle, she thought, shaking her head in an attempt to clear it as Luna leapt up through the hole in the floor Celestia's flying body had just made. “Yield, sister–” was all Luna had time to say before Celestia spun and hit her with the full might of her magic. It took a second for the flare of light to fade and reveal Luna was still standing there, her own magical beam holding Celestia's at bay. “This isn't... like before!” Luna managed to force out. “I'm not a filly anymore, and my magic is as strong as yours!” “You really think so?” Celestia redoubled her efforts, the surge of power nearly sending Luna to her knees. But she climbed back up, forcing her magic out until the point of contact between the two beams was once again in the middle. “I'm not giving up that easy!” “I won't let you take her from me!” Ponyville was silent, the majority of its citizens safely removed by Twilight. Those that were left suddenly became aware of a faint sound, just on the edge of hearing. It started out low, barely a hum. That hum grew, into a high keening that started to pulse as if it were a heart beating. Light began to pour from every window in Twilight’s castle, and the ground began to quake. Then the castle exploded in a massive fireball, pelting all of Ponyville with flaming shards of crystal. Out of the ruins shot the Princesses of the Sun and Moon, locked together with their magic, spinning and rising higher and higher, occasionally coming together to strike at each other with vicious sparks of power. Far above Equestria, outside the atmosphere, the two clashed once more, an unimaginable amount of power crackling off their bodies, before separating to float a safe distance apart, panting. “I'll be honest,” said Luna, eyes narrow, “I really thought I'd finally had you after all these years. It is good to know I can at least hold my own.” “And I will admit to being impressed,” replied Celestia, face twisted in a mocking grin. “But you should have known better than to let me lead you up here!” Luna's eyes widened, and she dove to the side as a massive column of fire shot past. “Don't you just love solar flares?!” cackled Celestia wildly. “Ha! We laugh at thee!” Luna dodged and danced amidst the fire, a grin on her face. “These flares are far to slow to come near us, even if they didn't have to travel here from your sun! We have minutes in which to avoid each one!” “Perhaps, perhaps,” agreed Celestia, nodding. “Unless, of course, I've had thousands of years of experience, and can manipulate events so that they transpire exactly according to my wishes.” One flare, so small as to be nearly invisible, and moving much faster than the others, suddenly struck Luna. With a cry, she was blasted off to one side–directly into the path of a larger flare. She bounced between them, one always arriving just where she had been thrown in a perfectly calculated pattern, until finally they died down. “Had enough, dear sister?” Celestia pouted sarcastically at the smoking, shaking Luna hanging in space. “Do you really think... you're the only one who can set things up... to your advantage?” panted Luna. “Imagine what someone else could do if they're willing to take some pain to keep you off guard.” With a jolt, Celestia realized Luna's horn had been glowing the entire time, but she just shrugged and laughed. “Oh please. What kind of spell could you possibly–” The moon hit her in the back. Celestia floated, hardly conscious, knocked into orbit. Images came slowly to her mind as she circled the planet. Her sister and Twilight, happy in each other's wings. Watching them spend their lives together, feeling only the pain of loss in her own heart. An eternity apart from the one she loved with all her might, and yet forced to see her with another, even if she loved that one as dearly. Another pang struck her heart at the thought of preventing her sister from finding that love, but brutally she tore those thoughts apart. Her sister had only decided to act on her feelings after Celestia had rejected Twilight. Luna had been the one pushing Celestia to admit these feelings in the first place. What her sister had was not love; it was a simple infatuation, a whim. But Celestia... Celestia had watched Twilight grow into the wonderful, beautiful Princess she was now. Celestia had been with her all these years, admiring her from afar, carrying that torch for her, unknowingly pining for her. Twilight. Was. Hers. Besides, another part of her, deep inside, snarled viciously, I deserve something in my life other than just ruling over Equestria. Celestia opened her eyes, and the heart of the sun blazed inside them. Luna caught sight of the trail of fire coming up over the distant horizon, and grinned widely. “Back for more, sister?!” she cried, horn blazing with power. “Then come get thou some!” The moon swung down, descending towards the plasma-enveloped Princess of the Sun at a terrifying rate. She didn't flinch, didn't try to dodge–just increased her own speed, a snarl on her face and one hoof stretched out before her. The gap between the Princess and the moon closed mercilessly, Celestia not altering her course one iota, and the two met. Celestia's hoof struck the surface of the moon, and for a moment both hung in space, unmoving. The smile stayed on Luna's face right until the first crack began racing across the lunar surface. More and more followed it, snaking out from the point of impact, and then the moon broke in half. “LUNAAAA!” screamed Celestia, careening through the shattered moon towards the gaping, stunned Princess. Celestia didn't bother dodging the chunks of moon that spun into her path, plowing through them as though they were clouds. She spun as she flew, using that momentum to add to her power as she brought both back hoofs down on top of Luna's head. The Princess of the now-former Moon ignited as she plummeted downwards and reentered the atmosphere, finally impacting the ground with enough force to create a crater a quarter mile wide. For a moment the battle looked to be over. Then Luna coughed, sitting up weakly and brushing soot from her coat. She looked up, preparing to take off and continue the fight, then froze. Celestia stood upright in the air several miles above, a ball of fire so large it seemed to rival her sister's deceased moon held in her hoofs. Even as Luna watched, more and more magic pumped out of Celestia's horn, inflating the fireball to an enormous size. “Wait sister, I yield–” Luna tried to say desperately, raising a hoof. “Twilight is MINE!” Celestia screamed out over her sister's protestations, and brought the ball down. Luna let out a cry and tried to protect herself with a magical shield, but it was snuffed out like a candle. The fireball struck the Princess, driving her deep underground with its unimaginable heat before detonating and shattering her–and the world–like glass. “Okay Spike, I'll be right up. I just need to check that the doors are locked before–oh. You two are still here.” Twilight sighed as she took in the Princesses. She had thought they were coming over to visit her. She had been giddy at the thought of spending the night with two of her closest friends, whom she didn't see anywhere near enough of. Instead, they had spent the night in her entrance hall, eyes locked, horns connected by thin tendrils of magic. Before she could make further comment, the threads suddenly snapped and disappeared in a shower of sparks. Luna stumbled back, shaking her head, nearly falling over. Celestia blinked a few times, then grinned triumphantly. “Princess? What were you and Luna doing all night?” asked Twilight curiously. “I've never seen a spell like that before.” “It's a special spell we cast sometimes,” answered Celestia. “I'll have to teach it to you. We use it to... well, think of it as a form of debate. But one more emotional than logical.” “Oh. Um, is Luna going to be okay?” She certainly didn't look like it, now lying on the ground, both hoofs on top of her head and her ears flat. “Oww, I've got such a headache,” she whimpered. Suddenly, a golden glow enveloped her head and drove away the pain, and she perked up, blinking rapidly. Looking up, she saw Celestia standing over her, a smile on her face and hoof held out. Graciously, Luna let her sister help her to her hooves. “Thank you,” said Luna, then sighed. “It seems I have once again underestimated your ferocious willpower. Congratulations, sister.” “Thank you,” replied Celestia, leaning down for a quick nuzzle with her sister. “For forcing me to recognize my own blindness and folly, and for being so gracious in defeat.” “Think nothing of it. While I had my interests, they were clearly no match for your passion. Although...” The look Luna turned on Twilight was so intense that the small alicorn blushed without quite knowing why. “I will admit to being a bit... disappointed.” With a sigh, she moved towards the door. “In any case, it is late and I have much to do this night. I shall see you both some other time.” “Goodbye, sister,” said Celestia, walking with her as she exited. “And again, thank you.” “Just do one thing for me,” said Luna, turning to give her sister one of the dirtiest, most lustful winks Celestia had ever seen. “Give her hell.” The Lunar Princess leapt up and into the sky, and disappeared a moment later. “Excuse me, Princess, but what exactly is going on here?” asked a confused Twilight as Celestia walked back across the hall. “I mean, you two show up out of nowhere, then spend the whole night just staring at each other. Then once you actually start moving again, Luna leaves, just like that? What is going on here?” Celestia had to smother a giggle at her student's reaction. She was so adorable. “I'm sorry, Twilight. This night was sort of spur-of-the-moment. But don't worry, I'll be staying. I have no plans to leave until morning.” “Okay! It would have been nice to have Luna here too, but I always like to spend time with you.” Celestia felt her cheeks heat up at the compliment. “Thank you, Twilight I enjoy spending time with you as well.” They stood there, smiling at each other across the hall, until Twilight began to grow restless. “Um, Princess–” “Oh my!” Celestia put a hoof to her mouth, and gave her head a shake, trying to clear it. “I-I'm sorry, my mind must be wandering. Do you want to, um, talk about... something?” “Sure!” Once again, silence reigned in the crystalline hall. “Um–” “Oh! I suppose I should, um, bring up something to talk about, yes? Since it was me who suggested it and all, hahaha!” Celestia's eyes began to dart around the room, searching frantically for a topic. “So you sure have a, um, nice castle here? Very... pretty.” Like you, part of her desperately wanted to add. “Yes, I'm really starting to appreciate it,” said Twilight, motioning for the Princess to follow her as she started up the stairs. “I still miss the library, but I'm sure I'll make some good memories here as well.” Celestia didn't reply, her gaze fixed firmly on Twilight’s rear. It wasn't that she hadn't seen it before; it was just that she was finally able to see it fully, for the first time, with all the implications and consequences it held. “Um, hello, Equestria to Princess Celestia?” Twilight waved a hoof down at the monarch, looking back over her shoulder. “Are you alright? You're looking a bit flushed.” Celestia suddenly jerked back to reality, face red and feeling like it was burning hotter than her sun. “Ah! Twilight! I, uh, I just, uh... Ineedtodosomethingbye!” With a flash of light, she was gone. Twilight stared down at the spot where her Princess had been, mouth agape. Finally, she just shook her head and started back up the stairs. “That was weird. Is it a full moon out tonight or something? Well, that would explain Luna, but not Celestia. I should check the scopes, see if they've picked up any sunspots lately...” Celestia appeared back in her bedroom, then, with a sigh, collapsed down on her bed. “I am a coward,” she said, to no one in particular. “And a fool, and perhaps a bit too fond of cake, and many other things,” came a voice from behind her. She jerked around, the relaxed as she realized her sister was on her room's balcony. “Luna? What are you...?” “I was waiting for the foolish, cowardly pony,” replied Luna, trotting into the room and alongside the bed. “I teleported right here. I figured if you didn't arrive within ten minutes or so, I'd be good to leave you.” “I couldn't do it,” said Celestia, head flopping back down. “I just... she was right there in front of me, and all my nerve just evaporated.” “It's okay, dear sister. It's been many centuries since you last attempted a relationship, after all. Well, aside from one with that thing I found in the bottom drawer of your dresser–” “LUNA!” “But have no fear! We shall give you all the assistance you require in making Twilight Sparkle your own! The letter has been sent, and on the morrow your education in the ways of romance shall begin. We will not rest until you have become a siege engine of seduction, aimed squarely at your love!” “Luna, what do you mean by 'the letter'–wait, that wasn't the Royal We, was it? Oh Goddess, who did you call?” Celestia tried to get up, but suddenly found herself being pushed back down and maneuvered onto the pillows by her sister. “Shh, Celestia, rest,” said Luna, horn glowing faintly. “You have had a busy day, and you will need your strength for tomorrow.” Celestia recognized the effects of her sister's power over sleep, and for a moment tried to resist. Especially after how ominous that last sentence was. But she had had a long day, and knowing she would have nothing but peaceful dreams made her decide to give in. She watched her sister gently close the door behind herself, and drifted off to sleep. Twilight grumbled as she descended the steps. “Yeah, yeah, I'm coming,” she snarled as the knocking at the door boomed throughout her castle once again. “What do you–Princess Celestia?!” “Hello, Twilight,” said the Monarch of the Sun, smiling and tilting her head slightly. “How are you doing this night?” “Uh, fine, Princess. But what are you doing here?” “Why, do I need a reason to visit my most faithful student?” The mild admonishment made Twilight flush and look away. “N-no, of course not. But... you just left, and now you're back a few minutes later.” For a moment there was a expression of utter panic on the older alicorn's face, but it disappeared quickly. “I thought I had to go but, as it turns out, I do not. I would much rather be here with you than do... whatever it was I was going to do instead.” “Well, I'm happy to hear that, I guess. I really had been looking forward to spending more time with you.” “And I with you.” Celestia sat back, spreading her wings and extending her forelegs. There was no need to say anything, and Twilight moved eagerly forward to hug her Princess. “I'm really glad to see you,” she said quietly, nuzzling up against Celestia's chest as the alabaster alicorn's forelegs and wings embraced her. “Me too, Twilight,” said Celestia, eyes flashing green for a moment as she looked down at the smaller Princess. “Me too.”