One Wish For Nothing

by BlackRoseRaven

False Faces

Chapter Four: False Faces
~BlackRoseRaven

“Princess Celestia! Someone has attacked Canterlot!”

There was no surprise in the mare's cold amethyst eyes as she rose her head, the Princess of the Sun asking calmly: “Is it an alicorn? Or is it something else?”

The Royal Guard looked up at her with surprise, and then he shook his head hurriedly before saying quickly: “It only looks like an earth pony to me... but he's wearing some kind of costume, and he's incredibly strong! We've lost contact with the Royal Guard we sent in to stop him, after we saw that he'd set fire to the King's Theater!”

“Do we have any eyes on him? I want observation, not engagement. As a matter of fact, I believe I made that very clear earlier.” Princess Celestia said icily, and the soldier quailed backwards in fear before the ivory mare forced herself to take a calming breath, resting back in her throne and adding quietly: “By which I mean, I didn't want to see anyone hurt. That was why I wanted you to report to me, not engage.”

“I... I apologize, Princess Celestia, but we felt we had to take action immediately, to protect the citizenry. They were finishing up a play when he attacked and set fire to the theater. We engaged while firefighters moved in to try and put out the fire and get ponies to safety.” replied the soldier, even as he stayed with his head humbly bowed, sounding a little... shaken.

Celestia realized she was probably coming across as callous: not that she actually cared, but she forced herself to smile as gently as she could, saying softly: “That was very brave. But it sounds like it's only led to more complications. I want to save every pony, but you and I both know that's not possible, is it?”

The soldier shifted uncomfortably, and Celestia calmly stood from her throne before striding down towards the soldier, reaching up to touch his shoulder as she said: “I want you to inform the Royal Guard that they are to track and observe. Help ponies if they're put in danger, but I have the feeling that this is connected to the evil that has come to Equestria, and this is likely only a message. A message I will answer myself.”

Princess Celestia strode past the Royal Guard, the soldier staring with disbelief over his shoulder: but by the time he managed to get his thoughts in order, Celestia was already gone, the mare losing much of her gentility as her eyes hardened.

She made her way through the mostly-empty halls towards her own quarters: just as she'd been about to head to bed for a few hours, that idiot Moonflower had gone and made a scene. She had been willing to overlook his presence and bide her time, but he'd decided to make his first move... and a very stupid move, at that.

Fine, if he wanted to challenge her, she would gladly bring the challenge to him. Even if the Elements of Harmony did nothing more than distract him, it would still be enough for her to finish the job... and even if these six little idiots who fancied themselves the 'purest of the pure' of her Equestria saw her burn and torture the son of a bitch to death, they'd believe any explanation she pulled out of her flank for it. Like saying... it was just banishment magic. It just looked like she had set him on fire and he'd slowly charred away to nothing but ashes, he was really imprisoned somewhere safe and sound, because she'd never ever hurt a pony.

A nasty little smile spread over Celestia's face as she stormed her way up towards her chambers, turning a corner... and then scowling as found a familiar pony blocking her route, looking up at her sourly as she asked irritably: “Are you thinking about killing kittens again, big sister?”

“I'm thinking about killing someone, Luna, and if you start annoying me then I'll start thinking about killing you, too.” Celestia retorted as she spun towards her sister, and Luna flinched at this before the ivory mare leaned down towards the mare standing in the middle of the hall.”Now get out of my way or I might be tempted to act on those urges. I don't have time for this right now. Moonflower has attacked Canterlot and used up the last of my patience.”

“And even if he's too dumb for a diversion, it's pretty obvious he's trying to lure you into a trap!” Luna snapped, but she backed off a step all the same... then winced and took another when Celestia aggressively moved forwards. “I... stop it and listen to-”

“Get out of my way, now.” Celestia said coldly, her eyes locking on Luna, and the sapphire mare trembled before dropping her eyes and stepping aside. Celestia only continued to look at her contemptibly for a few moments, and then she said coolly: “Make yourself useful and bring an elixir up to Twilight Sparkle to get her back on her hooves. You can play pretend that you're a nursemaid, just like the old days. Then you can go and sit in my throne while I'm busy. Do you understand?”

Luna glared up at her sister for a few moments even as she trembled, and then she cursed under her breath before turning away, muttering angrily: “Fine. Go get yourself killed, I don't care!”

Celestia only snorted, glowering after Luna before she turned her attention back to the current problem: a problem that was quickly proving to be much more serious than she'd thought at first. She had expected him to come sauntering up to challenge her, to make some show of power, or just to sit there and gloat until she eventually came to him... but to actually attack, to burn down a building in her crown city as some stupid challenge...

The ivory mare ground her teeth together slowly, then flicked her horn sharply to slam the door to her room open. She kicked it shut behind her, then ripped off her peytral plate, shredding the thin chain before she flung it aside and said coldly: “It doesn't matter how strong you are, Moonflower. All you have is brute strength. Unlike you, I have a mind.”

Celestia strode towards her desk, then she sat down in front of her mirror and said icily: “Give me what is mine, so I may give my enemies their just reward.”

Her mirror thrummed as runes lit up along the golden border, and then the glass rippled like liquid before her reflection changed, a new object appearing around her throat. And as it did, Celestia felt a distinct weight settling around her neck, the mare smiling coldly before she reached up and touched the large, golden choker that had appeared, stroking a hoof slowly over the darkly-thrumming amethyst locked in the center of it.

Moonflower had no idea what he was calling down. She had more than strength and cunning on her side, she had tools, she had ancient artifacts and weapons that he couldn't begin to imagine the danger of... and now he had gone and pushed her to the point where she would be more than happy to introduce him to a level of suffering he had never imagined.

Celestia stroked slowly over the golden, scarab-shaped choker again, and then she studied her reflection for a moment, grimacing a bit as she saw the effects it was already starting to have on her. Her mane was glowing a little brighter, and her eyes had taken on their own supernatural gleam. If she wore this for too long or was forced to draw on its powers for an extended period of time, she would end up revealing a rather unpleasant truth about herself...

She shook herself out, then reached up and yanked open a drawer of her desk. She pulled a small wooden box out of this, and removed her choker with only the faintest hesitation, but quickly let out a sigh of relief as the supernatural radiance faded immediately out of her eyes.

She slipped it gently into the box, then pulled the lid shut and rested both hooves on top of it for a few moments, closing her eyes. She was tempted to gather another of her old treasures, but she figured that this would be enough... and well, even if it wasn't, she still had at least one trump card up her sleeve. Moonflower couldn't possibly know the truth behind this world, while she did: if her attack and the Elements failed, then she would return to Canterlot and simply erase him from existence.

But she couldn't risk using the Tablet of Dreams unless it was completely necessary: every wish required a sacrifice. The bigger the wish, the bigger the sacrifice required, from blood... to souls. And even putting aside that only the Elements of Harmony could unlock the path to the tablet, there was no way she could kidnap a pony and drag him through the security-infested maze to the necropolis where she had hidden it. And while Luna could portal in and out of where it was hidden as she pleased, getting her sister to help her was like pulling teeth these days. Her little sister had never really forgiven her for the way she'd been forced to take on a new identity, and Celestia thought that she actually was afraid of the tablet's power, like it was possible that she, Celestia, was actually losing control...

Al that aside for now, if Celestia could get the tablet herself, it would be another matter entirely... but the Elements of Harmony refused to respond to her anymore, and if she forced them to bend to her will, she could break them. And considering what a powerful tool they were in the right hooves, she didn't want to do that unless it was entirely necessary. No, at worst, she'd just reason with Luna – or threaten her – until she finally listened to her and fetched the artifact for her.

Celestia shook her head briefly, then shoved away from the table. Pointless musings, that was all she was wasting her time with. She had better things to do, like speak to her advisors and have them take on emergency powers while she went with the Elements of Harmony, to make sure Luna didn't do anything stupid while she was gone.

She only took a moment to gather up a few things: a heavy white cloak to conceal herself, and a satchel she tossed the wooden box and a few other odds and ends into. Then she stormed out of the room as her horn glowed bright, the mare announcing coldly: “Meet me upstairs.”

Her voice echoed through the corridor... but she knew that the message would also be heard loud and clear by her advisors, who both wore necklaces that she could speak to them through at any time with the use of a simple spell.

They were already waiting for her when she strode into the meeting room she favored, the mare giving a thin smile between the pale, cold-faced ponies as she said moodily: “At least I have two professionals here. Moonflower has been stupid enough to attack Canterlot... furthermore, to do so very publicly. He burned down a theater and has hurt ponies. I'm still waiting for further information.”

The sallow ponies traded calm looks, and then they both nodded before one of them asked in a ruthless rasp: “Will you exterminate him?”

“Yes.” Celestia said simply, and then she scowled and looked up, her eyes tracing slowly over the portraits on the walls before she added with contempt, as her eyes locked on one picture in particular: “And I'll be dealing with a certain traitor as well.”

Both advisors gave thin smiles at this, glancing over their shoulders at the picture of the mage on the wall: one of th e students of 'legendary' Starswirl the Bearded... not that he'd really been that great a mage. But he had been a relatively harmless old coot... although gullible and stupid enough that he'd been tricked into letting one of his more gifted students access several forbidden texts on the premise of a 'research project.'

Antecedes... and to think, he'd shown so much promise, too, apart from his obsession with dark magic. But she would have made an exception for him and allowed him to continue his studies... except he had refused to pledge his loyalty to her.

He had escaped, and used dark magic to make himself undying... but as she'd been more than happy to teach him, that didn't make him invulnerable. And then she had sealed him away... at least, until that idiot Moonflower had freed him. But after Moonflower's banishment, she had hunted down Antecedes and had him sealed again in a mausoleum: not out of mercy this time, but because she knew by now Antecedes would be begging for the peace of death. That was likely why he was helping Moonflower... just so he could escape his punishment.

As strong a mage as he was, after all... he hadn't been able to complete the immortality process, like she had done for her personal advisors. That required more than fables and wild guesses from old, dusty textbooks. And there was no way she was going to help him now, not even if he agreed to pledge his strength to her. No, this time, when she caught up to him, she was going to grind his brittle bones to dust and then have whatever little remained of him sealed in the vaults of the Magic Academy, to serve as a guinea pig for her experiments for the rest of eternity.

The mare slowly shook her head, then returned her eyes to the sallow ponies, as one of them said quietly: “We will ensure that Canterlot is maintained according to your wishes. Princess Celestia. We will not allow Princess Luna to interfere with politics, and we will maintain peace and order, as you so desire.”

“Good. I trust in you both.” Celestia halted, then hesitated for a moment before adding quietly: “Twilight Sparkle may be on her way to joining your position. She has already made me a promise... to serve loyally. And I have already placed my mark on her. She has a talent for dark magic... and while I normally would not be keen on the idea of letting her live...”

“Perhaps she can be of use.” Her advisors traded calm looks, and then they both nodded slowly. Celestia looked between the two impassively and almost impatiently before they both looked up, and the sallow pony on the right seemed to speak for both the counselors, as he said quietly: “If she fails to be useful, Princess Celestia, she can be... converted.”

“Converted...” Celestia frowned thoughtfully, lowering her head and chewing on the inside of her cheek for a moment. Yes, she hadn't really considered that option... and after a moment, she gave a brief nod before saying softly: “Yes. She would be a prime candidate. We haven't attempted a conversion for a hundred years, and we've never had a willing subject...”

“And she is still an Element of Harmony, yes?” asked the other pale pony. Celestia opened her mouth to scoff at this... but then she slowly closed it, instead looking thoughtful before she gave a brief, meditative nod.

“You're right. She's been exposed to the Element of Magic and can use it... and as far as I know, it hasn't stopped responding to her.” Celestia halted, then she rubbed thoughtfully at her chin before she murmured: “And if we're successful, then we can work on country-wide conversion...”

Both advisors nodded slowly, and Celestia slowly smiled, murmuring quietly: “Yes. This is a good thing, after all. And if we're successful, perhaps she truly can be my inheritor after all, and all this work won't have been for nothing.”

Her advisors nodded again, and Celestia looked between them before saying calmly: “Keep me informed. If Luna attempts to do something idiotic, stop her by whatever means necessary. Neither of you should have an issue dealing with her, even if she throws a temper-tantrum. Otherwise, I leave this in your capable hooves... and besides. Luna won't break character in private, let alone public. We've discussed many times what will happen if she attempts to expose the reality behind our Equestria.”

“Yes, your majesty.” both advisors murmured, bowing their heads low to her. Celestia gave a thin but pleased smile to the two of them, then she calmly turned around, striding to the door and pushing out without another word.

Before she could get very far, however, she felt a distinct tingle down her spine before she looked up to see a mare shambling towards her... and Celestia felt a strange twist of guilt in her stomach as she saw the way that Twilight Sparkle was trying to rush to her, even if she was still obviously in pain.

“Princess... Princess Celestia!” Twilight stumbled to a stop, looking up at her with a trembling smile and eager-to-please eyes... and Celestia couldn't help but reflect how eerie it was to know that her magic played only a small part in Twilight's enthusiasm. At least, at the moment: if she so desired...

The ivory mare looked calmly down at the violet mare, studying her with interest. Barely a bruise, coherent, loyal... and then Celestia's horn glowed brightly, and Twilight choked back a whimper as she grabbed her stomach, her whole body shivering with agony before Celestia gave a thin smile and relaxed. And as her magic faded, Twilight's pain visibly subsided, the mare breathing hard in and out before she looked up at Celestia... and the Princess marveled at her sheer delusion as she whispered: “S-Sorry... I'm not used to that... gift you gave me. It's acting up but... it's my fault...”

“Yes, it is.” Celestia reached up, gently grasping under Twilight's chin and pulling her head firmly up, studying her silently for a few moments before she smiled briefly. But Twilight lit up at this, smiling radiantly back before Celestia asked calmly: “Are you ready to serve? To make amends, Twilight Sparkle?”

“Yes, Princess Celestia! Anything you desire!” Twilight saluted awkwardly, and Celestia smiled wryly before the violet mare blushed and dropped her head, adding quietly: “And... and it means so much to me that you're giving me another chance.”

Celestia only chuckled quietly, and then she shook her head slowly before replying quietly: “It is also your last chance, Twilight Sparkle. If you make any mistakes from this point out... I will not hesitate to make you suffer every last tingle of pain that you deserve.”

Twilight swallowed thickly, but then she nodded slowly and bowed her head humbly. And Celestia smiled again before she stood straight, saying calmly: “This is your first real test, Twilight Sparkle. You will lead your friends into battle against Moros. I will accompany you... but it will mainly be to watch you and judge your actions.”

“I'll stop him. I... I swear.” Twilight hesitated, then she bit her lip before looking up and asking hesitantly: “What... am I allowed...”

“You will try and use the Elements of Harmony against him, first and foremost. You will neutralize as many of his powers as possible, and once he's sufficiently weakened, I'm going to...” Celestia stopped, then she smiled thinly as she shoved past Twilight, saying with a strange sort of pleasure: “Right. I don't have to pretend anymore around you. You're part of the inner circle now, Twilight Sparkle, so I'll drop the act.

“You and your friends are going to annoy Moonflower... Moros, for as long as possible. Partly because I want to see how strong he's become, partly because I want him distracted. One of two things will happen: you'll make him make a mistake, or he'll stop you and your friends by hurting you or killing you.” Celestia said almost carelessly, and Twilight trembled, her eyes widening in horror. “Either way, I'll step in when the opportunity presents itself and kill him. But you aren't going to tell your friends that, of course. You're going to back me up when I say that it was simply banishment magic.”

Twilight trembled a little, looking uncomfortably back and forth before she shook her head quickly and whispered: “Princess, I... that... n-no, you're not like this...”

Celestia stopped, then she looked over her shoulder and said calmly: “One of your parents, as I recall, attended the magic school. Your mother, correct? She and her friends – and unlike you, she had friends – often partied late at night. She was caught with a small supply of pills one day. Ecstasy, I think. But she was a good student, so they were confiscated and she was suspended, but the police weren't involved.

“She had several boyfriends. I heard she was fond of going down on them. And Shining Armor was born shortly after your parents were married, correct?” Celestia tilted her head as she asked in a voice made crueler by how kind it was: “Did you know that he thinks he was born as a mistake, and his parents wouldn't be together today if whatever birth control had worked? And imagine if he hadn't been born, Twilight Sparkle. Maybe your parents would have just continued having sex until it got boring, then broken up and moved on. Which makes you... less than a mistake, doesn't it?”

Twilight trembled violently, staring weakly up at the Princess as Celestia looked coldly down at her before stepping forwards and leaning slowly down, saying softly: “Everyone wears a mask. You only see your mother as your mother. But next time you look at her, why don't you stop and wonder if maybe her favorite hobby is still licking your daddy's lollipop?”

Twilight looked... crushed. And Celestia smiled thinly as she straightened up, saying coldly: “I smile. I'm nice. I'm pleasant. I'm also the ruler of a country based entirely on concepts of love and harmony and happiness, which means I have to pretend to be loving, and harmonious, and happy. I'm none of those things, Twilight Sparkle. I don't give two horseapples about you, or about the ponies in this country. What I care about is keeping the country moving: this extreme of 'niceness' keeps everypony in line and from acting like the idiots that our instincts compel us to be, that's all.”

The violet mare trembled, unable to respond, unable to do anything but whimper a little as she stared at the floor, before Celestia reached suddenly up and jerked Twilight's head back. The mare gasped, her eyes filled with tears as she looked up at Celestia and Celestia glared down at her... then almost imperceptibly softened before she said quietly: “But there's more than one side to this. If you prove you're useful, and loyal, Twilight... if you help me, then I'll help you. And I'll give you the privilege of seeing things few other ponies have ever gotten to see.”

The unicorn only looked up at her through her teary eyes, and Celestia rolled her own, looking irritated for a few moments before Twilight said in a whisper: “But... I don't wear a mask... I... I love you, Princess Celestia, like my mother, like... like a big sister, someone I... I thought would protect me...”

Celestia shook her head slowly, then she suddenly slapped Twilight hard across the face, the violet mare yelping in pain and surprise as she staggered to the side before touching her bruised cheek, looking horrified. Her eyes looked up with terror at Celestia, but Celestia only looked coldly back as she said quietly: “And you expose your naivety and stupidity... and demonstrate, far better than I ever could, why my disguise is so necessary. A cruel word? A single mean gesture? And suddenly I'm a monster. The thousand years I have spent ruling and protecting Equestria forgotten, because, oh no! I upset someone!”

Celestia snorted in disgust, gesturing bitterly to the side. “I push you ponies to better yourselves. But if I don't do it with treats and sunshine and coddling, you scream and call me a monster. I can throw myself, physically, between a dragon and a pony who stumbled across his aerie, and if I call that pony an idiot, then I suddenly become the villain of the piece, as if I threw him to the jaws of death. But, on the other hoof, if I smile and act nice, giving gentle little advice and nudges, I can rule without question, I can enforce any law I want, and I can send six young mares out like my personal assassins to deal with whatever might be irritating me at the time.”

Twilight stared with horror at Celestia, trembling and shaking her head weakly before the ivory winged unicorn reached up and slowly brushed her rainbow mane back. And then she took a slow breath before looking down and saying softly: “There is no difference between who I am today, and who I was yesterday, Twilight Sparkle. You merely think there is, because I am no longer treating you like a child, or any of these... idiot ponies. You should be honored that I have let you into my world. And Twilight...”

Celestia rose a hoof, thrusting it towards the mare and looking coldly down at her. “You seem to forget who rules this country, and who here is the criminal, found guilty of using forbidden, dark magic very similar to the very evil we now face. You owe me an apology. You also owe me gratitude.”

Twilight lowered her head, swallowing thickly before she clenched her eyes shut, then nodded uncertainly, breathing slowly in and out before she whispered: “You're... you're right. I'm sorry, Princess Celestia. You've done so much for this country, and for me. I'm not worthy of your forgiveness but... I... I hope you can give it to me anyway. I'll... I promised to be loyal. I am loyal. I am.”

The violet mare leaned hesitantly forwards, then silently kissed Celestia's raised hoof, and the ivory mare studied the unicorn with interest before she gave a slow, approving nod. Twilight flushed as she rose her head nervously, looking almost like a dog anxious to please her mistress, and Celestia gave a quiet chuckle before she said softly: “Good. Try and keep that in mind, at all times, Twilight... as a matter of fact, I insist that's what you try and remember. That everything I do... I do because I care about you and because I want to save you. I want to protect all of you.”

“Yes... yes, I understand.” Twilight whispered, and then she gave a trembling smile even as tears rolled down her cheeks, looking up and forcing herself to believe... but it didn't take much of a push. Every part of her wanted to please and believe in her mentor, no matter what that worried little voice inside her said... but it was tiny and insignificant and easy to blot out. And it became even easier when Celestia smiled at her, and Twilight proclaimed with more brazenness, more pride: “Yes! You're right! I won't disappoint you, Princess!”

Princess Celestia studied Twilight with interest. Even her advisors weren't this sycophantic, and they could scarcely be said to have minds anymore: she had bent them so completely to her will that they were barely anything more than puppets who talked back to her.

But Twilight Sparkle... Celestia couldn't resist testing her, even knowing she was wasting her time, asking calmly: “So you'll do anything I ask?”

“Yes. I will. Because I believe in you, and I'm loyal and... I know you're working hard to protect and save Equestria.” Twilight replied, and when she spoke the words, it made them easier to believe. When Celestia nodded to her, it made it even easier still, completely missing the patronizing, amused way the ivory mare was looking at her.

“And if I asked you to hurt someone, would you do it for me?” Celestia asked calmly, and Twilight hesitated only a moment before she bit her lip and nodded. It made Celestia smile, even as she continued pleasantly: “If I asked you to hurt your brother?”

Twilight shivered... then nodded slowly, looking up at Celestia. She was breathing a little harder, visibly straining... but all the same... “I... I would.”

“Words are easy, Twilight... and yet with just these words, you're shivering. Actions prove our mettle. Like what I've been telling you... what I say to you, the way I treat you, doesn't matter, when my actions are to protect a nation and encourage its growth... especially since you are nothing but a criminal and a disappointment.”

“I'll do whatever it takes to prove myself to you. A-Anything.” Twilight whispered, looking up and trembling as she nodded uneasily. “It... a great pony once said that to protect us all, sometimes you have to … you have to sacrifice...”

“Don't paraphrase great authors, especially when you do such a bad job of it.” Celestia replied calmly, and then she studied the violet mare for a few moments before saying softly: “Unfortunately, there's no time to test if you really mean what you say, Twilight Sparkle. Instead, since you've promised your loyalty to me... I expect you to do whatever I might ask without question, understood? You have to back up your words, Twilight Sparkle.”

The violet mare swallowed a bit, then she nodded a few times, looking up silently and whispering: “I will, Princess Celestia. I won't fail you. I won't.”

“I hope not.” Celestia looked meditatively over Twilight Sparkle, and then she gave a brief nod of her own before striding past her. Twilight hurriedly spun around and fell in at her side, and the ivory mare didn't even bother looking at her as she said calmly: “Our enemy, who you know as Moros, is not the only pony we need to put a stop to. I'm also waiting on information about who this strange, costumed pony was that attacked Canterlot, and a creature named Antecedes, who ceased being a pony long ago. Now he's become an abomination, a deathless monster who only cares about magic and destruction. We have to eliminate him.”

Twilight nodded, then she hesitated for only a moment before asking uneasily: “But how do we... stop something like that? Is it like Sombra?”

Celestia laughed shortly, shaking her head and replying irritably: “Sombra was an idiot. A second-rate monster and a third-rate magic user who ran face-first to his death like a moth to the flame. Antecedes is another former acolyte of mine: I seem to have trouble with picking students who won't fail or betray me.”

Twilight flushed and dropped her head, and then they stopped at an intersection, the ivory mare looking coldly down at the violet unicorn as she shifted uneasily, until Celestia ordered calmly: “Go and retrieve your friends. Wake them up, get them moving and prepared. In an hour, I'll summon you.”

The violet mare nodded hurriedly, looking up at Celestia with a small, hopeful smile... only to then flush and drop her head again when the ivory mare said irritably: “Don't make me repeat myself. Get going. Prove to me you can at least manage this small, simple task.”

There was silence for a moment, and then Twilight forced herself to nod before she turned and hurried off. Celestia's eyes flicked to watch the mare leave, the Princess of the Sun's brow furrowing before she finally gave a grimace, muttering: “I don't know how much I trust you, Twilight Sparkle. I hope for your sake, you make yourself useful.”

Celestia lingered for a moment, feeling... well, almost a twist of guilt. But she threw it off easily, reminding herself of everything that was at stake, and she instead scowled as she turned around and slowly walked through the castle halls. She stopped only to ask a passing patrol if there was any news from any of the other soldiers, but no one had heard anything: it irritated her.

She made her way down to the main hall, ignoring the few ponies that were still up at this hour. Instead, she closed her eyes as her horn glowed, paging mentally through a long list of ponies before she settled on one in particular.

She focused on him, then asked calmly, her voice barely a murmur but her question echoing through the soldier's enchanted helm: “General, what is the current status of Canterlot? And why have I not yet received a report?”

There was silence for a few moments... and then a nervous voice spoke back to her mind: no matter how good an actor or how stoic or strong a pony was, when you communicated mentally, it was almost impossible to hide your emotions. “We don't know, Princess Celestia. I sent my best soldiers, but there's no report back as of yet...”

“If they have engaged or disregarded any of their orders, you will bear responsibility for it, General.” Celestia said quietly, and she felt the shiver of fear that ran through the mind of the pony she was talking to before she forced herself to take a breath and calm down. No, she couldn't expose too much of her real face, even to this stallion. “Of course, my concern is that these soldiers have been injured... or that they may have forgotten themselves in the skirmish. It's been a long time since we've had such a serious attack on Canterlot, after all.”

For a moment, there was no response, and Celestia frowned as she felt her mood darkening considerably. She did not like to be ignored. But just as she began to open her mouth, the General's voice said hurriedly into her mind: “Princess Celestia, my scouts have just reported back! They've brought the wounded with them and-”

“What did they have to say about the pony that attacked? That's very important, General, and as much as I'd like to... speak to our soldiers myself, I'm waiting to leave at this moment.” Celestia said moodily, and then she opened one eye and looked irritably at a pony who had sidled up to her, doing a bad job of hiding his attempt to listen in.

She clicked her tongue loudly, then turned her eyes away as the General replied hesitantly: “It's strange. One of them says it was just an earth pony, but... he was very strong. Another said he was wearing... a big horseshoe on his head, and he had a costume on. They said he fled west.”

“Some kind of assassin... probably enhanced through magic.” Celestia muttered, looking down for a moment. She ignored the pony that was trying to listen in on her conversation: a moment later, it didn't matter anyway as the pony was grabbed from behind by one of her construct-soldiers, who dragged the pony away as he flailed wildly and began to babble out excuses, which both Celestia and the golem ignored. “Likely expendable, meant to get our attention, and to mock us. Thank you, General. You and your soldiers have done...” Terribly. “Well.”

The General tried to ramble something, but Celestia had already cut the connection, turning her meditative gaze back towards the door before she closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down as she carefully put the pieces of the puzzle together in her mind.

Yes, it was clear that Moonflower was up to something, and he had some strange, obtuse plan in mind. He was trying to lure her in, and he clearly was either experimenting on stupid ponies, or had gathered himself a little band of followers. He probably expected her and the Elements of Harmony: in fact, his recent actions all-but-confirmed that he wanted one of two things.

The first option was that he wanted to start a war of sorts with Equestria: he was probably well-aware of the fact that the Royal Guard of Equestria was no longer at the strength it had once been. Many divisions had been either disbanded or reconfigured, and little as Celestia liked it, in order to maintain the facade of peace, Celestia had to claim she was helping 'better' the military while instead she was damping down their training. The knights of today were nothing compared to the knights of Equestria's glory days...

Undoubtedly, Moonflower knew this. And he was likely well-prepared with an army of cannon fodder he would use to distract and delay her soldiers while peppering them with black magic, likely killing them in great shows of power and force to try and fortify his legend and start swaying ponies to his side. If they went to war, then win or lose, he would bring back black magic and he would turn her peaceful nation back into the savage beast that Equestria had once been, before she'd fixed everything. And there was no way Celestia was going to allow that to happen.

The second option was that he knew she wouldn't attack him head-on, but instead she would come herself with a small force, such as the Elements of Harmony, and fight him herself. He probably thought that he was at least as strong as her, and sadly, he was almost assuredly right.

But what he likely was too stupid to suspect was that she had artifacts that would level the playing field between them... and even if the Elements of Harmony would probably just be a nuisance to him, a good jolt could diminish his powers, or the six ponies could at least provide a distraction and allow her to attack him while his back was turned.

Celestia felt a strange tickle run through her mind, however: she had gone over these things a thousand times in her mind, and yet she still didn't feel reassured in the slightest. As a matter of fact, if anything, she only felt more worried... was she underestimating Moonflower's powers? Or had he grown more clever over all his years trapped beneath Tartarus, and he actually had some kind of strategy up his sleeve this time that was more complex than: 'lure her in and beat her up?'

And was that some weird kind of hope in her for that exact outcome? That he might actually prove he had some kind of brain? But then again, maybe that wasn't such a weird hope, after all. If he had a brain, he might be able to recognize when to surrender... and even if she knew she'd have to kill him eventually, he really was such a handsome stallion, and she was very curious how he'd escaped Tartarus and managed to come back even stronger than before...

Celestia bit her lip, smiling slightly to herself as she let her eyes slip closed. Oh yes. Capturing him alive was unlikely, but she could hope for that outcome, at least. Then she could 'interrogate' him at her leisure... chain him up in a private room in the dungeon, make him helpless, then slowly and agonizingly break that big beast of a stallion...

The ivory licked her lips slowly, then she shivered a bit before grimacing and opening her eyes as she remembered she was out in public. She hurriedly adjusted her cloak around her body, then hugged herself tightly and muttered: “I'll deal with him one way or the other, though. It's just too bad we can't convince him that...”

She shook her head briefly, then looked moodily up at the doors before she scowled a little. And more out of spite than anything else, she concentrated for a moment on Twilight before her horn sparked, and she felt the surge of pain that tore through the violet unicorn, the Princess giving a bitter little smile as she muttered: “Hurry up.”

Apparently Twilight Sparkle understood her nudge, because only ten minutes later, she was hurriedly leading her little cadre of friends into the hall and smiling eagerly over at the Princess. Celestia, however, barely acknowledged her before she closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her strength and mind before opening them and smiling as calmly as she could. “Are all of you ready?”

“Yes, Princess Celestia!” Twilight spoke up for the group, nodding fervently before she blushed a little and looked back over her friends: each and every one of them wore their their matching Element of Harmony around their neck. All apart from Twilight, who had hers in a tiara upon her head... but she always had to be different and special, didn't she?

Celestia felt an uncomfortable sensation in her gut, like some part of her was trying to reprimand her for being so continuously, cruelly unfair to the violet unicorn... but it wasn't exactly difficult to quash that little voice, as the ivory mare forced herself to turn her attention to the five tired-looking ponies that stood behind Twilight. “I will be coming with you, but this is a job that only you can do, my little ponies. But there are many evils in this world, all of which I shall do my very best to help protect you from. I will ask a lot of you, but remember: I ask this because it's what I believe you're capable of.”

That all sounded a little awkward, but Celestia was having trouble forcing the words out right now. She was irritable herself, and Twilight was making it hard to concentrate, hard to form the words... which was rather strange. Why was she feeling any kind of guilt? She hadn't before. And Twilight Sparkle was the one who had failed, who had chosen to try and use black magic, and who had chosen – of her own free will – to make her pledge of loyalty...

Celestia shook her thoughts off as she realized that the five ponies were looking at her with a little more confusion now... maybe even a bit of concern. And it didn't help that Twilight was staring up at her, almost slavering over her...

The Princess of the Sun reached up and gently pushed Twilight off to the side before she cleared her throat. With Twilight out of sight and her attention instead focused on the five other Elements of Harmony, it became a lot easier to pretend this niceness all came naturally. “What I'm trying to say is that there are many challenges ahead of us, and I need you to be ready for them. But I know that as long as we work together, we can conquer any obstacle in our path.”

“Yeah, guys! Let's put a stop to this jerk Moros and show him what ponies like us are capable of!” Rainbow Dash said firmly as she pumped a hoof in the air, and the other ponies nodded in agreement with her... well, most of them did. Rarity looked exhausted, and Pinkie Pie waved a hoof wildly back and forth for attention.

Princess Celestia looked with barely-concealed loathing at the pink mare, grinding her teeth together slowly before she asked in a resigned voice: “Yes, Pinkie Pie?”

“Uh, is it possible that maybe he just really needs a friend? I mean, don't get me wrong, but my Pinkie Senses have been going c-r-a-z-y since last night!” Pinkie nodded fervently, reaching up and poking herself a few times on the nose. “It tells me there's a pony who needs a friend and a party, pronto, and I feel like we should head way out west!”

“Pinkie Pie...” Celestia stopped, then frowned in surprise, leaning forwards and asking quickly: “Wait, you're saying... you feel something to the west?”

Pinkie nodded a few times, beaming up at the Princess. “Yep, that's right! I always know when there's a sad pony around, you see, and it feels like there's at least one, maybe two really sad ponies over there, and a whole lot of more not-happiness. Do you think maybe he just needs to learn how to smile a little more?”

“No, Pinkie Pie. I wish it was that simple, but unfortunately, it's not.” Princess Celestia said as gently as she could force herself to be, and then she shook herself quickly before raising her eyes and saying calmly: “But come, my... friends. We have to get moving. There's no time for delays, since I suspect it will be a long march... although, Pinkie Pie, perhaps you can help me find the route.”

The bright pink mare nodded firmly several times, smiling warmly up at Celestia, who loathed herself for the suggestion even though she knew it was likely for the best. Celestia only had a rough idea of where Moonflower was: perhaps Pinkie's strange premonitions would help them find the shortest, quietest route into his territory. Or maybe she'd just walk right into whatever traps Moonflower might have set for them and make herself useful as bait.

Either way, they were going to deal with him as quickly as possible. From here on out, there was no turning back... and Celestia smiled coldly as turned around to lead the way towards the doors, as Twilight nervously ran up beside her and the five ponies uneasily followed their Princess as they wondered just what they were getting themselves into.

Comments

[BarrenBaron]

I almost feel stupid for asking this, but is Celestia sane at all anymore? Her thoughts are all over the place, first she's going to kill Twilight for her dark magic use, which is BS since she at least gave Antecedes the choice first; then she ends up giving her a choice, but only after what I assume is a near death beating. And then, after she binds Twilight to her she feels guilty. Which I guess is technically a good thing as psycopaths don't feel bad about what they do.

Also what's this talk about her real face and why did she say about herself assuming a new one ages ago? Furthermore, why didn't Luna take a new face, as I assume she didn't due to how Luna felt "betrayed" or something after Celestia did so.

[BlackRoseRaven]

4057781

It'll kind of start to make sense in the next chapter, and everything will be laid out in the one after that. Everything'll hopefully fit together pretty well after that. You know. In spite of the erratic craziness.

[ezy goin]

I am just hating Celestia more and more the further I read. In contrast I'm growing more attached to Moonflower/Moros/Morpheus. He is seeming less and less like the villain in this story, and right now I'm really hoping he beats Celestia.

[BlackRoseRaven]

4058881

I'm glad to hear it. Moony was tricky to balance, because on the one hoof, he's kind of a joke character, but on the other, he has a serious side and he's quite powerful. So I hope you continue to like his development as things move forwards and I finish up this more serious part of the plot.

[BlackRoseRaven]

4059307

I will actually touch on all things concerning Luna a little further on, when I try and make this whole wild thing make sense. I've tried to go for something different from what I usually seem to do with Celestia this time around.

[BlackRoseRaven]

4059650

Well, that would be telling. But. Quite possibly.
Thanks very much for the fave. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

[Lelouch Vi Britania]

This celestia is like a mix of Freya and Hecate, with none of the nice bits from Celestia.