Beyond Our Harmony

by Hyperspace Nomad

Chapter 5: Mysterious Loyalty

Luna, now finished reminiscing, returned focus to her original question. What REALLY happened that day? What was that strange dream-like trance of which she and her sister succumbed to after Celestia tried to move the Sun? What caused their transformation and how did they end up moving the skies to such an extreme degree? Luna had so many questions and the thought of finally trying to solve these mysteries rekindled her youthful fire that for so long had be buried under the facade of a ruling princess.

Could she possess some vast and untapped magical power that dwarfed her known abilities??

Such an idea seemed worst investigating.

After cooling down some from her own excitement, Luna began to carefully reexamine her memories of her strange experience that day. What puzzled her was trying to find where in her memories that her normal mental state ended and where the “dream” began. Nothing seemed unusual that day, she talked with her sister, they had a caring moment together and then they somehow transitioned into that dreamlike trance.

She ran through that chain of memory a few more times, trying to find anything amiss. She did recall that the head pain she had felt during Celestia’s challenge was slightly similar in nature to later pulses of sensation during her dream state. This however did not explain anything significant and could be dismissed as a neck cramp.

Luna felt discouraged for a moment not having any solid indication was what caused her dream state or the transformation. Everything that day seemed to happen in a perfectly seamless transition up to the point of being abruptly jolted from her trance. Everything seemed to happen as if it was part of a book that described exactly how the lives of the two alicorn sisters would play out.

This thought made Luna pause for a moment. What if her life or maybe the lives of all ponies were predetermined and rigid? It would somewhat explain cutie marks and why cultural dissidents know as “maverick ponies” were somehow suppressed. It also seemed like a plausible theory for why her sister seemed to wish to keep her stuck in place with her duties as co-ruler. Could it mean that Celestia was attempting fulfill some sort of prophecy or idealization with the aid of the Elements of Harmony?

Celestia was not afraid to share with her the method of correcting minds of dissidents. Luna knew that Celestia would use the Elements to wipe all thoughts from the mind of a pony that rejected the current order. This was apparently the main function of these artifacts. They would often to Luna’s disturbance drastically change the personality of the pony affected. It was like that the original pony simply ceased to exist. Still, no pony else seemed to mind, ponies effected would often go on to live happy lives. Luna still was, at least internally, completely opposed to such a forceful way of changing a mind but she never attempted to stop the practice due to possibly getting into a conflict with Celestia that she would most likely not win. Luna in her discontent of recent years simply tried to ignore all of this.

But now that was not an option if she wished to preserve a friendship with miss Crystal Clear…

To have a friend again would hopefully allow Luna to be more of the easygoing mare she had once been before she became swept up in her sister’s ambitions of royalty. She would have no more reason to live by her sisters rules anymore. The only reason she ever did was the chance that she could reconcile with her sister. But now she no longer needed to worry about her so-called sister. She would no longer have to be alone in that pursuit of her own life.
Because of this, she just could not give up on finding the solution. Perhaps research in the castle archives could yield some insight…..

SOON….

A short trek from Luna’s chamber was the Royal Canterlot archives. This large repository of scrolls and tomes was put together shortly after the new castle was built 100 years ago. The project was indorsed by both sisters for the purpose of building a foundation of knowledge and information that would allow for optimum advancement of equestrian civilization. It short, it was a place where anypony was allowed to go find recorded information. Over twenty thousand Scrolls and tomes from far and wide were deposited into a huge chamber in the heart of the Castle. However, future benefits were hampered by the sluggish literacy rates and a recent lack of interest in producing new entries.

Due to this lack of interest and the large scale of the archives, many entries had never been read since they were acquired. Some of these tomes, such as magical research by Starswirl and other mages, even predated Discord’s rule. Luna though that the secrets of such old and untouched entries could hold insight to exactly what kind of pony Luna really was.
Upon pushing through large wooden doors, Luna entered a vast chamber filled with bookshelves two stories high. The room was not very wide but stretched far into the mid section of the castle from it’s main entrance at the main lateral corridor of the castle. The floor covered in fine red carpet and the various hanging tapestries on the walls were to project a ‘warmer’ atmosphere for readers.

The pony tasked with its nightly upkeep, Indexter, perked up when he heard somepony enter his domain. Unlike most ponies, Indexter was on fair terms, if a bit distant with Luna. He made it his duty to help anypony when he could but preferred to not snoop in on their personal lives. He still appreciated a pony who wished to take interest in the books found in the archives and Luna happened to be a frequent enough visitor.

“Good evening your highness. What can I assist you with tonight?”

Indexter, besides Crystal Clear and Celestia, was the only pony Luna could feel comfortable speaking to without the Royal

Canterlot Voice. This was mostly because he did not care and due to the current privacy of the conversation.

“Greetings again Indexter, I am looking to do more reading into obscure magical research.”

“Are you searching for anything specific?”

“I suppose I could say that I wish to take another look into the circumstances of how my sister and I came to be.”

“Are you referring to finding your place of birth or the time of when you became the princess of the night?”

“I would prefer to seek the insight into both if you please.”

“Ah, Perhaps we could start with ‘Studies into the occurrence of Alicorns’.”

With this, Luna found a place to begin her reading in a lounge mid way though the long chamber as Indexter began to fetch her various books.

‘Studies into the occurrence of Alicorns’ contained information on pony genetics and theories of internal magic workings but nothing on ethereal manes or abnormal growth rates.

‘History of the elements of Harmony’ mostly had first hoof accounts of various times were the Elements were activated but little in the way of how they worked.

Luna browsed though several studies of the workings of pony magic. Most of the studies helped establish a basic theory that ponies, mostly Unicorns, had the natural capability to manipulate their environment on a completely different level than most other creatures. Magic was believed to be composed of various interlocked ‘particles’ that all had different properties. Unicorns apparently had the ability to absorb and channel these particles with their horns. The particles themselves are completely invisible to eyesight but tend to emit light when compressed enough to be used by Unicorns. Different spells were created by arranging and compressing these particles into matrix patterns.

Despite being able to harness them, no unicorn could ever determine how these particles actually worked or how many different types there were. Spells were recognized and formed by the specific way a Unicorn would ‘feel’ them. Most spells outside of basic levitation were passed down from generation to generation within different unicorn families until Starswirl the Bearded invented a far easier way to learn spells. He was able to find a way to ‘touch’ the different magic particle formations that existed within many things such as objects, living thing, and different phenomenon such as fire. New spells were learned first by having a unicorn become familiar with the ‘feel’ of a particular formation of particles followed with experimentation by replicating the familiar formation and altering it until achieving a desired effect.

Luna paused for a moment. She recalled seeing similar particles during her little ‘incident’. Could those blue bubble-like particles she saw actually be what drive pony magic? Perhaps she had just found a clue to her original question.

Still, none of the books Luna looked through ever mentioned anything about strange colored auras. Those auras she saw that day looked different from any type of aura that unicorns would emit from their horns. Whereas a unicorn’s auras were turbulent sparkling mist, the auras that Luna saw emanating from her sister were much more laminar in nature.
After about an hour of diving through various tomes and scrolls, Luna still left pondering what it all meant.

Her trance?

Those strange auras coming from Celestia and herself?

Her mane and cutie mark?

Being at first, able to move the skies to such an extreme degree so easily but then having much more difficulty after leaving the trance?

What did it all mean?

Did she and her sister really possess some amazing hidden power or was it all really just a dream?

How could she actually answer that question?

Luna let out a mild groan as she rested her head on the table she had been reading from.

Indexter noticed her plight as he returned. “Have you been able to find anything of interest you highness?”

Luna raised her head somewhat with a mild look of defeat. “ No, there does not seem to be any book that I could refer to.”

“Well, perhaps I could be of more assistance if I knew more about what you are trying to find. May I ask you more about what motivated you to do such research?” Indexter replied calmly.

Luna felt too protective to let Indexter know about Crystal Clear but maybe he could know about Luna’s bizarre experience in getting her cutie mark.

“It is something very personal to me Indexter. I cannot tell you my motivation but I believe that I and possibly my sister have some sort of immense power hidden within us. It could very well be something that puts our current ability to move the skies to shame. It was a power that I may have once brought to bear unwittingly on the skies of Equestria. When my sister had thought about such a concept on that day so long ago, she was afraid that we would both transform into the likes of Discord.”

Indexter rubbed his chin “It is indeed strange, and I believe you have my full interest with such an idea. However, the records and tomes that may have answers are by forbidden to pony eyes. They were all burned by royal decree many years ago.”

“Which of those entries are you referring to indexter? Those entries were disposed of because of the damage they could do to Equestrian society. I recall most of them held the most contemptible spell research or called for ponies to over throw my sister and I.”

“Did you know that Star Swirl had authored one of those forbidden entries? It was his very last, written only a few years before Discord took control of Equestria”

“ I do not recall hearing of such an entry. What would Starswirl put in record that Celestia or myself would not approve of?”
Indexter paused for a moment to take a deep breath

“There supposedly was a time were StarSwirl, before his death, was able to have direct conversation with Discord. In his exploration of magic, Starswirl asked the draconis many questions regarding his chaotic powers. Apparently, legend has it that Discord actually cooperated in full and Starswirl was able to learn untold secrets of how magic works. He supposedly had learned of a much deeper kind of magic or energy that gave Discord his god-like abilities. Whatever he had learned was then inscribed in a tome that was lost to time until it was again found during the construction of the Canterlot archives. Due to the fact that it was specifically about Discord, nobody actually read it and Celestia had it burned in hopes that she could erase all memory of Discord’s time.”

Untold magical secrets?

For a moment, Luna felt a sense of regret that she had not known about this book before it was destroyed. It could have held so many clues to the powers of the Royal Pony Sisters.

Luna brought her hoof down onto the table briskly in frustration. “I now regret not paying more attention to what my sister wanted thrown away. At this point I would pay no mind to delve into such forbidden texts! The answers I seek could have been within one of them, especially that tome you have just spoken of!”

Luna quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment after her small outburst.

….

“I…. suppose that I have done enough searching for tonight, I bid you farewell and thank you Indexter.” Luna began to head for the entrance to the Archives.

As he watched Luna turn away, Indexter felt a pang of guilt. He was not successful in helping the only pony that had any sort of appreciation for his line of work. He was also curious to what Luna could do with the knowledge she was seeking. There was a good chance he did have the true means to answer Luna’s questions but bringing them forth could result in dire punishment.

“Princess Luna, wait….”

Luna stopped and slowly turned. “Yes, Indexter?”

“I have one more question if you will.”

“Very well then, if you have any other ideas.” Luna replied mildly.

“Your highness, I guess you could say that I am concerned. If a pony approached you in possession of such a forbidden text that could hold answers, would you punish him or her?”

“I would say that I am not as ‘stringent’ as my sister on such matters but I would use my own judgment. Do you know of anypony that would have such texts?” Luna pressed her eyes at Indexter solemnly.
Indexter stood there awkwardly for a moment.
….

“Please forgive me for this you majesty. I suppose I should be honest to you in answering that I do, but it is not a type of text that I feel would hold any sort of knowledge anypony could actually make use of, let alone for evil. It is the very same book I spoke of before and I have read it. I admit it now, It was never actually destroyed and I have it hidden in my possession! I guess my family as well as I just could not let such a strange and fascinating tome be destroyed before somepony like yourself could possibly make any sense of its contents.”

It took a short moment for Indexter’s words to sink in. When they did, Luna could feel both suspicion at Indexter for carrying a book that was officially considered forbidden and excitement at the possibility of what insight the tome could hold. While Luna firmly believed that not reporting dangerous entries was a grave offense, she had significantly different opinions from her sister on what kinds of entries should be considered a liability.

“I will not immediately pass judgment, but I demand you show me all of the texts you and your family have been hiding!” Luna commanded.

Indexter could only hope that the princess of the night would share a similar opinion about the texts that his family had saved from destruction. “Follow me your highness.“

….

Indexter guided Luna to the spiraling stairs in the very back of the archives that would lead to a locked storage room directly below for storing pending entries. Compared to the furnishing of the archives proper, the storage room was rather drab with its bear stone walls and its weathered wooden storage racks.

The two ponies made their way to the far right corner of the room. Indexter then turned his attention to the nearest wooden storage rack and began to push on the end opposite from the wall. Luna watched in amazement as the rack slowly began to slide into the wall revealing an opening in the floor where it had just been. Within the opening and below the floor level was a compartment that held 8 different texts.

Indexter then made a gesture for Luna to begin her inspection of these new hidden texts.

“A Cutie Mark Conundrum”

Luna briefly flipped through some of its contents. It apparently was a collection of research about cutie marks.

“In the Trappings of Culture”

This appeared to be a book of criticisms regarding Equestrian culture Authored by a Donkey.

“A silent Desert”

A book detailing an old expedition into set of ruins located in a desert on a continent to the south.

Luna paused for a moment. None of these books seemed all that dangerous. She did not get the impression that such entries contained condemnable things such as dark magic.

She looked up at Indexter with some curiosity. “How many of these books have you read through?”

“All of them completely your highness. I give you my truest word that they do not contain the slight trace of knowledge that could easily bring harm upon ponies, please tell me if you feel otherwise.”

“I may agree with you Indexter, so why have you chosen to hide such topics?” Luna asked

“I have heard rumors about her majesty Celestia… about what topics she would rather not have discussed and what happens to ponies that do not wish to comply.” Indexter said nervously.

Luna had a good idea what Indexter was referring to as she continued inspecting the remaining texts.

“With a Fiery Spirit”

“The Chaotic Age of Equestria”

It was decided long ago that the memories of Discords reign be erased from the minds of ponies.

“At Life’s Time Made Short”

A text telling tales of the pony wars that had happened well before equestrian was founded.

“A Record of Equestria’s Mind Suppressions”

This entry had to be much more recent. Ponies rejecting their cutie marks or simply behaving as renegades to Equestria’s social order had not started to become an issue to Celestia until perhaps three decades ago. Luna decided that she could worry about this subject later if she was able to find anything of interest.

…..

“Seven Days with Discord”

….

This must be the tome Indexter was referring to! It had the same style of binding as the other entries Starswirl had authored. Luna's pulse quickened. She really wanted to believe that this tome before her held the answers to the events of her past and in turn, the solutions to endeavors to come.

“Thank you for your honesty Indexter, I will read through all these before deciding my course of action on the matter of their legality.” Luna felt that she could trust Indexter. He was helpful to her and genuinely seemed to be devoted to the cause of knowledge. She never truly though of bringing punishment upon him.

On the other hoof, nopony else needed to know about these books. She quickly began scooping them up one by one with her magic and loading them into a saddle bag nearby. The first seven books were loaded without incident, but on the moment Luna touched “Seven Days with Discord” with her telekinesis, she felt a searing pain in the back of her head as if it was being split apart. It only lasted for about a second or two but it was enough to make her lose any composer by collapsing to the floor and letting out an audible groan.

……………

Elsewhere, A crack had now formed on the red stone……

…………..

“Princess!? What is wrong?!” Indexter let out in panic.

“I… I do not know. For a short moment I felt great pain. It seems to have subsided now though.”

“Do you require aid?”

“No… I…. I will fare well enough”

Luna once again reached out with her magic to collect the last tome. She flinched slightly, half-expecting another burst of pain that never came. With this, she quickly loaded the tome into her saddlebag and placed it on her back. With everything in her possession she quickly began to make her way to the exit of the archives, only stopping once to address Indexter one last time.

“Have a good morning indexter and thank you for your assistance in my search. If I do not hear from you any time soon, please know that I am grateful and have no intention to convict you for holding these … interesting entries.”

“It was an honor you highness please fare well.”

With all this said, Luna stepped out into the Corridor and began making her way back to her chambers. It would very soon be time for her and her sister to once again move the skies to bring forth the dawn and she wished to have time to place the tomes she had just collected in a secure location. So without any hesitation Luna briskly trotted back to her Chambers stuffed the bag of tomes under her bed.

Within a minute of her finishing this task, she heard a knock at her door.

“Luna, are you prepared to bring forth the dawn with me?” It was Celestia. Luna would simply have to begin her readings once it was usually time for her to sleep.

Luna opened the door for her sister. “Good morning sister, I am prepared. Did you sleep well?”

Both sisters began to walk to the meeting point in the front courtyard

“For the most part yes. Something seemed to vigorously jolt me awake and my head felt… sore, but other than that, I am well.” Celestia answered still appearing slightly dazed.

Jolted her awake? Could she be have also….

“So how did your new assistant fare tonight? Her name is Crystal Clear, correct? I would dearly desire to hear about how you handled her first day.” Celestia asked somewhat abruptly, give a caring expression.

Luna quickly composed herself beside her sister. “I had her for the first day observe nightly proceedings and explained to her the different tasks she would be undertaking soon. She seemed quite astute to everything demonstrated. I believe she will be able to perform her duties effectively.”

“Do you think you two will be able to get along? I know that is not one of your best talents.” Celestia said as she craned her neck to nuzzle her sister on the cheek.

“There will be no issues with that.” Luna said flatly as she recoiled from her sister’s gesture.
Celestia raised an eyebrow.

“That is wonderful to hear Luna. I would love to meet her some time and see how much she has matured ever since I heard she ran away from home at a young age.” Celestia implored in a stern and slightly concerned manner.

Luna put all her effort into maintaining an unfazed composer. Crystal would surely know how to behave wisely in Celestia’s company, would she not?

Would she……?

……

The two ponies continued their trot to the courtyard in silence. Finally they arrived to find the members of Celestia’s day court waiting in front of the main castle doors. Some of the ponies present gave Luna looks of contempt when she made eye contact. Others simply looked away.

Without anypony saying anything, the two Alicorn sisters began their ritual. Both concentrated on their respective heavenly bodies, with their respective special talents allowing for more efficiency in both locating and moving said spheres. The two sisters fired their concentrated telekinetic plumes and arced them towards their targets. The moon was an easy shot for Luna, being visible in the sky whereas Celestia had to reach beyond the horizon to grab hold of the Sun. Within less than twenty seconds it was all completed. Celestia and Luna were able to once again set the skies on their course for another day.

With this the two sisters began to head back inside the Castle with the members of day court quickly falling in line. They gathered around Celestia, ignoring Luna’s presence, and began to brief her on the plans for the day as they all walked to the dining hall for breakfast. All the ponies crossed the castle foyer to the main corridor and proceeded right until reaching the dining hall located at the very end.

As the all sat down in the hall, meals were served. Luna finished her dish very quickly, even faster than she would usually, given the cold reception she was used to from the members of Celestia’s court. She then quickly rose from her seat next to Celestia and walked out of the room to make her way back to her chamber. The only thing she could think of was reading that tome.

Within a few minutes she was able to make a brisk canter back to her chamber on the far side of the main corridor. She drew the curtains, locked her door, pulled out the tome, and was ready to shut the rest of the world out until perhaps it was time to meet with Crystal Clear again or she finished reading the tome, whatever came first.

However, at the moment Luna was able to grasp “Seven Days with Discord” to open to the first page, she was interrupted by a knock at her door.

“Luna?” It was Celestia calling out from the other side of the door.

“What do you desire of me sister, I am about to retire for the day.” Luna said in an annoyed tone.

“ You seemed so distressed at breakfast and I wish to have one more attempt to reach out to you.” Celestia spoke out.

“I have told you many times before, I do not like being the co-ruler of a land casts so much contempt at me!” Luna replied coldly.

“…and I have suggested that you simply must try to connect with your subjects and not lose your temper. It seems that because that sort of guidance is not working, something else must be amiss. Now please open up.” Celestia spoke in a tone of a concerned mother.

Luna gave a sigh, and opened the door for her sister.

“Sister, you never understand how I feel. Can you please just let me sleep?” Luna said in annoyance

“Could we not once again be able to share things with each other like when we were young?”

“Not ever since you became so obsessed with ‘watching over’ Equestia and dragged me into it.”

“We allowed ponies to live happy and productive lives more so than ever before. I thought you enjoyed helping ponies in need.” Celestia spoke with upset rhetoric.

“Not like this sister!” Luna snapped.

“Luna, there is no need to raise your voice.” Celestia mildly scolded.

“I cannot please anypony no matter what I do as a princess! ” Luna felt her frustration at her sister build.

“I am hated simply because I bring forth the night that everypony fears, because I simply exist. Nothing can be done about that. ” Continued Luna

“Such things will improve if you give them more time, but only if you try to treat your subjects with more care! I understand your plight but you must be patient!”

“Treat them with care? I have always followed your example of shouting the Royal Canterlot Voice and attempting to project strength to everypony. In fact that is the only way I can present myself to actually have anypony comply with me!”

“Luna, I still love you as my sister as much as I ever did. We can get through this together! Please do not push me away!”

“You just do not understand me sister! If you love me so much then why can you not just let me have my own life back! Find someone else to be the ‘princess of the night’ and let me be so I can sleep!” Luna’s tone sent a message of ‘I really do not care’.

Celestia was struck speechless.

…..

“Fine then, sister. I will leave you to your sleep. You must be quite tired if you would claim to be willing to just throw away your special place in life. I will return this evening so that we can have a more civil conversation when hopefully you have ceased in acting like a foal . “ Celestia spoke in a tone of contempt at her sister’s rude statement.

Celestia then marched out of the room and quickly closed the door.

The only thing that Luna could feel was relief that her sister was finally gone. How could Celestia ever understand how it feels to have nearly everypony hate her for something she cannot change? Luna had a cutie mark of the night sky and a talent for controlling it with magic. Because of this, she represented the very thing that was bringing such fear and pain to many ponies in Equestria. Even for ponies such as nobles who could care less, Luna was the perfect scapegoat for just about anything due to not having much public exposure during the day.

Celestia never had to worry about public opinion. She was the symbol of pony idealism on top of controlling the day and in turn, all of the life giving that came with it. All the unrequited love and sometime worship she would get from ponies everywhere had to have gone to her head by now. Either that or she was trying to live up to a ridiculous standard.

Luna hoped that soon it would all cease to matter.

Luna quickly opened ‘Seven Days with Discord’ once again and began to delve into its secrets.