Luna is banished to the moon, but she still struggles. And Celestia is steadily getting worse and worse, with no sister to comfort her. Note: This is the sequel to Darkness and Light, so if you haven't already, read that first.
For one thousand years, Celestia had to live with the fact that she couldn't save her own sister, and had to banish her instead. And with nopony to comfort her, Celestia has to battle a mysterious voice, who seems to be in league with Nyx and is taking over Celestia. And Luna is no better.
"Your Majesty, if I may..." One of Celestia's guards knocked on her locked door. "Princess Celestia, you have not raised the moon in three days... Ponies need their rest, m'lady."
Celestia did not answer him, and he trotted away.
Celestia looked out the window. For three days straight she refused to raise the moon, for whenever she did she would always be reminded. That reflection of her sister on the moonrock would haunt her, pain her. "How could I have banished my own sister...? I was... I was too... I was too weak to save you, Luna..." Celestia cried.
Well, you should have defeated her... She'll come back for revenge, you know. If you had just let me-
"No," Celestia said aloud. I will not stand for your trickery. You have nothing to say to me... You... You... You MONSTER!
My, my, somepony's getting antsy! Ahh, I can feel your wrath, your hate, your anger. And it is divine! Soon you will embrace me. But alas, I must be patient. You don't rush these kind of things.
What... What kind of things?
Hmm, well aren't you curious. Your sister was more powerful, but you... You are much more pliable. Nyx went a little too far with Luna. Pushed her too hard. Oh, but I, I will be much more careful. The Voice laughed gleefully.
"Your majesty, your evening meal is ready." A guard called.
And that was the end of that conversation.
~oOo~
"Strawberry Cream Cake! Your favorite." Celestia's pastry chef, Sweet Treats, smiled. She brought in the rich dessert, five decadent layers of moist white cake. In between them was a delicious strawberry cream, with fluffy frosting and fresh strawberries on top. Sweet Treats could barely hold it up on the silver platter, even with the help of her magic.
Celestia sighed. She usually loved cake, but... She wasn't in the mood tonight today. She barely touched her dinner anyway, and she didn't want dessert. "No thank you, Sweet Treats. I'm not in the mood right now."
Sweet Treats looked taken aback. "Well I'll just save it for you, Princess." She trotted off with the cake platter.
Celestia walked to Luna's room. She didn't really know why, perhaps just for some level of solace. She looked at her sister's smashed mirror, and a broken picture of Celestia and Luna. Then finally, she was ready.
Celestia turned to the sun. She used her magic to lower it... Then she took a deep breath and started to raise the moon. Celestia saw her sister's reflection upon the full moon. It almost seemed that reflection was staring right at her, its eyes boring into Celestia. Celestia drew the curtains before she thought too much about Luna's banishment. Ponies all over Equestria were gossiping about it, rumors flew everywhere. Celestia tried to stay out of the way, but so many ponies peppered her with questions whenever she just opened the castle door.
"Oh, Luna..." Celestia started to cry. "I was too late... I was too blind... How could I not see your struggles? How long did you suffer before I even realized?"
Quite a long time, actually.
Celestia ignored the Voice and went to bed.
~oOo~
Celestia's dreams were dark and troubled that night.
She was running. What from, she didn't know. "Luna!" Dream-Celestia called. The ground became wavy and uneven, she had to focus not to trip. A shadow rose above her, and she realized what Dream-Celestia had been running from.
"You can't hide, Celestia!" The shadow said. Then a flash of blue light swallowed the scene, then Dream-Celestia was suspended in a galaxy of some sort. It was strangely warm, welcoming, something you wouldn't expect from space. Her jaw dropped as she saw a misty image of Luna.
"Lu... Luna?" Dream-Celestia asked. "Why... How are you here?"
Luna smiled sadly. "Even on the moon, I can still enter dreams."
"You... Can enter other ponies' dreams?"
Luna laughed, but it was strained. Even so, Celestia hadn't heard Luna even fake a laugh in a long time. "I guess I have not told you much, lately. I have more skills than you think." She smiled slightly mischievously. "But nopony notices me, I guess," Her smile faded. "They're too busy worrying about you." Luna tried to mask her bitter tone.
"Luna, you're their princess. They love you!" Dream-Celestia said.
"No, Tia, you're their princess. Haven't you seen how they look at you, compared to how they look at me?" Luna paused. "But we... We digress. I know you have been struggling, sister. I've seen your nightmares. I wanted to warn you-" Luna's form started to fade.
"Luna? What's happening?" Dream-Celestia reached out to touch her sister.
"Don't! I'm just an image. You're waking up. I wanted to tell you something that will help you block out-"
Then Celestia woke with a start, and she never found out what Luna was about to tell her.
~oOo~
Things went along smoothly for several months, but Celestia never saw Luna in one of her dreams again. But that was alright, after all, that voice in her head was silent for the most part. As the days went on, the day Celestia had been dreading was approaching: The Summer Sun Celebration. It was the anniversary of when she banished Luna to the moon. And she definitely did NOT need a reminder. Why did ponies have to create this holiday?
"Princess, we can't just 'skip' the Summer Sun Celebration!" Silver Suit, the royal adviser, said. "Think of your subjects! They would not take it well."
"I know, Silver, but I just... Can't do it. I never wanted them to celebrate Nightmare Moon's defeat! I never agreed to this." Celestia said flatly.
"And it would be lovely if you could enlighten me on your reasons?" Silver Suit said curtily.
Celestia grew impatient. "Last time I checked, Silver Suit, I was the Princess here." She glared at Silver. Celestia felt her anger rise, but she held it in.
"Yes, I know, but I just want what's best for the kingdom!" Silver looked taken aback and pranced huffily away.
He's not the boss of you, Celestia. Why don't you-
How many times do I have to tell you to be SILENT!
~oOo~
At last the day was here. Celestia was wearing the finest silk gown embroidered with gold ribbon and a ruby trim, with a matching crown. She tried to keep a smile on her face, but her thoughts kept trailing to the night of Luna's banishment. The crowd, however, did not seem to care about anything but their precious princess raising the sun, and lowering the daunting moon.
Silver Suit stepped up to the platform which Celestia stood and cleared his throat. "Today we celebrate our great ruler's triumph against NIghtmare Moon!" He paused while the crowd stomped their hooves in delight. "And now, Princess Celestia will raise the sun to remind us of her victory!"
Celestia noticed how Silver purposely left out the part about Nightmare Moon being Princess Luna, and more importantly her sister. She let out an obvious sigh and raised the sun. The crowd cheered louder than ever.
Oh, what a lovely holiday. Having good memories, Celestia?
"Why did they have to celebrate this?" Celestia whispered under her breath.
The deafening cheering. The sickening applause. All of it was more than overwhelming for Celestia.
They were cheering for her own sister's banishment. Why? They should be mourning, not... Celebrating!
Not having fun, eh Celestia?
"Wow, Celestia!" A random pony in the crowd called. "It's so cool that you banished Luna and everything. How did it feel?"
Celestia was so angry she didn't retain her composure. "Oh, you're wanting to know how it felt? Well, imagine living in constant pain and agony, knowing you were too weak to save your own sister, waiting a grueling thousand years waiting for the one you love to come home! Imagine your heart being ripped out as you watch your sister suffer while you stand idly by! Being alone, for centuries! And you all are celebrating that! You want to know how it felt? It was the worst pain you could ever experience... Agonizing pain! Every. Single. Day!" Celestia's face looked downright murderous. Tears rolled down her face.
"Your majesty, perhaps you should rest..." Silver Suit hastily shuffled Celestia into the castle.
~oOo~
Celestia paced around her room, the only audible sound was her hoof steps. She finally looked up when she noticed the room getting visibly hotter. When Celestia did look up, she saw a misty form, reminiscent of fire. "What...?" She gasped.
"So we finally meet, Celestia. How lovely..." It was that strange voice, in the flesh, if you could call it flesh. The fiery form had tendrils of smoke pour around the room.
"You!" Celestia shouted angrily.
The voice chuckled. "How sweet of you to recognize me. Your sister wasn't so observant."
"How dare you even speak of Luna!"
"Your sister gave in without a fight- that is, of course, until she knew what was happening. After she found out, she put up quite a fight indeed. You already know I don't mean well, so perhaps I shall take you by force." Suddenly the fiery form solidified into a mare. She would've been pretty, but her mane was wild, and her teeth were sharp. She had bat wings, and a sharp crooked horn. "Let's see how strong you are." Her jagged horn glowed, and a white-hot blast of magic came hurdling at Celestia.
With haste, Celestia drew up a shield, but since she barely had time to defend herself the shield shattered once the blast made contact.
"Is that the best you can do? I was expecting more from the sun princess... But that was just a warmup. Let's see how you do in round one!" A tornado of fire came charging toward Celestia.
The sun princess shielded herself once again.
"Ahh, you're no fun. Enough of the defense, show me some offense!"
Celestia tried the best she could, but the fire-mare seemed to predict her every move. At last Celestia fell to the ground.
"Funny thing, it seems your younger sister had way much more power than you. Perhaps you have the same amount, you just haven't unlocked them fully."
"Who... What are you?" Celestia croaked.
"Sekhmet. My sister and I rule over all nightmares, and dreams, also. I specialize in daydreams, and making those nightmares you have come to life." Sekhmet smiled widely.
The last thing Celestia saw before she passed out was Sekhmet looming over her, cackling.
Celestia slowly opened her eyes. She was... In bed. As if nothing had happened. She stretched her hooves. Then, Celestia realized, she had no injuries, even though her battle with Sekhmet was brutal. She smiled. Perhaps that was just a dream. Celestia trotted out of her bedroom and into the common room.
"Hello, Tia!" Luna called enthusiastically. She was curled up by the fire, and her smile was genuine. Her face showed no signs of pain or anger, or even sorrow.
Then a familiar stallion cantered in.
"I thought I'd stop by for a visit." (Other World) King Sombra said. He handed Celestia a bouquet of poppies.
Celestia smiled. It seemed all her dreams and wishes were becoming reality. But something was off. "Sombra," Celestia looked into his usually kind green eyes, but now they seemed dull and lifeless. "You know my favorite flowers are pink roses. I'm allergic to poppies."
"Oh, it must've slipped my mind. And, I couldn't find anymore pink roses." Sombra seemed a bit anxious, but he hid his anxiety very quickly. Celestia raised an eyebrow.
"Sombra wanted to ask you something, sister." Luna smiled mischievously. Her eyes gleamed, and, for a moment, Celestia felt extremely wary.
Sombra also smiled. "Oh, of course. Celestia, I want you to be... My queen." He reached out his hoof.
Celestia was so close, so close to everything she ever wanted. But something was terribly wrong. Luna's eyes looked dark, and Sombra's looked strangely like Sekhmet's. "N... No. This can't be real." Celestia stammered.
The room seemed to rip, and Sombra morphed into Sekhmet, and Luna into a pony who must be Nyx. They both did not look happy.
"So, you saw through our little dream." Nyx said. Her voice was unnaturally smooth and eerie. "At least it distracted you for a little while. Time is different in dreams, you know."
"How... How long have I been dreaming?!?" Celestia demanded.
"Oh, quite longer then you think. About three days." Sekhmet smiled, then she and Nyx disappeared.
Celestia shouted and shouted, but she could not wake up.
~oOo~
When Celestia finally awoke, she was in complete darkness. She lit her horn, but an unknown force always snuffed it out.
Sometimes, she would hear whispers and voices in the darkness, trying to get her. She would fight them. They would try to convince her, convince her that their way was better, but Celestia fought. They were strong, and obviously helping Sekhmet and Nyx.
But soon, Celestia began to tire.
And they seized their moment and swallowed Celestia in darkness.
