"You're mad." Luna whispered in disbelief.
"Quite the opposite dear sister. I am simply taking the most optimal route to achieve our mutual goals."
"Our mutual goals?! I want nothing to do with this! I tell you, again and again." Luna scoffed shaking her head, "yet still you do not listen!"
"Just like that student of yours?"
"Leave Twilight Sparkle out of this."
"Dear sister you have already brought her into this. Why with our little deal, there really is no pony more central to my plans. You've made that quite clear." She quirked her head. "Really Luna. You brought her here. You gave her the breadcrumbs to find the truth. Just what did you think would happen? That she would run away? Hide? Everything I have no doubt you taught her not to?"
Luna hung her head. "I don't know...not this."
"Honestly, little sister, I wouldn't worry so. Soon enough it won't matter where she is. All fall equally beneath the wrath of the Sun you know."
"So you keep saying." Luna growled. "Perhaps I should remind you exactly what that means.
"I am already aware. I simply do not care."
"Millions of lives. Innocent lives! Billions! They mean nothing to you?"
Infernia shook her head. A glint of something flickered for a moment before disappearing beneath the surface once more. "In the face of your suffering Luna, they mean less than nothing."
"My suffering?" screamed Luna, lunging at Infernia. "MY suffering?" She threw herself across the barren Moon, teeth bared. "HOW DARE YOU!" Powerful muscles honed from years of war strained, reaching to attack the enemy.
The golden chains pulled taut. Princess Luna, Warden of the Moon and Steward of the Sun, collapsed to the ground; eyes of flint still staring balefully at the mare she had once called sister. "You know NOTHING of my suffering Nightmare!"
"Don't I?" demanded Infernia. "Was it not I who rescued you from that tower? Not I who held you when that traitorous draconequus turned on you? Did I not.."
"Did you not what?" Luna asked spitefully. "Did you not fail me when I needed you most? Not lie and pretend I didn't exist to protect that perfect little family of yours. Please, tell me of how you have never abandoned me. Never left me broken and crying on the floor of a ruined castle with a shell of a kingdom and ponies who hated the very mention of my name? TELL ME!"
"That was Celestia." Infernia denied weakly. "Not me."
"You ARE Celestia." Luna said darkly. "And Celestia was a far better sister than you will ever be."
"You are wrong." the white alicorn said quietly. "Celestia is dead. She died every day for a thousand years, tormented by all the ways she failed. Her subjects, her sister...and her conscience." For a moment the fires burning in her eyes dimmed, giving way to the soft purple Luna remembered.
For a moment all Luna could do was stare. "You don't have to do this Celestia." she pleaded quietly. "At least spare someone. The Griffons, the Zebra's the Minotaurs. Just someone. Anyone!"
Her sister shook her head, fiery mane the harsh orange of a fire being banked. "No," she said quietly. "They must all burn. It's the only way you'll be safe. I made a promise."
When they finally collapsed on green grass Twilight let out a sigh of relief.
Around her the others were lying on the ground, all except Rarity that was. According the unicorn a bit of dust was no reason add dirt to the equation. At this point her dress was already in tatters, but from the avoidance of the issue by the others, Twilight knew well enough not to mention it.
Over in one corner a battered Rainbow was being tended to by Fluttershy; whilst Pinkie regaled them with what sounded like a tale of cupcakes, a fiery oven of death, and a grandmother who sounded even crazier that the pink mare herself.
Applejack, on the other hoof, still appeared to be kissing the ground. Twilight was fairly certain among all the whispered thankyous for being back on solid non fiery ground she'd heard one for Apples.
Apples of all things! It defied all logical sense...
They had just sung and danced their way through over a mile of fire geysers.
An entire mile of angry, alicorn created, fire blasting, death inducing geysers.
With singing of all things!
Attempting to use the breathing techniques Cadance had taught her Twilight attempted to calm herself down. Clearly Pinkie Pie's abilities were simply a subset of earth pony magic she hadn't seen before. A subset that apparently included: super strength, elasticity, super powered athletics, luck manipulation, and whatever in Tartarus it was that let her pull that cannon out of nowhere.
Perfectly. Explainable.
Just like a historical myth turning out to be accurate then showing up and setting fire to ponies.
Exactly like some mysterious elements somehow being the last hope for ponykind. Not to mention being ridiculously powerful super weapons that Princess Luna hid away from everypony. That somehow ruined everything a thousand years ago. That she was hiding away from everypony...
None of it made sense. Magic was supposed to have clear, logical rules. Princesses were supposed to be unbeatable paragons of virtue, not get beaten and disappear into thin air.
The fate of all Equestria wasn't supposed to depend on her.
Equestria was doomed.
It was that very moment she realised she had been screaming out loud.
"Are you sure we should leave her?"
"She needed the space. We'll only be scouting a little way ahead to check that no good alicorn hasn't put up anymore traps. She'll be fine."
"Um, girls. She's gone."
Far above them, a lone alicorn wiped away her tears.
"There is nothing left." she told herself. "Whatever it takes."
Reaching deep within her she took one last deep breath. And pulled.