//------------------------------// // Chapter 17 - Stranger to Reality // Story: Life Between Death // by cierragp //------------------------------// Soarin understood the meaning of this so called Lunar Princess’ words. A revolution. A war. Only this time, again Celestia. He wanted to laugh so badly, as the words seemed so ridiculous. Trying to murder her own sister. Ponies were all kinds of crazy. Three knocks on the door. He knew who it was. “Come in.” Rainbow stepped in, and shut the door behind her. Her eyes were filled with a strange combination of fear and anger. “Soarin?” She whispered. “What’s wrong?” Soarin was worried. “I’ve been…” Rainbow hesitated. “Seeing things.” She finished. “What? Like, what have you been seeing?” Soarin asked. “The Lunar Princess.” Rainbow said softly. “Scootaloo.” “I don’t know about Scootaloo,” Soarin began. “But I don’t think you’re seeing things with the Lunar Princess.” “Why?” Rainbow asked, skeptical. “I ‘ve seen her too. She came here just yesterday speaking of a revolution.” Soarin said. “That’ll rank number one at least in idiotic things.” “I guess. Stupid things do happen. It’s probably just a joke or something.” ~~~ Luna sat in the hallway of the crystal palace, bored. Apparently there must’ve been a million ways to get somewhere, she thought glumly. It was too bad she had a bad memory, and she had not been around the castle for a long time. She wanted so badly to go back to the old times. But it just wasn’t possible. Why did her sister have to be so cruel, so heartless, and so cold? Since a very young age, Celestia had shunned her because she was praised more for her beauty and eye for art. Celestia was much more powerful though – she could move large objects, maneuver, teleport, and destroy and create things in an instant. The professors were often stunned by her raw talent that had beat their years of training. When had things gotten out of hand? Celestia’s unhealthy obsession had come with her aging, and she wanted youth, and power. Luna could recall herself, small, shadowed, as Celestia rose the sun for the Summer Sun Celebration and was met with immense applause. No one had noticed her. They all had noticed Celestia, the sun rising behind her, and her mane flowing in pale pink curls. That had become the icon of Equestria. She wished that she had never been born. To be born a Princess, a member of royalty, yet be shunned when you are like no other. It was the cruelest punishment for an immortal alicorn. Then her love for Sombra, a unicorn who had wielded impossibly strong magic appeared. For once, she thought she was happy. He had studied magic at the top academies at the Crystal Empire, despite being born a lowly commoner. Soon he rose to fame, being the most powerful unicorn prophesied to ever be born to the Crystal Empire. He had loved her as much as she loved him. She imagined going back, to the sunsets and night skies that she helped create, while they would try to spot constellations and various stars in the sky. She remembered how he would hold her when she was frightened, either threats from other kingdoms, or her sister’s wrath. He had told her to understand, to be fearless, and remember what was most important. Your sister loved you, he had said, but sometimes Luna doubted his words. Most of the time, actually, since she had been sent to the moon. At least her time was not ill spent. She had been practicing spells and revising her technique, and her magic proved to be much more efficient. But she was not Celestia. She had her limits, and hers were how far she could bear to see. Celestia simply didn’t. ~~~ Scootaloo silently entered the room. It was a bizarre arrangement of various shelves, books and broken glass. She saw a figure at the desk, holding a white quill dipped in black ink. The pony was tapping the quill almost as if she didn’t know what to write. “I see that you have been well.” The voice said, loud, clear and almost regal. The pony turned around and Scootaloo gasped in shock. It was the Lunar Princess. Was she just seeing things? “We were informed that Ce-we mean Sombra, still has a pony in his clutches.” Luna said through gritted teeth. “But it is not Sombra who had imprisoned you. It was Celestia all along.” The words shocked Scootaloo. She stood, dumbfounded. “But…why? May I ask?” “If you are the most powerful, then what shalt you fear?” Luna was reverting back to her royal Canterlot voice again, and had not noticed. “I don’t know. More power?” “You are correct.” Luna said, her expression grim. “Had she not turned Sombra to the monster you had sighted.” “But…why kill all of us.” “She is not immortal.” Luna said softly. “She can be killed, but I can’t. And that’s what she’s scared of. I can kill her but she can’t kill me. This is why she sent me to the moon, instead of executing me for treason.” “What do you want?” Scootaloo questioned. “I need to see my sister again.” “I just wish that you can help our citizens to realize the truth.” Luna sighed. It was too much to expect from a minion and shadow of Celestia’s glory and fame. “I can.” Scootaloo spoke up. “How?” Luna raised an eyebrow. ~~~ “Such a bunch of fools.” Luna muttered as she shut out the crowds praising Celestia. Channeling the looks of a common pony, she watched as Celestia babbled on with lies of how they needed to protect their country and defend themselves against Sombra. Complete, utter lies. It was amazing how gullible the citizens really were. She desperately didn’t want to think that they had believed the lies, but what she had saw just confirmed that they were under her spell – her powerful speeches, her good public image, and the charisma she possessed. Traits that she lacked, or had much less talent in. ~~~ Rainbow wanted to scream, but she had lost her voice. She wanted to run, but her legs had locked up, and she couldn’t move. She wanted to fight, but her body was stiffening. Gasping in horror, Rainbow sat up in her section of the bunk, panting and wheezing and holding a hoof over heart, praying that it wasn’t real. Of course it wasn’t. Lightning was sleeping peacefully in the other bunk, but where was Scootaloo?