//------------------------------// // Prelude: Clandestine // Story: Uprise // by Ems //------------------------------// (Credit to rain-gear@deviantart & dream-chan@deviantart) “It is the privilege of those who fear love to murder those who do not fear it.” Darkness. It is alive only to seek, corrupt those of pure goodness. Why do we choose to blame others, when this darkness lies within our own selves? ... And so our tale of woe begins, with the faint glow of light risen from the east horizon. Night gently melted away. The once, empty void of atmosphere was overcome with a pleasant tepid which shimmered the world; beautiful rays of clement colors shed across the mystical land. Slumbering flowers, spring trees bloomed their sweet-smelling beauty; the cool wind carried pollen for a slight, but harmless sneeze for all Equestria. Every sightful creature woke up to see the morning star, soaring between the amber clouds and dimly-shaded mountains. Warmth filled the ambiance; the chirping of birds sung on the mellow breeze. It was a sign that, it would be a good day. A good day, except for one mare. Basked under the glory of sun was a tall, pristine white pony, with the horn of a unicorn, and the wings of a firmly slender pegasus. Her skyflushed mane blew through the magical aura of the nonexistent wind, prolonged through the essence of solar energy. She glowed in the sky, as the sunny disposition hit her face. Her halcyon crown reflected against the firelight, its purple diamond jewel casting a spark by the shadows. She was Princess Celestia. Strong, beautiful, smart; she was perfect. Or, at least, what most ponies claimed her to be. But who could deny this magnificent creature? Nopony was ever as lovely as she was. Well, argumentatively speaking, that is. “Sister?” Spun away from the enormous sun, Celestia turned to look at Princess Luna; her younger sibling, who bared the night and was lowering the moon. “Yes, Luna?” “Art thou alright?” she asked. Luna coughed, then shifted the grammar structure in her tone. “You just woke up this morning, didn't you catch a wink last night?“ The little dull bags composed in Celestia’s eyes were very apparent. She could only blink so much as to sober. Just as Luna predicted, she was out all night. “Oh ...” Celestia drowsily replied, and loosened the knot that formed on her throat. “It ... it’s nothing.” Luna cocked an eyebrow, clearly not buying the story. “Are you sure? I can always check on your mental psyche, in case you're going a little ... you know ... cuckoo.” Celestia forced a laugh. She was unsure whether or not that was meant as an innocent joke. “... Thanks, but no thanks,” she giggled, and, once more, smiled weakly. However, that scanty comment actually ticked her off. Snipping past aside, Celestia scowled, and lifted her chin up. “And didn't we already talk about this? Not unless those doors are opened, you can't just go around snooping on ponies' dreams. Especially mine.” At this sudden fit of action, Luna rolled her eyes. “Well chee, sorry for asking. It was supposed to be a joke, Miss Grumpy McBossaround.” She sarcastically mumbled, kicking her hoof on the marble floors for exaggeration. A thousand years may have passed, but both sisters were still sisters. Like a normal pair of siblings, they constantly bickered within themselves. Their public image never changed the way they treated each other. On these recurring days, however, it was rather strange that Luna acted as the mature of the two. “But,” the younger alicorn sighed, and continued her speech. “On a more serious note, Tia; I really am worried about you. I don't mean to offend, but you seem a little ... uh ... well ...” The words tasted bile in her mouth, but Luna forced it out anyway. “... Off, than usual, lately.” “Like I said, Luna. It’s nothing. Don't worry your petty little head over it.” Celestia shrugged, finishing stance at rearing the sun. She strode towards the balcony fence, and waved her tail in annoyance, refusing to look at the juvenile mare. Luna frowned. "Look. I don't know what I just did that upset you so much, but if you still want to talk, “I. Am. Right. Here.” With the final word on the argument, a pair of hoofsteps noisily scuttled away, becoming less and less audible. You are right there, you say? Celestia’s pupils pulsated. She started to laugh, hysterically; like she was losing her mind. While it was true that Luna had the special ability to warp dreams, she had no right to enter closed imaginary doors. That was a violation in personal space. When it came to privacy, mature ponies usually preferred to keep their doors shut. There were a too many of dark secrets dwelling into an grownup's fantasies. Little foals, however, never really bother to lock their own apertures. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, for instance, enjoyed playing with the princess of night. One door remained to be very peculiar; Celestia’s gate. It was a gigantic, golden passage, furnished through a holy edge, invariably locked piece by piece. Her older sister made very clear on protecting her solitude. Luna couldn’t even come close as to touching that door. Sure, occasionally, she would be able to enter through Celestia’s mind, but exclusively in times of imminent danger. Visions, such as that of the Tirek incident, only came once in a blue moon. For most evenings, the door was a radiating temptation. Luna persisted to access it. What could she possibly be hiding there? For centuries, the question pestered the mare. But whenever she asked Celestia concerning the topic, the older would deny it; thus, leading the problem back to the present. Celestia remained at the balcony, for what suggested to be an hour. She was having some sort of silent rant. Poor, poor Luna had no idea what she missed. However, while everything of this sounded ridiculously childish for two adult horses, the issue, mind you, was not at all far from being considered a small matter. Celestia had quite been angry with Luna for a long time. Angry because the so-called sister provoked her with so much ... pain. The anguish, confusion and suddenness swirled around into a fiery volcano through the archaic heart. No, Luna was never just ’right there.’ Where was she, when Celestia was crying to the stars? Where was she when Equestria called? Where was she when the kingdom cowered under the murk? It was a thousand years ago ... no matter how much, just how much Celestia tried to reason with the indignant Luna, the foal would not listen! She was a spoiled brat. She did not appreciate the love and respect given by her sister. Instead, she grew jealous and tried to murder everypony! What did Celestia ever do to Luna that made her resent the sun so much? Enough to actually try and kill her? It was not the older princess’ fault that the citizens marveled over her morning and ignored the blatantly painted night. Celestia did not have the power to force or manipulate mentality. She could do nothing, and did nothing bad to Luna! Yet she was antagonized as the scapegoat; she was, in the personal sense, the bad guy. It certainly was something to be angry about. But, while not at all her faults, Celestia was punished on a millennials worth of sleeplessness. By taking the jobs of two rulers for a thousand years, things were excruciating. Not even the heart of a saint could withstand the agony. An inferno was growing inside of her. No one seemed to suspect such a disease, however, that neither Celestia herself realized the added tremendous chances of doomsday she was keeping. Nonetheless, she could not just moue and weep on her bed chambers all day long. She had an entire kingdom to control. So, as the cruel, yet rightful thing to do, Celestia buried these sentiments ... and became the benevolent, loving figure she could to her ponies. She ignored her emotions, not realizing that they would continue to evolve. Basically, she was slowly going insane. As Nightmare Moon returned from a chilliad of banishment, the burning resentment staked to be even more alive. Luna was still in the form of a nefarious, demoniac. She didn't learn. She never learned. Who forced her to be imprisoned on the moon, really? Certainly it wasn't dear old Celestia! She could not come prepared. After seeing her heinous sister again for who knows how long, Celestia's emotions tipped on the edge and the princess could not handle it. Instead, she sent a mere unicorn in hopes of solving the problem; it worked. Not surprisingly enough, since it was a part of the prophecy. Her mother granted her the revelation's blessing. Even after the new bearers miraculously reformed Luna from corruption, Celestia still had that feeling of doubt from the scared filly hugged under her wings. Yes, there were tears ... yes, she legitimately did love her lost sibling. But she could not find it in herself to fully forgive Luna. The once evil mare had done too much damage to just simply be pardoned. She received a crown she wasn't supposed to earn. She was instantaneously welcomed back to the kingdom. She restituted an old life she didn't deserve. For what? For trying to overthrow the throne? For trying to dictate Equestria into a sunless world? There was one thing that remained unyielding to Luna; her sister's faith. Celestia trusted a student more than she trusted her own family. She would not send Luna to another quest. Especially not to somepony like King Sombra, who would undermine the naive mare. Furthermore, Celestia knew she cared for Luna. She hated herself for loving her. The foal didn't deserve to be loved! And now, this foal wanted to talk, when she refused to comply a thousand years ago? Celestia took a petty knife from the royal kitchen in her magic, and marched to Luna’s room. It had been more than a few hours of sunshine already; the pony she planned to interrogate was fast asleep. But, in the midway across the hall of the bedchamber, she stopped dead on her tracks. What was she doing? No ... this wasn't right. Celestia would never dare lay a hoof on her sister for her own selfish desires. All those things she snarled about, it was all in the past. Enough. This cold slap of reality caused Celestia to suck in proportions of the air. She needed to calm down. Perhaps a nice cup of tea would quench her lust for these wretched notions. Although, it was not as if she could just do that; the schedule was already delayed due to her terrible deliberations. She barely had time for tea anyway. Celestia quickly turned backwards from the hall, before doing something she would regret. It was too easy to give in to madness. Yet, it was the eighteenth day of this nonsense. After trying to potentially murder Luna once, Celestia tried to do it again everyday, for the past few weeks. Dark thoughts refused to be ignored; they were painfully havoc to listen to. However, by the time she stepped on Luna's room, Celestia would doubt herself. This, was a mistake. She would withdraw from making the attack. But she knew she couldn’t keep up with this bullcrap either. There were two day-shift guards that policed outside the area. Of course, being a higher stage of position and related to Luna, the wardens allowed her highness to enter. The following went on for three weeks. Sooner or later, the securities will have to check the bedroom, and realize what was really going on. Celestia had to act quickly before getting busted. The clock stroke at five in the evening. The weeks weren’t a summer, so the moon would have to take over fairly soon. Celestia sat on the big mat near the fireplace, ripping her sinuous mane out in frustration. Luna was faintly asleep in the chamber. Celestia stared at the knife fixed across the interwove. The demons in her head were screaming. She had thought of what it was like to be queen; said position would not be the same as a princess who ruled alone; unlike princesses, being queen meant she had the ultimate power to do everything as she wished. The promise of superiority reared its ugly head. They danced on the tip of the alicorn’s tongue, demented things only a kooky pony would come to wish. Although, these ambitions were too true to be denied. Without Luna, Celestia was triumphant; free to rule the land under her favored tyranny; free from the torment of her thirst; free to do anything, and everything she wanted. The offer was too delicious. So why couldn't she do it? ... The clock chimed. It was a quarter to six, fifteen minutes until nightshift. Celestia had dizzied for too long. Sighing, she picked up the little skewer in her magic, tucking it carefully behind her folded wings and proceeded down the hall. Celestia felt light-headed; she was not hellbent on the idea of homicide, especially to somepony family to her. After what seemed like an eternity of walking, a gigantic set of doors with a pair of armored earth ponies were set into view. The princess stood still outside for a moment, waiting for the two guards keeping watch of the bedchamber to courteously open the doors for her. Nodding in consent, she went in the room. The bedchamber certainly was beautiful. Regal drapes of maroon hung on the castle windows. Nightlight lanterns were naturally shaped into a branch of darker trees. The floors were carved as enchanting circles. There were diamonds placed on the cornerstones, resembling the same color of the lingering crescent moon. But Celestia did not care for any of them. She came here to do one job, and one job only. Luna lied dormant on the king-sized mattress. She was still asleep, but it was only a matter of time before she would have to wake up. Celestia deliberately circled around the bed. Once again, the furniture was a very lovely piece of art, with polished black furniture bent into an orb. But her eyes focused at the dozing blue mare. The knife was pointed directly onto her nape. The sharp edge visibly poked on the bare flesh. Nothing happened. The blade did not go any further at all; it only came in close contact with the skin, but refused to dig. There was no penetration. No blood. Empty. Coldly, Celestia stared at the knife. A bead of crisp sweat rolled down her gleaming forehead. Pain was written all over her face. Her hooves were shaking, but she managed to restrain the impulse of cutting accidentally. She couldn’t do it; she just couldn’t do it. Howling a sad cry, Celestia lowered her head, a wave of shame washing over her. This was ridiculous! She loved Luna too much to be doing something as rash and vile as this. Life was perfectly well and good. Killing her sister wouldn't help matters. It was then, a memory flashed itself on her vision. Nothing could be a more deafening quiet. The sounds that echoed through the broken palace halls came from notorious cackling, but it resonated more as a speck of the wind. In those particular halls, passed a fainted princess, knocked out by a god-damned blast. There was a tingle. Followed by more tingles that sent a shiver down her spine — a spine, which happened to be fractured. Not a clear insinuation described the feeling. The pain felt somewhat pleasurable, but harrowing whilst. The source came from the echo entering her sensitive ears. Standing up caused Celestia to flinch a little. Her body was still recovering and seething in agony. Nothing was broken, but her bones might have been bruised. She could bear the burden. It wasn’t the pain that caught attention, however. Her sight was quickly redirected to the sky; and she saw. She saw Nightmare Moon, laughing. Rejoicing over, she had assumed, was a triumphant pre-victory. The sight of it was infuriating. Luna almost killed her. She was underestimated. Celestia was a goddess, who could wrap heavenly bodies under a spell. She was an embodiment of unicorns, pegasi, earthlings alike, who ruled an entire nation. She, was a pony who was too perfect to die. Her, of all creatures! Underestimated! “Oh, dear sister ...” This cry took on a venomously darker tone. It was monotone, but sternly ... full of hatred. Nightmare Moon was too far away from earshot, but, the alicorn continued on her little speech. Not only were her pupils filled with acrimony and sadness, but they showed she was quite exhausted, after the horrendous attack. “I am sorry,” Her voice was cracking. “But you have given me no choice ... but to use these.” Celestia's horn glowed. She called on the magic for the ground to rise. A gateway opened away for a large piece of ancient machinery; while surging upward, it twisted roughly enough to create a raucous mechanical noise. Something — or perhaps, some things — were brilliantly shining against the moonlight. Five colorful jewels shaped like a hexagon rotated bouncily on the stoned platforms. Sparkling and filled with astonishing powers, the trinkets bared resemblance to five traits: Kindness, Loyalty, Honesty, Laughter, and Generosity. These elements were once used for protection. They were the little weapons that safeguarded Equestria from evil; the Elements of Harmony. The princess used to bear only three. But now, she took it upon herself to bear every five ... and Magic to make six. She watched the machine ascent to a full stop, before flying towards it. One by one, she picked up the precious gems in her magic. The element of magic was holed up on a circular rock, one embodied into a pink star. She gazed at the small gem, as it motioned a rapid sphere around her body. The other elements joined in on the force, the six of them, gradually increasing their pace. Unimaginable power was strong within an arms' reach. Much, that Celestia burst into a solitary with the warhead. There was light. Surrealistic light. Celestia was so bright, she was enough to make any creature blind. The staggering amounts of intensity waved a spectrum of sparkling rainbows, whilst, keeping the elements from moving any slower. But something was wrong. What was supposed to be, per se, a solid grip was futile and unstable. The elements were not as attached to the princess as they once were. Granted, it was probably because they were always handled by two or more ponies. Since Celestia used them did they become precarious. But, she wielded the virtues perfectly ... perhaps no harm could be done if things were done correctly. With a single big flap on her wings, the princess took off to the sky, and out of the fragmented building. Nightmare Moon immediately toppled over. Their largely tall horns flared to prepare attack. She was praying inside. She kept telling herself that, everything was going to be all right. She had to protect her citizens. What else can she do? But, as it turns out, this was not actually the case. The princess wasn't doing this for her precious subjects. She was doing it for herself. Though, Celestia could not bring dignity to admit it. She further denied it. Her eyes were stung with water at this point, with more tears at an ignorant defense. Even though she was determined of what she was doing, this denial deteriorated the elements. The grasp on the gems were weakening. Celestia was making a sin ... the elements wanted to separate, away from this deadly disease. They wanted to be liberated! She could no longer control them. She tried to force more magic into the gems, but that only caused them to repel even more. Luna had already shot her dagger of ray towards the unready alicorn. There was not a lot of time left. She was left unready when the elements detected ... ... Misery ... it was all that could be heard. A frozen scream, once more, deafened the ears of a guilty alicorn. The rainbow of harmony, space-rocketed onto the moon. Another prism of rainbows exploded onto the sky. The princess was overcome with stun. The elements lay as a pile of moldy rocks. She could no longer feel their clutches; she was disconnected off them. A layer of murky spots shadowed in the wholly moon. Identified as a dark silhouette of a unicorn head, was clearly etched on the orb. Before, she was so full of power; so full of strength and determination. But now ... she was weak. Mentally, emotionally, physically ... every aspect of the drained alicorn was broken. Her bright mane cascaded into a lowly droop, along with the sudden rush of tears in her eyes. She lost the elements; she lost her energy; and ... she lost her sister. So, pray tell, what else can she do now? Knifed. The object was swift to lash at the nape of the blue mare. Drops of fresh blood poured out from the wound. It leaked down the bed, as a calm storm. Celestia could perceive the cracking of crippled bones beneath the flesh. She pulled the knife quickly to the opposite side; the edges soaked in clot. She did not feel anything; no sympathy, no remorse. The blade lit into a fire. Half the steel was burned to a crisp. On the upper crust, there was a ghastly figure. It looked lurid, but very alive. It was a white pony ... with fiery hair. The princess jumped. The sudden descent made her hit an object. Shards of cheval glass shattered on the ground, splitting into a million different pieces. In a flail of panic, she could not contain her disbelief. Wryer copies of the pony in the blade reflected on the broken mirrors. It was her ... she turned into her own monster. Dislocated breathing noises bounced from behind; Luna was wide awake. Her eyes were a tightened bloodshot from the lack of oxygen. She couldn’t breathe anymore. Her lips coughed up bigger spits of blood in sync with her heavily heaving chest. Eventually, she stopped moving. Dear sister was dead. What had she done? She just killed her sister. A huge clanking sound echoed from the floor. The knife roughly caromed onto the wooden surface. Her eyes struck with pure horror. She barely comprehended what she just did. The mere alicorn had never been in a situation like this before, even with a thousand years of life. It terrified her beyond belief. Silence ... grievous silence teased the atmosphere. Celestia’s heart responded quicker than her mind did with a severe cry. She buried her head on the blood-seeped veins of her sister, and wept. “Halt! Who goes there?!” She snipped to the side with a panicked expression. The guards finally arrived from all the commotion. They were already pointing their spears a lesser twelve inches away from the direction of the sobbing pony. “Red Sword! Stronghold!” She shook. “I—it’s me, your princess!” “Impostor!” One of the guards said, before forwarding his spear even closer to Celestia. She moved her neck away from it as much as possible. “You assassinated Princess Luna! Have you come to slay her highness Celestia too?!” “No!” She cried. Every inch of her body writhed under fear and confusion, as she tried to gather up the courage to convince the guards. “I am Princess Celestia! Can’t you see?!” But, of course, they could not recognize this pony. “Whoever you are, or who you even claim to be,” The red earthling growled, giving a wider shift on his words. “Surrender now, before you face the consequences!” The two stallions steered closer as the princess tried to back away. Her rump bumped against the wall. Dead end. “P—please don’t hurt me!” she pleaded. “I didn't mean for any of this to happen! I’m sorry!” I’m sorry ... The guards ignored this blubbering and continued to invade what little space the princess had left. The thoughts were racing — everything was happening too fast. Celestia’s heartbeat tried to keep up with the pace thumping so loud on her breast, it felt as if they were about to burst from the caging bone. The room was spinning in circles; she was dangerously confused. The guards were yelling, but their voices only succumbed along with her blurry vision. She could barely hear anything, other than the cacophany swirling in the mind. She shut her eyes as the tears intensely trickled down her cheeks. Her horn started to blaze violently. There was so much energy and emotion crawling through the princess that it became too much to bear. Her mane fiercely flew. The natural magic surrounding the environment was becoming highly oversaturated; everypony in the room could feel the presence of this inevitably strong aura. She was floating upwards — without even fluttering wings. The ground shook. The two guards stumbled on their hooves and dropped their spears. They tried to take a glimpse of the convicted princess, before covering their blinded eyes; Celestia was bright as Tartarus. For a second, it almost looked as if she was the sun. Never had she been this bright. The light continued to grow, Until the room exploded. Ponies in Canterlot promptly heard the reverberating outbreak. The ground shook once more; waiters spilling drinks, and bottles of cider smashed on the ground. Little children were crying, as their mothers tried to calm them down. Some were yelling hysterically at the course of the event. It was complete, and utter chaos. Everyone stared dumbfounded at the smoke anticipating on the crumbled part of the castle. More guards ran to inspect the area, but by the time they had arrived, the place was incinerated into ashes. Celestia was gone, leaving only destruction in her wake. They had been too late.