A/N: This is a one shot I thought of and in a matter of minutes I decided to write it up! this is my second story and my first completed one. It is widely appreciated that you guys give me at least your opinion on this. So without further adieu, here is the story.
PS: To clarify the flashbacks held in 'Canterlot' were that of the old Canterlot held in what is now the Everfree Forest.
It was a warm evening, and Princess Celestia had just finished her daily duties concerning her royal court, and was relaxing in the royal gardens when she heard hoof steps heading in her direction. The princess stood up and took a deep breath, ready to act formal to one of her subjects, whomever they be. Once Celestia saw just who it was though, she quickly exhaled and greeted the little purple unicorn heading to her.
"Princess Celestia, it's so good to see you!" said Twilight excitedly rushing over to nuzzle her mentor.
"Why Twilight it's a pleasure to see you as well" Celestia gave Twilight a nuzzle back "What brings you to Canterlot?"
"Well... I've been doing a lot more research on the Elements of Harmony after we used them on Discord and-" Twilight paused to take a deep breath and find the strength to say "-I was hoping you could enlighten me by answering my questions"
The princess looked at her student and silently thought to herself until she finally said "alright Twilight. Ask whatever you would like.” The princess kept it to herself, but she felt she would regret saying that sentence to her student even though the student in question was her protege.
"Alright, well, there is a gap in history that fails to explain how you no longer had control of the Elements of Harmony and-" she paused as she saw her mentor's face quickly shine a bit of sadness , but continued "was hoping you could tell me what had happened.”
The princess stood there for what must have been a half an hour and the sun was still high in the sky when she said "please sit down Twilight, this might take a while."
********Flash back********
The month was July, and the warm heat of the sun beat down upon the peaceful and tranquil lands of the recently freed Equestria. Having saved it from Discord a few months ago, Celestia and Luna were still attempting to get used to the high class life they've been given as the new rulers of the land.
"Sister, cometh back here, I say! Give us back our slice of cake!" yelled a young blue Alicorn towards a slightly older but still youthful Alicorn.
"You have to catch me first!" the white Alicorn shouted promptly and playfully, jumping away from yet another pounce by the blue Alicorn.
"But Tia! You always get the last slice of cake! why can't I take it this time?" whined the blue Alicorn getting on two knees and pouting like a three year old asking for permission to have early desert.
"Like I said, you have to catch me first Lulu!" Celestia said with a big smile beckoning the younger sibling to make another pounce towards her.
Yes, this was a usual occurring event in their day to day lives as the immortal princesses of Equestria. This was how it had been for the two siblings. They had excessive time to kill, seeing as they had brought peace back to the lands and no real threat had seemed to appear. The staff loved the siblings and their innocent and childish behavior. Though, they were older than the staff could ever hope to be, being around five hundred years old. The staff enjoyed that the two could be so happy in such a wondrous time such as then. Though none of the people of Equestria could have predicted as to what was soon to follow.
******End Flash back******
The solar princess stopped speaking and took a long pause as she stared up at the sky seeing as the sun was now descending and Luna's moon was now starting to ascend into the sky. Celestia was lost in thought as she was holding back tears in her eyes at the memories she was speaking of with Twilight. Twilight, as expected, was taking notes of what her mentor was saying. After about an hour of Celestia staring at the sky she was dragged out of her thought by Twilight.
"Um, are you okay princess? I mean, we can stop if you don't wish to continue talking about this and we can-" she was interrupted by a hoof to her mouth.
"No.... I.... I wish to tell you this story...It's more for me then it is for sating your curiosity." The solar princess wiped a tear from her eye as she started her story back up again.
******Flash back******
It was now a foggy September day as the two Alicorns were heard bickering quite clearly by the staff.
"But Tia! These subjects of ours are so ungrateful of Thy beautiful moon and the hard work taken into such a divine creation!" yelled Luna in an angered and annoyed tone.
"No, but Luna! They aren't ungrateful, they just can't understand how much work is done unless they became the god or goddess of the moon!"
"I knowest that Tia! But it doesn't change what I said, they are rude and disrespectful of this! To think they have the nerve to keep sleeping under MY Moon without a simple thank you!"
"That's enough!" Celestia hissed slightly, trying to stop this misguided anger.
This became a regular fight once the month of September began, and the nights started getting longer to make way for winter. Celestia always tried to settle her sisters qualms, and as such failed to realize how much hate filled her heart about the subject.
..........Time fast forward..........
It's was now a cold December afternoon, and Celestia was ready to lower the sun to make way for the moon. The last few months have discerned some of Luna's inner most thoughts, but she could not decipher why it was exactly, but that day she felt hesitant about lowering the sun. She and Luna were sitting side by side in Canterlot gardens chatting about random subjects. One subject from the next continued to leap around as The sun lowered and the moon started raising.
Celestia had thought that maybe finally Luna had given up her spiteful emotions towards her own subjects, and had started to feel cheery once again. Night continued on, and they continued chit-chatting, both of them did not seem to tire as time progressed. Things were looking happy when the moon suddenly froze mid center of the sky refusing to move. Celestia quickly felt a lump in her throat as she asked why her sister felt the need to stop the Moons orbit entirely at the highest peak in the sky. This was answered by a laugh. She aimed her horn towards Celestia, obvious diabolical intent in her eyes.
"LUNA! What is the meaning of this!" Celestia shouted only getting a villainous smirk at first.
"Why sister, whatever do you mean? I'm only showing my subjects how admirable my moon is....FOREVER!"
Celestia managed to quickly place a shield up as she narrowly escaped the death of one of Luna's deadly energy bolts. The princess knew she was outmatched since Luna's power came directly from the moon, similar to how she herself obtained her's from the sun. Celestia had to think fast as her hateful sister continued to fire bolts of deadly energy at the weakening shield.
At the last minute the shield faded, and Celestia quickly used her energy to teleport to the throne room where the Elements of Harmony were located. The princess had used up more power then she thought,and was barely able to lift each of the ancient orbs off of their pedestal. She was panting rapidly. Knowing her power was nearly depleted, she would need to use the rest of it on her sister when she arrived in order for her to survive.
Celestia thought of this and she was nearly in tears, but she forcefully threw the distraught thoughts to the back of her mind as she attempted to wait for Luna's next, and very soon, attempt on her life. Just as expected, Luna flew in through an open overhang window as she started to speak.
"Ah! So this is where you have been hiding my little pain!" she hissed this towards the sun princess, who flinched back and winced.
"Why are you doing this Luna!? What is causing you to act like this!?"
"HAHAHA! You still think I’m still that stupid child Luna! No I'm to be referred to as my new self! The new lone ruler of Equestria... NIGHTMARE MOON!" She hissed this out as the sun princess was now being pressed up against a wall, the Elements sitting around her.
Celestia tried once more to reason with her "w-what do you mean you're no longer Luna?" She asked nervously. She knew she had to use the Elements. Her horn started glowing and she cautiously and quietly began an attempt at activating the Elements of Harmony before Nightmare caught on.
"I mean that your sister is no longer here! I take her place in body and mind! And now it is time for you to die!"
Nightmare moon leaped towards Celestia horn lowered, onset on penetrating Celestia's skull. Celestia's horn started glowing brighter as she mustered up all her power and activated the Elements. As the Elements continued charging, Luna had already made the leap at Celestia with intent of taking her life. Right before the bright flash caused by the Elements firing off, two words came from the sun princess's mouth
"I'm... sorry.”
A flash of light blinded everything and the castle started rumbling. The light disappeared as quickly as it had appeared and Celestia found herself staring at Nightmare Moon, staring right back at her. Before she could say anything she quickly started crying as Nightmare Moon started turning to dust, starting with her lower hooves. The dust was swept away by an unseen wind and drifted outside the window, heading for the moon. Celestia stood there, crying as Nightmare Moon was fading away, hate and confused pain in her eyes, muttering only one word before fading away completely: "Why?"
*****End Flash back*****
Celestia was now crying violently as the purple unicorn attempted to comfort by rubbing the sun princess' back, feelings of regret washing over her for ever asking such a question. They silently sat like that for a long while until Celestia had to raise the sun. She eventually calmed down as it seemed that Twilight's comforting was finally having an effect. Twilight remembered when the princess had done the same for her.
With a few sniffs and a tear, Celestia had calmed down and said "After that final day, I could no longer be completely honest with myself. I covered up some of what happened, trying to erase any information of that day. I tried to make sure it was left as a myth and nothing more. Since I could no longer be completely honest with anyone, I was no longer in sync with the elements and slowly, one by one, they became useless and I could no longer use them." Celestia started smiling again "but if not for you and your friends, I would never again have my sister back."
She looked down to Twilight, pain now being overshadowed by closure. “.. and I couldn't be happier.”