Blitz And Balance

by Ennelly Von Swortts

25 Insanity of the First Kind

Celestia's POV
The hallways were a bland, constant off white bordered by a dull teal color. It bore me to know end as I was lead up and down these same halls. Dr. Twilight was leading me towards the courtyard on the backside of the mental hospital. I've asked her before as to why they were doing this. Twilight merely told me that it was one of "my" favorite things to do at this hour. Saying that I used to love watching the sunsets, always telling her that I was the one lowering the heavenly body across the earthen skies. Of course, she always told me that it was impossible for anypony to complete such a task since both the sun and moon moved on their own accord without any guidance. To which I thought was crazy and utterly false but I never voiced those opinions openly.

"How're you doing Solina? You seem a little tensed." Twilight asked me. Looking to her, my mind was clouded with memories of the bright young filly I watched grow under my teachings. A small tear rolled down my face. "I'm doing fine Ms. Twilight, honest." I lied to her. Unable to bear the pain this prison of a reality brought me. "That's horseapples and you know it. I'm here to help you get better Ms. Broadwing. I can't do that unless you tell me what's on your mind." Twilight had a look of concern on her face, the mare before me was noticeably older than I was which brought more doubts and sadness into my already 'broken' mind.

"I know Ms. Twilight, it's just... I just don't know what's reality and what's fantasy anymore. And it makes me scared. I fear that I won't ever see the world I created in my head... but at the same time, I fear that this is the fantasy... and th-that whatever's keeping me here... doesn't want me to leave..." I cried into her shoulder. The millennia old Alicorn Princess of the Sun, Co-Leader of Equestria... was nothing but a dream, created in the mind of a broken and sick filly. A hoof wrapped around my whimpering form, consoling me. I took this embrace to heart and just held on tighter to her.

"Shh, it's ok. I'm here for you. I promise that I'll try my hardest to help you get better." She comforted. A small smile made its way onto my face. "Thank you...thank you." After that little breakdown we contiued on towards the courtyard. I was once again bored, left to nothing but my memories and thoughts. I never did find out what happened to Luna. But my mind came up with many horrifying scenarios, I quickly pushed them away, hoping that none of those actually happened.

"I hope she's alright..." I whispered. "Huh? Did you say something?" Twilight asked me, concern written all over her face. "Oh no. I didn't say anything..." I lied, causing her to squint her eyes at me before continuing on. Sighing, I followed her.

The cold evening air washed over me, causing my fur to stand on end. Looking out towards the open landscape. My eyes were graced by a plethora of soft reds, yellows, and pinks, as they painted the evening sky. My sun just barely above the horizon. Looking around, I spotted the moon already up, further along on its journey than the sun in the west. On it was a very faded image, almost in the shape of a mare but not as distinguished as she was used to. It was a last crescent tonight meaning a new moon was due soon.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Twilight asked me. Looking to my left, I spotted her sitting next to me. "It is..." I agreed. The silence lasted between us as we watched the sun grow smaller and smaller as it sunk beneath the horizon. Though one single thought plagued my mind. "Um... Ms. Twilight? Could I ask you something?" Twilight looked at me with an almost motherly smile on her face. "Sure, was is it you want to know?" She asked me. 'Ok Celly, just ask her...'

"Wha...what happened to my sister... Luna?" I asked her. Her entire demeanor changed, her eyes began to dart around while sweat accumulated on her forehead. Her smile fell, causing her to slouch. Her face full of dread. "I'm sorry to be rude but... why are you asking? Why do you want to know?" She asked me, her tone sad and full of regret. "I just want to know... no... I need to know what happened to her. I need to know if she's safe." I told her, practically pleading. Tear streaming down my face. She sighed, her shoulders slumped. "Fine, but please understand that what I'm about to tell you... it's not gonna make you happy." She said solemnly. My mind was racing, begging for information. "Please, just tell me. I want to know... even if it hurts." I pleaded.

"She's... dead..." Twilight muttered quietly, but I caught it. Tears were now pouring down my face. Anger and sadness filling my very being, thought something else was mixing in there. "How...?" I asked, my voice hollow and empty. Full of pain.

"It happened a few nights before you were emitted into Broadhoof. You were already showing signs of having a mental illness... and it only got worst with time. One day, you and your sister were out flying, not too far from your home. The clouds were only 20 feet or so below. But you kept pushing further and further towards the edge. Both of you flew higher and higher, the clouds no longer below you. Your sister pleaded that you should go back and that she was tired. You didn't listen and kept going, and like Icarus... Luna flew to close to the sun. She fell, her wings cramped and she dropped like a rock towards the earth below. While you watched, completely unaware of the danger she was in..." I cried... I cried harder than when I banished my sister to the moon.

"When we asked you what happened, you'd always say she was evil and that she would bring eternal night to Equestria and that you did what you had to do to protect your subjects..." That was the final nail in my coffin. I didn’t have any tears left to shed. My heart was aching and full of pain. And my sorrow revealed something else. I was scared... terrified that this fantasy was reality. That my sister was dead, and that I was next. As I wallowed in my pain, I failed to notice the moon disappearing behind a large shadow before turning a dark, crimson, blood red. The courtyard molded into a dark and empty forest. Fog so thick that you couldn't see the trees.

My head whipped around as the landscape changed before my very eyes. "Wha-whats going on!?" I shouted in fear. Backing up as a large shadow formed in the darkness, slowly getting bigger. My vision began to blur as a loud static noise filled my ears. "GET AWAY FROM ME!!!" I screamed. My legs being the first to react as they propelled me away from the shadow in the darkness. I ran and ran and ran, the scenery never changing. The moon above, a menacing blood red. The mare's shape more evident and pronounced. As thoughts and memories clouded my mind, I failed to notice the large root in front of me. I tripped, tumbling forward as I slid across the dirt path. Slowly looking up, I spotted an old house before me.

In my haste, I failed to notice the looming shadow behind me as I dashed for the door, slamming it behind me. Fear clung onto to my heart like a vine that'll never let go. In my delirious state, I stumbled into what I assumed was the kitchen, quickly grabbing a nearby knife. In the corner of my eye, I spied something moving outside. Remembering the stairs, I ran before diving into the closest room I could find. In the room was a large closet and a bed.

My heart stopped when the sound of the front door creaking open echoed through the house. In a panic I quickly dove under the bed, hoping that the monster wouldn't find me. The door to the room slowly creaked open. The sounds of hoofsteps getting louder.

Almost as if on cue, four pale white hooves with midnight black sleeves slowly walked into view. Fear and adrenaline pumped through my veins as I quietly whimpered under the bed. They stopped right in front of me. My heart stopped as I held my breath. My mind racing in a constant panic. Almost as if it was an eternity, it finally began to walk away. Waiting till it was gone, I finally released my breath and relaxed. Though little did I know. It wasn't gonna leave.

Almost immediately after it left, something grabbed my hindleg. Dragging me out from my hiding spot. What I saw made my blood cold. In front of me was a tall pale white pony. A black suit covered his front along with a blood red tie. But worst of all were the black tentacles coming out of his back, along with the face or lack thereof. As I continued to stare at it, my eyes began to blur and a loud static noise grew in intensity within my eardrums. In a split-second decision, I thrusted the knife into his face. Stabbing him between the eyes.

But to my horror, it pulled the knife out with almost no reaction or pain. The wound quickly sealing up. And almost faster than I can blink. It drove that same knife into my shoulder. Screaming in pain as blood leaked out. "Why?" I croaked through pain, tears, and absolute terror. It continued to stare at me with its blank expression. And almost as if he spoke, I immediately got the message. 'Because I can, and you can't do anything about it'.

In an unknown location, far away from any form of civilization. Was a lone cage, in that cage was a limp alabaster Alicorn with an aurora colored mane and tail. Her eyes nothing but straight black as they stared out in fear and terror. Near the cage was a tall slender earth pony with a pale white coat, a void black suit, crimson red tie, and no face. It stared at the cage, and if you were crazy enough. You could almost sense or even see the smile on his nonexistent face. The moon barely shone through the thick fog surrounding him, though it's light kept flickering. Almost like its fighting. This upset it as something kept trying to break through his efforts. Trying to free the Princess from her mental prison. It was powerful and determined, he made it one of his goals to completely eliminate the threat it posed agaisnt him and those under his influence.