//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: Jailbreak 
// Story: Rainbow of Brocken 
// by Detsella Morningdew 
//------------------------------//

"You... you might have a point-"

SMASH

The door of Luna's room crashed open, knocking a porcelain figure off the shelves and onto the stone floor. Nighmare Moon leapt to her feet, eyes wide as she saw the ponies that entered.

The same seven that she had left behind were there, but six of them... Six of them had the Elements, and they were different. Different, but very much active.

"Cirra! Get away from her!" Calmany shouted.

"Girls! Now!"

Cirra's eyes widened as the Elements powered up, pointed at Luna, who had frozen in place. She tried to push her out of the way, but she was far too heavy for her hooves to do anything but pass through her.

With nothing else left, and a rainbow wave crashing down towards her, Cirra jumped in front of the beam, bathed completely in the blinding light.

Nightmare Moon jerked from her stupor, grabbed her, and teleported once more.





"We.... we did it!"

"You certainly did, my little ponies. I knew you could do it, Twilight."

Calmany just stared at the place Nightmare Moon used to be.

Celestia paused, then followed his gaze. "Oh... I was wrong. I was hoping the Elements, when properly used... might cure her, instead of banish her again."

"No... it's Cirra."

She looked at him. "What?"

"She got caught in the crossfire. She's..."

Celestia's eyes widened. "I have to go. Maybe I can get her back. Or... apologize, if I can't."





Celestia stepped onto the surface of the Moon. She didn't need to breathe, of course, but neither did Luna. So it was odd that there was plenty of air.

Is this the Elements' work? To keep her alive? Well, it's certainly a relief regardless.

Voices came echoing across the cratered landscape.

"Are you okay? Did the Elements hurt you?"

"I don't think so. It just felt kinda... warm."

Celestia frowned. That doesn't seem right...

"So... Luna... this is the moon?"

"I assure you, it gets far less interesting with time."

"Wait, if this is the moon... how do I still look like clouds?"

"I didn't want to risk your safety. So once I released her, I made this atmosphere for you."

"Released her?" Released who?

"Thanks. At least we'll have something to explore while waiting for night again."

"I just hope she doesn't see through our ruse before nightfall. I'm sorry about freezing up there. I had no idea the Elements could really be functional after seeing them in that state."

Celestia's eyes widened as she rushed towards the voices. Luna had released her voluntarily? And was talking with Cirra like a friend?

Both of their heads turned at the sudden noise in their otherwise silent landscape.

"Horseapples. I should have realized she would have come back for me."

"No, it was my fault. You got hit by the Elements. I had to get you out of there."

"L-Luna? Is that you?"

She snorted. "That isn't my name anymore."

Celestia cringed. "But... Cirra..."

She blinked, then took a step back. "Um... I suppose... But she was... different."

Cirra looked back at her, whispering. "I thought you wanted to talk with her."

"Yes, but-"

"Then go talk to her, and stop stalling."

Celestia didn't want to be rude, but it was hard not to eavesdrop, considering this was the moon, everything was silent, and she could hear everything they were trying to say.

Nightmare turned to face her, squaring her shoulders. "Celestia... No, Sister. I am still mad at what you did. And... you could never forgive me for what I did to your ponies. But..." She gritted her teeth. "I can't keep you in the sun. Not without destroying everything I wanted so dearly. So please, could we have a-"

She didn't even wait for her to finish before launching herself into a hug.

"S-sister?"

Celestia smiled, still keeping her in a firm embrace. "I knew you were still in there." She pulled away. "I... I'm sorry. For ignoring you. For dismissing your concerns, and driving you so far that you would think any of that was necessary."

With hope burning in her chest, Celestia noticed the dark magic slowly fade away from her sister - the fangs receding, and her coat regaining the slight blue tint that made her more like her own night sky rather than the void beyond the moon they stood on. Yet she still was different than Celestia had remembered. Even her wings remained batlike, quite similar to the present-day descendants of her old guard.

"You've grown, Luna."

She chuckled. "So have you. In more ways than one." Luna sighed. "I suppose I have been acting quite foalish, though. I would blame the dark magic, but my plan was stupid before I dabbled in that abhorrent art. Sombra should have taught me how stupid it was to rely on such."

Cirra floated awkwardly to the side, torn between tuning out the very private conversation and listening to make sure her friend would be okay.

Luna's expression turned pained. "But why give up like that? What would be gained by using your subjects like that? I wasn't in my right mind, and to be bluntly honest, I might still not be fully free of the magic's taint. They could have been in serious danger. And why..." Her voice cracked. "Why, if you knew that I was still me, would you send me back to the moon?"

Celestia grimaced. "Because I believed it to be my last chance to get you back. When we sealed Discord away, we worked together for our ponies. But when I used them alone... they broke. I broke. I think the only reason they worked at all is that I still loved you. There was no way I could fight you when you returned, so... I took a gamble."

"With your subjects' lives?"

Celestia looked almost desperate. "A hundred years ago, I would never have done something like this. But those young mares have something special. Just look at my student Twilight's mark. It practically is the Tree of Harmony! If any ponies could have gotten rid of the dark magic, it was them."

Luna sighed. "So you did try. And you were right, in a way. They were able to use the Elements, even if they were not Ascended." She smiled, and for the first time in ages, it was genuine. "Yet I suppose a different kind of love saved me. The friendship of young Cirra here."

Cirra quickly pretended that she was just now tuning in to the conversation.

"Don't worry," Luna said with a soft laugh. "If you were not welcome to hear, I would have not allowed the sound to travel that far." She took a deep breath. "Besides, our friendship will not grow very far if you still feel that you have to step so lightly around me."

She slumped slightly, giving up the weak facade. "I guess... it's more that I'm not used to be noticed much in the first place, let alone... both rulers of Equestria.

"Being considered a friend, though... It's amazing. But kinda overwhelming. Now that everything's calmed down. I'm just a normal pony."

She looked down at herself. "Or less than a normal pony."

Luna gave her sister a puzzled glance. Celestia let out another deep breath and shook her head.

Stepping closer to her, Luna embraced Cirra gently. "I do not know how you came to be how you are. And before, I suppose I did not care. I do now, and if you are willing, I would love to hear the story. Still, as young as you are, you do not have a body that grows old or fades. You are more like us than you realize.

"But truthfully, even though I would have not noticed you in my... impaired state, it does not matter if you were the most average pony in Equestria. It is the pony on the inside that became my friend."

Cirra smiled, relaxing fully for the first time since the sun went down the previous day. "Thank you Luna." She put a cloudy hoof to her chin. "Or would it be Princess Luna now?"

"I would hope I'm a Princess again, though I would understand if my subjects decided I am no longer fit for the position."

Celestia put a hoof on her shoulder. "I'm sure that they will understand. But I will make a public statement about your return." She cringed. "And my past mistakes."

Luna looked back at her friend. "But I certainly would appreciate it if you would refrain from using my title. We are friends, not simply subject and ruler."

Cirra tilted her head. "Even in public?"

Luna grinned. "Especially in public. A hidden friendship is barely a friendship at all."

Cirra looked back at Celestia, a sudden thought occurring to her. "Wait, shouldn't we get back soon? Ponies might get worried."

Celestia nodded curtly. "Of course." She looked at her sister. "May I?"

At her affirmation, they all disappeared in a flash of sunlight. Cirra could have sworn if she had real eyes, they might have had permanent damage.

As great as she is, I think I prefer Luna's teleports, she thought idly.

But she was almost immediately distracted by shouts, both joyous and panicked.

"Cirra!"

"Princess Celestia!"

"Nightmare Moon!"

Fortunately, she was expecting that last reaction, so she immediately shouted right back over the din. "Luna now!"

This confused everypony enough that the room was suddenly silent. Or it was that Celestia was standing calmly next to "Nightmare Moon." Or it was that her voice was so distorted from trying to shout with magic. Either way, it was quiet enough for Luna to get a word in edgewise without frightening anypony.

"I have already apologized to my sister-"

There were several gasps.

"-but I feel that I need to apologize to all of you as well. I put all of you in danger, and while I am glad you are not harmed, it could have been far worse."

Pinkie Pie simply nodded. "Okie dokie Lokie! Apology accepted!"

The others looked at Pinkie for a few seconds before shrugging themselves.

"If it's good enough for Pinkie, it's good enough for me." Applejack said simply.

Everypony nodded in agreement. Twilight's eyes seemed to linger on Luna a bit longer, taking in the changes, but she quickly nodded as well.

Calmany's eyes, seemed to be fixed on Cirrra. "I'm glad you are all right. And I'm sure you had a good reason... but why were you talking with Nightmare Moon?" He quickly glanced at Luna. "Before she went back to good, that is."

Cirra opened her mouth, trying to come up with something to say, but Luna interrupted, a new and mischievous smile on her face. "She simply believed in my legends more than was strictly smart."

"Hey!"

"Aside from my jest, she saw something in me that even I was not aware of. And in the end, her friendship and faith in me led me to reconcile with my sister."

Calmany, smiled, letting out a breath. "Thank you, Princess. I know she would never... but still..."

"Of course. No matter how well-intentioned it is, betrayal is a serious matter. It should please you that she never truly committed to one side or the other. She simply tried to solve the situation a different way."

Cirra grimaced. "That sounds... cold, Luna."

Luna tilted her head. "You could not have been fully committed to either cause. We were in direct conflict."

"I know, but... I guess I wanted to be."

She smiled. "And now you can. Everypony wins tonight!" She glanced at the sunrise. "Or I suppose, this morning."

A white mare stepped forward hesitantly. "Princess Luna?" Rarity asked. "I apologize if this is out of turn, but I am simply curious. How could jealousy drive you to... that?" She gestured vaguely with a hoof.

"Do not worry. After what I have done to all of you, such a question is not improper. In short, it was a long buildup of emotions. Emotions that I could not... no... that I would not release in a healthy manner."

Celestia stepped in. "I should mention that much of the guilt is shared. I refused to believe that my sister could be going through any of the difficulties she mentioned to me, and I willfully ignored many signs."

Twilight stood shocked at her teacher's admission, but Luna continued.

"Yet I did not reach out to any of the few that respected me, or even the few I could call 'friend.' And in the end, it was my decision to take a shortcut. To use power to get my sister's attention, and to use dark magic to attain that power earlier than was natural. And foolishly believing I could withstand its mental effects.

"Do not misunderstand me - the pony you know as Nightmare Moon was still me, and I take responsibility for all her actions. But I hope that Equestria can get to know me as I am now, with my mind clear and judgement no longer clouded."

As she looked over them, she saw the steadily growing understanding, and their previous confidence returning.

Celestia smiled warmly at all of them. "Now, let us not delay. Equestria is waiting for all of us, and we have kept her waiting long enough."

Pinkie Pie grinned. "I have just the idea."