During our hike through the snow, Luna would occasionally go to scout up ahead, presumably for some kind of danger. Whenever she went, I was never out of her sight for more than half a minute. At this point, Celestia is my only hope to get Luna to trust me.
We finally arrive at the long grey stone bridge that leads to the unicorns’ mountaintop castle. There’s a good amount of light cast by dozens of ornate torches spaced evenly on both sides of the bridge. The torches let me see that my fur is a color somewhere in between brown and orange. I’m not sure how I should feel about being the color of pumpkin pie, but after walking on four legs for the past half hour, this doesn’t faze me that much.
There’s a pair of guards at this end of the bridge, but they let us through without any questions. Earlier, Luna told me we’d get questioned at the castle’s entrance; apparently the bridge guards are mostly there for show, and to keep ponies from escaping if need be.
As I walk across the bridge with Luna hovering beside me, she begins to talk for the first time since the guards came into view. “The doors up ahead are the only entrance to the castle by both land and air. There are no passages or steps at the base of the mountain, and all the windows are either too small for pegasi to fit through or have bars hammered into the stone to block us. So trying to escape is pretty much useless.”
I stare at the imposing structure before us. I didn't realize how tall it was when we were walking before. I can see orange-yellow lights dancing from almost all the windows. “Isn't it dangerous to just have one entrance and exit if there's a seige or something?”
“Not for a race that can teleport,” Luna says matter-of-factly.
“And why are you making it sound like the unicorns think there could be an attack from one of the other tribes?”
“Could be?” Luna laughs. “There have been tons of attacks by each of the tribes on the others at some point or another. Did your parents not teach you our history? The reasons for the fighting vary but it’s always the same in the end: there’s some small change for a while and then things return to normal.”
“Why don't the changes ever stick? Shouldn't war have a serious impact on your society?”
“Our society,” Luna corrects with an annoyed eye roll. “Each tribe has to do their part for our survival, so the status quo can’t change much. We need each other, but we refuse to admit it. We fight and hate, and things just worsen year after year.” I can hear a deep sadness in Luna's voice. “I'm sorry for going on like this. It's just… talking about this stuff with you feels sort of relaxing. Even if it's only because of your possibly fake ignorance.” Luna smirks slightly at her last words.
“It's interesting to learn about this stuff. Really, thanks for teaching me. And soon you'll see that my ignorance is very real,” I say casually. After a short pause, I shift back to our more serious subject. “It doesn't seem like you believe the tribes should be at odds all the time. If you feel that way, there must be others…”
I'm cut off as Luna hushes me and speaks in a low whisper which I strain to hear. “I’m different; you already know why. Now shut up and let me do the talking; we're almost at the entrance. Just remember the plan.”
We draw closer to a pair of large wooden doors that form a massive arched entryway, easily large enough for five ponies to walk through at once. Each of the doors has a round brass knob as big as my head in the center. There's no way I'd be able to reach up to those, let alone turn them.
I hang back and trail Luna as she lands on the ground and walks up to the two unicorn guards who flank the doors. They glare at her and the larger of the two, a muscular green mare, asks, “What business does a pegasi messenger and a common earth pony have at this late hour?”
Luna manages to adopt a very convincing meek tone that I didn't know was possible for her. “Please let us into the castle. I was on patrol with my squad when we saved this stallion from a timberwolf this afternoon. He has a broken muzzle and I saw him coughing up blood a few times. We sent one of our best fliers to ask the Archmage's apprentice if she would heal him and she agreed. I was ordered to get him here safely, but he hasn't been able to walk very fast.”
The large green mare who spoke earlier responds first. “I haven't received any orders about an injured earth pony, and it's late, filly. If he could survive this long, he can wait until morning. Then we can ask Clover the Clever about all this.”
I fake a cough into my hoof and the unicorn guards notice it's stained with blood. Luna’s master plan was to have me wipe the blood from my nose onto it and worry the guards. I don't think it'll work until the younger unicorn, a scrawny, rust colored stallion, starts speaking. “I think we should let them in, Emerald Shield. This stallion looks pretty bad.”
“No.” The guard mare seems to shift around nervously. “We have to at least-”
“I heard the Archmage is really protective of her apprentice,” Luna interjects quickly. “Celestia might be mad if this poor pony dies on your bridge when she could have easily healed him.”
“Are you threatening me, pegasus?” Emerald Shield almost spits the word, ‘pegasus.’
“Of course not, ma’am!” Luna acts completely surprised and innocent. “But from one guard to another, I would hate to see you two get in trouble with your commander for stopping her apprentice from doing her job. I know how bad COs can be.” Luna leans in and whispers, “Not to mention what might happen if the former archmage finds out you two upset his ward. I hear he used one of his transformation spells on a stallion who accidentally made him spill his drink once.”
I don't know who this former archmage is, but he doesn't sound like someone I want to piss off. Although, if that pony is as powerful as Luna’s suggesting, then I should probably try getting his help to send me home.
The stallion looks at his larger comrade pleadingly. Emerald Shield begins to look worried herself and responds, “Uh-umm… You two look like good enough ponies, and we wouldn't want to upset Celestia if she's expecting you.”
The smaller unicorn sighs in relief and I release the breath I was holding. I thought we were going to get thrown over the bridge for Luna's threat. She probably would’ve survived, but I don’t exactly have wings.
“Thank you so much.” Luna beams up at the bigger guard. “I'll make sure the Archmage's apprentice knows how much you two helped us.” Luna hands the stallion her spear and gives him a smile.
The unicorns both nod their heads in thanks. They then light up their horns and the giant knobs begin to glow then rotate. The castle doors then swing slowly inward. I’m not sure how much magic is needed to move those things, but it seems like a lot, considering how heavy they must be.
We both enter the castle at a slow pace and pass through a huge room made of large grey stones that look like they were perfectly cut to fit each other. The room is filled with tables, and there are a few unicorns sitting at benches around a fireplace. They don't seem to care about us. Apparently, no one worries about ponies that have gotten inside the castle, even if they're not unicorns.
Luna told me to keep up the seriously-injured act until we got past the guards, so I keep my head down and try to walk with a slight limp.
We go through a door at the right side of the room and head down a long corridor. I turn to Luna and get a good look at her, now that we're somewhere well lit.
Ignoring her usual frown and my previously constant fear of becoming an unwilling blood donor because of her spear, she actually looks pretty young; like season one Twilight young. I can only really see her head because of the black metal and cloth armor she wears, but she looks a lot like some of the cute fan-art I've seen of her, without the horn and the flowing night sky mane of course. Although there's something about her eyes that I never saw in the show: they're so serious. I can see them tracking every inch of the castle. I can't tell if she's paranoid, looking for something, or just thinks this place is dangerous.
I'm broken out of my thoughts when she announces. “I always hate these hallways.”
I look around at the regal looking hall we're walking down. It's made of the same large grey stones the rest of the castle is. On the walls, there are golden-framed paintings of unicorns dressed in what I assume are fancy clothes. The ceilings have ornate chandeliers hanging at regular intervals, each with half a dozen candles burning. There are a few wooden tables with textured silver plates and decorative pitchers on them. And almost everything has tiny gems of every color set in them, which makes the entire hallway sparkle when the candles flicker. The whole area has a really nice atmosphere, so I can't understand Luna's issue with the halls.
“What's wrong with it? This place looks amazing,” I say.
Luna rolls her eyes and turns to look at me. “You see the chandeliers, Astraeus?” I nod. “Well, I doubt you've ever thought about it, but can you imagine being a pegasus trying to fly here? The ceiling is easily high enough for it, but all of these glorified candle holders make flying really dangerous.”
I realize that this is the first time Luna's walked more than a few steps our whole journey. “But aren't they sort of necessary for lighting up the place?”
“Oh, please, the pegasi accomplish the same thing with a few torches lining the walls, and that leaves plenty of room to fly. The bone-heads just like doing everything in the most extravagant way possible to show the other tribes how superior they are.” I feel like if any unicorns were within earshot, Luna would have just offended them. Luckily, we haven't seen any after that first room.
“What about your sister?” I counter softly as we turn a corner and begin climbing up a wide spiral staircase.
Luna winces slightly as her ears fold back against her head. “Celestia doesn't feel that way about either of our tribes… She tells me our mother didn’t either,” Luna finishes somberly.
Her words hang in the air as we continue to ascend. Luna mentioned earlier that Celestia was her only family. I want to ask her about it, but just as I’m about to, we reach the top of what the occasional window suggests is a tower.
Luna motions for me to hang back as she knocks on the large decorated wood and metal door. After a short period of silence, Luna knocks much harder. Then I hear a distant bang beyond the door followed by the sound of hooves on stone, something I’ve been listening to ever since Luna and I entered the castle.
After a bit of waiting, a light-yellow glow surrounds the door and it swings inward to reveal a white unicorn mare with a disheveled light pink mane and eyes that are barely open. She’s about as tall as I am and has the body type of Fleur de Lis from the show. While she might not have wings or a rainbow of pastels for a mane, I can tell this is Princess Celestia, sole ruler of Equestria for a thousand years. Or at least she will be eventually. Just like with Luna, this Celestia looks more like she did in the book from episode one.
I’m a bit awestruck to be in front of her. Even if all her deeds are from a children’s show, I’m in that fictional world now, so they have to count for something right?
Meeting Luna was… interesting, but I can't wait to see what kind of person- pony Celestia is. Someone who gets to where she’ll be in life must start out with some serious natural charisma or political ideas. Maybe she's a revolutionary who's going to overthrow the oppressive unicorn kingdom and lead a revolt of earth ponies to bring equality to everypony!
I’m pulled away from my thoughts of grand coup d'etats as Celestia lets out a loud yawn and begins speaking. “Hello Lu… –” Celestia notices me and her eyes quickly widen “– lovely night it is,” she says with a forced smile. “What can I do for you two ponies?”
I give a polite smile to Celestia but decide to let Luna introduce us. But instead of doing that or greeting her sister, the dark blue Pegasus tersely states, “I need a favor,” and then passes through the doorway without even saying hello.
Celestia frowns briefly but then adopts a friendlier expression and gestures for me enter with a forehoof. I follow Luna and offer a “thank you” to Celestia.
The semicircular room we enter looks like a mix between a living room and an alchemist’s lab. A small staircase along the back wall, and a door to my left lead to other sections of the tower. There are three comfortable-looking cushions arranged in a semicircle around a fireplace: one white, one a pale yellow, and one a bright pink.
Several tables around the room have books, metal instruments, crystals, and papers scattered haphazardly on them. I notice that many of the papers have formulas, diagrams of animals, and weird-looking circles inscribed with geometric shapes drawn on them.
Celestia closes the door and turns to face us almost nervously. That feels strange for Princess Celestia, at least what I know about her from the show.
At first, I think the lack of any kind of embrace or familial recognition from Luna is just to keep her secret from anyone who might be spying on us. But once we’re alone inside, Luna's demeanor doesn't change. Instead, she announces, “He knows who we are, sister.”
Celestia's eyes widen in surprise as she turns to me. “Luna must really trust you. May I ask who you are, stranger?” Celestia says with a sly smile. “My sister tells me so little of her personal life… and her relationships.” The white unicorn smirks at that last comment.
Before I can introduce myself and explain, Luna interjects. “Who he is is exactly what I want to know. This stallion fell out of the sky unharmed, save for his self-inflicted broken muzzle. And…”
Before Luna can continue, Celestia rushes towards me, our faces almost touching. “Why didn’t you tell me he was hurt right away, Luna?” Celestia demands. “Your questions can wait.” She looks at me intently and her horn begins to glow a sunny yellow. “Stay very still,” she requests in a much gentler voice than she was using before.
The area around my nose glows the same color as Celestia’s horn. I feel a tingling pressure surround my nose that I’m pretty sure is because of the magic.
Suddenly, I hear a couple pops and there’s a spike of pain in my nose. My eyes shut tight and I let out a short groan. Celestia shushes me like what a mother would do to a crying baby. “It’s okay, that was the worst part. Now I just need to heal the bone.”
I feel more tingling, but it’s deeper inside my nose this time. Then all of a sudden, the pain washes away.
I open my eyes and see Celestia look my nose over and then take a few steps back. I slowly reach a hoof up to touch and then push on my nose muzzle. It doesn’t hurt anymore!
“Thank you!” I exclaim. “It’s like I never broke it.”
“You’re very welcome,” Celestia says with a kind smile. “But it was a just a simple spell. Now would you mind telling me who’s nose I just mended? I’m curious about any stallion who can get Luna so excited that she drags him over in the middle of the night, especially one she trusts so much.”
I expect Luna to cut in, but instead, she just glares at me and waits. “You can call me Astraeus.” I reach out a hand instinctively, but then I realize I’m not sure how to shake hands with my new hooves, or if ponies even do that in this age. Thankfully Celestia puts her own forehoof against mine and shakes it in a way that surprisingly doesn’t feel too unnatural.
“A pleasure to meet you Astraeus. I’m Celestia, but Luna seems to have already told you about me,” she says with a wink.
Luna, seemingly sick of the introductions, cuts in. “Good, we all know each other’s names. Now can we please…”
“Celestia! What’s going on down there?” A gruff voice booms from above.
Celestia’s ears fold back and she winces as the sounds of hoofsteps quickly get louder.
Then I see a grey stallion begin walking down the stairs. He has a long and messy white mane with a big curly beard… “Starswirl the Bearded,” I mutter in amazement. I can’t believe I didn’t guess that he was the former archmage.
“It’s Starswirl the Great,” Celestia corrects with a stern look. “He’s the mage who banished The Sirens on his own, so treat him with respect. Especially when you’re in our home.”
“Celestia,” Starswirl cuts in before I can apologize. “That’s no way to talk to our guests. And I’m more bothered by you waking me up than I am about that silly nickname.”
“You know ponies call you that as an insult,” Celestia pleads. “And I don’t think it’s-”
“Enough, Celestia,” Starswirl says with a frown. “You know I appreciate your concern, but I refuse to be bothered by the few ponies who think I’m crazy.” Starswirl looks to Luna, then me, before asking Celestia, “Now do you mind telling me why I’m up in the middle of the night?”
“I’m sorry,” Celestia sighs. “Luna just arrived with a coltfriend who she told our secret to. His muzzle was broken and I fixed it.”
“He is not my coltfriend! I just met him,” Luna exclaims with a furious blush.
Starswirl turns to my pegasus companion curiously. “Strange, I always thought Celestia would be the first to let that slip.”
“Please, just listen!” Luna yells louder than before. Then she begins talking so fast that neither of the unicorns can get a word in. “This is Astraeus. He fell out of the sky near the pegasi territory. I think he’s a spy sent by the earth ponies who most likely had the help of a cloudwalking spell. He made up some crazy alibi, so I need you to read his mind, Celestia, to help me decide if I should arrest him or let him go.”
Both Celestia and Starswirl the Bearded stare wide eyed Luna, who begins panting slightly after that speech. After a few seconds of silence, Starswirl turns around and walks to one of the tables covered in papers, sits down in front of it with his back to us, and says, “Well, this all sounds far too political for me. Do make yourselves at home, and have a seat near the fire to warm up.”
Celestia speaks up, her voice possessing a hint of worry. “What are you doing?”
“I have a feeling this is going to take a while,” the grey stallion replies nonchalantly. “And I doubt I’ll be getting any more sleep with you three talking, so I might as well do some work. Remember to be a good host, my dear.”
“O-Okay,” Celestia says nervously. “I’ll go make us all some tea, then.” She turns and bolts through the door on the left wall to what I assume is a kitchen.
I go sit on the white cushion. I figure it would be rude not to accept Starswirl’s hospitality. Also, I’m still cold from the trip here. “Um… thank you Mr. Starswirl the Great… Sir. I’m sorry we’re keeping you up.” He gives me a grunt of acknowledgement.
I hear the clang of metal on metal as Luna echoes my statement. I turn to see her removing her armor. Once it’s all off, she walks over and take the pink cushion, the one farthest away from me. I’m not sure if it’s because she wants Celestia to sit next to me or if she’s just avoiding me.
I quickly notice that she has her cutie mark already. That feels off. Isn’t Luna’s talent raising the moon or going into dreams or something? Not wanting to reveal what I thought her special talent was, I try to casually ask, “So Luna, how’d you get your cutie mark?”
Luna glares at me and asks dryly, “Are you actually interested, or is this just an excuse to look at my flanks?”
“What?!” I ask in surprise. I hear a muffled laugh from Starswirl’s direction. “Actually interested! It’s just, not many ponies have ones that cover their whole, um… flank, like yours.” And then I add, hoping she would appreciate it and not think I was being a creep, “It’s really cool looking.”
She eyes me for a moment and I feel like she’s deciding if she should answer me or hit me. Then finally her expression relaxes and she says, “I was studying the moon when I was a filly.” Looks like somebody won’t need Celestia to fix their face twice in one day! “I had modified a military scout’s telescope my dad gave me so it could focus on the moon’s surface. I set up a piece of parchment behind it so I could trace the magnified image. Once I finished my sketch, I ran inside to show my dad and Celestia. When they woke up, they told me I had gotten my cutie mark.” I see Luna gazing into the fire, wearing a nostalgic smile as she finishes her story.
At some point during the story, Celestia had apparently walked back into the room. She cuts into the silence and says, “You were so excited that night. I think the only thing slowing you down was having to run between rooms to wake dad and I both up.” I turn and see her levitating a teacup and a small plate to Starswirl.
“You know it’s rude to eavesdrop,” Luna says. All hint of the former happiness gone from her voice.
“Oh, you’re one to talk Luna. And besides, it’s not like I wasn’t there when it happened.” Celestia sets down a floating tray filled with a tea set, and several plates with cookies on them in between the three cushions in front of the fire. She then lays down on the pale-yellow cushion between Luna and me. “Speaking of cutie marks, aren’t you a bit old to still be a blank flank, Astraeus?”
I glance at Celestia’s flank and see the familiar sun cutie mark, then I turn to examine my own flank, and that’s when I realize I’m not good at anything. Damn, I hadn’t thought about it, but it would’ve been really cool to see what mine would look like before I went home. Then my ears pull back against my head in a weird feeling involuntary twitch. Celestia must have noticed, because she quickly says, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know that was a touchy subject for you.”
Any more talk on the subject is ended by Starswirl chuckling to himself and saying, “You kids are certainly having some bad luck talking about cutie marks tonight.”
Luna takes advantage of that interruption to finally talk to her sister. “Now that you’re here, Celestia, I should explain the situation. Astraeus is my prisoner and I want you to read his mind and figure out what he was doing in the sky. I didn’t want to bring him to the pegasi if he was innocent, but I’ll have to if you won’t help me with this.”
Celestia frowns. “Yes, you mentioned the interrogation spell. But I don’t think it’s right, Luna. That spell can display any memory to the mage performing it, no matter how hard the other pony tries to resist. There’s a reason only archmages learn it: some things are too sacred.”
“But isn’t this one of your duties?” Luna counters. “That’s why it’s taught. Your mentor uses it on most of the Princess’ prisoners. And I assume you had to use all the time before you retired, right Starswirl?”
“Not getting involved, remember? That’s the main reason why I stepped down in the first place,” Starswirl grumbles from his table. “But I have to say, Platinum employs that particular spell far more liberally than her father. Not that it ever bothered me; the things you can learn from it are fascinating.”
“I won’t do it! It’s not right,” Celestia proclaims. “I might have to use that spell when the duties of the archmage fall to me, but until then, please find another way, Sister.”
“You know what my other option is.” Luna’s expression softens for the first time since the white unicorn came back in the room. “Astraeus doesn’t seem that bad, but I can’t let him go without finding out what he was doing.”
The room is silent, save for the scratches of Starswirl’s quill on paper. I figure it’s about time I gave my two cents to all of this. “I actually don’t mind pri… uhh… pretty mare.” Fuck! Don’t tell her she’s going to be a princess. Who knows what that would do? “I actually had a favor I wanted to ask you and I think reading my mind a little might be the only way you’ll believe me.”
Celestia looks me in the eyes and then turns away slightly. Wait, is she blushing? “What is this favor and what won’t I believe?”
Luna cuts in and stops me from explaining. “Oh no, I can’t wait around here all night.” She then gives me a stern look. “I don’t have enough time to listen to that crazy story again or watch you flirt with my sister.”
I try to defend myself, but all that comes out is, “What? No, I…”
“Sister, why do you have to go so soon?” Celestia asks, ignoring Luna's flirting comment.
“Somepony could realize I left if I’m not back within the hour,” Luna answers, but looks away for some reason.
Celestia presses, “I thought you told me you're left alone all night during your scouting.”
“I left my telescope,” Luna mutters. “I'll get reprimanded if I'm caught using it on duty again. And there’s a patrol group moving through that area in an hour.”
Celestia laughs at some joke I don't seem to get, and Luna scowls at her.
Then the younger mare continues, “So, will you please agree to get the information for me, Celestia? I believe Astraeus would prefer it to me letting the other pegasi interrogate him.”
Celestia frowns deeply and looks to me as if waiting for confirmation, or a way out of this. I nod and she lets out a sigh. “Fine, Luna, you win.”
“Thank you! Now before I go, I should give you the full story.” Luna succinctly reviews our time together as she puts on her armor, highlighting my fall, how I broke my muzzle, my ‘insane alibi’ as she put it, and most importantly, the fact that I knew they were sisters. She also stopped all attempts to defend myself while she was talking.
Luna then walks to the door and says, “I’ll be back before sunrise. I trust you won’t let my prisoner leave until then. Unless you find out he is a spy, in which case I recommend executing him before he can escape.” Oh shit.
Celestia gasps at that suggestion. “Luna! If that were the case I could just restrain him or send him to our dungeon.”
“But what if he’s a changeling or some other evil creature?!” Luna counters.
Then the intense atmosphere dissolves with Starswirl’s laughter. I forgot he was still here. “If he were a changeling, we’d need him alive for a full interrogation. But don’t worry, Celestia will find out very soon if that’s the case.”
Luna seems to relax at that. “Okay, thank you for the tea and the hospitality. Astraeus, don’t try anything,” she says with a glare. “I promise it’ll only make things more difficult.” She gives me a more sympathetic look and adds, “But don’t worry, after this spell, you won’t be tortured even if I do have to arrest you.” I’m not sure what to say to that, so I try my hardest to smile as she leaves.
I don’t know if that was supposed to scare me or help me worry less, but this whole thing just seems way too violent for a princess from My Little Pony.
Celestia seems to let out a breath she was holding. “I’m sorry you had to deal with all that. And I hope my sister wasn’t too hard on you. She can be a bit much sometimes.”
I figure now is my chance to finally get some answers. “I know this is none of my business, but I assumed you two would get along better, being sisters and all. Are you two fighting?” Maybe the resentment for Celestia that turned Luna into Nightmare Moon began before they even become alicorns.
“We used to be closer, but things were hard for us after dad died. Luna thought it would be safer if we were separated to hide who we were, and even now we rarely get to see each other. Now it feels like every time either of us finds ways to visit the other, we just end up arguing about our secret.” Celestia gives me an uneasy look and asks, “Do you think it’s wrong that our mother was a unicorn and our father a pegasus?”
I’m a little thrown by the question but answer honestly, “Not at all, but…” I want to explain that I’m not from here so she shouldn’t assume ponies are like me, but she eagerly takes my response and continues.
“Thank you! I keep trying to tell Luna she just needs to have a little more faith in ponies. And if we’re ever attacked, it’s not like I can’t easily defend myself from all but two ponies in the realm. And I can’t see Starswirl or my master ever trying to hurt me.”
Starswirl chimes in. “We’d be the first ones there to help protect you if anypony did.”
“But Luna never listens, and she made me promise not to tell anypony we were sisters or who our parents were years ago,” Celestia continues. “You’re the first one to find out since the archmage told Starswirl.”
The grey stallion elaborates, but his focus never leaves the papers in front of him. “Astral Charm told everypony that she was never married and refused to talk about Celestia’s father. Then one day, when Celestia was about 19, Clover asked if I’d let Celestia live with me because her and Luna’s father died in combat. I consider agreeing to that as one of the best decisions of my life.” I look over at the mare in question and see that she’s wearing a sad smile as tears threaten to fall from her eyes.
“Why didn’t you take in Luna too?” I ask, hoping not to offend him but trying to figure out how they could abandon her.
“I offered, but Clover told me that Luna insisted on living with the pegasi and joining their military.”
Then Celestia’s mood completely shifts. “She just left on her own! And now, whenever we’re together, she’s so distant,” the previously quiet mare says with an angry sadness. But then she takes a deep breath, wipes her eyes, and continues. “I’m sorry, you didn’t need to hear that.”
“No, I’m sorry I asked about something so private,” I say, wishing I had waited to ask about Luna.
“It’s okay,” Celestia reassures me. “I just don’t get to talk about Luna with anyone but Starswirl and Archmage Clover. Speaking of her, she told me to always let ponies answer the interrogation questions themselves before using the spell. Even if we still have to use it, answering the questions will help prepare both of us for what’s about to happen.”
I’m a little confused so I ask, “What do you mean interrogation questions?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot most ponies don’t know how this spell works. The interrogation spell I’ll be using will just target the answers to specific questions. There are other spells that can tell a unicorn everything a pony can remember, but those are excessive and, in my opinion, repulsive.”
Well, at least Celestia doesn’t want to go through all my thoughts. Having her find out too much about the show might mess up her future. Having her find out too much about the fandom could be much worse.
“If I understood my sister correctly, I just need to find out if you were spying on the pegasi, what happened right before you fell out of the sky, and how you know Luna and I are sisters? To be honest, I’m pretty curious about that last one.”
Time to convince a princess-to-be that I’m from another world. Again. “I know this’ll sound crazy, but once you use your interrogation spell, you’ll see that I’m not lying… The thing is, I’m not actually a pony.” Celestia tenses and I see Starswirl turn away from his papers for the first time since he sat down. “I’m also not a changeling! Or anything evil,” I quickly add before these two incinerate me or something. “I’m a being from another world called a human.” The unicorns both stare at me skeptically. “We walk on two legs and have very little hair compared to ponies. I have no idea how I got here, became a pony, or fell from the sky. And based on the size of the crater and what Luna told me, I shouldn’t have survived the fall.”
Starswirl looks annoyed, but Celestia’s gaze is fixed on me. She mutters, “It’s a miracle,” and Starswirl rolls his eyes.
“I swear I wasn’t spying on the pegasi or any of you. I just want to get home. That’s actually what I wanted your help with. Also, my world has these things called TVs which show moving pictures that have sound. I learned a little bit about your world, who you and your sister are, and some things about your futures from it.”
This seemed to get Starswirl interested. “You’re saying you have magic to predict the future? How is that possible? What if you knowing about those events changes what happens?”
Celestia quickly says, “I have to see this! May I please use the spell now, Astraeus?” But she slows down and adds, “As long as you’re sure it’s okay.”
Awesome! This is a way better response than Luna’s. “Sure, I figure if you know I’m telling the truth, you might be more willing to help me get home.”
Celestia grins as she stands and approaches me. “Okay, now just relax. My magic will guide the questions.”
Celestia lowers her face down to where I’m sitting. Her horn lights up and I close my eyes as she brings it toward my face. I feel it touch my forehead, and then suddenly, white fills my vision.
When I open my eyes again, I’m floating in what looks like the night sky. There are brilliant stars everywhere and a few white clouds surrounding me. Out of one of the clouds, the pink maned Celestia walks toward me and I feel myself standing on solid ground. I look down and see that a bunch of the stars have formed a path under us that extends farther than I can see.
“First we’ll find out if you were spying on the pegasi,” Celestia says calmly. What looks like a two-dimensional flat screen TV flies towards us and just hangs in the air next to the path. It plays my first moments in this world on repeat: from opening my eyes to meeting Luna.
Celestia frowns at the screen skeptically and mutters. “No, I want what happened before this.” Then a screen of me working on my fluid mechanics homework flies up next to the first one.
“That’s pretty much all I remember. I was there –” I say pointing to the screen of me doing homework. “– and then I woke up here. Luna says I fell during that time, but I don’t remember it.”
Celestia stairs at me in amazement. “May I see what these ‘humans’ of yours look like?”
“Go ahead,” I say, giving Celestia a nod.
A screen of my parents, little brother, and grandparents appears. It’s from this past thanksgiving. Our conversation plays out loud from the direction of the screen. I smile, thinking about how much fun we were having. It’s been a few months since I last saw them during winter break and I’m really looking forward getting home in the summer.
I look over at Celestia and see that she can’t take her eyes off my family. I explain who each relative is and she looks fascinated.
“So, do you believe me now?” I ask, pulling Celestia out of her reverie.
“What?” She asks.
“Do you believe I wasn’t spying on the pegasi now?”
“Of course I do!” She yells as she puts her forehooves on my shoulders. “You actually weren’t a pony…” Celestia says with amazement and steps back down on solid ground, or… solid stars. “Now I just need to see how you knew about Luna and I. Oh, I can’t wait to tell Starswirl and archmage Clover all about this!”
Suddenly, about twenty screens fly up to us on both sides of the star path. A few of them are playing MLP, a couple show me looking at some pony artwork online, one is from me at a convention I went to. All of the screens depict something pony related, but I notice Celestia is just looking at one. It’s a YouTube clip I watched of someone giving Lauren Faust a portrait of Fausticorn.
“Astraeus, tell me who this is…” Celestia says. Her words sounding way more serious than they needed to be.
“It’s Lauren Faust, she created the things I was telling you about that showed me your future and identity.” I figure that’s probably the best way to explain it. I don’t need to explain that the show was made for little girls’ entertainment.
Celestia’s eyes widen. “Show me.”
Then a tidal wave of screens fills both sides of the pathway, each one playing a different episode of MLP. I notice that the earlier episodes are closer to us while the later seasons are too far for us to see.
Celestia looks around, amazed or in shock. Then she notices something. “That cutie mark…”
That’s when I realize this has gone too far. Celestia is staring at a cackling Nightmare Moon as lightning flashes around her. Then the screens shift around until we’re surrounded by different depictions of Luna’s evil transformation: the show, fan art, stories I’ve read. Most of them come with much smaller ponies looking completely terrified around her.
Celestia looks around until she sees the green smoke Nightmare Moon that Zecora made in the Nightmare Night episode. Celestia watches as the smoke figure charges at the fillies in costumes, sharp fangs bared.
Then, in a bright flash of white light, I’m back in front of the fireplace. Celestia stares at me with absolute terror in her eyes. Starswirl is standing to my left, looking at his ward with concern. “What did you see?” he asks the unicorn mare gently.
Celestia ignores him and asks, “Who was that?”
“She’s not important. What we should-”
“Tell me who that alicorn is now!” Celestia roars.
Oh shit. “Celestia, I really shouldn’t tell you too much about your future. I just need to get home so-”
Celestia’s voice gets unsettlingly quiet. “If you want my help, you’ll tell me the truth now. Otherwise I’ll have to use the complete interrogation spell.”
Fuck! I have no idea what finding out she’ll become princess and have to banish her sister to the moon will do to Celestia. I can’t let her read my mind again. “Fine,” I relent. “The alicorn is a pony called Nightmare Moon. From what I saw in my world, she attempted to rule over ponies and throw the world into an eternal night. But anything you saw about ponies thinking she would eat them was just a story for Nightmare Night, a holiday created about her.”
Starswirl cuts in, worry filling his voice now too. “Are you saying you’ve seen an alicorn? That’s impossible. And if an alicorn stops us from cycling the sun and moon every day, there’s no way we could survive. How would we grow food without sunlight?”
“It’s just what I saw in my world. I don’t know if they even match up with this world yet.” But from the looks of it, the show might just be a less violent version. That would make sense for a kids show.
“But that’s how you said you knew Luna was my sister,” Celestia says. “And you knew Starswirl as ‘The Bearded’. You learned that from your world too, right?”
I nod my head hesitantly.
“So if you know about our present from your world, the future you saw should be a prediction of our future,” Celestia says resolutely. “I just have to know one thing: Nightmare Moon is Luna, isn’t she?” Oh no.
Starswirl interrupts. “How is that even possible? Alicorns are just legends, and there’s no way your pegasus sister could suddenly grow a horn!”
“They had the same cutie mark, Starswirl! I saw it!” Celestia yells, tears swelling in her eyes. “Have you ever seen anypony else with a cutie mark like Luna’s?”
I don’t think she’ll believe me if I lie. And if Celestia doesn’t get this confirmation, she might go through all my memories. “I have no idea know how she turns into an alicorn, but Luna does become Nightmare Moon.” I say solemnly.
Celestia, for some reason, doesn’t seem as crushed by this news as I thought she would be. She tries to blink away her tears as she says, “I think you were sent here for this reason, Astraeus.”
“What?” Starswirl and I ask in unison.
“When we were looking through your memories, you told me the being who created these accounts of our world was called Lauren Faust. I believe that is an embodiment of our God, Faust.” Starswirl lets out a groan and Celestia glares at him. “She was in another world, Starswirl, and there was a picture that looked just like her depiction as an alicorn! And she is why Astraeus knows about us. Isn’t that enough proof for you?”
“Everything you see is ‘because of Faust’s will.’ A memory of somepony with her name means nothing,” Starswirl says with a roll of his eyes.
“Slow down. Who is Faust to you guys?”
Both unicorns try to answer, but Celestia beats the old stallion. “Faust is the divine embodiment of harmony. It was with her quill that life and everything we know was written into existence. She first created the alicorns, who eventually gave rise to us ponies.”
“But there’s no evidence that alicorns have existed,” Starswirl states adamantly, earning him an irritated look from Celestia. “Any explorer who sets out to try and follow the ancient legends just ends up giving up, never being heard from again, or dead.”
“And I think that She was the one who sent you here to stop my sister from turning into that monster. So what do we have to do?” Celestia asks hopefully.
Well, really just make sure you don’t overshadow her, and find a way to make more ponies night-owls, but I can’t tell her that. Stopping nightmare moon would fuck up their timeline so much. Twilight would never need to live in ponyville so she couldn’t become the princess of friendship, and who knows how many other effects there would be? Maybe the future would end up way worse if Luna was never banished. And maybe just telling Celestia that she not only caused Nightmare Moon but also banished her sister for 1,000 years would mess her up so much that she never wants to become the leader of Equestria.
“Nothing,” I say simply. “We’d be changing the future too much if we try and stop Luna’s transformation.”
“But it would be a good change if we’re stopping something evil! Even if Luna will never actually eats ponies, she’d have to do something pretty terrible to gain that reputation and an entire holiday about her,” Celestia argues.
We go back and forth for a while with Celestia making arguments in her favor and me continuously thinking about dangerous worst case scenarios, most involving an ultra-powerful enemy taking over Equestria, one that only the mane six could defeat. It ended up turning into a yelling match, but thankfully I was able to avoid revealing anything more about the future. Celestia quietly says, “Fine, you win.”
I’m glad it’s over, and even though I know this will end up better for all the ponies in the long run, I can’t help feeling bad for Celestia. She looks so lost and worn down, it’s like she’s already banished her sister. But it’ll be fine. I’m sure Celestia will have plenty of happy centuries with her sister before Luna rebels.
With tears streaming down her face, she turns to Starswirl, who had kept quiet during our fight, “Could you please work on sending him home? He’s telling the truth. He just wants to get back to his family.” And with that, Celestia’s horn begins glowing and she teleports away.