22
Nightmare Night, Afternoon
Celestia looked out from her balcony to glare down at her subjects milling about in the streets of Canterlot. They had heads lowered in fear-
In respect, she corrected herself. Was it truly herself? It had become difficult to distinguish one voice from another in her mind. They both wanted the same thing, in a manner of speaking. If one twisted the words and believed the cost could be ignored. The thought of cost got her thinking of Flam, wherever he was. Was he doing alright? Better still, was he doing his job? What was his job again?
“Aunt Tia?” Cadance’s voice cut through her the older alicorn’s turmoil, “Did you want to spend some time together? Perhaps over lunch?”
“Where is your husband?” Celestia asked, “And Flurry Heart, and her caretaker?”
“They were all exhausted from the overnight train ride,” Cadance explained, “They’re sleeping until this evening so they won’t be too tired for the festivities you have planned.”
“Sleeping in the daytime?” Celestia seethed, “Heresy… I thought only thestrals and vermin did that.”
“Would you prefer they pass out?” Cadance asked, slightly exasperated.
Celestia felt her fury flare up at such casual insolence, but she fought it. It would help no one if she lost her temper, lost control of her physical form, right then and there. It certainly wouldn’t help if she drove away the mother of Flurry Heart, who seemed somehow tied to coming events. No, the regents of the Crystal Empire, especially, could not be turned against her...
“You are right, I suppose,” she confessed, forcing an abashed smile to her face, “I apologize. Everything that has happened lately has me rather easy to offend. I shouldn’t take it out on you or your friends. Or family.”
“Do you not like that I married Shining?” Cadance pressed, “You were so supportive of our love…”
“Of course I like him,” Celestia lied. Was it a lie? She wasn’t sure anymore, “Any pony who earns your affection is surely worthy of it. After all, aren’t you the expert on that?”
Cadance eyed her aunt a moment longer before finally relaxing. She started giggling.
“Look at me,” she said, “I’m becoming wound up and paranoid and it has hardly been a day! No wonder you’ve been so tense; the atmosphere in Canterlot has become so charged with intrigue.”
“Exactly,” the Empress giggled, a bit to forcibly. Looking to change the subject, she looked at the sun. “I should make sure that all is prepared for tonight. The sun is already past its zenith, and you know how quickly daylight fades this time of year. I want the festivities to begin as the sun begins to set.”
“That will be soon,” Cadance agreed, “Shining should have no problem waking up. He was a soldier, after all, and – more taxing – the father to Flurry Heart. I’m not sure how well Sunburst will fare, but he was very excited to be in Canterlot again.”
“Again?” Celestia asked, then thought back, “Ah yes… he washed out of my unicorn school…” Seeing the slight offense in her niece’s look, Celestia rolled her eyes. “I mean, he lacked strength in magic, but is a brilliant scholar. I imagine he and Starswirl would have gotten along great.”
Cadance smiled again, and Celestia silently hoped she could keep her niece from being offended again. Everything had to go smoothly for the plan. Was there a plan? It was difficult to tell anymore. The Empress looked back out upon her city, feeling a strange mixture of emotions that made her feel more in a dream than anything else. Something tickled at her mind, something smacking of a warning or premonition of events to come, but she refused to acknowledge them. Her last few scrying efforts had shown her visions of defeat at the hands of any number of foes: Discord, her sister, a reborn Sombra, a changed queen, a massive dragon, an ascendant alicorn, her faithful student, or even the hooves of her ensnared subjects. The paranoia born from these constant defeatist visions justified her increasing security as well as her avoidance of any character she deemed suspect.
Which of course was all of them.
She watched the sun move lower, now noticeably past its zenith. After tonight, her subjects would associate the Lunar Republic with treason.
“It’s a pity Twilight couldn’t join us,” the older of the two mares stated, “I was rather hoping she’d be here.”
“I wish she were here, too,” Cadance sighed, “but I have no way of communicating over such vast distances so quickly. I was surprised you could maintain such a powerful mode of communication with both of us for so long without effort.”
“My powers have grown…” Celestia muttered without thinking. She blinked, smiling as she turned to face her niece, “Over the centuries, I mean. In time, you may grow as powerful as I am now. And your daughter, well… she’ll outshine us both, I’m sure.”
Cadance smiled at the prospect of her daughter being a great alicorn. Celestia looked skyward again, but this time her mind was on Flurry Heart. An infant, yet immensely powerful. The only alicorn ever recorded to be born. If alicorns were indeed divine, that regular ponies earned such divinity through acts of greatness, then what did a born alicorn signify? A natural god? A true god? Such power could be useful to the Solar Empire. Even the mere belief that Flurry Heart was truly divine could prove useful. No, more than useful.
Faith, Celestia smiled at the thought, was a useful tool.
…
Apple Bloom stared at the envelope in her hooves. Aside from her brother and Sweetie Belle, she was the only one who got regular mail from her family. Scootaloo occasionally got letters from Rainbow Dash, but those were infrequent at best. Only once did Apple Bloom get mail from someone not related to her – her old friend, Twist – but that was it.
Until now.
She reread the name, just to make sure it hadn’t been her imagination. Tender Taps. It still seemed unreal. She opened the envelope, still not sure what to make of it. A photograph was in there and she smiled at it: a picture of Tender and the rest of their dance class, holding a banner that read “We Miss You!” across it. She felt something in her chest stir, a longing for the simpler times before she had become so invested in the political landscape of her nation. Then she noticed the letter sharing the envelope with the picture and pulled it out.
Dear Apple Bloom,
I wish you were here in Ponyville again. I think about you more than anything else. Our instructor says it’s starting to affect my routine, but I just can’t dance straight without you nearby, anymore. She said writing this all out might help, and I think she’s right. You’ve gone to Canterlot, and I hear you’re continuing your education out there. If that’s true, it could be years before I see you again – if I ever do. That got me thinking that I really, really want to see you again. I don’t want us to stop being in touch.
Love, Ignore that! I’m used to writing letters to family! Stupid pen…
Tender Taps
Apple Bloom shook her head and reread it. Then she reread it again just to make sure. With a smile, she reread it one more time just to savor it. She felt a new emotion blooming in her chest that felt uncomfortably familiar…
Shaking her head and paling in a sudden sense she had done something wrong, the filly placed the photo and letter in her copy of Starswirl’s Compendium of Compassion, which she hadn’t picked up since classes were cancelled. The book was still dear to her, so she was confident she wouldn’t stupidly misplace it – or its new contents.
There was no time for such trivial emotions! The Lunar Republic was trying to get together a Nightmare Night celebration of their own, and Apple Bloom was – naturally – one of the few members available to help organize. Starlight was swamped with paperwork, and most of the politicians and citizens were busy with trying to get their little army up off the ground. Only a relative handful in Canterlot were contributing to this sudden celebration. Apple Bloom sighed at the thought of Nightmare Night. For whatever reason, Celestia was pulling out all the stops for a grand festival in honor of the holiday, and – for whatever reason – the Lunar Republic felt honor-bound to try and match it.
There was no way the new nation could match the resources going into the party! And there was certainly no way they could match the horsepower, especially since Apple Bloom was the only pony coordinating things. She had taken a brief reprieve to check her mail, but now was the time to get back out there and help make a difference.
Apple Bloom trotted out of the Presidential Palace and towards the large gardens of the estate where they had decided to hold the party. The impromptu senate was still convening on the lawn, surrounded by a tent, but the rest of the gardens were open for a celebration. A handful of ponies the filly didn’t recognize were helping her organize festivities and construct a stage, but on such short notice things were difficult to accomplish. For instance, most of the shops were closed, so food and supplies were hard to come by. Fortunately, some caterers were open and willing to supply the party, and the wood for the stage was not too difficult to acquire. With the help of the thirteen other ponies, Apple Bloom was confident-
She blinked and recounted. There were now only ten other ponies.
“Hey, where’d the other three go?” she asked.
“Oh,” one of the volunteers tapped his chin as he thought back, “Uh, Minty got arrested for wearing a costume, and I guess the other two did, too, since they were also dressed up.”
“What the…?” the filly shook her head, “Wait, what was wrong with their costumes?”
“Celestia banned wearing costumes on Nightmare Night,” a mare spoke up from the snack table, “Something about it being a somber holiday to commemorate loss. Or betrayal?”
“That’s ridiculous!” Apple Bloom scoffed, “There’s centuries of tradition behind wearing costumes! She can’t just make it illegal right before the holiday! Did ponies even know about this?”
“I didn’t find out until Minty was tossed into the police cart,” the first pony shrugged.
“Why are you both so calm about this?” Apple Bloom demanded.
“We figured it was only a matter of time until Celestia found some reason to arrest us,” the mare noted dryly before muttering, “I just didn’t figure on it being about wearing costumes…”
Apple Bloom frowned at the idea before something else struck her.
“We forgot to send out invitations!” she exclaimed.
“We’ve already told all the Republic citizens living in Canterlot,” the stallion noted as he helped another pony with the lumber for the stage.
“Wait,” the mare at the snack table paused in her work to smirk over her shoulder at the filly, “don’t tell me you forgot to invite your colt-friend.”
“I’ve been a little busy helping govern a new nation,” Apple Bloom said through gritted teeth. She wasn’t so much angry with the mare’s comment as she was at her decaying relationship. Truth be told, she had forgotten to tell Spike, or any of her friends.
“We can handle this stuff, Apple Bloom,” the stallion smiled, “You left us pretty clear instructions. Why don’t you take the day off? I mean, you might be the Secretary of… something, but you are just a filly. You need vacations too, right?”
“I’m the Secretary of…!” Apple Bloom sighed, “Forget it. Maybe you’re right. I haven’t had much time off since the Republic was founded, and Starlight did tell me to take the day off, too…”
“Sounds like you have to, then,” the mare chuckled, “it being a presidential order and all.”
“I get it,” Apple Bloom giggled, “Alright, I’ll take some time off to find Spike and maybe my other friends.”
A chorus of catcalls followed the filly as she left. She blushed, wondering if maybe there had been a better way to word her sentence. She wasn’t sure if it was because these were city ponies or because they were simply treating her as an adult, but she wasn’t used to such behavior outside of her closest friends. Her, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle were certainly not above making inappropriate jokes and innuendoes when away from their supervisors.
Sweetie Belle was the worst.
Apple Bloom strolled around the city towards the warehouse, but naturally Spike wouldn’t stay cooped up all day. Finding it empty, the filly trotted to the only other place she knew where to look – Trixie’s wagon outside the city. When and how the magician had gotten the thing brought up to Canterlot from Ponyville was a mystery. Why she preferred living in the thing over the castle was an even bigger one.
Apple Bloom knocked briefly on the door and waited.
“Spike, Trixie told you she does not-” the unicorn opened the door, wearing her sleeping cap. She stopped when she saw Apple Bloom standing there. “Oh. You’re not Spike.”
“Mighty observant of you,” Apple Bloom giggled, “Were you sleeping?”
“And you call Trixie observant,” Trixie snipped back, “What do you need, kid?”
“Do you know where Spike went?” Apple Bloom asked, “We’re doing our own Nightmare Night, but I forgot to invite all my friends. I’ve just been so busy, and now I have the day off…”
“…and you want to spend it with the one you love, how romantic,” Trixie noted, dryly, though truth be told she had just woken from a dream about something similar, “He left here earlier this morning looking for that pegasus with the scooter.”
“You know who Scootaloo is,” Apple Bloom sighed. She felt a tinge of jealousy eat away at her. Some of it must have showed because the magician frowned.
“Is everything alright between you two?” Trixie asked, not clarifying if she meant Scootaloo or Spike.
“Everything’s fine,” Apple Bloom huffed, “Why…? Has Spike said anything?”
“Magicians never reveal their secrets,” Trixie smiled, but it was too wistful for the filly’s liking, “Let’s just say there’s a lot on his mind at the moment. What about things with your other friends? As far as Trixie can tell, Spike and Scootaloo are the only two of you that hang out anymore.”
“I have a lot of responsibilities now,” the former farmer stated, standing tall.
“You’re a filly, Apple Bloom,” Trixie laughed, richly, “Spend time with your drake-friend and forget this silly Republic stuff. You shouldn’t be bothering with so much responsibility at your age!”
“And you should be more responsible at your age!” Apple Bloom snapped back before she could reel in her temper. Trixie backed into her vardo as if slapped, but the filly pressed on. “Maybe if adults were more responsible and took the political situation of Equestria more seriously, we wouldn’t be in so much trouble all the time! If ponies your age took responsibility, fillies like me wouldn’t have to take on so much! The Republic only seems silly because it requires ponies to be more responsible, but that responsibility guarantees freedom! I will not be dictated to by tyrants!”
“What in Equestria are you going on about?” Trixie asked, confusion and hurt bleeding into her voice.
“My family has suffered poverty under Celestia’s leadership, and the Republic promises us a voice in government so no pony will ever have to suffer such conditions again,” Apple Bloom explained slowly, “The democratic system gives us a voice, gives power to ponies like me, but it has a cost: we have to be responsible. We take a share in the government, and it burns me up inside when ponies call the Republic silly! It’s only silly to you because you can’t even be responsible enough to take care of yourself!”
Finally, the filly clamped her mouth shut, ashamed she had voiced such thoughts. Where had they even come from? They seemed to have welled up from somewhere deep inside, released by repressed frustration and stress which had been mounting for weeks. Had she even slept more than a few hours each night with her new responsibilities? Besides her few dates with Spike, had she even enjoyed time off?
“I-I’m sorry, Trixie, I-” the filly began.
“Leave,” the magician’s voice was barely audible.
“Trixie, please-”
The magician’s horn glowed brightly and the filly feared the older mare might turn it against her. Instead, a flash of magic encircled the wagon, so bright it forced the filly to shield her eyes. When she opened them again, Trixie and her vardo were gone. Apple Bloom was astonished. Trixie had rarely been able to perform difficult spells like teleportation, and yet she had gone and made a sizeable object vanish.
At least, Apple Bloom hoped it was teleportation.
The filly sighed as she made her way back into town. That had been a disaster, but at least it couldn’t get any worse. Lifting her head up as she entered the city proper, she stopped in her tracks. Her blood ran cold as she realized that, yes, it could always get worse.
There was Spike, laughing as he posed for a painting. He was rearing on his hind legs, forelegs extended outwards and jaws open in a toothy grin. This alone was perfectly benign, but the detail that made Apple Bloom glower was that an orange-coated pegasus filly was draped around his broad shoulders, her forelegs wrapped around his thick neck, rosy-cheeked and laughing. Their laughter felt directed at her, though it was obvious they didn’t realize she was watching.
“So, is this how you spend your days when I’m not around?” Apple Bloom demanded as she came within earshot of the pair. The painter looked over his shoulder, then – sensing the tension – began quickly packing up his supplies. “I didn’t realize you and Scootaloo were so… close.”
“Hey, AB!” Spike greeted, completely oblivious despite the fact Scootaloo’s grip had tightened in anxiety, “I thought you were busy today?”
“Oh, is that why you were hanging out with her?” the yellow filly scoffed, “You just hang out with another filly anytime I’m not available?!”
“Well, yeah,” Spike shrugged.
“Spike!” Scootaloo hissed in his ear but her eyes were wide and locked to Apple Bloom.
“What?” the dragon snaked his neck around so he could look at the filly clinging to his neck, “Are you okay, Scoots? You look really pale all of a sudden.”
“It’s nice that you care so much for her health,” Apple Bloom said through gritted teeth, trying to suppress her temper. She had just made a mistake in her anger with another friend, and that had been uncalled for, but this… Was she not justified in being angry at this?!
“Apple Bloom, I can explain!” Scootaloo released Spike’s neck and landed in front of her friend, buzzing her wings to slow her fall. She opened her mouth, then looked over her shoulder and blushed at the dragon. “Can we… can we talk privately?”
The other filly narrowed her eyes, sparing a look at Spike. Inhaling to cool her head, she nodded once and followed Scootaloo into a shop. A request for privacy and a bit kept the shopkeeper from asking any questions as he showed them a secluded corner of the store where they could chat without risk.
“What is it?” Apple Bloom asked.
“First, I’d like to say Spike is completely loyal to you,” the pegasus explained, “He is not at fault. Don’t go off on him, okay?”
“…Okay…” the earth pony nodded once.
“Secondly… I might have a crush on your drake-friend.”
Apple Bloom took a second to process that before sighing.
“Why is it that all of a sudden every other mare wants a piece of that dragon?” she muttered.
“You’re not mad?” Scootaloo looked surprised.
“Oh, I’m furious,” the other filly snorted in a rage, “but… I kinda blew up at Trixie earlier today, and I don’t want to deal with two ruined friendships in one day…”
“Did you wanna talk about it?” Scootaloo offered.
Apple Bloom opened her mouth to begin, then shook her head.
“Wait a minute, we’re not here to talk about that!” she snapped, “Why in Equestria do you have a crush on my Spike?”
“It just kind of happened, ok!” the pegasus shrugged, “I mean, one minute we’re talking about our families, the next we’re-”
“Wait, what?” Apple Bloom rounded on her friend, surprised, “You actually talked about your family with him? You’ve always told Sweetie Belle and me that you don’t like to talk about that kinda stuff!”
“It’s complicated, alright?” Scootaloo sighed, “He understood, is all I can say. He knows what it’s like to be…” the filly looked away, muttering under her breath, “…ignored.”
“What was that?” the other filly raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing,” Scootaloo shook her head, “I swear to you, I didn’t plan for any of this to happen. It just… kind of did.”
Apple Bloom stayed silent, looking at the various knickknacks on the shelves as she composed a response. She had to think this over. A part of her wanted her to be angry, but she recognized that was just the pent-up frustration that had erupted early, compounded with her being angry at herself for yelling at Trixie. In truth, what she felt beneath the anger was… relief. Apple Bloom hadn’t felt comfortable with her relationship with Spike since it began, upset by the taint that surrounded it from Starlight Glimmer’s heartbroken consent. The filly had wanted the relationship to be over almost as soon as it had begun, unable to fully enjoy it as guilt and second-guessing withered away whatever genuine emotions had been there. She couldn’t end the relationship, though. Not after destroying the relationship between Starlight and Spike, leaving him no options.
Yet, here now was a fresh option. Scootaloo could take up the farm filly’s place…
“You believe me, right?” Scootaloo’s voice cut through Apple Bloom’s thoughts.
“Uh, hey,” the earth filly cleared her throat, “Would you… would you like to date him?”
“What?” Scootaloo looked even more confused. Suddenly, her wings stiffened a fraction and she blushed, avoiding eye contact. “I, uh… I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed to sharing him, I-I guess, but isn’t that sort of an old pony tradition…?”
“Sh-share him?!” Apple Bloom blushed even more vividly than the pegasus had, “Hay no! I meant- I meant, if you could date him, would you?”
“Oh,” Scootaloo chuckled nervously, “I wouldn’t want to do anything to betray your trust.”
“Let’s pretend he and I broke up,” Apple Bloom explained, her cheeks returning to normal, “Let’s pretend it was civil and consensual. Now, if you knew I was alright with it… would you?”
“Why are you asking?” Scootaloo asked after a moment, “Does this have something to do with…”
“With what?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Well… you two haven’t been hanging out as much, and I got the impression you’re both getting distant from each other.”
“I hate to admit it, but it’s true…” the farm filly grunted, “I ain’t too interested in a relationship at the moment, at least not with Spike.”
Scootaloo tilted her head at that. Not with Spike? Was there someone else?
“Dating was a huge mistake, to be honest,” Apple Bloom sighed.
“Do you still love him?” Scootaloo asked.
“I mean…” the earth filly thought about it. Her heart ached at the thought of being away from him, and she couldn’t help but remember all of the warmth she had felt being around him growing up, “Yeah… on some level, anyway. But I can’t deal with a relationship right now, and I don’t think he can either. Am I wrong?”
“W-why are you asking me?” Scootaloo was almost as bad at lying as Applejack was.
“Besides Trixie, I reckon you’re his closest confidant,” Apple Bloom chuckled, “I’m sure he’s mentioned it.”
“He… he needs time to figure some personal stuff out,” the pegasus confessed.
“Alright then,” Apple Bloom inhaled sharply, walking out of the store. Stunned, Scootaloo quickly followed.
“Wait, what are you going to do?” she asked.
“I’m going to mare up and tell him the truth,” Apple Bloom held her head up high, showing the same resolve her sister did when unpleasant work needed doing, “It ain’t fair to either of us to keep playing around like this.”
Scootaloo wanted to protest, but Apple Bloom silenced her with a sad smile.
“Relax, Scoots,” she said, “this had to happen. It’s not your fault.”
Scootaloo opened her mouth before shutting it again, nodding once. She followed the farm filly outside to their destiny.
Spike was outside, waiting patiently. He looked a little concerned, but whether that was from being left alone or from the stares passersby were giving him was any pony’s guess. He perked up when he saw them approach, but frowned at the serious nature clinging to the fillies.
“Spike,” Apple Bloom said sternly.
The dragon eyed her expectantly, anxiety filling him. She sighed, relaxing a little. There was something soothing about that out-of-place boyishness in his mature physique. She felt her heartstrings tug again, and then the familiar guilt… No, this was the only way. Right?
“I think we need some time apart,” the filly finished.
They locked eyes, and in that simple gesture they both understood. Nothing needed to be said.
“Alright then,” Spike nodded, not breaking eye contact, “Are you sure?”
“Let’s be honest with ourselves, Spike,” Apple Bloom shook her head, smiling sadly, “with the way things are… with all we’re going through… it won’t work between us.”
“And when things calm down?” Spike asked, “When we aren’t so… distracted?”
The farm filly looked up, past Spike and to the darkening sky. The sun was low on the horizon now, and the moon would crest in the east soon. A new moon, too. It would hardly be visible, except as a black circle in the sky, and yet the fact it was a new moon held symbolic value. The moon did not have a new dawn every day, unlike the sun. There were still fresh starts, still chances. They just took a little longer.
“Maybe,” she confessed, softly, “I think we both need some time and space. I think be both need to figure some stuff out.”
“Yeah,” Spike nodded agreement, “I’ve been meaning to tell you… I plan on going to the Dragon Lands, soon.”
“Then I reckon this came at a good time,” Apple Bloom snorted, “Good a time as any, anyhow.”
“True,” Spike chuckled, a low noise that sent chills up both fillies’ spines. He scratched his chin in thought. “You, uh… you don’t mind if I bring along a friend, right? It seems kind of in bad taste, given how we just broke up.”
“Is it Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom rolled her eyes when the pegasus tried to shrink.
“How did you-” Spike began but stopped at Apple Bloom’s ‘how dumb do I look?’ expression, “Right, I guess it is kind of obvious. Is it fine?”
“I ain’t your filly-friend anymore, Spike,” the yellow filly laughed, “You can hang out with as many mares as you want. I ain’t gonna get jealous. I mean, I ain’t gonna ask you for permission to hang out with stallions. Wouldn’t be fair one-way, now would it?”
“Makes sense,” Spike stood up, stretching, “I think Celestia will be beginning the festivities soon. All the ponies are heading for the center of town, and I remember Celestia usually retires shortly after the sun sets.”
With nothing better to do, they followed the crowd to the center of town. Ugly stares were thrown at Spike and Apple Bloom in equal measure: one for being a non-pony who stood out; the other for being a known supporter of the Republic. Scootaloo felt uncomfortable, but stayed by her friends. She saw Sweetie Belle with a group of Empire socialites, garbed in finery and levitating a glass of fizzy fruit juice. The unicorn spared a look at the pegasus, a glimmer of their friendship still there. It disappeared quickly, Sweetie Belle choosing to ignore them rather than join in the socialites’ sneering. Scootaloo sighed, wondering if Apple Bloom would have done the same had the pegasus been beside Sweetie Belle instead.
They stopped and looked up at the wooden edifice that had taken all day to construct. Despite being constructed of lumber, hay, rope, and wicker, it was artfully crafted. The likeness was almost uncanny. Spike suppressed a shiver; it reminded him at once of both Nightmare Moon and the timber wolves. That was a frightening idea.
“My little subjects,” Celestia’s voice filled the city center, immediately quieting the murmur of the crowds.
All eyes were drawn to where the alicorns had arrived by chariot from the direction of the castle. The Empress of the Day wore a surprisingly tame outfit compared to her usual gaudy dresses of late. It was different from her Empress armor, made up of orange-red plates that seemed almost reminiscent to the armor worn by the wooden likeness of Nightmare Moon. Almost, yet different. Beside her stood Luna, still wearing only what she had always worn. Near them were the guests from the Crystal Empire and a thoroughly distressed-looking Flam.
“My niece, the wise and noble Princess of Love and unquestioned ruler of the Crystal Empire, has arrived to partake in this most somber of holidays,” Celestia explained, “She’s even brought her heir, the young Flurry Heart! Truly, an auspicious occasion worthy of celebration.”
The gathered ponies brightened at this apparent relieving of tension. Things had been growing too frigid and wound up, as if gearing up for some horrible event, and no pony was eager to have a repeat of the riots that had caused so much damage in so short a time. Suddenly it felt as if a collective weight had been lifted off of all their shoulders.
“I have a little ritual planned before we allow the festivities to begin,” the Empress of the Day chuckled, her eyes blazing orange for only a split-second, “Cadance, if you’d be so kind as to swear your fealty to the Empire and me?”
Cadance took a tenuous step forward and prepared to recite the old oath before Celestia stopped her.
“The old oaths are all well and good, but I was thinking of something more… lasting,” the eldest alicorn smirked as her horn glowed. A pair of golden bracelets etched with burning runes appeared in a burst of magic. “I shall gift this jewelry to you, as a token of our familial love. I would appreciate it if you wore these while taking your oath, so that whenever you look upon them in the future you will think back to this moment when we were… bonded.”
Cadance relaxed a little, smiling at the sentiment. Celestia smiled slyly as Cadance willingly placed the bracelets upon her forelegs. Compliance was imperative. The Princess of Love gasped in astonishment as the bracelets sealed, the clasp appearing seamless.
“Now,” Celestia sighed, contentedly, “your oath to the Empire, please.”
“I, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza of the Crystal Empire, hereby swear upon my royal title, my honor, and my alicorn blood, to serve and obey the Empire of Equestria, and the decrees of its rulers, Empress of the Day Celestia and Empress of the Night, Luna.”
Celestia’s smile fell just a tad at that. She had forgotten that Luna was still regarded as a co-regent by her naïve niece, just as she had forgotten Cadance would likely refer to the Solar Empire by its proper name. Oh well, nothing for it. The oath was still binding in ways the young alicorn couldn’t even begin to understand.
“Excellent,” the Empress of the Sun breathed out, so quiet it was almost a hiss.
She returned her attention to the crowd of her subjects, eyes briefly scanning the twilight they found themselves in. To the west the sun was setting, blazing orange on the horizon; to the east, the blackness of the shadowed moon was beginning to appear. It would not be long before she had to retire for the night and her sister had to depart for her duties.
“My subjects!” Celestia boomed with her Royal Voice, surprising the other alicorns, “Tonight is the anniversary of my sister Luna’s corruption at the hands of a most cunning and malevolent spirit! She was beguiled by the promises of power whispered to her by a demon!”
Luna tensed up, looking around anxiously. The ponies in the crowd shifted in a mix of discomfort and fear. Celestia measured it all, reading the crowd.
“Some might say she was not in control, not in her right mind,” she continued, “but I know this demon. I have had a thousand years to study it, and I know that while it does consume its host…” she paused for dramatic effect, “…it must first be let in.”
The ponies in the crowd were silent for a moment, processing the implication. Their eyes widened and several Lunar Republic supporters cast dubious glances on the mare who had inspired their regime, reevaluating their loyalties. Celestia struggled to suppress a smirk of triumph as Luna shrunk back in shame.
“Of course, this is not a sign of weakness,” Celestia continued. She blinked, surprised the words had left her lips with such conviction. They weren’t planned. They had slipped out, against her wishes. Luna looked at her with surprise and affection and, for a moment, the older alicorn felt her will about to unravel. No! She had to finish this!
“T-to commemorate the vanquishing of treasonous thoughts,” Celestia resumed her speech, though she felt some of the power had been robbed from it, “we shall burn this effigy of the traitor Nightmare Moon! We shall perish all thought of betrayal from our minds, and remember this night for what it is: the anniversary of a horrendous mistake and a painful tragedy!”
Raging internally at how her lapse in conviction had nearly ruined everything, Celestia seethed as she ignited the wooden likeness of her sister with her magic. It caught instantly and the ponies reeled back at the sudden explosion of light and heat rolling over them. The Imperials cheered at the sight while those loyal to the Lunar Republic inched away in horror. Celestia panted in an effort to calm herself, then spared a glance over her shoulder at Luna. The younger Empress gaped at her burning likeness, tears welling in her eyes, before making eye contact with Celestia. The well of hatred in Celestia’s eyes was unbearable.
Luna left with as much dignity as she could manage, trying to hide her humiliation. Celestia took a moment to compose herself and fix her mane before heading back towards the castle. Cadance placed herself in front of her path.
“How could you do that to her?” the princess demanded, “She is you best friend and your sister!”
“Step aside, Cadance,” Celestia sighed, in no mood to deal with her, “I must get my sleep. Besides, she knew what I was planning.”
That was a lie, but her niece didn’t know that.
“I just…” Cadance looked conflicted, “even if she did, it doesn’t feel… right.”
“Step. Aside.” Celestia repeated, her eyes flashing orange for a moment.
Cadance opened her mouth but paused, dumbfounded. A flash of orange flickered in her eyes before she complied. Celestia trotted past her before she could recover. Once she did, Cadance lifted a hoof to her head, blinking as if she had just awoken from a stupor. Her eyes trailed after her aunt in surprise. Shining Armor and Sunburst looked equally unnerved, but they stayed silent.
Cadance’s eyes drifted up to the burning effigy. She grew even more disturbed at what she saw. Wreathed in flame, wood whitening with ash, the statue which had clearly been Nightmare Moon now appeared as some sort of fiery version. Powerful, domineering, blazing like the sun… The mental image smacked of a premonition, but she couldn’t place or interpret it.
Looking at the sun set and the moon rise black, the stars blotted out by the firelight, Cadance felt that something else was coming; something not as bad as whatever plagued her dreams, but something imminent.
…
Luna held onto what little dignity she felt she had left until she was secluded in the castle. Once secure in her room, the Empress of the Night collapsed in dismay, crying in full. She tried to bury her face into a pillow to suppress her heartbroken shrieking, but she knew no pony could hear her, anyway. Her and her sister had put soundproofing spells around their respective rooms centuries ago so they could gossip with ladies-in-waiting in peace.
It still didn’t make the crying any easier.
She hates me, Luna thought to herself. The idea that Celestia was possessed by the foul creature which had taken her had been appealing for a number of reasons, chief among them that after Celestia was freed, their subjects would quit looking at Luna as the only one susceptible to such things. They’d finally be equal in the eyes of their subjects!
But instead, there was a new possibility – seemingly confirmed – that Luna hadn’t dared consider: that Celestia simply hated her. It explained the older sister’s change in temperament, her aggression, her disdain, her cruelty… Yet it was so unlike her. No, Luna steeled herself. There was absolutely no way that Celestia hated her. Luna had more faith in her sister than that. This was the same Celestia who held out hope for a thousand years that Luna could be saved. The least she could do was return the favor.
Standing tall and drying her tears, Luna looked at the New Moon rising in the east. She steadied her breathing and opened the portal to the dream world, feeling her powers flush strong on her night. She allowed herself a smile of confidence.
“I shall do my duty,” she said to herself, “first, as a leader of Equestria; then, as a sister.”
With that, she stepped into the portal and left the world behind.
…
Celestia flung her gaudy, multi-horned crown across the room, only slightly pleased that it shattered against the far wall. Flam cowered in a corner nearby, properly cowed. The alicorn seethed.
How did she get a word in? the Empress of the Day asked herself.
It was a strange question. There was only the one voice inside them, wasn’t there? Certainly not two voices in one body. That would be insanity, wouldn’t it? But there were two distinct voice within her, one dominant and one suppressed. Two minds locked in a one-sided battle. They both called themselves Celestia, but one was lying. Sort of… She could feel it all squirming inside her, trying to physically change her, trying to turn her into something greater, but not yet!
Not yet…
She had Cadance in hoof, but there were still the Elements to deal with. Everything was so tiring… The alicorn retired to her bed, calling on Flam to join her. The unicorn came to her side and she gripped him with her forelegs, slamming both of them onto the soft pillows. Flam squirmed a little in her grasp, but she felt sleep begin to take her.
“E-Empress,” Flam said, “y-your armor is hard, and its edges are biting into my skin whenever I move… Also, it’s very hot…”
“The armor doesn’t come off,” Celestia murmured, “and if it only bites into you when you move, then don’t move. As for it being hot, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Flam blushed despite his fear and pain. He hadn’t meant ‘hot’ in that way. He hadn’t any of those kinds of thoughts in days, his fear for and of Celestia ruining anything sensual. In truth, he meant the armor was literally hot – a slightly low, burning sensation. Not enough to do damage or even burn the fur of his coat, but enough to cause discomfort.
Come to think of it, her flesh was hotter than the armor. Was the heat coming from her, and not the metal plates? Flam turned his head around as far as he could, ignoring the metal cutting into her coat. Celestia was already fast asleep, looking peaceful, but…
Is this really the mare I fell in love with?
…
Trixie sighed in defeat, staring up at her wagon. It wasn’t just stuck in a tree – it had fused in a tree!
“Oh, be careful with your teleportation spells, Trixie!” the magician mocked Starlight’s advice from a few months earlier, “You don’t want to wind up stuck inside a wall, or something!”
The unicorn grumbled in annoyance, levitating a saw out of the equipment that had fallen out of the wagon. It wasn’t too bad, all things considered. After all, one of the branches could have been fused inside her. As she set about the task of freeing her wagon, she also allowed herself a small smile of pride. She had teleported her wagon – her whole wagon! – several miles outside of Canterlot. Had Twilight ever teleported something so large so far?
“Maybe she’ll be impressed,” Trixie had a genuine smile at that thought, but it fell as her usual lack of confidence struck, “Or maybe she won’t believe me. Trixie has not always been entirely honest…”
A sound caught her attention. Confused, Trixie looked around and noticed the sound came from multiple directions around the mountain Canterlot was built upon. As it grew, she realized it was at least two distinct noises. The louder noise was a strange rumble similar to thunder, while the second noise was almost like a buzzing, but deeper. The more she listened, the more noises she could hear: roaring, chanting, cheering, battle cries, clanking metal, war songs…
The magician hid in her wagon, peaking out of her window and waiting for some evidence as to what was happening. She got her answer almost immediately. The largest herd of yaks she had ever seen was converging towards the mountain, being drawn in from long trains and columns coming from every conceivable direction, like snakes linking together into a ball. The night sky, already dark from the New Moon, grew brighter as armored griffons reflected the light of the torches carried by the yaks. The landscape looked like a nightmare.
The hills were alive with movement, a great horde of roaring and chanting yaks charging up the mountain with abandon, illuminated by raging flames. The sky crawled with armored forms flitting back and forth, as if it were a canopy of insects, their outlines a blur of movement and shadow. The entire spectacle seemed almost demonic and was made all the worse by the lumbering, lurking forms of dragons breaking through the masses.
Trixie felt her mouth dry up as she tried to figure out what to do. She wasn’t confident she could teleport back to Canterlot, and even if she did, what could be done? By the time she got there, the city would already be under attack. No, the only sensible thing to do was to try and get help. Trixie scanned the horizon, her eyes picking up the occasional plume of fire-lit smoke in the distance. She felt her heart in her throat as she looked towards Ponyville. There were plumes of smoke, but she judged by the distance and the size of the town that the damage was probably minimal.
As she prepared to teleport there, the magician hoped the damage was minimal.