Cursed Eclipse - Across Equestria

by AImostpure

Lost History Part 3a

Weight of the past began to fall heavy on Luna's conscience. Bottled up for generations, the guilt felt for failure came raging back to her as a typhoon of raw fear. Anxiety grew approaching the forth painting and window. She did not know what lay behind the illusion wall guarding the image of the mosaic. Lids drifted halfway down while wings extended outwards. Mustering the magic to dispel the illusion began to feel impossible. But, feeling two hooves press to her shoulders, Luna turned her head to see not only her sister, but Twilight Sparkle giving a comforting smile. Given a new lease, the magic poured from the tip of her horn bringing forth the illumination of the stained glass. Once the task completed, Twilight remained by Luna's side.

Lines made of lead separated the pieces of colored glass depicting a trembling sight. Split down the middle by a jagged bolt of light, two armies stared down the other. On the right, images of Celestia and Luna's heads stared diligently to their opposition. Luna's bust was placed into a carved portion of Celestia's neck as if the moon princess was inside her sibling. Beneath them an army of ponies, griffons, minotaurs, and massive dragons rallied beneath banners of the sun and the moon. Opposite, staring down the sister's, was only the outline of a red unicorn's head and green mane. It hovered above a much smaller army of pegasi and unicorns. Join in their ranks were scattered beings of kobolds, griffins, manticores, and goats. Fire burned behind both armies and the skies were depicted black.

Across from the image of war, was a softer, calming sight. Eclipse, sitting proudly on display, as a full grown alicorn. Long fore limbs pressing her hooves down. Her hind legs bent resting her flank against a plush tapestry. Lips were sealed, but the smile curving was painted as genuine happiness. Her head lowered down as eyes cast an enchanting allure to whomever was caught in the grips of her gaze. Glow of her eyes had been captured magnificently through the paints of the artist. Mismatched wings were raised just enough to reveal the bottoms of each limb. Long horn appeared to hold a glow of magic circling the tip like an angel's halo. Mane was long. Longer than either of her sisters from previous paintings. It had been tied in a twirling style braid from above the base of her skull down her neck till her ankles. Hairpins kept the weave in place with stars, moons, or suns resting on the end of a dozen picks. Tail laid curled up her side twisting around her cutie mark at its base with the tip folding inward to the curve.

“Hey Tavi, if she looked like that when we met her maybe I woulda invited her to join us that night she caught us, eh?” Vinyl waggled her eye brows to her marefriend, poking her with a bent knee.

Vinyl would swiftly learn that for every action came a reaction. Octavia did not waste time looking at Vinyl, instead she simply, and swiftly, thrust a hoof into Vinyl's ribcage. With a 'hmph', she trotted to join the group to get a closer look at the painting.

Vinyl doubled over, laying on the ground clutching at her side with a satisfied grin. “Worth it.” She managed to mumble staggering back to proper footing.

Examining the painting, the artist was articulate in the work to properly capture every detail of the background as they did the subject. Solid stone walls stone gray in color surrounded Eclipse on all sides. A copious amount of tomes and books rested on two wide standing book cases parted by an assembly of large, feather filled pillows setup for her bedding. On a mantle over the bed hung a large gilded sculpture of Eclipse's cutie mark. What would catch the eyes of the ponies would be the earth pony to the right of Eclipse in the painting.

This earth pony was unusual. Her eyes set not on the painter, but on watching Eclipse. She sat behind the princess, angled showing her side. Her coat was sleek oil black with splotches of metallic rainbows reflected in places adjacent to where the lighting in the room was. Her mane and tail were turquoise. Mane was combed back with hollowed, red beads looped randomly around thick lengths. Her tail had been cut short, only two feet in length curled around her ankles. On her hind quarters her cutie mark expressed who she was. Like an explosion of magic, bursts of white erupted on her flank; three in all.

“In the eleven years since Eclipse cause the twelve day eclipse, Luna and I worked ardently to establish the kingdom further. The elder dragons to come in contact with us quickly establishing a treaty for their safe travel through Equestria. A call for a standing army brought us to form an enlistment campaign for ponies to become knights and guards.” Celestia smirked inwardly at Vinyl's and Octavia's display. She would have to inquire later what sort of situation Eclipse was to be invited into. “All ponies were invited regardless of tribe or gender. Their courage would swiftly see action as nations around Equestria began to test the borders of the ponies. These wars were never long. Once they grasped that we controlled the sun and the moon, and could control the weather over head, their acts ceased.”

Even if war was no longer a concern, the occasional melee still broke out from resentment other nations held for the ponies. Luna wondered, taking a glance at the stained glass besides her. Would she have caused a war as Nightmare Moon one thousand years ago if she had not been imprisoned so swiftly? Perhaps the hall leading to her bedroom would hold magically hidden windows and paintings such as these, waiting for her sister to tell her story. Fears were forced back to the depths of her mind.

“The passage of time was cruel to Eclipse,” Celestia continued raising a wing towards the painting. “What you see here, this happiness, came after much anguish. She withdrew from the activities she once took joy in performing with Luna and I. Whispers came to us from outside the castle walls that the events of her party had transformed from a squabble amongst three ponies, whom were punished for their fighting, became a tale of a monster locked in the castle that had escaped to ruin the festivities. No longer were there desires to show her face among ponies. Even when alone with us, she neither sang nor smiled, but became crestfallen and mute. There were a many nights we would not even see her for dinner. Tenebris would come and collect a cart with their meals taking it back with him.

Knowing what came next, Luna took initiative to begin the illusion. She clopped her right hoof down twice focusing on bringing about a pony she had rather not see again. The task was found to be easier, she realized finding Celestia besides her aiding in the transfer of magic. Blue mist moved across the ground gathering at the center of the ponies. Inch by inch the figure of a pony was carefully reconstructed from memory.

As if ripped from time its self, the mare in the painting stood before these ponies. Here they would see her cutie mark. The white of her cutie mark had an unusual shimmer. “This is Divine Essence.” Celestia spoke with a disdained taste to her words. “On the eleventh year, she came to the castle seeking an audience with none other than Eclipse. We saw her first, of course, seeking to learn her desires.”

“She explained that she was an alchemist by trade. A demonstration of her serums and potions were a jarring sight for that age. Liquid that turned to fire,” Luna motioned with her head to the image of Divine Essence. It drew out a vile from seemingly no where pouring a blue liquid onto the ground. Red flames danced skywards several feet, then died to the size of a small bonfire. “A guard whom had been injured, was healed with a salve,” A shadow pony joined Essence as she poured a thick, white cream onto its right hind leg. Instantly, it rose back up bouncing on its hind legs. “Many ponies called her a witch for her creations. They chased her from town to town until she came to the castle seeking protection to continue her research. Such potions would be an amazing push for ponies. Thus, we inquired, why she sought Eclipse.”

Bowing her head while drawing her right foreleg across her chest, Divine Essence showed great respect to the princesses. “She said that she would give her answer if she could just see Eclipse. Through whispers, it was finally decided that if somepony desired to see our sister so badly, we would allow it if only within our presence.” Celestia raised a leg covering her mouth with bent ankle. “I sent Luna ahead to warn Tenebris of our coming with a guest. Dear sister, how did he handle the situation again?”

Luna appeared jittery at recalling the moment. “I was forced to lock him in the closet while bracing both my body and magic against the door. It required three guards in addition to keep him from coming out. Subsequently, it took a magnitude of cake to for him to allow me within Eclipse's room.” Such audacity from Tenebris was not a rarity in that day, but could be irritating none the less.

Luna decided to take inventory of the ponies around her. Since the tale began only a hoofful of them had spoken up during the story. Split Atom was anticipated to be the most vocal. In other cases she was quick to ask questions about even the smallest of details. Yet she remained quiet offering whispers to an equally calm Iron Mind. The stoic guard captain simply listened to his wife and the story in turn giving an occasional nod as his only reply. If only Luna could have used her mist to listen in. Her ears began to burn wondering what Split Atom may have been confiding in Iron's ears.

Cadance had spoken earlier. Her inquiry into friendship that Eclipse had was a touching sentiment to her nature. She was learning of something that had been hidden away from everypony, but what did she think to the account of having another aunt? Shining Armor seemed calm. He too listened as Cadance whispered to him during passages of the tale. Unlike Iron Mind, Shining Armor whispered in return. Sometimes they shared a quiet chuckle, other times Luna watched him hold a leg around his wife's withers.

It had seemed that Luna's personal guard captain, Candy Sprinkles, had acquired a new friend. Spike was sitting cross legged against the front legs of the eternally drowsy pony. Candy had no given much reaction through the evening. Her body made the motion of a metronome keeping rhythm with the story's events. Content with his backrest, Spike listened, gap mouthed at the 'show' being performed by the specters and illusions.

Proving to be the most interesting of the pairs, Octavia and Vinyl gave some comic relief to the accumulating depression. Vinyl's actions and reactions must have been a mechanism to deal with things, Luna insisted to herself. Nopony could be so oblivious to a mood as to make such comments without a prerequisite. For the other, Octavia, it was easy reading the shifting moods on her face. A mood ring would have hid her feelings better. For each happy moment, she smiled and snuggled her marefriend, with each sad, she cleaned a tear from her eyes and pressed against Vinyl. Of course, when reacting to Vinyl's comments, it was cute the way her cheeks turned red and passion burned in her eyes.

Twilight had moved from Luna's side to come between the sisters. Just having the first pony she could call her friend near helped her cope with desolate memories. Both of the princesses relied on her more than Twilight would ever come to realize. Luna smiled leaning down to gently nuzzle Twilight's neck. During the story, the bookworm had attentively listened. There must have been a thousand questions and inquiries she wanted to make through out the story. Grateful was Luna that these would be kept until later.

“With Tenebris contained, we brought Divine Essence before Eclipse. Our dear sister was huddled on her bed. Frightened or shy, it was hard to distinguish which by how she hid behind the many pillows around her. Even at her age she still clutched the doll of herself tightly to her.” Magic released in a calming yellow and white light flowing from the tip of Celestia's horn. Astral images formed creating the scene. Divine stood before the shy alicorn. She was confident in her stance giving a charming smile down to the goddess. “She explained herself to Eclipse, but kept her distance at first. She told of how when she was a filly of seven years, her teacher brought her to the castle to pay his respects. Eclipse had been in attendance that day. Divine spoke that she had never forgotten her first sight of Eclipse. She wanted desperately to return to the castle to see her again, but was never allowed. News of the party reached her ears, and since she could not attend, assembled the very doll Eclipse held so preciously to send to her. To prove this fact, she asked Eclipse to look at the doll's head where the initials, DE were stitched. Eclipse finding them began their friendship.”

Swiftly each illusion broke down and reformed to create Divine standing before an enraged Tenebris. Producing a potion from a sack, Divine poured it across the ground between the two. Tenebris took one sniff and became a purring mess of a creature. “With evidence that she was the one who stitched the doll given, and Eclipse giving a meek consent to allow Divine around her, it came down next to Tenebris. Within an hour after using one of her potions, she had him accepting her as well.”

Luna spoke shortly following Celestia. “She was given two rooms at the castle. One for her experiments and another to sleep. We quickly found she rarely slept in her own given bed.” Such a scandal it was back then. It would have been if Eclipse was still worshiped as her elder sisters were. Thinking of it, Luna felt ashamed as an elder sibling for not monitoring Divine more. “With Tenebris subdued, Divine used his help to get Eclipse to come out of her room more. Whether she was experimenting, or gathering ingredients in the gardens, Eclipse brought a tome to read and was not allowed to leave Divine's side. This forceful approach lead to our sister once again joining us for meals and even brought her to smile again.”

“Ah yes, she did use her own bedroom rather infrequently.. seven months after arriving at the castle? It was then that we found she was sleeping with Eclipse every night hence forth.” Celestia could not conceal the grin painted over her features. Even if Divine Essence was a bitter memory to her, the things she did for Eclipse were still happy memories. A sway of her wing manipulated present magics changing the images. A slid show effect took hold showing Eclipse and Divine in an assortment of situations. They slept in the same bed entangled in each others legs, bathed together, explored the gardens, and delved into the library examining the many books, including ones written in a language neither knew. “We soon found they had become lovers. Two stallions and two mares were looked down upon in the age of earlier Equestria. Some were violently forced apart, others run from towns. We did not care.” A smile was exchanged with Luna, flashing a look down at Twilight between them, “As long as they are consenting and no laws are broken, love should know no bounds. So, we let them have their peace in the sanctuary of the castle.”

In a violent twist, the images of Divine and Eclipse were cast away. The stallion unicorn, Grudging Cross, appeared in their stead. “Then, five years passed, he returned with an army. Since his banishment from our court, Grudging Cross went to the edges of Equestria to continue his misguided plans. Over the many years he began to build a small army of pegasi and unicorns. Coming before us,” Celestia spat out in disgust, “He threatened to remove us from our thrones unless we give into his demands; servitude of the earth ponies, a ruling position for himself, and aid to the allies he made outside our borders. We replied with a swift answer.” Celestia's eyes opened brimming with a glow of power, “No.” Illusion of Cross broke down. “War broke out. He had allied himself with the griffin monarchy of the north and the kobolds of the east. The kobolds had tamed many manticore to use for war. Grudging had brokered a deal on the backs of the ponies with these two nations. He promised that once he controlled the sun and moon, which he believed he would if he ruled, he would use them to help conquer his allies enemies for them. Promises were made to give pegasi to the griffins to aid in turning their frozen wastes into warm climates. Neither of these deals would ever come about, but they did not know at this time.”

Armies the size of mice swarmed the floor around the image of Grudging Cross. They were the soldiers of Equestria and the soldiers of Grudging colliding in battle. With magic still brimming from the tip, Celestia traced her horn through the air creating the sun and moon to hover above the waring factions. “Our allies were the dragon race, the minotaurs, griffons who wished to change their own nation, and ponies wishing to continue the found harmony of friendship. Sadly, it was not a war that we could end swiftly as we did the others without damaging Equestria as well. So,” the armies vanished away giving creation to small towns, “Many lives were lost and cities burned. With no other path to take, we sought after a treasure that would allow us to enhance our magic as not to hurt, but to subdue the armies. A treasure hidden away on this world for a purpose we do not even know. A treasure that has only been used four times in history. The Elements of Harmony.” With this, Celestia lowered her horn extinguishing the fires of the burning cities. The sisters turned to move to the final point in the long walkway.

Coming upon the final set, they were now before the entrance to Eclipse's tower and what would become her rooms. Doors leading in were much more conventional than the set they entered the walkway through. These were basic, twin rectangular doors with brass handles. Between the handles were a unique, blue chain with various runes carved into the metal. A final ward to keep thieves from venturing within. Luna did not waste time to remove the ward on the window. Her mental barriers were breaking down not wanting to relive these final moments she spent with Eclipse. All the fears and regrets were boiling back to her subconscious reminding her of the first time she failed. A dark voice whispered in her ear telling her to simply stop now. She could find Eclipse one way or another without any proper methods of aid. It took all her willpower to ignore the alluring temptation.

This was a scene of horror. At the top Eclipse appeared to rise above. Fore legs were outstretched at either side of her joined with her wings behind. Her head was tilted back and a glow of magic flowed from her horn. Legs were positioned pointed downwards joined by her tail. Beneath her the green earth was torn asunder. Equestria had opened its maw devouring what appeared to be Grudging's army. All eyes set examining the chilling scene. For those portrayed in the army, it mattered not if they had magic or wings, they all fell the same. Luna did not stare at it for long. Her attention was quickly turned to the painting.

Tears flowed freely now. Twin rivers christened her cheeks flowing to splash on Luna's hooves. Her heart poured out its pain through her body numbing every nerve. Dark eyes wandered over the image so carefully crafted by a painter. Luna bit her lip drawing crimson to spill forth across her tongue. It was all she could do not to wail out from the memories wickedly returning to her.

Set during the dusk hours, Luna and Celestia were sitting with several feet separating them. Heads were hung low, eyes closed tightly. The painting showed the final farewell the sisters performed for their departed sibling. A bouquet of lilies and roses rested on the ridge of a hill. Their bodies were facing the same spot, but at different angles. From behind they were painted giving only the briefest view of their wilted wings. Others had broken down to tears seeing only a glimpse of the suffering these two had to bear.

Celestia still stood strong. Her voice quivered when she began again. She did not want to trouble Luna, knowing her current state, with having to tell the heart wrenching end. “Eclipse had begged us to allow her, Tenebris, and Divine to join us. Fearing danger from ambush, we ordered her to her room and told Tenebris and Divine to guard her with their lives. After our departure, we know only what ensued by what servants told us.”

A melody began to fill the covered walkway. It was a pony singing. Lyrics sung would only be understood by the two oldest present. Every word touched with anguish and pity. It was the first time they heard any other sound come from the illusions.

“That's Eclipse's voice.” Octavia mentioned drawing everypony to look at her. Vinyl only nodded with her. Neither of them bothered to try and hold back their own tears. Octavia pressed over, leaning onto Vinyl for support.

“Luna and I flew off to seek out the Elements. From what we were told, Divine was missing. Eclipse had gone through the castle to find her. A maid joined her in her search every hoof of the way until they heard voices; one Divine's and the other not known. Divine told the other voice that we had left the castle and for the armies of Grudging to make their move to take it. Eclipse rushed in to find a griffon flying away.” Celestia did not conjure any illusions to play any of this out. She did not want to watch a a reenactment of the events. “We were told she ran off to her room to find Tenebris, then flew off from the castle.”

Two things dueled loudly in Luna's ears; the song and the beating of her own heart. Just barely could she still hear her sister tell the story. She wanted it to end with every ounce of her being. A glance was cast to her own shadow. It seemed warped and changed into something she had been naught two years prior. Panting, she averted her gaze back to her sister wanting to focus on the one thing she knew might calm her. She could count on the love Celestia held for her.

“We remember hearing this song play. It would come about that all of Equestria heard it that day. When the sun became eclipsed above, we knew that something terrible had occurred. Guided to wards where our sister's magic came, we flew into the sky to find her.” It was now Celestia's turn to begin breaking. Openly, she wept seeing the last moments in her mind's eye. She allowed her recollection to take shape.

Eclipse hovered between them, her body raised up just like in the stained glass. Her lips moved in sync with the song around. Celestia took steps close to it, reaching a hoof out wishing it were real. “When we arrived, her body was already beginning to break down.” Starting with Eclipse's hooves, she was dissipating into small globs of glowing energy. Each bit vanishing away in a slow process. “She was on a hill overlooking where the army had began to move towards the Everfree. For miles, the ground was torn open. Most of the army had fallen to their doom. Pegasi and griffon alike found their wings useless to save them from the fall, unicorns magic failed to save them, and cutie marks had vanished. Survivors scrambled away from the sight to make sense of it all. We understood what happened. Eclipse was never supposed to use such greats amount of magic. Doing so would be too much for her. This was what had been explained before to us, it was her crutch to keep her from using her talents wrong. But to save us, to save Equestria, she summoned all her magic and power to stop the army.”

More of Eclipse's body began to fade away. Luna looked to see her sister's leg buckle and give out. Her flank coming in contact with the ground. Twilight, Cadance, and Luna rushed to her side. Offering either aid, or comfort. With a whimper, Luna rubbed her neck to her sister's and took over for her duty. “She was dying. Her magic being so weak, she used her own life force to conjure the spell. We had arrived far too late to stop her or to save her. She cried when she saw us. Her words to us, 'Please forgive us for our acts. If nae for our blinded eyes, we would surely seen a traitor in our mist. Do not forget us.' We body became nothing but her eyes, we heard one final calling,” At this point the fading image of Eclipse did just as Luna described, only the twin moons shined, “She said, 'Doth thou believe we shall see mother and father? We have always wanted to see them.”

“Divine had vanished. We never learned what happened to her. The war was over. There wasn't an army to fight for Grudging, and even he, after the events, had vanished. There was still much pain.” Celestia, giving a weak smile to her niece, her sister, and her student, raised back to her weak legs. “Ponies wanted vengeance, but it was this desire that lead to the war to begin with. We ordered the war removed from history. No recollections, books, or accounts to be taken. Those who fight and bravely died would be honored another way, but not through remembering the tragedy. Sadly, Eclipse had to be forgotten as well. If ponies asked of her and where she was, then they would always have to ask of the events leading to her death. We had thought the loss was over, but two months later,” Celestia looked back over her shoulder. By now, the glowing pools had vanished away just like the rest of Eclipse, “We lost Tenebris as well. He was found passed away on Eclipse's bed. His own regret for not saving her had led him to starve himself to death. For him, there was no life without our sister.”

The walls came down in Luna's mind. The song would not stop being sung, the images of Tenebris' body and Eclipse's final moments would not stop playing and replaying in her mind. “We weren't even allowed to have a body to bury.” She hated this hall. But it was the windows she hated most of all. From her depths she released a terrifying shriek. A forceful gust poured from her voice. One by one the windows exploded inwards sending their fragments scattering over the ground. Wings shot upwards extending out. Her horn glowed dark swirls of blue. There was a change in Luna's shadow. The dark silhouette depicted a long, banished being. Panting, she readied herself to do it again, this time casting a hateful stare at the paintings. All this was stopped, when she felt the familiar feeling of hooves wrapped around her.

Silence deafened the walkway. Ponies were knocked back by the force of Luna's outcry. Raising back, at first fearing for the worst, they found Celestia clutched around her younger sister. She was holding her tightly, bringing a hoof down stroking the galaxy of Luna's mane. “Forgive us, everypony, but we should adjourn for now. Miss Octavia and Miss Vinyl, we shall call for you two for lunch tomorrow. If either of you are hungry, visit the kitchen for whatever you wish.” Celestia shifted from Luna guiding her to the door into Eclipse's tower. Removing the chains, Celestia ushered the two inside.

A final glance was cast back to the ponies. Luna feared she would see them looking upon her as if she was Nightmare Moon once more. She found only sympathy and pity amongst their stares. She wished she could apologize to them. Right now, though, she was too far in her grievance to do more than hang her head. Darkness swallowed her and Celestia up as they vanished into the foreboding tower.

“Shining, can you take Spike to our room? Thanks!” Twilight waved a hoof rushing to follow her mentor. Cadance simply smiled, kissing Shining's cheek and following behind.

For those remaining outside, it had been an exhausting night. So much having been learned and still so many questions to ask, but they would have to wait another day. Two by two, they departed from the hall going on their own ways. Vinyl and Octavia bid their farewells leaving to the kitchen. Split Atom and Iron Mind went to return to their home. Candy Sprinkles stumbled to wherever she went when off duty. This left Shining and Spike to go on their own.