//------------------------------//
// Celestial Choice 
// Story: The Blackened Skies 
// by gosha305 
//------------------------------//

As the swirling vortex before her continued shifting, its chaotic surface alike to that of a lake during heavy rain, Celestia calmly observed the former bearers of the Elements of Harmony quitting this world, traversing a gateway to this extremely scarcely known dimension. Maintaining her encouraging smile and saying farewell, she couldn't help but have her attention slowly drift towards the ancient compendium that just seconds ago made this very portal possible.





Indeed, this wasn't just any book. Of course, its immense age and the gargantuan amounts of information it contained already made it extremely unique, but there was something else.

Some said it was one of Starswirl the Bearded's personal creations, perhaps the greatest work of his life. Others claimed it came from another dimension, created by a mischievous deity seeking to cause havoc on the Equestrian land. The book's characteristics also were targets of numerous tales. According to ones, it only appeared to those desperate and in need of help, only the worthy being able to access its ancient inscriptions. On the contrary, legends of the world's end caused by this ancient  codex haunted the ponies' imagination.

But all these were simple theories, tales created by the Equine psyche only scarcely based on the truth and facts. However, there was one thing completely indisputable about this book: the spells it contained could only be found there, some possessing power beyond mortal understanding. It was exactly what Celestia needed.





Turning her eyes back to the portal, thoughts of the city's current state washed upon her mind. She didn't want to resort to such direct measures as putting everypony into hypnotized sleep, but doing her research in secret was just too hard to bear. She didn't want to do it, but she just needed. After all, it was all for a good cause... wasn't it? Now, nothing stopped her from stopping this Entity... Doing it alone. Saving her world as she always should have. Protecting instead of fleeing, fighting instead of hiding... acting instead of passing the work on.

Slowly picking up the tome in her magic, the Solar Princess started walking out of the now silent library. Continuing through the quiet corridors, she observed her hypnotized servants, pursuing their cyclic work even during this dreamless slumber, their repetitive endeavor alike to that of mindless automatons.

Approaching her personal study, a familiar room caught the Princess' attention. A room where, alongside countless memories, resided her beloved sister, not even her spared from the hypnotizing spell.

Slightly unnerved, Celestia stopped before deciding to pay Luna a rapid visit before plunging into the research completely.  She entered the night blue room, observing the place's magnificent decoration. The depiction of the night sky adorning the ceiling looked so realistic, that its sight nearly made Celestia forget the foggish disaster outside.

Upon a large royal bed, masterfully decorated as the room itself, the Lunar Princess could be seen, plunged in an artificial and yet peaceful slumber. Looking at her sleeping sister, sadness returned to Celestia's mind.

"Oh, why can't I have you by my side when I need you the most?" she whispered, a lonely tear sliding across her cheek.

She nearly decided to lift the spell, but the Entity's words returned to the front of her mind. No, she wouldn't be useless, she wouldn't abandon, she wouldn't... seek help... The cold determination took control of her mind once again. Now was the time to act, not to lament!

A resolute stiffness in her steps, she trotted into her study, the book floating behind her in the golden grasp of her magic.





Now, there was only one step left towards the Entity's defeat: power. A lot of power. Power that even the goddess of the Sun normally had no access to. Such immense power, it had to be sealed away from the eyes of all, this tome being the only key to access it.

However, there was one thing that the Sun Princess had forgotten. Power always comes at a cost...