//------------------------------//
// Chapter 26 - Dreams that Cannot Be 
// Story: Life Between Death 
// by cierragp 
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"I've always wondered, Soarin, what do you think you can do?" Spitfire shrugged. 

"What? About what? Spits, what?" Soarin felt his pulse rush a bit. From that look, he knew. 

"I've seen how you look at her." And she chokes back a small sob. Because he isn't hers and she isn't his and there is nothing that will change that. "And don't tell me what you think I want to hell because that can go to hell if it is a lie."

"Spits, I don't want to lie. But I am tempted to right now." Soarin said. "Besides, would you understand? It's never been about us as ponies, or even any emotion. You've never bothered with what we feel, so why does it bother you now?"

"How would I know? It does." Spitfire mentally willed herself to shut up. 

"It's always about what the next show could be like. It's never been the same since we joined the goddamn team!" Soarin glared at her. "Why? So this is how you make up for it? This is one thing, Spits, that I want you to let me have. A little love can't hurt."

"Sure it can't..." Spitfire turned around. "Go. I am sick of you."

"Then be sick of me. But our private lives don't interfere with work." 

Soarin left. 

Now, he knew. 

There was never the chance there. He wanted to laugh. Laugh because he was a fool for thinking there was anything that he could've done to have anything. 

This was war. And he had put on the rose-tinted lenses by himself. 

Now, it was time to take them off. 

There was also Luna. After all that he really found, was it a wise idea to trust another princess? A mortal god who had power over his life and death the moment he swore allegiance? Was there any doubt that he was being used by this god? 

Did he care at all? The moment he signed up he already made the preparation for his death. Will, casket, plot. 

Was it going to be used? 

He didn't want to find out. Never ask a question you don't want to know the answer to, they say. 

But he sought out Luna anyways. 

~~~

"So is it legend?" He asked. 

"Yes. Mostly." Luna sipped her drink calmly, and he watched in awe as the full cup disappeared under the hood and came back out as an empty cup. "I, do not possess many powers regarding futures. Do you think of me as a fool? Had I known my demise I would've avoided it. Now I am a fugitive even if I am a princess."

"Then what can you?"

"I can tell you a direction, but that's it."

"Good enough. Tell me when I would die." Soarin stated calmly.

"Not soon." Luna said.

"You did nothing."

"You are too valuable to die." Luna stated simply. "They won't let you."

"Then Rainbow Dash?"

"Ha. Love. I suggest you not. Your love speaks of demise, and there are too many that don't want it to ever happen." Luna laughed coldly. "I thought I could defy the others, but it was too much. And the ones against me had too much power. For you, I doubt there is much difference."

"Then us?"

"You know not to stop. But since you don't, I might as well as tell you." She clicked her hoof, and her horn glowed with a brilliant blue light, pale blue like a sky on the clearest day. "I say, I see loss. I see that you will walk together to death willingly, but I see not your deaths in the near future. And I will have my way. This war will not last beyond the next winter."

"Six months, Princess, you cannot mean that."

"I mean it, and I will have it. No matter the cost. Even my life." Luna's eyes shone. "Tia will not have this victory. No, she will not. She may have my reputation and my life and my love but she will not have this. And because of this I will die."

"Die?"

"Yes. I have searched my books. I cannot save him. I cannot." A tear slid down her cheek. "I cannot."

"Why?"

"Celestia is more powerful than me. She had a thousand years study on me. It is time to accept that despite my aptitude for spells they are no more than party tricks. They work not for what I want." Luna curled up on her seat. "I cannot save him. I cannot." 

There was something that almost felt like pity that he wanted to feel. He shrugged it off. She would not want pity. 

Then what did she want? 

"Now you know. But it's useless for you to not know. There are things that you won't understand either, but I think this isn't one." Luna spoke. "And I know that if this war goes on, your beloved will not live too long."

Soarin froze. 

She had lied to him.

Either way, one of her statements were false and he had no way of knowing which one was the lie. 

"Then why did you tell me that she would last beyond the war?"

"If the war does not last."

"And what do you say about that?"

"I say I won't let it, and we end that here." Luna settled the cup down. "If you want her to live well, because I doubt she will for long, you best assist me."

"Why would I risk my life for your petty ambitions?"

"Because you know your beloved's life is on the line, and you what Tia did was wrong."

"I agree, but still that does not mean I will risk my life or career."

"Do you think you can go back and live like you did before after all of this? Nothing that affects Celestia's reputation or the image she wants will be gone. You will be forgotten, Soarin, and she will force your demise because your experiences are detrimental to her efforts. You've died the moment you signed up."

That sounded oddly familiar. "I have my casket, I have my will, and I know where I will be buried."

"And? So? Does that really matter? All of you will be gone sometime soon. If this war ends soon enough. The army will rebel against her if they have to, but she's weakened your ranks by putting you through this." She gestured at the barren landscape. "And she holds all the resources. Three days is not enough to overthrow her, and you will die of thirst before then."

"How do you know?"

"I've worked alongside her, what do I not? Some things you can hide, but not with someone who sees your every habit and oversees every part of the execution."

"And?"

"I've seen her cruelty. I've experienced it. That's really it."

Soarin went silent. 

There was not much else to be said for him. "I will help you. What do you want?"

"I say I want my freedom, but I also want my throne. Celestia - she is not fit to be Queen." Luna's hoof trembled. "I may not be the best but the citizens will follow me if they know what their Queen is."

"How?"

"I know not. But I will work something out. Take care." Luna left in a small puff of blue smoke.