Chapter Twenty Five: Martyrdom
~BlackRoseRaven
“That's very good, Scarlet Sage.” Scrivener Blooms said softly, stroking a hand gently down the back of the Pegasus filly as they sat together on a high balcony above the northern doors of the Garden. The filly blushed a little as she glanced up at him, and he smiled lovingly at her as he rested a claw on her shoulder, saying quietly: “I'm proud of you.”
Scarlet Sage nestled herself a little closer to her father at these words, closing her eyes with a warm smile of her own as she pressed against his cloaked side. Twilight Shadow sat on the other side of the the filly, a thick black collar with a pearl white clasp sealed tightly around her neck, gorgeously embossed with lunar symbols all along its length. She glanced down at Scarlet Sage, then smiled slightly up at Scrivener when he looked over at her with amusement that turned to tenderness when she said gently: “You're a good dad.”
“Yeah, well. You're a good second mom.” Scrivy replied after a moment, and Twilight sighed and rolled her eyes as Scarlet Sage blushed and hit him lightly, and the male laughed and shook his head with a grin, gazing back down into the fields of the Garden. “Hey, I had to break the tension somehow.”
His eyes settled on Luna, who was grinning herself as she leapt back and forth, sparring with three of the Ivory Elite: the hulking, powerful golems were no match for her despite their superior size and strength, however, Luna easily catching one that tried to pounce on her with her front hooves and slamming it face-first into the ground before she swung a rear hoof backwards into the face of another, and Scrivener licked his lips slowly as he felt her excitement, her exhilaration, her pride... and her pleasure in showing off for the small audience of her family as he murmured: “I am definitely very glad I get to watch from this angle these days, though.”
Then he shook his head a bit, trying to push away the excitement before it became a little too much, and he instead turned his eyes back to his daughter as he said gently: “I think you're ready to start doing longer-distance flights, though, Scarlet Sage... perhaps we can all head out to Fluttershy's cottage at some point. I'm sure she misses you, and we might be able to sneak you into Ponyville, see some of your friends.”
“That's dangerous, Scrivener.” Twilight remarked mildly, and Scrivy gave her a flat look, but the undead pony only looked at him seriously in return. “Look, I'm just worried. I'd love to see Fluttershy, but I'd prefer to bring her here over Scarlet going there. As a matter of fact, I would really like to bring Fluttershy here permanently. The last letter I got from her, well... it sounded like things in Ponyville are getting nasty.”
Scrivener began to open his mouth to reply, and then he heard a throat clear quietly behind him, distracting him. He turned with a grimace... and his jaw dropped at the sight of Celestia standing calmly in front of the drawn curtain. It was enough of a shock that in the field below, Luna halted and looked dumbly up at the balcony, and then she gave a yell of frustration when all three Ivory Elite pounced on top of her, tackling her to the ground.
Scrivener winced in pain as well, twitching as a few thin scratches formed over his face and he felt one or two larger ones form under his body, then his eyes flashed as he glared back towards the Garden, and Luna arched her back with a roar of rage, her horn releasing a single powerful pulse as a shockwave tore through the air around her, knocking the Elite flying in all directions as he snapped: “Idiots!”
She glared back and forth, the Elite laying in stunned heaps before she huffed and easily took to the air, shaking herself briskly out as she flew up to the balcony. Scrivener had returned his eyes to Celestia, and Twilight Shadow was half-glaring at her as the ivory winged unicorn pointedly kept her gaze down and humble, saying quietly: “I have a request.”
Twilight Shadow snorted at this, and Celestia visibly fought to keep her amethyst irises from raising towards he violet mare as the stitching along her body flexed and she muttered: “Of course you do. What a surprise...”
Celestia didn't speak, didn't respond: a little more than a week ago now, Twilight Shadow had made her last visit to Celestia's quarters, only a few hours after she had gone through her transformation. Celestia had been horrified, had begun to shout and scold her... and had been struck into silence when Twilight, who before had cowered at so much as a harsh word, shouted angrily back and had stormed aggressively forwards, forcing Celestia to shrink back against the bars in horror at not just what Twilight Shadow had become... but the almost-viciousness that had possessed her.
“Calm thyself, Twilight. We are family.” Luna said gently but firmly, and Twilight closed her eyes and bowed her head grudgingly, sighing a little before the dark-coated winged unicorn shook herself out and added moodily: “Of course, as this goes to show that perhaps thou were exaggerating thy condition a little, I am... irritated myself.”
“I understand that, and deserve your anger, sister... but maybe I can help. I... had a period of childishness, I have reflected on that now. I also allowed myself to... fall too deeply into my own worries and thoughts.” Celestia hesitated, then she smiled a little. “Let me take Scarlet Sage to Ponyville. Atrus, or your Greater Nightmares, can stay stealthily by my side and... I shall accept and wear a prosthetic horn, if you will trust me enough to grant me one last chance with one. I will present myself to them and tell them that... no harm came to me. That you took care of me while I was... unwell... and replaced my horn. And even if they don't believe me, they would never harm Scarlet Sage: she is still a filly. A filly on her way to adulthood, yes, but right now still a filly all the same.”
Scrivener and Luna both frowned as the Pegasus turned towards Celestia, smiling a little, before Twilight looked up and said quietly: “And what happened to your worries about reassuming the throne, or that the ponies would turn on you?”
“I... had time to think things through.” Celestia said finally, looking down as shame flashed in her eyes before she said quietly: “And even if... I do still fear this, I also have come to realize that by not letting them see that I live... I will do more harm than good. Because if I am thought to be dead at your horn... they will eventually rise up to attack you. They will eventually make war on you... and I can prevent that. I should, I must prevent that... so... let me go to Ponyville. Let Ponyville see me. And let them see me with your child, so that they know there is no hatred between us despite what happened. Maybe I can teach them. Maybe... this is how I will save them. With a child's love, and a child's graces.”
She looked quietly down at the filly, and Scrivener softened as he and Luna looked quietly at the hornless equine. For a few moments, quiet spiraled out between them... and then Scarlet Sage reached up and tugged quietly at Scrivener's cloak, gazing up at him and saying softly: “I trust her.”
“I... I do too.” Twilight finally mumbled, and although it was moody and irritated, it was like a flash of the old Twilight, as she hesitantly looked up at Celestia. “But I'm going to come with you as well. I won't go into Ponyville, I'll stay at the outskirts. But I want to be there in case something happens.”
Luna nodded at this, glancing at Celestia and adding calmly: “And Atrus and two Greater Nightmares shall escort thee, aye. We will take every precaution with this... I will not see my beloved filly harmed. And I worry for what the ponies are capable of...”
She glanced softly towards Twilight Shadow, who smiled a little before she shook her own head and said finally: “Things might have calmed down. And as long as... Celestia stays close and by her...”
“I will. Trust me, please.” Celestia replied quietly, almost desperately, and Scrivener and Luna traded another look before the ivory, hornless equine bowed her head and murmured: “I'm sorry. I... I think I only just recently realized that it's far better to suffer in trying to balance my loyalties than... suffering while trying to run away from them, and I'm only... eager to try and make up for everything that's happened. To you, and to the ponies I... almost abandoned.”
“Very well.” Luna said softly, and then her horn glowed as she tilted her head upwards, closing her eyes and saying calmly: “Cowlick, Ross... my sister requests a horn. Meet us in the Garden. Twilight Shadow, if you would please take Scarlet Sage to get ready for the journey...”
“Yes! Thank you, Mom!” Scarlet Sage leapt over and hugged Luna fiercely, and Luna smiled faintly, leaning down and returning the embrace before the Pegasus filly giddily stumbled backwards, gazing back and forth warmly. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
She laughed, then turned and bounced alongside Twilight as the violet mare smiled despite herself, bumping into Celestia as she passed... but then halting, letting her sides press together for a moment as she glanced at her awkwardly before slowly nodding once. And Celestia nodded back before Twilight moved on, as Luna murmured: “Our filly misses Ponyville... and I think, too, our beloved Twilight misses both the village... and thee. Aye, she is... rougher in tone and texture, but. She is still Twilight.”
“She is Twilight Shadow now. She's moved forwards, Luna.” Celestia replied softly, but all the same, she couldn't stop herself from glancing over her shoulder before she smiled a little and slowly looked up. “I... listen.”
“No, Celestia. It's alright. We all do stupid things now and then... and even if you did... exaggerate a little, take advantage of things... well, we took your horn. You felt turned on, used, and you had... who knows how much stress bottled up in there.” Scrivener smiled a little, shaking his head slowly. “You were entitled to a small breakdown. Just... try not to lose it while you're in Ponyville, huh?”
Celestia smiled a little in return, then Scrivener easily turned and leapt down into the Garden below, cloak fluttering up around him and the mire seeming to ripple with his easy landing as Luna rolled her eyes and muttered: “The poet has grown a taste for the theatrical much like mine own. Come, sister. The Moon Blessed will arrive any moment with thy horn. Art thou prepared for a little pain?”
“We all have our share of pain.” Celestia smiled a little again, nodding slowly, and she and Luna both spread their wings as they leapt over the edge of the balcony, sailing calmly down to the Garden as Scrivy smiled slightly and dismissed the Ivory Elite that were still standing apprehensively around with only a flick of a claw.
There was a measuring silence between the three until the Moon Blessed arrived, Ross trailing awkwardly behind Cowlick as she carried a white, crystalline horn in a telekinetic grip beside her, her eyes moody as she strode fearlessly up in front of Celestia and studied her intently before saying flatly: “You break this one, you buy it, hear me? I don't care if you are the Mistress's sister, I'll kick your flank.”
Celestia actually laughed a bit in response to this as Luna sighed and stepped forwards to gently take the horn in her own telekinetic grip, muttering: “Cowlick, please remind me to wipe thy personality later so we can start fresh. I forgot how obnoxious thou can be.”
“Do you know how much time and effort it takes to make one prosthetic horn, especially without that Artificer Greece around?” Cowlick asked flatly, and Luna gave her a moody look as Ross winced and awkwardly tapped Cowlick on the shoulder, and the Moon Blessed mare sighed and calmed herself with a slow breath before asking instead: “Where is he, anyway? I thought he and the other Architects worked for you.”
“Greece prefers to be working on Canterlot right now than in our presence.” Luna replied shortly, and Cowlick winced a little at this as Scrivener gave Luna a soft look. “Apparently it is not only ponies whom find my evolution... repulsive.”
“You're very pretty.” Ross supplied, and Luna sighed a little, but smiled all the same as she turned towards Celestia and carefully began to fit the prosthetic forwards into the empty horn base in Celestia's skull, the white winged unicorn gritting her teeth a bit at the sharp bite of pain she felt even with how gentle her younger sibling was.
Next, a cloth holder was slipped over the horn, with an adhesive on the bottom: nothing permanent, but that would ensure the horn would be held securely in place for at least a day or so. Celestia had looked uncomfortable for this part, since it required screwing the prosthetic tightly back into the horn base in her skull, and so Scrivener had strode forwards and breathed a numbing cloud of mist over her features... and the rainbow-maned mare hadn't resisted, had in fact looked relieved as the pain had rapidly diminished.
When it was secure, Celestia smiled slightly and concentrated... and the crystalline horn lit brightly up before Cowlick rose her head and explained: “That's only one of our middle-range horns, so be careful how much magic you try and channel through it. I mean, your average unicorn probably would have a hard time breaking it, but... you're not an average anything, Celestia. No major magic.”
“I know. I can feel it fairly clearly... it vibrates, the more magic I focus into it.” Celestia replied, and Cowlick nodded once with a grunt of approval. “Thank you.”
“Hey, doing my job.” Cowlick smiled slightly, then she glanced over her shoulder at the sound of rustling through the grasses, watching as Scarlet Sage approached with Twilight Shadow, the latter female clad in a heavy black cloak that covered her body. “Reminds me of that old story. You know. The one about the princess and the evil witch out to steal her youth.”
“Thanks, Cowlick.” Twilight said flatly, and Cowlick grinned as Scarlet Sage giggled a little before the purple mare leaned her head back, her horn glowing as she whistled sharply.
A moment later, two Greater Nightmares appeared behind her, both bowing deeply and respectfully to her, and Twilight smiled slightly at this. She hesitated for a moment, but then looked across at the hell-horses, saying calmly: “Stay close to us, and stay invisible. It is important that the townsponies do not see either of you... nor you, Atrus.”
Twilight's eyes glowed as she glanced with a slight smile past the Nightmares, and although the others couldn't see the demon, the violet mare could: the ability to perceive reality on different levels was one of the perks of her new existence. Atrus, meanwhile, only bowed humbly to her, and then Twilight turned her gaze towards Celestia as the eldritch light faded from her irises, saying quietly: “We're ready. But Celestia... I think I speak for everyone when I say I hope you're on the level.”
“I... I am.” Celestia said softly, her own amethyst irises meeting Twilight's quietly, and then she smiled a little. “Once... you would have trusted me before all others.”
“Things change.” Twilight Shadow replied quietly, a faint hint of bitterness tinging her voice... but also sadness, before she shook her head quickly and glanced down at Scarlet Sage as the Pegasus looked nervously up at her, and a smile creased her features, making the stitches across her face rustle. “It's alright. Let's get moving.”
Celestia nodded, then bowed her head respectfully to Luna and Scrivener, who both bowed back as the group traded goodbyes and quick affections before Scrivener, Luna, and the Moon Blessed watched calmly as Twilight Shadow, Scarlet Sage, and Celestia made their way through the massive double doors at the end of the hall. As the group walked away, Cowlick stepped nervously forwards, asking slowly: “Mistress... are you sure about this?”
“My sister's loyalties? No. But what I am sure is that she is my sister, and she would never, ever harm a hair of Scarlet Sage's mane. Whether she is sane and cunning or insane and moving to some deluded rhythm of her own.” Luna said quietly but firmly, her eyes flicking toward the Moon Blessed mare. “But how she behaves today will prove many things... and besides, it is not like we are without certain safety lines.”
Luna turned around with a smile, and the same expression spread over Scrivener's own features as he turned as well before the female called clearly: “Pinkamena!”
For some thirty seconds, nothing happened... and then there was a crackle as black smoke rose up in a sudden burst through the air before the grinning, dull-pink earth pony formed in front of them, steam rising from her body as she leaned forwards and asked mildly: “What the hell do you two want? I don't got long, I told Pinkie I was heading back into the kitchen for a coffee.”
“You still haven't told her?” Scrivener quirked an eyebrow at her, and Pinkamena gave him a dark look in return, the male clearing his throat and reaching up to adjust his glasses awkwardly. “Forget I said anything.”
“Why the hell do you wear those fakes still? They make you look like a nerd.” Pinkamena said shortly, and Scrivener glared at her before the demon rolled her head on her shoulders as her eyes roved towards the Moon Blessed. “You guys got a worse deal than me, by the way. Nothing beats being able to turn incorporeal. Except maybe possessing people you don't like.”
“Pinkamena, Scarlet Sage is going to town with Celestia today. Please keep an eye on them both... we already have sent an escort of Greater Nightmares and Atrus as well as Twilight Shadow, but she shall only be walking as far as the outskirts. Ponyville threw her out while she was still a pony... I do not want to imagine what foul-minded Applejack would try and do to her now.” Luna grimaced a bit, shaking her head moodily. “I'm still surprised they did not make thee the scapegoat.”
“Well, think about it. All they know is that I'm the evil twin of Pinkie Pie.” Pinkamena shrugged, looking moody. “Unlike Twilight, I was always rude to everyone, including you two. I was a wild cannon, an unknown quantity, you get it? Twilight, though... she was always openly dedicated to you two. Always trying to spend time with you two. Maybe they even suspected that one day things would end up like this... her giving her soul to you. The ultimate toy for your desires... now Twilight, she's got it goddamn made... invincible, able to put herself back together, little pain and lots of pleasure. Guess her only problem is that she's dead... but that doesn't seem to bug you two, does it?”
“Go away, creature.” Luna said irritably, and Pinkamena grinned widely as she began to fade from sight before Luna added disgustedly: “And she is no cold corpse, either. She may not be alive, but she is far, far from dead.”
“Yeah, yeah. Keep splitting hairs if it makes you feel better.” Pinkamena said dismissively before she faded completely from sight, and Scrivener Blooms grumbled a bit before the demon's voice echoed mockingly around them: “Maybe I'll test for myself just how alive she is.”
Luna only snorted in amusement at this, however, muttering: “That would be the day. In the past, perhaps, Pinkamena may have actually been strong enough to put up a fight against Twilight... but the Twilight of the here and now far outclasses an obnoxious demon.”
Ross and Cowlick both smiled up at this, and then Luna shook her head before saying finally: “Moon Blessed, prepare us a bath. Scrivener Blooms and I shall take the rest of the day to relax... thou may attend to us while we do.”
“Thank you, Mistress Luna.” Ross said softly, bowing his head, and Cowlick smiled wider, mimicking the motion before they turned to hurry off on their task. And Luna and Scrivy both smiled despite their apprehensive worries for what was going to happen, and whether or not Celestia's motives were as pure as she had made them out to be, or veiled some other hidden purpose.
Celestia calmly strode towards Ponyville with Scarlet Sage trotting beside her, the Pegasus filly now looking a little apprehensive: she could sense Atrus was nearby even if he was invisible thanks to all the time she had spent with the demon, but with Twilight waiting for them in the far outskirts, it felt strange to walk towards the gates of Ponyville... especially with the way the Nibelung started shouting the moment they saw Celestia, but the ivory equine was unfazed, saying calmly without needing to glance down at Scarlet Sage: “Stay close to me, do not panic, and do not let any anger or excitement get to you. I am here, and I will not permit them to harm you, Scarlet Sage... you're my niece, and my family.”
Scarlet Sage smiled at this, looking reassured before the Nibelung ran towards them, one of them waving and saying eagerly: “Fancy-corn, fancy-corn, sunny-fancy-corn, is been two weeks! You return and... and with little pony?”
“Yes, I am back for now. My sister is not beyond reason or rationality. May we enter?” Celestia bowed her head courteously, and the Nibelung nodded hurriedly before the dwarf turned and ran quickly down the dirt road, beckoning eagerly to them, and the white winged unicorn smiled as she and the Pegasus filly made their way into the village, Scarlet Sage gazing back and forth almost rapturously with how glad she was to have returned.
Ponies flooded out to stare at the sight of Celestia as she made her way into the village... but unlike Scarlet Sage, her gaze was less thankful and more measuring. There were more fortifications here than there had been in the past, she could see new buildings that looked like storage sheds, and many of the ponies were in uniforms emblazoned with a symbol she didn't recognize: not the old coat of arms of Equestria, but three ponies of different race in different color framed by a golden ring.
As they stepped into the square in front of Twilight's old home, Celestia saw a crowd had already gathered, and Rainbow Dash shot down from the air to land in front of her with a wide grin on his face as Applejack plowed her way to the front of the crowd, the latter clad in an orange vest with that same crest on it, her own expression jubilant. “Oh my stars, it really is you, Princess... I mean, Queen Celestia! I... damn, just look at-”
“Scarlet Sage!” Apple Bloom almost squealed, and the filly shot past Applejack to plow firmly into the Pegasus, who laughed brightly as they rolled backwards together. And Applejack's words fell short as she leaned stupidly to the side as Rainbow Dash flapped his wings to peer dumbly over Celestia at the sight of the fillies as they clung to each other on the ground. “Oh I missed you I missed you I missed you so much!”
Applejack began to open her mouth, and then Celestia flicked her horn calmly upwards, and it gave a single bright pulse... enough to draw the attention of all present even as whispers ran through the crowd. It stopped Applejack as well, her eyes roving hesitantly back up to the ivory winged unicorn as Celestia said clearly: “As you all can see, my sister held true to her word. My horn is gone... and I cannot blame her for this act. However, she did show mercy... she did not kill me, and even after I... fell ill... she took care of me until I recovered. Now, she gave me a new horn, and freedom.
“I have brought Scarlet Sage here because she is a child. She is my sister's child, yes... but she is also my niece, and a young filly who does not deserve to be in the middle of this fighting.” Celestia gazed softly down at the Pegasus filly as she blushed deeply, sitting up on her hooves beside Apple Bloom... bu the two had their hooves tightly linked still, smiles on their faces as Celestia said quietly: “No matter what happens, no matter how different our stances... we are all Equestrians. I will not see families torn apart, whether they are related by blood... or in other ways. I am Queen of Equestria still, am I not?”
Murmurs passed through the crowd, of worry, of fear, and Celestia frowned slightly before Applejack said slowly: “You're saying that... despite everything that happened to you... what, we should just forgive Luna?”
Celestia only smiled, however, looking down at Applejack and replying cordially: “What I said is that I don't want to see families torn apart. What I said is that Luna, my sister, and Scrivener Blooms too, they are not beyond reason. After I contact the Council of Equestria at the Temple of the Sun, I shall have them set a date for a hearing. We will invite my sister and my brother to come forwards and justify themselves. We will settle this peacefully, without resorting to violence and bloodshed, that is what I push for.”
“Queen Celestia... you've been gone for two weeks. We thought you were dead. There have been some... changes... around here.” Applejack said slowly, and Celestia frowned a bit as Rainbow Dash landed nervously beside his wife, but his eyes were hard as they focused on Celestia, and the ivory equine felt a nasty chill run down her spine as the crowd rippled around them. “That... isn't Luna. That's Nightmare Moon and a Tyrant Wyrm... and after Ragnarok, well, we ain't just gonna sit around and wait, that's what being part of the Starlit Knights taught us here. As a matter of fact, I talked to the Royal Council myself, and they had some nasty suspicions about what might have happened to you while you was stuck there in that black castle...”
“Yeah. They got a weird letter from Luna, saying you were okay...” Rainbow Dash added, frowning up at her. “And now you come here, weeks later... trying to tell us all 'hey guys, it's cool?' Celestia, don't get us wrong, we're happy you're okay... but we saw what happened to Ross, and what happened to Cowlick, too. Cowlick, my friend, who they turned into a toy. And you want to... what, bring them to the Council and give them a slap on the wrists and a stern lecture, and that's supposed to make everything okay?”
“That ain't what Equestria stands for.” Applejack said quietly, shaking her head slowly, reaching up and patting the crest on her uniform. “That ain't why the Knights of New Equestria were formed.”
Celestia's eyes widened as Scarlet Sage looked up with a whimper and Apple Bloom slipped closer to the filly, hugging her tightly and gazing fearfully up at her sister as well before Celestia shook her head and said weakly: “I... I don't understand. But I gave up my horn... I... she's my sister, Applejack, and she's not...”
“Yeah, we know. She's your sister. And I don't know if I could ever hurt my little sister, either... but sometimes you gotta do more than indulge, you gotta put your hoof down.” Applejack replied shortly, and then she glanced at Apple Bloom and said quietly: “Come here, hon. Let go of Scarlet Sage now. And Scarlet Sage, I'm going to ask you to go with Rainbow Dash. Celestia, you should come with me... I can explain things better out at the ranch.”
Scarlet Sage whimpered a little, and Apple Bloom only clung tighter to the filly, shivering a bit as Applejack's eyes narrowed as she leaned forwards and said slowly: “Come on now. We've been over this, Apple Bloom. And Scarlet Sage, no pony here is going to hurt you, either of you. We just need to talk, that's all. We're going to talk, then find you a safe place to stay, away from that bad environment you grew up in.”
“Mom... Mom is a good pony... Mom loves me very much, she and Dad never hurt me or scare me...” Scarlet Sage whispered, shaking her head rapidly as she trembled a little, and then she looked at Apple Bloom, their eyes locking as silence twisted out through the group. “I... wait...”
“Yeah, hey, wait!” added another voice angrily, and Applejack looked up in surprise as Pinkie Pie shoved her way into the crowd, glaring back and forth and with Pinkamena following, the demon making disgusted faces at the uniformed ponies. “Applejack, what's wrong with you?That's Celestia! The. Queen. Celestia. Of. Equestria. It's like being made commander or whatever of that group of yours has gone right to your head, I swear, especially after what you did to Twilight!”
“Look, Pinkie, we've talked about this. Just stay out of this. And furthermore, our group was acknowledged by the Royal Council and now we're getting funding and supplies to protect our village, to stop another Ragnarok from happening!” Applejack retorted, and then she shook her head and snapped when Pinkie began to open her mouth: “Look, enough! I leave you and Pinkamena alone, don't I? Hell, I leave Fluttershy and that freak of hers alone out in their cottage, even though it's right near my own damn home! Everypony here is starting to get it except for you, that these things are dangerous, and we all know that Luna's more than capable of brainwashing a pony or two... and Celestia, I gotta say, it doesn't seem like Luna's the type to give nice little gifts without any reason. I mean, let's think about this rationally. You go away with Luna, sacrificing yourself... you come back with a new horn, Scarlet Sage, and all this nonsense about achieving peace through talk? And Scarlet Sage, you just... happened to be out here with Celestia? Seems to me like somepony is using that poor girl as a bargaining chip... or maybe something else, considering her powers. Now let's do this nice and easy.”
Celestia grimaced, stepping backwards and spreading her wings as a her horn lit up with a golden glow, and Applejack snarled and set herself, flexing her strong body as Rainbow Dash cursed and leapt upwards, hovering in the air as his eyes widened with surprise. Pinkie Pie whimpered at the sight as Pinkamena only snarled, looking hurriedly back and forth before shoving her twin sister rudely into the crowd to try and get her away... but although they let Pinkie Pie pass, ponies in orange and golden uniform quickly stepped between them, and Pinkie let out an angry shout even as she was dragged backwards through the gathering.
Pinkamena growled, her eyes almost glowing as she leaned forwards aggressively, and Celestia's eyes glowed bitterly with coldness and horror at how true her own thought-paranoid predictions had come... but she had forgotten two things. She had forgotten how scared ponies had been from the horrors of Ragnarok... and she had forgotten that on top of their fear of the darkness, was the fact that so many of them seemed intent on blaming Luna for what had occurred. And with Luna pursuing her own desires, she made the perfect scapegoat... “Applejack, don't do this. I am not your enemy...”
“Anyone who threatens Ponyville is my enemy... and you're standing between me and my goddamn sister, now you back the hell off or I swear to god, Queen or not, whether you were once the idol of all of Equestria or not, I will hammer my hooves into your head until you see reason again.” Applejack snapped coldly in return, and Apple Bloom whimpered again even as she tried to drop lower, tears running down Scarlet Sage's face as she hugged the other filly against her, both safe beneath Celestia's shadow. “You've been duped, Celestia! Brainwashed! That's what I see, that's what I believe... because the only other explanation is that you're as bad as Luna!”
Celestia's mouth went dry, staring incredulously at this pony as Rainbow Dash snarled and hovered in the air beside her... and then the rainbow-maned winged unicorn whispered: “Do you hate Luna that much? Do you really blame her that much for everything that happened?”
“I call 'em as I see 'em. And what I've seen Luna do...” Applejack clenched her eyes shut, shivering once before she looked coldly up. “You're just showing everypony here what kind of a pony Luna must really be. A manipulator. A monster. We ain't gonna stand for that. And we are not her playthings, no matter what she and that sick bastard Scrivener Blooms think! Power does not give them the right to make toys out of us and to feed us to their pets!”
Celestia cursed under her breath, her mind working rapidly. She needed a distraction, to send a signal... and she knew she could only keep Applejack talking for so long. And surrounded as she was, needing to protect Scarlet Sage – and likely Apple Bloom as well, with how much she was clinging to the Blood Seer – and unable to summon all her reserves of magic, she was at an extreme disadvantage even with her hidden allies, wherever they were...
And then there was a powerful bang from the rear of the crowd, and a Greater Nightmare flickered into existence, sending ponies scattering in fear as the enormous, smoky equine reared back and shouted in a furious voice: “How dare you steal from our sister, Celestia! You will pay for kidnapping her daughter!”
The ivory equine felt a moment of shock and surprise before her amethyst eyes lit up as confusion immediately spread through the ranks, and then she felt an invisible hoof pat her side firmly. With her warrior's instincts, the ivory equine understood as she braced herself, the first Greater Nightmare vanishing when several ponies rushed towards it... and the second appearing beside Celestia in what seemed to be mid-charge, crashing into her.
The impact wasn't nearly as fierce as it seemed, but Celestia hurled herself sideways, hitting the ground and rolling with a cry of pain. And the entire crowd descended into chaos as the Greater Nightmare seized the foals and then simply vanished with them, Applejack shrieking a denial as Rainbow Dash yelled and shot into the air, looking wildly back and forth before he snarled as a Greater Nightmare flickered into existence, running to the east. “There, there! That way!”
Most of the crowd surged hurriedly after the Greater Nightmare... which grinned widely to itself as its eyes slyly flicked over its shoulder before it began to flicker in and out of existence. It made it difficult to focus on but easy enough to track... while meanwhile, the other Greater Nightmare was already in the fields outside Ponyville, moving like a black wind with Apple Bloom and Scarlet Sage clinging to its back before it skidded to a halt in front of Twilight Shadow as she ran out of the Everfree Forest, the hood of her cloak falling back with alarm as it cried: “Sister! The ponies turned upon them!”
“What ? No, why would they... I... Apple Bloom, is that you?” Twilight blinked in surprise as the earth pony filly leapt down off the Nightmare's back, looking a little ill before she shrieked when she looked up at the violet mare and her stitched features, and Twilight flushed deeply as she leaned back, shaking her head hurriedly: “No, no, it's okay! It's me, it's Twilight!”
“I... oh, Twilight, what happened to you?” Apple Bloom asked worriedly, trembling a little, and then she simply dropped back on her haunches and whimpered: “What happened to everypony...”
With that, Apple Bloom dropped her head forwards and began to cry, and Scarlet Sage leapt forwards and hugged her fiercely, Twilight sighing softly before she looked up at the Greater Nightmare and said quietly: “Inform Luna of what happened. What about Celestia?”
“The ponies were easy to fool. It was almost as if they desired to be misled.” the Greater Nightmare replied calmly, and then it glanced over its shoulder with a grimace. “But I shall hurry to the mistress. She will want to know of these events.”
With that, the Greater Nightmare flickered out of existence, and Twilight sighed softly as she turned her eyes to Apple Bloom, who was slowly calming down as the Pegasus filly stroked silently through her mane, gazing down at her quietly and murmuring softly to her. Twilight hesitated, but then she carefully slipped forwards and leaned down, asking quietly: “Apple Bloom... can you tell me what's going on in town?”
“Not really...” Apple Bloom trembled a bit, looking up into Twilight's eyes, but there was no anger there, no hatred, like there had been in the eyes of the other ponies. “Applejack keeps it real quiet... and... lots of ponies are part of it but none of them... I mean, they're all really careful. I thought it was just a bunch of her friends and other farmers and stuff but... I guess that at some point they started getting real uniforms and... they make traps and keep Ponyville 'safe' but I don't even know what that really means, I'm sorry...”
Twilight Shadow nodded slowly, sighing softly as she straightened... and she grimaced a bit at the concern she felt for Celestia, and then smiled bitterly at the relief that rose in her chest at the sight of the ivory winged unicorn soaring low through the fields towards them. Some things... never change. “Apple Bloom... Scarlet Sage... I'm sorry, but Apple Bloom, you have to go back into town.”
“But it's... I don't want to!” Apple Bloom cried, looking up with teary eyes. “It ain't like... it ain't like I don't love my sister, I love her and my brother and Rainbow all dearly, I do, I really do, but... it's like they forget about everything other than this... this quest, this crusade! I already spend almost all my time with Scoot, or with poor Sweetie, ever since Rarity went and vanished. I... I... they said you had something to do with that, and I know you didn't, because you've always been so nice, Twilight, but... I mean...”
“I didn't. Don't worry, I didn't. I could never hurt Rarity or Spike.” Twilight stopped, then made a face, muttering: “Not seriously, anyway. But Apple Bloom... your sister is...”
“Applejack will not see reason, not when it comes to Luna. She holds her responsible and accountable... for some things, perhaps fairly. But for everything else as well. And the whole town has begun to see the same way.” Celestia said calmly, the ponies looking up as she landed beside them... and then she closed her eyes and bowed her head, whispering: “I cannot apologize enough, to any of you. I... I didn't think things would change so quickly... I can't imagine how the nation became so warlike...”
“I... that's not important now, Celestia. We have to get out of here, they won't be distracted forever, and now that you've left town they'll probably get suspicious. Apple Bloom, you... you can't come with us.” Twilight Shadow hesitated, gritted her sharp teeth, and then she let out a sigh and looked slowly from trembling Scarlet Sage to the earth pony filly. “You can't... come with us right now. Not with Applejack like this, she'll come to Enstasis and ponies will get hurt.”
Apple Bloom closed her eyes, trembling a little bit before she nodded slowly and dropped her eyes, and Celestia and Twilight traded a look before the ivory equine said quietly: “Twilight, let's give them a moment.”
The violet mare nodded slowly, and the two adults turned and walked away as Scarlet Sage and Apple Bloom looked up towards them silently... then they both gazed slowly out towards Ponyville. A picturesque village beneath the beautiful blue sky... and both fillies closed their eyes slowly at the pain the sight of it brought to them before Apple Bloom whispered: “I don't want this to be goodbye.”
“It isn't. It isn't goodbye.” Scarlet Sage said firmly, looking up with a tremble, and Apple Bloom smiled a little before the Pegasus filly met her eyes with her own crimson irises as they glowed with belief, with promise. “I'll come for you one day, I promise. I'll be as strong as Mom and Dad, and we'll be together. We'll find a place where we can all just... get along. I... Apple Bloom, I.... I really... I...”
Apple Bloom reached up and quietly touched Scarlet Sage's lips, silencing her... and then the two fillies leaned forwards, trading their first short, gentle kiss before they drew apart, trembling and looking into one-another's eyes before Apple Bloom whispered: “Then I'll wait for you, Scarlet. I promise.”
Scarlet Sage swallowed thickly, nodding once... then the Pegasus filly stumbled backwards before turning around and closing her eyes, charging forwards through the field and running past Celestia and Twilight as she blindly headed for the road back to Enstasis. The adults winced, both looking back, but Apple Bloom was already running back towards Ponyville even as she shivered and tears fell from her eyes.
Celestia and Twilight ran after Scarlet Sage, but the Pegasus filly was surprisingly fast and had a far head start... and it was ten minutes later that they finally caught up to her, finding her sprawled in the road with her demonic protector, Atrus, quietly standing guard over her. Celestia and Twilight Shadow both halted over her, gazing silently down at the filly, and Atrus looked from one pony to the other slowly before he said quietly: “I have lived for centuries and never experienced the emotion you define as 'love.' Seeing this girl... I am both envious and thankful.”
“Love is dangerous, and dark, and evil. That's one of Scrivener's favorite things to say... and it's true.” Twilight said quietly, looking silently down at her own hoof for a moment... and then she shook her head slowly, murmuring: “I'll carry her, Atrus. Let's move on.”
The demon nodded silently as it reached down and picked up the filly with tenderness and compassion in its huge claws, and the Lich stepped forwards, smiling faintly as Scarlet Sage was carefully laid over her back. Then Atrus stepped backwards and vanished from sight, and Twilight Shadow sighed softly as she started down the dusty path, muttering: “Come on, Celestia. Let's get moving, I don't want to have to deal with Ponyville's forces. We're going to have to get Fluttershy out of there, though... maybe Pinkie Pie and Pinkamena, too...”
“For now, I think they're safe. It's... us... that Applejack has focused on, and because of her status in Ponyville, she's been pushed into being a leader. I saw... stress and fear and anger in her eyes.” Celestia hesitated, then she shook her head slowly and sighed softly, keeping easy pace beside the violet mare. “Twilight... I'm sorry.”
“I'm really tired of you apologizing for everything.” Twilight muttered, shaking her head slowly before she grimaced and glanced towards the ivory equine, her irises dark. “And I don't want to talk about this right now, or hear about it. We need to wait to talk to Scrivener and Luna, you can strategize with them, but my job is just keeping you and Scarlet Sage safe.”
Celestia looked almost hurt as she gazed silently at Twilight Shadow, but the violet mare looked coldly ahead before the ivory equine murmured softly: “Twilight... I'm sorry I had to push you away. I'm sorry I hurt you. And I'm sorry for how you feel-”
“Don't lie to me, Celestia.” Twilight gritted her teeth, and her stitches pulsed as her entire body seemed to ripple with the sound of stretching cloth and flesh before she forced herself to calm, taking a short, sharp breath before muttering: “We can talk about this later. Please concentrate on the task at hand right now...” A hesitation, and then she suddenly snapped, even as her eyes flared for a moment with old pain, with the old Twilight. “And that's not what hurts most, anyway! It's that you're just showing again what a hypocrite you are, pushing everypony away while crying about being alone, sacrificing the feelings of the people who care about you for power and guilt!”
“You're... you and Luna and Scrivener, you're all doing things I can't... agree to, though, that are, for lack of a better word, evil...” Celestia started, and then she winced at the glare Twilight gave her, her rainbow mane stuttering as the winged unicorn lowered her head and her crystal horn shimmered faintly. “I'm sorry, Twilight Sparkle, but it's true.”
“Twilight Shadow.” corrected the violet mare sharply, and then she shook her head and looked forwards, adding quietly as some of the anger in her faded into disappointment: “And so what if we are evil? If we're evil, and Ponyville's good, whose side would you really rather be on, Celestia? We've never thrown you under the carriage... no matter how many times you've deserved it after everything you've done.”
Celestia closed her eyes at Twilight's words, knowing that bitterness and anger were sharpening her tone... but also that they were true, all the same. From the very beginning, after all, she had used them, betrayed them, hurt them... and the ivory equine's eyes slowly lowered to the ground as she ran onwards besides Twilight, her lip trembling, her amethyst eyes almost glowing with unshed tears.
They were met on the road by several Ivory Elite and Nibelung warriors just past the halfway mark: the Ivory Elite escorted them the rest of the way, ensuring their safety, while the Nibelung ran down the path to scout whether or not there were any pursuers. Celestia was surprised at the efficiency... but at the same time, she knew that the present Luna was far more tactical than the past Luna, who liked to do everything herself and simply plow through the enemy lines.
Scarlet Sage woke up as they were approaching Castle Enstasis, but only silently clung to Twilight's back, looking miserable... and Celestia gazed at her silently until they reached the Garden and passed Scarlet Sage back to her worried parents. Luna and Scrivener comforted her, held her close, tried to pacify her, but the Pegasus filly was miserable and finally asked quietly if she could just go to bed, and Luna had nodded before saying quietly: “Twilight Shadow will escort thee. Scrivener Blooms and I shall be up as soon as we can, beloved child, but first we must speak with Celestia.”
The Pegasus filly nodded in understanding, and Twilight smiled faintly down at the child, stroking through her mane before murmuring: “Come on, Scarlet. We can... we can talk about old times together. It might help.”
Scarlet only nodded a little before she turned and headed quietly towards the grand double doors at the foot of the hall, and Twilight followed in silence. Scrivener, Luna, and Celestia watched... and then Scrivy looked up and asked in a quiet voice, despite the flare of visible anger in his eyes: “What happened, Celestia?”
“I was right.” Celestia said softly, looking down... and then she winced a bit when Luna grabbed her under the muzzle and jerked her head up, her younger sister's eyes flaring with ivory light.
“You were right? That's what you have to say for yourself?” Nightmare Moon's voice shouted from Luna's jaws, a snarl spreading over her features. “You put Twilight Shadow, our daughter, and yourself into danger! Danger you were barely able to escape, thanks to luck more than anything else!”
Then Luna shuddered before trembling once, the light fading from her eyes and her voice returning to normal as she whispered: “Celestia, please, this is no small matter... we are all in danger if what our Greater Nightmare reported is true, and... I was scared, sister. Scared that they would have done awful things to thee...”
Luna closed her eyes and drew slowly back, and Celestia looked almost surprised as a deep twist of guilt rippled through her stomach, before Scrivener shook his head and said quietly: “So you were right, Celestia, it wasn't just... lunacy talking before, paranoia...”
“But it was. I was right for the wrong reasons, Scrivener Blooms...” Celestia smiled a little, shaking her head slowly. “And in this case, it means that even right, I was wrong... but that's not important. They're mobilizing, and they're arming themselves... and in the time to think I've had on the way back I'm almost certain it's because many of those in Ponyville were once Starlit Knights, and their experience of Ragnarok has made them all the more eager to defend against any threat.
“Worse yet, they see you as corrupted, Luna and Scrivener. They're afraid... but who can blame them? They witnessed – and many of them were slain by – a Tyrant Wyrm, felt its evil, saw its power... even death cannot wash away the stains of fear such a behemoth can leave.” Celestia looked silently at Scrivener, who shifted awkwardly even as he nodded apprehensively. “You are a Tyrant Wyrm, Scrivener Blooms. What many of them can only see as a monster. And you, Luna... are Nightmare Moon. Worse yet, Nightmare Moon corrupted by a Tyrant Wyrm, and perhaps by Ragnarok, since so few understand what truly happened.”
“What about the Royal Council? Strange gears are turning, sister, I received a letter from them that was almost threatening, saying that my presence would not be tolerated if I again tried to sneak an 'imposter' into their ranks. They seem to believe I created a false version of thee or thou art corrupted by me.” Luna paused and looked meditatively over Celestia, muttering: “If I created a puppet 'twould be far prettier than thee, though. And not as large. I do not like that even now I am the 'little' sister in form and figure as well as age, even if by but an inch or two.”
Celestia smiled faintly despite herself at this, even as her eyes remained clouded and her head lowered slightly. “The Royal Council of the Temple of the Sun, the barons and baronesses, are acting out of fear, and possibly greed. But remember what I said before: I was a martyr. They have... sacrificed me for their cause, for a new goal: and whether it is for more power or out of an honest but panicked wish to protect their new nation from 'evil,' their goal is the same. They are going to start a war with you, sister. They are going to try and destroy you, because you are now what represents everything they fear and hate and loathe. You control the demons, the darkness, the night... you brought them back, yes, but how many of them must think for one reason or another you only brought those you wanted back, and how many more that you only brought them back to have servants and worshipers?
“Our enemy... is our friends. Our former people... our... former people.” Celestia let the words sink in as she repeated them looking slowly down and closing her eyes tightly as she whispered: “And look at what I have done. I caused this. This is my fault...”
“It is not.” Luna said sharply, and Celestia opened her eyes miserably as her younger sibling stepped forwards her and nuzzled her quietly, closing her eyes and whispering: “'Tis ours. Pursuing our desires without thought nor care to how Ponyville would react, even with many of them plagued by vicious memory and others... so hateful of us... it is our fault. I am sorry, sister, that thou wert dragged into this...”
“I could have stopped it all. I should have stopped it all.” Celestia murmured, looking down and shaking her head slowly, and then she sighed quietly as she looked silently up into Luna's eyes, then over at Scrivener, asking finally: “Where do I belong now? My own people betrayed me, just like I feared when I thought I was insane... but maybe I was more lucid then than I had ever been before. They denied my crown... I'm dead to them. They may have been confused by the Nightmares, but when I fled... that would have told them it was all a ruse. If I go back there...”
She quieted, and then Luna and Scrivener both stepped forwards and hugged the ivory equine, Celestia looking surprised as Luna said softly: “Thou belongs with us then. 'Tis that simple... worry not, Celestia, we shall find where thou fits. We shall grant thee great gifts, and great rewards, for thou has done so much to earn them... worked so hard, for the light, and for the night. My beloved big sister, I always have a place for thee here in Enstasis...”
“You're family, and a dear friend. We've all changed, grown, evolved... it's time for you to change, too, and find your new place here.” Scrivener added gently, and Celestia closed her eyes with a shiver even as the poet smiled at her and stroked a claw soothingly through her rainbow locks, her mane sparking lightly around his digits. “It's going to be okay.”
“I... I need time to think.” Celestia whispered, shivering a bit again before she slowly, carefully stepped backwards and pulled away from the two. They both only nodded, however, sitting and gazing at her as she looked miserably back, amethyst eyes confused and terribly alone before she turned slowly and headed towards the northern door.
They watched as she left, and then Luna grimaced a bit as she leaned against Scrivener, the male wrapping a limb around her and settling a claw on her shoulder as she muttered: “Damnable Celestia. She is blaming herself, beloved. She is so confused, and realizes not that all she must do is let herself go... that there is no more reason to hide her face, or put on masks to please others. That now, she can be free.”
“It sounds like she hasn't been free in a long time, Luna.” Scrivener replied softly, and Luna nodded slowly at this before the male smiled slightly, glancing towards her. “I know. Let's give her an important job... something special. Something very close to us... maybe it'll help her settle in. Help her see that she can be free here, that she has a place here. That even if things do collapse into war with Equestria... we are her family.”
Luna snorted at this, then she grinned slightly. “I believe I know just the fitting job for her, then, and even more, a fitting gift for her comes to mind, to help her upon her path... and well, I shan't push for war, Scrivener. But if it comes...”
“We'll push back. We'll show them what evil monsters are capable of. We'll punish them for daring to attack us...” Scrivener licked his lips slowly, looking towards Luna before he murmured: “And to the victor goes the spoils, yes?”
“To the victor shall belong Equestria.” Luna agreed, and she grinned. “And all within it.”