A few weeks had passed since then, and things were starting to calm down. Celestia had gotten back into the swing of things back in Equestria, but she couldn’t ignore the feeling that there was more to do. Sure the relations with humans were peaceful, but there was a part of her that wanted to heal the scars of Royuzhan’s past. She allowed herself a small chuckle at the thought. It was clear that that task would be monumental, perhaps even impossible. Yet she couldn't help but want to see him again. She sighed as she adjourned the day court.
Taking advantage of the lull in activity, Celestia found her way to the portal to Earth. Before she could go through, Luna caught up to her. “And just where do you think you’re going? You’ve nothing left to do there, sister.”
Celestia shook her head profusely. “No, Luna. There is something else to do. Ever since I started his challenge, something hasn’t quite fit. I’ve felt that maybe, I don’t quite belong here. Like there was somewhere else I once belonged, and I need to find a way back.”
At that sentence, Luna was appalled. “Are you suggesting what I think you are? Do you really think that you’re the Celestia from those dreams you were having? Do you have any idea how mental that makes you sound?”
Sighing, Celestia stared into the portal. “I know that it seems unlikely, and that Royuzhan asserts that it’s impossible. Even so, I must know for sure if that is the case or not. The only place that has my answer is Earth, and the only one that can enlighten me is Royuzhan. Please, try and understand.”
Knowing that Celestia would not be content until she found the answer, Luna relented. “Alright, fine. However, I want to come along. If you really are not from this reality, I would prefer to learn so first-hoof. I will not relent on this.”
Celestia smiled, and jerked her head to the portal. “Come on, then! We don’t want to waste any more time!” She then stepped through the portal, and Luna followed. On the other side, they saw an embassy like the ones set up on the borders of Equestria. When the person that checked passports saw theirs, she lit up and ushered them through. After that, Celestia and Luna flew off toward the White House.
After about half an hour they landed on the back lawn, and Royuzhan was waiting for them. He stood and greeted them cordially. “Ah, what a pleasant surprise. I suppose you came for some reason, yes? Or did you just come to chat?”
Celestia had gotten a bit of good repor with him over the past weeks, and she was hoping that it might be enough to get him to open up a bit more. She took a breath to steady herself and spoke. “I want to know more about the first world. The dreams only showed me so much, you know.”
A pained look flashed across Royuzhan’s face for a moment. He shook it off after a while, but he still looked a bit somber. “So you’re dead set on testing your little theory, are you? You want to see if what I have to tell you will jog any memories, right?” After Celestia nodded, he sighed. “You don’t quit when you put your mind to something. Just like Sunsun.” He shook his head. “Alright, I’ll tell you some things. But not much. I’m still a bit uncomfortable talking about it.” After Celestia and Luna gave nods of understanding, Royuzhan began. “I’ll start on the day we first met, eons ago…
“It was a day like any other in the Kingdom of Man. I was once more aggravated by my father’s bigotted nonsense. I had gone to my favorite spot to think, under the Crimsonwood Tree on the hill away from the battlefield. However, that day was different. When I saw her for the first time, I was cautious and skeptical. When I pointed Recrysintyr at her, I asked her a question. Her answer surprised me.
“She too had grown tired of our father’s bickering, and wanted an escape from it. I know that she was telling the truth. Back then, I knew how to tell just by looking her in the eye. But after not seeing it for so long… that’s off topic. Suffice to say, I lowered my blade. At that point, I had a feeling that we would come to be great friends.
“The two of us made an alliance, and started training our forces in secret. Luna was a great asset, helping ensure we weren’t discovered until we were ready to attack. But as things continued, our bond grew closer. As for how close… I don’t think I’m ready to talk about that yet.
“Regardless, our forces overcame our fathers, but we had to use drastic measures to end the war. For a while, things seemed to be going well. But then, Sunsun started acting strange. At first, it didn’t seem to be very important… However, that thought was what doomed us. Sunsun had gone mad, and another war broke out.
“The main issue were her… ‘Newfoals’ as she called them. Hideous abominations that used to be human. Stripped of all free will and personality, they became mindless zealots for her cause. Luna and I were on the back foot when it happened, and the war raged for months. In the end, It came down to just the two of us, just like it was on that hill all those months ago.
“Then, before she died… She implied that at some point, she had switched places with Sunsun. After I vanquished her, I laid all the world to rest. There was nothing left there, except for painful memories. I believe you know the rest.”
Silence prevailed for a while. Celestia had seen all the events through the dreams, but something about hearing Royuzhan speak made something click. He was leaving details out, and that was understandable. But something in her pierced together a few things hidden in the subtext. She spoke out without much thought. “I recall that we were hardly apart during the days after our first meeting. Of course, most of that time was preparing for the offensive we were going to mount on our fathers, but we made time to get to know each other. You were so different back then. A dream you held on tight to, and a strong will of determination.
“I saw your softer side, too. It wasn’t all for the people, though that was your surface concern. Part of it was also for your little brother. You wanted him to grow up in a world without war, and that was your true driving force. That was another thing that brought us together. Sure, Luna was closer to my age than your brother was to yours, but that didn’t mitigate our shared desire.”
Shock spread upon Royuzhan’s face, and Luna was just as surprised. Though, Luna recovered first. “So you really are from another reality. I didn’t want to think that it could be possible, but…”
Before she could continue, Royuzhan interjected. “Certainly is a convincing little display, but maybe it’s nothing more than a spell. I’m still hesitant to say that you are her. After all, you only ‘remembered’ very little. I won’t accept that the two of you are the same on such little evidence. Maybe you are her, or maybe her spell is messing with your head. I need to know the truth of it before we proclaim that you are the same Celestia that I used to know. Our friendship cannot go any further until I know for sure.”
While it pained her to admit it, Celestia knew that Royuzhan had a point. Sure, she had gaps in her memory that made it seem like it would be a perfect fit. But was it really all just some trick? She wanted to believe that she wasn’t mistaken. She needed some kind of proof one way or another. It was then that her features lit up with realization. “Royuzhan, don’t you have a spell that can sort this out? Check if I’m under some kind of enchantment?”
At the mention of that, He raised his eyebrow. “You ‘remember’ that too? I suppose I could try, but it’s been ages since I used that spell. Hold on, I want to make sure that I get it right.” He snapped his fingers, and an old tome appeared before him. He started scanning the pages, searching for something. After a minute or so, his face lit up. “Ah, here we are. Brace yourself, Celestia. This might be a mite uncomfortable.” He outstretched his hand, and chanted in an old language as his hand glowed. “Gätr híva stø vœz, çåo hæl ȧƒ mãvül zhârb! Råvœ våzt ɇb ųf ubshɨn! Råvœ ųf ív Dămiri Celestia îi yunfaa ȏ glĥu cãzt!”
Celestia felt a sudden twinge as the spell washed over her. She wasn’t sure exactly what the words had meant, but she somehow had some indication of it. Some part of her recognized it, but she wasn’t sure why. As the spell worked its magic, she felt something else. A nudging feeling in the back of her mind. Something was starting to loosen back there. She was about to tell Royuzhan to stop when she felt something pop open. Celestia cried out in agony as she clutched her head. Images flashed through her mind, showing many things.
Specifics were filling in where there once were none. Names of places, long forgotten. People she knew, friends she had. Royuzhan, and all the time they had together before. Then, the clincher. Her, face to face with another Celestia. The other grinned with malice as she used her magic on her. She remembered the slimy feel of that magic, of a spell that she couldn’t fight.
As fast as the images came, they stopped. Mentally drained, Celestia couldn’t register what Royuzhan and Luna were saying. She did manage to say something, though. “It’s good to be back, Roy. I’ve been waiting for you… for so very long… And finally, we are together once more…” After her words, she collapsed into a heap.
Luna shot straight to her side, and Roy turned away. He hadn’t thought that it could be possible. But there on the ground was his proof. She was Sunsun, for nobody aside from his long-dead father and brother had ever called him Roy. He knew it might seem silly to others to accept it on that fact alone, but he couldn’t ignore the feeling in his gut anymore. He had been hoping for that feeling to have been wrong, to make it easier to deal with. But fate decided to have a laugh at his expense. He clutched his locket tightly. He thought that maybe, they could pick up from where they left off so long ago. However, that thought was quickly dismissed. The pain was too much to ever consider that. They may still be friends, but things would never get back to where they were.
He looked back to Luna and Celestia, and jerked his head back to the main building. “Come on. She can rest in the hospital wing until she recovers. After all, there are quite a few words that the two of us need to exchange when she wakes up.”
Luna gave a nod, and the two of them carried Celestia to the hospital wing. After they set her down on one of the hospital beds, Luna asked him something. “So what now? I don’t exactly know how to break this to the ponies…”
After a bit of a pause, Roy let out a chuckle. “You have nothing to worry about. Sunsun’s an amazing person. Your people will accept her soon enough. As for me… It’ll take some time to get used to”
To Be Continued…