//------------------------------// // Celestia // Story: Eclipse // by Foals Errand //------------------------------// Destiny swallowed hard as she heard a quiet growl emanate from Princess Celestia’s muzzle. She had her eyes shut tight and may have had her forehooves covering her head. So she was only pretty sure that Celestia was snarling much akin to a large dog protecting their very juicy bone. Or in this case, Luna. Wait did I just think of Princess Luna as a juicy bone? Ngh focus! “Give me one reason why I should not smite you where you lie monster….” Celestia’s eyes narrowed down at the trembling black mare. Luna stepped between Celestia and Destiny with a small sigh. “Sis as much as I appreciate you trying to protect me, and verily I do, I doubt we have much to fear from a pony who is almost wetting herself in fear.” Heh, right… almost… Destiny’s cheeks grew red with a slight blush. “And how do you know that this isn’t one of her tricks? She could easily be trying to play helpless only to lure us into a trap.” “Considering what she has told me and what I have witnessed since arriving…” Luna shook her head. “Nightmare was never a credible actress dear sister. This pony is not her. I would gamble it upon every bit in our kingdom that we have nothing to fear from her.” Destiny glanced up to see Celestia pacing in front of her mumbling to herself before finally she shook her head “Fine! Fine but if she steps a single hoof out of line…” With a unconscious swallow Destiny nodded “Yes your Highness! Not one hoof!” Celestia simply raised an eyebrow as she watched the pony stumble to her hooves. “...My sister may be correct about you. Do you have a name or much I be forced to refer to you as Nightmare?” “D-destiny, Destiny Yaeger your Highness.” Destiny carefully bowed her head in reverence. “Destiny, fitting… alright, now what are we to do with you… We cannot leave you here. The Everfree is not safe for any pony especially one who struggles to even stand on their own hooves.” She brought a foreleg to her chin. “Canterlot is an option but it’d be difficult to explain why you are not locked in the dungeon weighed down with chains.” “What about letting me stay with Twilight Sparkle?” Destiny offered to find herself shoved forcefully back to the ground. ow, stupid, stupid, stupid Destiny. Don’t offer information you shouldn’t have any way of knowing. “And how is it Destiny that you already know the name of the pony I was about to suggest you stay with hmm?” Celestia was glaring at her looking straight into her eyes holding her in place with her magic. “I suggest you explain. Quickly…” “I’m not from here!” Destiny howled in fear “I’m a human! A-a woman! Homo sapien cacusia!” “A who-man?” Celestia frowned her eyes crinkled in thought “Like through the mirror?” She shook her head “That still does not explain how you know Princess Twilight Sparkle’s name.” “I-in my home, this, all of this is a show er like a movie but only thirty minutes at a time and animated. It’s a rather popular show called My Little Pony and it’s all about Twilight Sparkle and her adventures. From the day she first came to Ponyville and the most recent episode was about Rainbow Dash passing her history test to become a reserve bolt.” Destiny licked her upper lip as Celestia stared in shock “Seems she learns while shes flying so they…used that to teach her?” “How could you…thats impossible unless…” Celestia trailed off as her horn stopped glowing before she glanced over to Luna. “Exactly sister, such knowledge should be impossible unless, of course Destiny speaks true. And here is another addition to her story.” Luna gently levitated the small plush “I will restore it you have my word Destiny.” Destiny simply nodded but made no other movement. Honestly don’t feel like being slammed into the ground… again. I hope Twilight has a soft bed I can rest on after all this… I’m ready to sleep. Celestia took the plush in her own magic before turning it this way and that. It was obvious to her that it was meant to be her sister. A lovingly made facsimile. “And Destiny had this with her when you found her?” “Indeed, she told me about our world being a car-toon?” Luna frowned at the word before shrugging. “During the explanation she told me that much merchandise had been made but alas she was unable to find such a toy of myself and commissioned one herself stating that I am her favorite.” She rubbed her chin in thought “Might that be why she appeared in such a form?” “Possible, we’ll have to look into this closer, were the mirror still active I would suggest we send her home today, however it will not function again for thirty moons. She was correct that the best place for her to stay would be with Twilight Sparkle. However…” “Yes, her visage… What if we applied a glamour?” Luna considered after a moment of thought to which Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Of what type of glamour do you supposed would be best? Of age or of species?” “In this case? I’d think a glamour of age would hold best. Far easier for Twilight Sparkle to explain a young alicorn student than a grown mare who is a unicorn who is unable to use magic or a pegasus unable to fly.” Luna glance down at the tall mare “And though many earth ponies live in Ponyville one without strength would be even harder to explain.” “Agreed, a glamour of age it is. Come let us take her to Twilight Sparkle while the night remains dark. It’ll take all three of us to apply the glamour.” “A query if I may sister?” Luna smiled gently up at her elder sister. “Of course Luna what is it?” “How exactly are we to get a mare as tall and girthy as yourself who is unable to walk not to mention run throught the Everfree in the middle of the night?” Luna cocked her head and smirked as Celestia opened her mouth to answer before she frowned. “Buck…”