Princess Celestia paced up and down the throne room, glancing out a stained-glass window every time she passed one. The images depicted in the colourful glass brought her years back, reminding her that the people she had brought together to be the Elements of Harmony had once been young women, all loyal to the cause. Even further back to when her and her sister wielded the Elements, the events that led to a time of peace so unlike how it was now. All of them had been so reliable, her sister and the girls. It had been well over four hundred years since they had returned her sister to her, in her true form, not the form of Nightmare Moon. Over four hundred years since they stopped the second coming of Discord, even the second coming of King Sombra. Their power grew, and they were forced to save towns and cities from horrible creations, which were ultimately manifestations of the negative power they held. The overwhelming strength that caused even Fluttershy to turn against her original nature. Thank god they had been forced into seclusion. Were they still together, the current scenario would have been even worse.
Once again, their world was under attack. Those things, those indescribable things that had been created during the final years of their stay in Ponyville, were back. The great shadow-like monsters that could not be killed, but only pushed back; the shadows that could have been dragons, people, or things that this world has not seen. They looked solid, with almost no features visible through a thick, ever shifting shroud of black smoke. The smaller villages of Ponyville, Appleloosa and Hoofington had already been taken and any survivors driven out to the larger cities, which had set up barricades against the onslaught, but it would not be long now before they were overcome. The Crystal Empire, now thriving, was locked off from the rest of the world, much to Celestia's aggravation. They wanted to preserve themselves, and would not offer any help. The magical power centre of the world, and they refused to send aid of any kind. In a way, it made sense. With Cadence and Shining Armour long gone, they had a much more strict ruler. One who was not at all concerned with the affairs outside the Crystal Empire. Celestia was unsure of whether Cadence would have lived as long as she and Luna, though it seemed that she had tied her life to Shining Armour, and in doing so died with him. In marriage Elite Mages lost their immortality.
She paused in front of the window nearest to the thrones, an image of her and her sister working in harmony for the first time. Raising the sun and the moon in perfect unison, before Luna snapped. Where is she? Celestia thought to herself, focusing on the window. Her sister had left some time ago in search of Twilight Sparkle, the representation of the strongest and most elusive element, Magic. That was what they needed, her magic. Due to it being her special talent, and her newly granted immortality and power, she had abilities that rivaled even the princesses. She had to have a hand in driving back the Shadow Beings.
She moved to her throne, folded her wings and sat on it, her face in her hands. She feared for Luna. Though her younger sister was a competent warrior and mage, she had been gone for weeks now. If she didn't return soon, Celestia feared she too would have to go hunting, leaving Canterlot undefended. After that, it wouldn't be long until the Shadow Beings invaded her home. The royal guard wouldn't last long against such a foe. Even she did not know how to stop them.
She needs to be back soon, I can't see how she would be gone for so long.
Not five minutes after she had this thought, the doors to the throne room burst open, startling every guard inside. The two guards that had been on the other side of the door both rushed in, on either side of a very battered and cut Princess Luna. Her hair was in complete disarray, falling over her scratched face. Her clothing steamed, torn in several places, and her quiver completely void of any arrows. Both wings were crooked, looking broken. She was panting heavily, her face red. She must have strained herself to fly back up to the castle. The only thing that Celestia could say she was thankful for, besides her sister returning at all, was that her sword was locked firmly in its scabbard. Were she to have lost her sword, it would have been irreplaceable. It was a valuable weapon in itself against the Shadow Beings.
The elder Princess sprinted forwards, catching the young lunar woman as she fell, face-first, to the floor. "Luna!" she gasped, kneeling to better support her younger sister.
"Celestia, sister, I could not find Twilight Sparkle..." Her already weak voice trailed off and she fell unconscious in Princess Celestia's arms.
"Luna, Luna, stay with me. Luna!" Celestia shook her as hard as she dared, bringing Luna out of her brief fainting spell.
"Water... I need..." Luna trailed off, but her request was clear. Celestia nodded and gestured to one of the guards, who immediately ran off. From there she proceeded to help Luna to her throne, and once she was settled took her place in hers, watching the young princess intently.
"What happened sister?" Celestia asked, her voice soft and filled with worry. Luna took a couple minutes to compose herself before saying anything, taking off her sword belt and quiver and laying it at her feet. When she had straightened up, she leaned back in the throne and closed her eyes, painfully folding her wings. As she did, the guard ran in, holding a glass filled with water. Luna took it and drank nearly the entire glass in one gulp, small streams trickling down her chin. Under normal circumstances, Celestia would have scolded her for the action, but she ignored it, simply happy to see her sister alive.
"Chrysalis has joined the battle," Luna whispered when she was done, her face contorted in disgust.
Celestia's eyes widened, fearing the worst. "I assume she is not on our side?"
"No, anything but that. She is still smarting from being beaten by the couple she had tried so hard to destroy. And the second war we had, about a hundred years ago now, did nothing to help heal that wound. She is malicious and vengeful, more than prepared to attack the centre of Canterlot, when she has the power. Though it will not be long before her forces are mustered, she will attack. The question is when."
Celestia thought back to the war, the war that Chrysalis began with Canterlot. It had been long and hard, both sides suffering major casualties. It had been devastating. For Chrysalis to be back in action and gathering the power to invade was an awful sign. With her army serving these shadow beings, the prospects of winning this war weren't looking good.
"So our only hope is the Elements," Celestia said with worry.
Luna opened her eyes and shifted her gaze to the windows, scanning to the end of the row, to the image of the most recent battle with the Changeling army. The Elements had stayed safely out of the way for that battle, ignoring the summons of both Princesses. And once again, the Elements were leaving them on their own. "We cannot put our trust in them, they have lost the sense of what it means to be the Elements of Harmony. Even Rainbow Dash is only loyal to herself now," she said.
"This is- concerning."
"More than concerning sister." Luna pushed herself out of her chair, causing Celestia to rise as well. The younger sister refused to be weakened by her injuries. She walked to the nearest window, dragging her sword with her and drawing it. "We must be prepared to enter the fray ourselves. In the mean time, all we can do is hope that those who are coming to take the place of the Elements find their way soon." She ran a finger along the flat of the blade, which shone black and blue in the sunlight.
Celestia stood next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I am aware, but you must rest Luna, you have been hurt. It will be some time before they are able to penetrate Canterlot’s defenses."
"I am more concerned about our major cities. I will not hesitate to defend them."
"I know. But only time will tell. As I said, all we can hope for is that those who were chosen to take the place of the current Elements will meet."
"That could take months, or years."
"It's all we have."
It was just a shame it wasn’t much to hope for.