I still couldn't believe it.
I didn't want to.
But I couldn't deny it.
So instead, I ignored it.
I acted as if nothing had happened, but I could no longer when I reached the castle.
Nopony was there to open the gates for me, and I felt as if I didn't have the right to enter in the first place.
It had been two days since I descended into the dark caverns beneath Stalliongrad.
It had been two days since I had learned the truth about my sister and the thousands of deaths caused by her greed.
It had been one day since I had brutally murdered exactly forty six ponies in cold blood; my mindless rage.
It had been six hours since I had stopped crying.
I flew over the castle walls quietly, ashamed that I had lost my temper with ponies who had only meant to save Equestria.
I avoided the main hallways, not wishing to see Noble Thornguard.
Why had he come to the Council? Did he know that I would come?
Unlikely...
I assumed that he hoped to convince the coming guards to join them.
But instead, he was joined by a Princess.
It occurred to me now; had he been waiting this whole time for me to leave so that he could talk to them without risking my possible wrath?
If so, how would they react if I were to question them again? What would Celestia do if she found out her sister had defected?
The town would surely be destroyed then. The only reason it hadn't been was because she either wasn't sure such an order against her existed, or because she thought it too minimal to do any damage...
"They art worried, thou knowst."
I gave a deep, pained sigh.
The very pony I had hoped to avoid had found me.
"I hath said nary a word to them about what hath gone on. I believe I will leave that part up to thee, unless thou wishes it otherwise?"
"Nay, Noble. We will speak to them..."
"...Chrysalis brought us together, thou understands? But it is thou, and thou alone, who will lead us. Celestia may be a tyrant, but even an evil beast such as Discord held a soft spot in his heart."
"Oh? And pray tell, who might that hath been?"
"Thou would not believe me even if I showed you his diary."
"Discord kept a diary? Now that is unbelievable."
"Heh. I assure thou, it is real, and few have read it. The foul thing reeks of dangerous magic, but one page in particular fills the room with such a burning passion that it almost killed three Unicorns."
"A protection spell, perhaps?"
"Nay; a page about thy sister. His love for her was near undying and, according to him, he did most of what he did when he discovered her existence so that she would better herself, if love him she could nary."
"The Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony loved the embodiment of Order and Harmony?"
"Ah, thou art still thinking of thy sister as a pure being. Perhaps Discord saw Celestia for what she truly was, all those years ago. Or, perhaps he saw that mask that she cleverly wears. Regardless, if thou wins against Celestia, Equestria hath a bright future. If thou fails, then the betrayal will be too much for her wretched heart, and she will be easier to take down."
"We art but a pawn in a grand game of chess...Delightful."
"Nay, Princess. Thou art what thou chooses to be in life. I must leave thee now- important matters to attend to, and what not." Noble Thornguard said softly as he turned away, taking another corridor and leaving me standing at the door to the barracks.
"Thou art what thou chooses to be in life..." I repeated, thinking carefully upon his words.
ῼ
"P-Princess Luna?!" Skyward Sword stammered, taking a few steps back in fear as he instinctively grasped his sword with a wing.
It was by this time that I realized my body had changed drastically to the point where all that I could recognize was my mane and cutie mark.
I had grown exceptionally taller; now completely towering over the frightened Pegasus rather than standing a full head above him.
"Calm thyself, Skyward Sword. Our body hath gone under metamorphosis. It is natural when an Alicorn contains too much power for its current body to contain." I explained, hoping that he wouldn't question why I had suddenly gained so much power over the course of two days.
But, luckily, he said not a word about it.
"H-Hath thou found anything while thou were gone? We searched high and low for thee, but could not find hoof nor flank of thee."
I chuckled a bit.
"Apparently not low enough, Lieutenant."
Giving a sigh, I prepared myself for the inevitable.
"Skyward..." I began calmly. "How much doth thou trust us?"
"...Milady?" he asked, uncertainly.
"We hath discovered the location and members of the conspirators."
"That is wondrous news, Princess! I assume that they art dealt with,and we may return home?" he asked excitedly, smiling up at me as if he had asked me for a pet, and my answer would either make or crush his life.
"Who doth thou serve, Skyward Sword?"
"Why, the Crown, of course."
"The crown is shared, Skyward. Who doth thou serve?"
"Milady, art thou alri-"
"Answer us, Skyward Sword!" I bellowed, planting my hooves firmly in the ground and baring my new fangs dangerously at him. "Doth thy serve Celestia, or us?!"
To his credit, Skyward Sword stood his ground and glared firmly at me. "I served the Goddess of the Sun, the Righteous Protector of all of Equestria. I serve your sister, milady."
"Then leave us, Skyward Sword. Leave us and never return to Stalliongrad." I ordered before storming out of the castle angrily.
The fool would follow Celestia no matter what, to his dying breath.
Of this, it was clear.