//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Accusations and Explanations // Story: My Little Senshi // by sister_mike //------------------------------// Chapter 7 Accusations and Explanations Twilight took a deep breath as they exited the train and stepped onto the platform of the Canterlot station. She found it hard she had just been in the city earlier this morning. That all of the information she had gathered and shared—and sort of forced—on most of her friends, she had just received that morning herself. Time flew by quickly when Equestria was in danger. "Where are we staying, Twilight?" Rarity asked, "Somewhere top notch, I hope." "Princess Celestia said we can stay at the palace," Twilight said. She began to lead the way. Most of her friends were doing well, despite the onslaught of life-altering news. Rarity, who had of course known this whole time about her sailor soldier life, chatted with Fluttershy casually about some fashion show she "hoped to attend" during their "girls trip". Rainbow Dash hovered in the air above them. Spike, who was about oblivious as Fluttershy to the real nature of their trip—but who knew that something was amiss (Twilight hadn't gone into details with him yet)—chatted with Applejack. Applejack chatted back politely, but kept shooting slightly worried glances towards Pinkie Pie. The pink earth pony was having troubles keeping up her usual optimistic demeanor. Her hair was curly, but not with its usual bounce, and although she had a smile plastered on her face, she was uncharacteristically quiet. They soon approached the palace and Twilight led them to her usual visiting quarters. The princess usually left them open to Twilight. Twilight had sent the princesses a quick letter, saying they wanted to stop by and talk to them one more time before heading over to the Crystal Empire. "So, what are we going to do first?" Spike asked, as the ponies dumped their bags into the big room. "Well, I want to make sure I get those fashion show tickets I was mentioning earlier," Rarity said. "I wanted to go browse the Wonderbolts show times," Rainbow Dash said, "and see if there are any seats available." "There's a tour of a fruit orchard that looked interetin'," Applejack piped up, "S'posed to be full of these exotic fruits, includin' thirty different kinds of apples. And you get to sample 'em all too!" "I, uhm, wanted to go to this exotic animal tour, and..." Fluttershy said, quietly. "Well, there seems to be a lot of different activities planned," Twilight said. She pretended to ponder for a second. "Why don't we all go our separate ways for the next bit, all decide on the activity we each want everypony else to experience, and we'll meet back here?" "That sounds like a great idea, Twilight," Rarity said. The ponies exited the room and began to disperse. "Spike, why don't you go with Fluttershy?" Twilight said, as she closed the door behind her, "You like animals, don't you?" "Yeah! It sounds like a really fun activity, I'd love to see what it's all about," Spike said, as he jumped onto Fluttershy's back, "That is, as long as you don't mind me coming along, Fluttershy?" "Oh no, of course not, Spike," Fluttershy said, "Your company is always welcome." "Have fun you two! We'll see you back here in about an hour or so?" Twilight said. "Sure thing, Twilight!" Spike said. Twilight walked with the two to the palace gates. As she feigned to the left, she turned her head to ensure that Fluttershy wasn't looking back. She then went back up through the gates and made her way into the palace. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were already waiting in front of the throne room doors. Applejack approached it, just as Twilight did. "So far so good, eh?" Rainbow Dash said. "I hate keepin' stuff from her," Applejack said, "Somethin' just not quite right about it." "I know, I agree, I feel the same way," Twilight said, with a heavy sigh, "But what can we do except obey the princesses' wishes? There are still many things I don't remember about my past lives, let alone Saturn's. If I can't yet understand myself, how am I supposed to comprehend this danger that Saturn will bring if she's reawakened?" "Better left to those who truly remember then," Pinkie said quietly. "Speaking of those who truly remember... Where's Rarity?" Rainbow Dash asked, as she looked to the left and then to the right. "I'm sure she'll be here any minute," Twilight said, "Let's wait inside with the princesses for her." Twilight turned towards the door, to find that it was slightly ajar. She gently knocked on it first and then proceeded to push it open. Celestia, Luna, and a white unicorn were huddled together, whispering quietly. At the sound of the door opening, Rarity stepped back, creating an obvious gap between herself and the princesses. Twilight didn't need to turn to know that Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Twilight Sparkle," Celestia said, "I am so glad to see you again. And to see the rest of you as well." "What were you doing here before us?" Rainbow Dash asked harshly in Rarity's direction, before Twilight could respond to the princess. "I just got here, just a few seconds before you did," Rarity said. "Oh did you, now? Just a few seconds?" Applejack asked, her voice just as suspicious sounding as Rainbow Dash's. "Yes, a few seconds. I know a thing or two about time," Rarity said, darkly. "Then what were you all talking about?" Rainbow Dash asked. "The weather," Rarity said, her eyes narrowing. "That's enough," Luna said. She stepped between the three ponies. She glared at Rainbow Dash and Applejack. "We want some answers, your Majesties," Pinkie said. She bowed slightly. "We have some questions we would like answered, before we go to the Crystal Empire," Twilight said politely. She stepped forward, trying to keep the situation under control. She didn't need everypony ramming down everypony else's throats. Luna turned her head back and looked at her sister. Celestia exchanged a glance with her, and Celestia finally sighed. "Alright then," Celestia said quietly, "We will tell you everything that you need to know." Twilight was surprised at the reluctance in Celestia's voice. By the way that her conversation had gone with them earlier in the morning, somehow she had gotten the feeling that it was Luna that was withholding the information, not the other way around. Now it looked like it was Celestia who didn't want to share. "What would you like to know?" Luna asked. She stepped back and stood at her sister's side. "Has Rarity been in contact with you three this whole time?" Rainbow Dash asked, before Twilight could ask it more eloquently or come up with a different question. Clearly Rainbow's sense of loyalty was being breeched upon, by the idea that Rarity had lied to them earlier. "She has," Celestia answered calmly. "For how long?" Twilight asked, feeling a little bit betrayed herself. "Since the beginning of time," Celestia answered simply. "So you lied about them not knowing who you were?" Twilight asked, facing Rarity now. Rarity held her gaze and nodded. There was no look of remorse or shame in her eyes. "Do not blame her for lying to you," Luna said, "it was her job." "Explain it please," Twilight asked. "Pluto's job has always been to guard the Gates of Time and Space, save for dire emergencies, such as our last battle. As we sent in Saturn to do part of the destruction to end the battles, and the rest we did with our powers, we changed the way that our planet worked and cut it off from the Gates of Time and Space. We changed the dynamics, by adding magic into the mix, magic that didn't need to be wielded by crystals or objects. And since only a limited of beings could now disrupt the systems of space and time, Pluto no longer needed to solely guard the gate. We could sense if someone disturbed it ourselves, and fix it," Luna explained. "So we gave her a new mission," Celestia said, "and it was to keep an eye on Saturn. Our new world was unstable. And when Luna became corrupt with Nightmare Moon, I feared more than ever that Saturn would be unleashed again—so soon after it had happened with Discord—that I made it her sole duty to befriend whichever shell Saturn was in and make sure she stayed asleep. We were tired of having to remake the world after her destruction. And her soul—though it remains asleep—grows weary and more unstable every time she is reborn." "Before that, before Discord had set Saturn free again temporarily, I helped the princesses keep any other monsters at bay. Being the only sailor soldier still awake, and with the cosmos not in as terrible danger any more, we let the rest of you sleep, while I took up any slack the princesses couldn't bother with," Rarity said, "Once Saturn had been unleashed by Discord, and Nightmare Moon came into fruition after Saturn had been put back asleep, my new sole directive was to keep at her side and make sure she stayed dormant." "So then what you said earlier, about us only using our sailor powers if the Elements fail, that was true—that's the real plan," Rainbow Dash said. Celestia shot Rarity a slightly disapproving look. "That's correct," Luna said, unaffected by the shared knowledge, "And only if you fail in fighting along Cadance, is Saturn to be awakened." "Ok, next question," Pinkie Pie said, "Why are you only sending Princess Cadance to the Crystal Empire? Why aren't you two coming as well?" "Because it is her empire. It is her time to rule," Luna said, "Mine ended with the terrible destruction of the last war." "Then why are you two ruling Equestria?" Twilight asked. "Because Cadance has been busy searching for the Crystal Empire her entire life," Celestia answered, "And we have been keeping the citizens of Earth safe and in peace as best as we can, so that she has time to find her lost empire." "But King Sombra is obsessed with her," Pinkie said, "She's in danger if you send her there." "Helios is with her," Celestia said, "And you six will be with her as well." "Does Shining Armor know? Does he know he's Helios?" Twilight asked. "He has always known, yes," Celestia said. "How can you two be related in this world, if Helios has always known?" Pinkie asked. "Luna and I are the only two who have never changed shells in this world," Celestia said, "Cadance did once. Helios has a couple of times. We do not choose which shells our souls are reborn into. As Cadance said earlier this morning, Twilight, it was just a coincidence." "I still don't see why you two are sendin' her up there though," Applejack said, "Her kingdom or not, if this King Som-whatsa is as obsessed with her as y'all are sayin', why are you puttin' her in danger?" "And why did you hand over the power of the Imperial Silver Crystal to us? As the Elements? Why do you no longer wield the power?" Twilight asked. "Your questions coincide," Luna said, "The crystal is always passed down through the moon kingdom's rulers. There have been times, due to time lapses, where more than one crystal has been in existence at one time. But when we remade the Earth, changed its landscapes and inhabitants, whatever remained of "duplicate" crystals vanished, and only one remained. And, as I stated before, since it was now Small Lady's time to reign, the crystal belonged to her." "Since she was busy trying to find the Crystal Empire, she decided it was best if we broke up the crystal into its original seven rainbow crystal parts. Luna and I would hold onto six pieces, and Cadance the seventh. We changed the names of the crystals to the Elements of Harmony, so that invaders would not recognize our planet and its powers, so that we would be left alone by those searching for the Imperial Silver Crystal," Celestia explained. "Except once I was corrupted, I could no longer be trusted with half of the crystals," Luna said, "So the Elements were then passed down to you six, and you fit the embodiments of their powers." "It was actually a bit of a coincidence," Celestia said, "We didn't plan for the Element holders to also be our sleeping senshi." "Although now, I guess it is for the better that it worked out that way," Luna said. "So basically... what you're saying is that you simply just... can't use the crystal anymore," Twilight said, "and it's just in Cadance's hooves." "Yes," Celestia said, "Our times as rulers ended long ago. Of course we have our own, special powers now unique to this world. But they do not compare to that of the full Imperial Silver Crystal." "So, this 'seventh Element' is one that Cadance has?" Twilight asked. "Yes," said Luna. "How can it act on its own?" Twilight asked. "Originally, Luna held three crystals, and I three, and Cadance one. With the seven of them split up, the full crystal could not materialize. Once Luna became corrupt, I bound the six into the Elements of Harmony. But the seventh rainbow crystal is still free on its own," Celestia explained. "So we could use all seven of the Elements together and create the power of the full crystal?" Twilight asked, "And defeat King Sombra that way." "In theory, yes, you could," Luna said. The seven of them stood in silence for a few minutes. As Twilight put the pieces together, it all started to fall into place. It made sense to her. "If Small Lady is in power... shouldn't she have her own personal guardians?" Pinkie asked quietly, as she looked towards Luna, "Like the four of us were to you?" Luna sighed. "She did... does." "Did they, too, perish in the last fight? I can't recall..." Rarity said. Luna shook her head. She glanced towards the window and sighed again. "They were captured by King Sombra and disappeared with the Crystal Empire. They were put asleep by King Sombra, left barely alive. And now, in this world, they are the mysterious crystal ponies. They have been lost for so long. And they are still asleep. She has no one, but all of you, to protect her."