A Dream, a Bow, and a Letter
The beginning of the Canterlot Invasion…
Celestia hovered above the changeling queen casting a beam of solar energy, Queen Chrysalis countered with her own beam of green changeling magic. Celestia probably could have easily defeated Chrysalis if she used her full power; then again her full power being unleashed would probably incinerate everypony in the room. Therefore, Celestia would have to make do with only a fraction of her potential, which for now seemed to be enough to defeat Chrysalis.
Then the unexpected happened, Chrysalis overpowered her. ‘It must have been the added energy from Shining Armor’s love.’ Celestia realized too late. With her horn fried Celestia was unable to access her magic, leaving her as helpless as any other pony. She fell to the floor in an unceremonious heap in front of her subjects, ‘some goddess I must look like now.’ she thought.
Any minute now Twilight would hurry to her mentor’s side out of worry and despair, and so Celestia waited. She continued to wait for an unusual amount of time; curious Celestia opened her eyes to behold an empty room. They had fled, who wouldn’t? Seeing their goddess and so called protector defeated had panicked her little ponies causing them to flee, even Twilight had departed most likely seeking safety. Celestia couldn’t rightly blame them, to see their deity defeated so easily, so quickly, in their shoes she would have fled as well.
“Oh poor little Celestia,” Came the mocking voice of Chrysalis, “abandoned by those you cared for most.” Chrysalis stepped down from the altar and strode towards Celestia.
“Sister…” A familiar far off voice whispered, it sounded almost like a faint echo.
“Due to your weakness Equestria will be harvested, your failure has ensured my victory, my conquest!” Chrysalis continued now standing over Celestia. Celestia struggled to get to her feet, to defy the wretched queen, only to find that Chrysalis’ spell had paralyzed her.
“Sister!” The familiar voice sounded again, louder this time.
“But I am a merciful queen, and as such I will relieve you of the pain of the days to come.” As Chrysalis spoke she raised a hoof, which glowed with green energy, to stamp out the solar princess’ life.
“Wake up!”
Celestia awoke with a start; she was in her room, in Canterlot, safe. In front of her bed was her sister, Luna, who had a look of concern on her face. Her door had been opened in haste, the two guards looked on hesitantly; they hadn’t had the nerve to stop Luna from entering. Celestia turned to Luna with a questioning glance; it was early in the morning far earlier than she would normally be awoken.
“You were having a nightmare, sister.” Luna explained, “I felt it echoing throughout the dreamscape, but try as I might I was unable to enter your dream. I was worried and thus came to check on you, you twisted and thrashed in your sleep so I woke you.” Luna looked down in thought, “I apologize for waking you though, it is still early, but I worried for you.” She apologized.
“No need to apologize Luna, I was having a nightmare and I am glad to be free of it.” Celestia replied.
“You are not free of it as of yet, dear sister, you are only awake. To be free of this nightmare you must overcome your fear, please tell me what it was you dreamed of.” Luna asked.
“Very well, but first let me take care of a few things.” Luna nodded and Celestia set off to reassure the guards that they weren’t going to be banished for letting her sister into the room, she also had them note that Luna had access to her room at any time of the day. Next she dispatched a servant for some tea, while coffee would have been more fitting for the hour she still preferred the soothing taste of tea. Finally, she fixed her mane which looked less like an aurora and more like somepony had flushed a mix of food dye down a toilet.
Once the tea arrived the two sisters sat by the fire and Celestia launched into her explanation. Luna’s look of worry turned to one of regret at the mention of the invasion. “I still wish I could have been there sister, together this changeling queen would have stood no chance and this whole farce would never have happened.”
“It’s not your fault Luna, protocol dictated that you be absent.” Celestia said comfortingly to her sister. The protocol of the Equestrian government stated that in times of war or threat to the government only one of the royal pony sisters would be present in the capitol at a time. This ensured that in the event of capture, or worse an assassination, that there would be somepony to rule. Therefore, during the invasion Luna had been kept at a safe house far from Canterlot.
At the end of Celestia’s recount Luna thought for a moment then said, “So is it Chrysalis you fear or the prospect of failure?” She asked.
“Failure.” Celestia admitted, “Had I been stronger, if I hadn’t held back, none of the devastation of the changeling swarm would have befallen Canterlot.”
“If you had not held back, as you put it, Canterlot would be a pile of ash. Besides that everything worked out in the end, the Elements of Harmony weren’t even necessary.” Luna argued.
“Only because of Twilight and her friends’ actions, not to mention Princess Cadance and Shining Armor. In the end it was mortals who protected the land when their goddess could not.”
“The fate of equinity has always rested in mortal hooves, not ours; that is what you taught me.” Luna countered.
“Even so I should have listened to Twilight when she confronted Chrysalis, but I did not. I sided with the majority because I thought I knew so much better than her, in truth it was I who was the fool.”
“From what I heard Twilight’s accusation had no evidence at the time, there’s no way you could have reasonably believed such an accusation without proof. Truthfully Twilight is just as much at fault as you if not more so…” Celestia was about to object but Luna raised a hoof, “Allow me to finish; if Twilight had come to you without making such a scene you could have searched for evidence before making a decision, but she did not. Twilight put you on the spot and you were unable to support her, which is not your fault.”
Celestia Sighed, “You are right Luna, I only wish that I hadn’t been so blind to the difference between how Cadence and Chrysalis acted.”
“Tis in the past sister, let it go, but do not forget it instead learn from it. Let such an event make you stronger, more vigilant in the future.”
“Very well, but when did you get so philosophical?” Celestia responded jokingly in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“Well there weren’t many books in the safe house, the only ones I found were written by that crazy stallion Star Swirl the Bearded from the pre-classical era.”
The two sisters conversed on much lighter topics for the remainder of the night when it came time for Celestia to raise the sun she commented, “This is the best time I’ve had in ages Luna, we should to hangout more often.”
Luna looked at her with a raised eyebrow, “I do believe your dialect is getting a bit too modern for me, sister, but I enjoyed myself as well. Don’t you need to sleep though?”
“I am an immortal goddess I think I can stay up as long as I like!” Celestia declared trying and failing to hide the weariness in her voice and the fatigue rings around her eyes. “But… uh… maybe we should talk at a more reasonable hour for both of us.”
“Right… oh by the way whatever became of Chrysalis?” Luna inquired.
“I’m not sure, but what I do know for certain is that if I ever see her again I’ll turn her into a pile of ash.”
“Isn’t that a tad extreme sister?” Luna said raising an eyebrow.
“She wrapped me in a pod of changeling goo! Do you one: know where that comes from and two: know how long it took to get that smell off of me!?”
Luna cringed remembering the week or so where Celestia had scrubbed herself pink in an effort to remove the foul scent. “Point taken sister, now I do believe it is time for your day to begin and for me to ‘hit the hay’ so to say. If you need me do not be hesitant to wake me, tis only fair.” With that Luna departed for her own chambers leaving Celestia to get ready for the day.