The columns were gilded with pearl. That was the first thing Luna had noticed when she entered her wing of the castle. The columns were pearl, and the walls were painted in waves. A rich blue, that bathed the surrounding area in a cool, azure light. She could hear her steps in the echoing chamber, but they were muffled, almost as a wave. Looking up, Luna saw patterns in the ceiling, probably to facilitate this very effect. The serenity of this place troubled her in a way that had never happened before. Perhaps I would have liked this... long ago.
But these designs could only mean one thing: Celestia had given her the Elemental Wing. Luna had been the one who designed the castle—along with each of it’s four wings—and she’d always thought that this was her worst work. The design had been too segmented, too rigid in places that should have been fluid. Some improvements had been made, fortunately enough. The pearl was a nice touch, and the runes engraved in the floor were majestic, but it wasn’t hers.
She hadn’t even gone in with her sister, as expected, but with a guard. After all this time, she abandoned me to some nervous rookie!
If that wasn’t enough, she hadn’t gotten to choose her guards, either. Perhaps that was for the best, but it was still a slap in the face. The thestrals lined the walls, their enchanted armor painting them as a painful reminder of their long-extinct cousins. So many years, but now they’re all gone. Luna halted, drinking in the details around her. Each of the imposters wore silver armor, except for their captain, who was adorned in a milky white. Luna suspected it was ebony.
The captain stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Are you satisfied with the refurbishments, Your Grace?”
Luna thought for a moment, considering her words carefully. “Well, the engravings are certainly beautiful, but I feel as if they are overly focused on the aquatic aspects of Natural Magic. There’s no fire; hardly any earth, either. Typical of ‘Tia, to only remember the tides in a sea of details.”
Her guards shifted nervously. Perhaps our subjects are less robust than they used to be.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Your Highness,” her guard replied. “Is there anything we can do about that?””
Best make my recovery. “I think not. It’s certainly better than my drafts when I was designing this wing. Perhaps we could have them featured more prominently in another area. A guest room?”
“That may take some time, Your Majesty.” The captain shifted his left forehoof, which Luna filed away as a nervous tick. “There are many other things on a rather large backorder. I’m sure you can understand.”
The Regent of Night nodded. “Of course. And my schedule?”
Another thestral stepped forward with a clipboard. His armor differed in coloring as well. It seemed to be oiled bronze, the thick black metal accenting his gray coat. “You don’t seem to have anything for today, but there is something about a meeting between Celestia and Cadence. It says it’s about tax rates in the Crystal Empire.”
Luna was shocked—no, appalled—at this. “Well, why am I not there?”
The captain raised his hoof, only to be cut off by the schedule master. “Because you aren’t listed in the roster, m’lady.”
“What do you mean by that? Are you saying that I’m not important?” demanded Luna as the schedule master attempted to melt into the background.
“Of course not, Your Highness,” ventured the captain, tentatively stepping forward. “We just aren’t sure what the protocol is here. This hasn’t happened in a thousa—”
“I don’t need to be reminded,” snapped the Regent of Night. “Those were the worst years of my life. I don’t think I need you to tell me of them.” She leapt off of her throne, her hoofsteps echoing in the near-empty courtroom. “Now please explain your confusion. Why am I not allowed to see my sister?”
The captain sighed. The thestrals under his command visibly loosened. “The Regent of Day is currently undergoing intensive negotiations with Princess Cadence. Apparently some of the crystal ponies feel cheated tax-wise, and neither side is willing to yield ground. If we were to interrupt, then it would give Cadence an unprecedented advantage.”
Luna tapped her hoof impatiently. “Am I not to be involved in this?”
“I’m not saying that, Your Highness,” explained the captain, somehow managing to keep his blank expression. “We just don’t know how Princess Celestia will react. Personally, I think she should have included you. Didn’t you write their tax code?”
“Yes, I did,” Luna sighed, suppressing her foal-like annoyance. “Tell her I commanded you to let me in.” Luna stepped closer to her captain, muttering, “We need to talk about what happened yesterday, but don’t let that show. I refuse to give her an advantage.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The stone seemed brighter here, although it was white in both wings. This shade was that of a cloud, rather than a star. This is not my domain.
It was strange, the differences she noticed. Each area had it’s own feel, just as she had designed it to, but it was much more extreme than that. Where the Elemental Wing had used too much fluidity, it seemed the rest of the castle had none whatsoever. It seemed almost industrial, when compared to her original designs. There was no molding in the ceiling, nor vines on the columns, nor even the simple vases hung on the wall. Instead one would see a golden trim on a white field, each used as sparsely as possible. Luna shivered. The light from grand windows fell upon her like a thin blanket of ice.
Luna heard the door creak open, and the light beat of hooves as her sister stepped out. It echoed into the room like peals of thunder, quite the opposite of her own court.
"Luna, what’s the matter?" inquired Celestia. Her tone was helpful, but her eyes did nothing to hide her exasperation. It was as if fire danced in them, ready to burn anything that got in it’s way, yet tentatively held back. Luna hoped the leash was tighter than it looked, for she had seen those flames before.
“I...” she began, utterly failing to drive her point. Why is this so hard? “I think we need to talk. We can’t just forget about yesterday, especially in front of the court.”
Celestia sighed. The flames within her seemed to die down, now an appealing glow. “I hope that wasn’t your only reason. This is a very delicate matter.”
Luna smiled to herself, inspiration spreading its inner glow. “Then wouldn’t you like it if there were fewer distractions? Surely this is bothering you.” Perhaps I’m a step ahead of her for once.
“Luna,” Celestia warned, the flames beginning to reappear. “I don’t think you quite understand the severity of this situation. The economic climate of Equestria is in danger.”
“And what of it’s political climate?” countered Luna. “Is that not equally important?”
“At the moment, no.” Celestia spun around, beginning to walk back to the courtroom. The flames must have been far too intense at the moment. Luna could only imagine her sister’s distress. Perhaps now is the time to strike, while the iron is still hot.
Taking a careful step forward, Luna said, “Don’t you remember what happened last time you took this attitude?” Luna took another step, this time more confidently. She was leading this dance, and both sisters knew it. “The fights just kept escalating; they never stopped. Next thing we know, one of us will be banished again.”
“No,” stated Celestia. Luna could only imagine the look on her face as the flames winked out of existence.
Alas, she was wrong. They were still in full force when the Regent of Day turned curtly back to her sister. “That will never happen again. I would sooner take my own life.” Maybe this isn’t the best idea, but I can’t hold back now. It’s too late for that.
“But you can’t do that either, dear sister,” chided Luna. She took a step closer to Celestia. “We need to talk.”
“We can’t,” Celestia snapped. “Not now.”
“Then when can we?” asked Luna.
“Later.” The Regent of Day looked away, refusing to meet her sister’s gaze. The fire must have been overwhelming, if past experience was anything to go by.
“It’s always later, isn’t it?” Luna yelled. “You always put strangers above me, even when you remember how much our relationship affects them too. Maybe it’s time I did too!”
Celestia stared at her. The fire had wholly extinguished itself. “Luna that’s not—”
“Yes,” Luna countermanded, “it is what you meant. Don’t deny it.”
Luna could see the despaired look on her sister’s face, but she didn’t care. Celestia had crossed a line, and a very thick one at that. At some point, even the strongest of materials snap, and now Celesta was going to learn that lesson. Again. “Please don’t—”
“I’m going to help more ponies than you ever could! And when I do, they’re going to know that it was me, because they’ll actually see me do it!”
With that, the Regent of Night turned on a dime, and left the courtroom with her sister fighting to stay calm. A new fire had taken root in her, but not one of anger. This fire was much more subtle, more difficult to name. It was neither pride nor heartbreak, but something in between.
Celestia sighed. “I hope you’re right, dear sister, for your sake.”