Queen Celestia stood on the high parapet that surrounded the tower housing her quarters, gazing out at the horizon. The sky was ablaze in color, the setting sun casting all it touched in its deep amber hue. Nothing and no one could escape its shining light. The sun, she mused with a tight smile, her iridescent pastel rainbow-colored hair fluttering behind her in the slight breeze, was a lot like herself.
She knew her citizens were not happy. That they fought hard against the golden chains, tried to resist her golden glow. She mourned that her people hated her so. But all was as it was meant to be.
The sun, after all, always set, paving the way for night to fall. Celestia’s pink eyes glittered in begrudging pride. Her sister and heir, the Princess Luna, would make a fine queen.
And though her subjects took refuge in her sister’s starry shadows, Celestia’s sun had not set. She narrowed her eyes, her smile fading into a determined frown. Not yet.
Her Royal Highness Princess Luna, known to most as simply “highness” and to very few as “Lunie,” kept her hands locked behind her back as she paced the gleaming tiled floor in crisp, precise strides. Somehow, she was striving desperately to keep her temper in check.
Her older sister, it seemed, still liked to keep her waiting. She grit her teeth against an agitated sigh, her composure breaking for a brief moment while she smoothed back her thick blue-black hair. She almost looked nervous in that instant, but if any of her soldiers had seen the rare glimpse, they still would never believe their eyes.
The thought of those in her command emboldened her, softening the harsh planes of her expression into something akin to fondness as she looked out the high vaulted windows of the throneroom to the sweeping vista beyond. The fiery sky was peppered with airships, taking flight into the oncoming night for their patrols of the kingdom, safekeeping the people while they slumbered.
Her guard.
Quite unlike her queenly sister, Luna didn’t hoard shiny, gold-plated brutes around her for protection. Instead, she sent every last of those she handpicked for the gleaming silver chain out to protect her people. It was little wonder she had to bear such news to her majesty. Her expression grew fierce again at the thought. If only Celestia would listen to reason…
“Luna,” Celestia’s serene voice called from the direction of her stately throne, startling the princess of the night from her reverie.
She schooled her expression before turning, offering the Queen of Equestria an easy, respectful smile before bowing deep at the waist as was custom. It wasn’t as though she could curtsy properly in military dress.
The queen seemed to read her mind. “Do you even own skirts anymore?” Celestia murmured dryly, her own starchy white uniform daywear already exchanged for the flowing gowns she usually slept in. She was, after all, a day creature.
Luna’s lips twitched with the urge to smile as she straightened. “Perhaps, your majesty.”
Celestia rolled her eyes and shook her head, turning to sit elegantly at the edge of her elaborate throne, arranging her gauzy skirts around her ankles accordingly as she did so. Once this was done, she merely looked at Luna expectantly.
She barely suppressed the urge to raise a dark sculpted brow before speaking. “The Crystal Empire—”
“I am not concerned about the Crystal Empire,” Celestia cut in. “My niece can handle it.”
Luna sighed barely audibly. “She is my niece as well,” She added in a mild tone. “But no, Cadence requires no aid. There is no need to be concerned for her.”
Celestia merely raised a brow herself at Luna’s borderline correction, nodding at her latter words.
“Instead, she and Shining Armor are concerned for you.” When Celestia narrowed her gaze, Luna lifted her chin and continued. “Concerned for both of us. For all of Equestria.”
The queen gracefully shrugged one shoulder. “There is no need for such concern.”
“There is every need!” Luna countered passionately, her famous cool reserve evaporating beneath her equally famous temper. “I know you are not oblivious to what’s happening out there!” She threw out a hand toward the windows in gesture.
Her majesty simply blinked.
“Your majesty—Celestia—sister!” Luna cried out the last in desperation as the ethereal beauty rose to her feet, signaling she was finished with their discussion. “Please! Tell me what is wrong. Why do you treat them this way?”
Celestia drew herself up to her full height with regal bearing, her head tilted slightly up, shoulders straight and rolled back. In that moment, even in her simple white nightrail, she was more impressive than she ever was in her royal regalia. Luna swallowed in sudden trepidation.
“Soon, Luna. Equestria’s people will have the queen they deserve.”
With those ominous words of finality, the queen glided out of the room, revealing a small group of gilded knights waiting for her in the connecting hall.
Luna was left in shock, alone in the deepening shadows of twilight. Her shoulders slumped. Where she had always been.