Red Dawn
After the shock of the siege cannon report had worn off, the meeting had settled into a grind of military logistic details. Most of it was well outside her familiarity: Garrisons and forces stationed in southern Equestria, lines of transportation and logistics, and how to conduct reconnaissance on an opposing ground force, among things. Fancypants and Twilight had taken turns asking baffled questions, but Black Jack and Petronel had been very patient in answering them. To Twilight’s surprise, Luna seemed to have a good grasp on the theory Black Jack was using to construct a plan and just needed to clarify some shifts in modern procedure.
The general’s last point had given Twilight pause.
“I’m sorry, general. Would you…” Twilight yawned again, covering her mouth with a hoof. She was working on just a few hours sleep, and the long and eventful night was finally starting to catch up with her. When it passed, she continued. “Excuse me. Would you mind explaining that again?”
Black Jack nodded politely. “One of the major concerns of any strategic force is concentration. If we are going to stop the ground force moving south toward Canterlot, we need to mass almost every asset we have west of Stalliongrad to smash the force escorting the cannon.
“The key to our force mobility in Equestria is our rail lines.” The general pointed a hoof at the map in front of him, indicating sections as he continued. “Look here. Ponyville isn’t a major transit hub, but rail lines from both Manehattan and Fillydelphia both intersect there. It’s also the northernmost stop for the rail lines this side of the Minty Mountains, so any forces moving north from there would have to disembark anyway. We’ll also have a direct line to Canterlot, so it would be simple to move some staff there from the capital to set up a C2 post. Ponyville is ideal in this situation for a mustering outpost and as a final chokepoint on the enemy’s advance. Any army trying to move around it would expose a flank, and there are no roads going around the town that could support the weight of the cannon. If we can’t stop the enemy from moving south, Ponyville will be our last big chance to throw a roadblock in their way.”
“Those sound like a lot of good reasons,” Twilight said mournfully.
Everypony else was ready to move on, but Fancypants caught her tone. “Is something the matter?”
“Not really, I guess.” Fancypants eyed her doubtfully, so she explained. “Ponyville is my home. I don’t have any other suggestions, but I guess I just have a hard time picturing the town turned into a fort.”
“It probably won’t come to that,” Petronel added. “The town is the transit point, but we’ll likely come to some arrangement with the farmers in the area to make use of their land.”
That sounded a little better. The Apple family and others would probably be glad to help. The princesses would make sure they were paid for it, too. Twilight nodded and the general returned his attention to the princess.
“That’s as far ahead as we can plan in regards to the ground force, I’m afraid. I’ll want to remain here with the director for another day or so, until we get a better picture of what is going on in the north. I assume Twilight will be headed back to Ponyville in the next few hours. You might want to send someone with a uniform with her to explain the situation to their mayor.”
“We agree,” Luna said with a nod and a smile. “And since Twilight will also need an advisor in dealing with military matters, we have the perfect pony in mind. But this is not our greatest concern. What thoughts do you have on the Cloudsdale situation?”
Petronel took the question. “The griffins have stopped their advance for now, likely because of exhaustion after a long flight and a full night of combat. It’s only a matter of time before they start another push. General Manifold is using the time to organize the evacuation of civilians and to dig in. He believes he can hold out for a few more days with what he has, but we shouldn’t let it come to that.”
Black Jack cut in. “Princess, when a city is contested like this, big strategies don’t amount to a hill of beans. Manifold has the tactical situation under control for now. That might change, but there’s not much we can do about that from here.”
Twilight’s head swam. Was there a difference between strategy and tactics? She’d have to ask about it later.
“We do not want to hear about what we cannot do, General.” Luna ground her teeth. “We want to know what we can do right now.”
Everypony but Petronel flinched, even Black Jack, but that didn’t keep the general from responding. “I was getting to that. The first and best way we can help them is logistics. They’ll be short on everything but griffins up there pretty much all the time. The order has gone out for all our full-pegasi combat units to converge on Cloudsdale, but even that won’t be enough. The griffin legions support as many combat fliers as all of Equestria, and quite frankly their anatomy gives them advantages in a fight. We can hold the city, but to take it back we’ll need more ponies.”
“I know it’s unorthodox,” Petronel suggested cautiously, “but maybe instituting a national draft is in order. It certainly would close the numerical gap.”
Luna closed her eyes. “No. Equestria has never demanded compulsory military enlistment. We do not compel our citizens, and will not start now.”
“I spoke with Colonel Hoovesvelt a few hours ago,” Fancypants volunteered. “He’s got this notion of traveling city by city to put a volunteer unit together. I asked him to stay in Canterlot until we could speak again. By your leave I could travel with him, specifically calling for pegasi volunteers. If there were a royal decree asking for pegasi to return to Cloudsdale to form a militia, I’m sure you could get more volunteers than you could manage.”
All the ponies were silent while Luna considered. “Very well. We shall discuss this with our sister and soon equip thee and others with such a degree. What else can be done to aid the pegasi?”
“Twilight, what about the elements?” Black Jack asked, looking to Twilight. “I understand two of the bearers are pegasi. Can we count on them going to Cloudsdale? That could bring a huge boost in their morale, and Celestia knows they could use it.”
She hung her head. “I don’t think I can say for sure until I’ve talked with them.”
The general raised an eyebrow. “Why not? I thought the Bearer of Magic was the leader of the group.”
“No. Harmony doesn’t work that way,” Petronel stated flatly. When he didn’t elaborate further, Black Jack returned his questioning gaze to Twilight.
Twilight sighed. “I don’t know how to explain it. Magic might be the keystone, but that doesn’t mean I’m in charge of the other bearers. It was our friendships that allowed us to defeat, um, Discord.” Twilight gave Luna an apologetic glance, and the princess nodded in thanks.
“We’re friends, and we trust each other. Before I can even guess what we’ll be doing, I need to get back and talk with them.” She hung her head, thinking of Rainbow. “But at least one of them will want to rush to Cloudsdale.”
Luna was staring darkly at the map when she spoke. “Well then, this makes our course of action even more apparent.”
The group waited for her to elaborate. When she didn’t, Petronel leaned forward respectfully. “Forgive me, Princess. What do you mean?”
She shook her head to clear it, and then looked around the circle of ponies. “We apologize for being unclear. We meant that we now understand where the Princess of the Night can be of most use during this campaign.”
There was a collective gasp. Fancypants found his voice again first. “I was under the impression you would remain here, leading your nation while Celestia recovers.”
Luna’s brow furrowed angrily, though her emotions didn’t seem to fall on anypony present. “It is true that we shall remain for now, but alicorns mend quickly. As for the need, Generals Big Wig and Tornado Watch have traveled east to take command of our forces at Stalliongrad. General Black Jack will eventually be needed in Ponyville to take strategic command of the ground forces assembling there. Twilight will also be traveling to Ponyville, and will plan her next steps from there. Fancypants will be travelling to promote militia enlistment and financial support for our efforts. Petronel will remain here and continue to collect and distribute information. Apart from the potential plans of the bearers, all of these things largely focus on disrupting the ground force.”
Luna stared firmly at the general center of their conference. “Therefore, we shall go to Cloudsdale.”
Fancypants turned a few shades whiter as everypony expressed similar shock. “Princess, you can’t be serious.”
Petronel stood and faced the princess. “I must agree with the gentlecolt, your highness. The continued fighting in Cloudsdale will be brutal and pervasive. There will be no safe place for you to take command.”
Luna angrily furrowed her brow at the director. “Good, for we have no intention of remaining in safe places while the ponies of this nation are being driven from their homes. You forget that this is not our first war. It is tradition for the Princess of the Night to take the field with Equestria’s armies. We see no benefit to the ponies of Equestria by our participation in the battles on the ground. The pegasi of Cloudsdale greatly need all the confidence they can get, and our participation there may be the greatest way to quickly accomplish this end.”
For a long while, nopony said anything. While the others exchanged unsure glances, Luna and Petronel engaged in a standoff of sorts. Eventually, the director spoke his mind again, choosing his words carefully.
“Princess, I do not believe I was appointed to this position to be a yes pony. Nor do I think any selected to advise you here were selected for that purpose.” He briefly looked to the others present before returning his gaze to Luna. “Yes, we must hold Cloudsdale, but Equestria needs its princesses as well. Both of them. I believe I speak for everypony here when I say this is needlessly dangerous.”
While Black Jack and Fancypants expressed their agreement, Twilight stood nervously. “Equestria just got you back, Princess. If it’s half as bad as Petronel says it is, then maybe you should stay in Canterlot.”
Luna glanced around the circle, for a moment clearly touched by their concern before her resolve returned. Then she turned to the desk, where she wrapped her magic around one large scroll, gently lifting and pulling it toward the group. Twilight was quick to notice Celestia’s personal seal on the rolled up document. “A short while ago, this was brought to us by courier from our sister. We discussed the situation, and agreed that this was a necessary step for our nation.” She unrolled the document in front of them.
It has been written in Celestia’s penmanship. Twilight skimmed the document, but found it devoid of warmth and caring she had grown accustomed to in such beautiful lettering.
ROYAL RESOLUTION Declaring that a state of war exists between the Confederation of Griffin Prides and the Diarchy and ponies of Equestria and making provisions to prosecute the same.
Whereas the Confederation of Griffin Prides has committed unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the ponies of Equestria:
Therefore be it Resolved by the Royal Sisters of Canterlot, That the state of war between the Equestria and the Confederation of Griffin Prides which has thus been thrust upon the Equestria is hereby formally declared; The Diarchy and the ponies of Equestria shall employ the entire military forces of Equestria and the resources of the Diarchy to carry on war against the Confederation of Griffin Prides; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all the resources of the country are hereby pledged to the aid of the military forces of Equestria.
At the end of the document, in brilliant flowing letters, was the signature of Princess Celestia.
Luna didn’t allow the stunned silence to last very long. “We shall add our signature to the document publicly within the quarter hour. It is not a thing that we do lightly. The last of its kind was writ over a hundred years prior to our banishment, against a long-disappeared empire in the far north. When Equestria is in peril, her rulers do not hide behind walls and direct their subjects like cowardly tyrants. It is more than tradition; it is our love for pony kind.”
Her face grew shady, and for a moment her eyes flashed a shade darker. “The griffins have trampled on and lit fire to our pride, and for that we shall visit upon Cyrus and his horde the full wrath of the alicorns.”
Petronel opened his mouth to speak again, but Luna looked at the time and stood. “We would like to thank you all for your insight and patience, but we are afraid we must conclude this meeting. We have an appointment with the press and other pressing concerns we must attend to. We shall make plans to see you all again before noon to follow up on thy progress.”
She walked up to Twilight and smiled. “Except for thee. Arrangements are already being made for thy return to Ponyville, and we may not see thee again for many months.” The unicorn waited for her to say something more, but the princess suddenly leaned forward and embraced her.
“Be safe, Twilight Sparkle,” she said softly. “Much depends on you.”
Luna quickly and regally collected a few things and stepped outside. Then she was gone, the guards at the door tailing her in escort. The general, ambassador, director and bearer had been left to their duties, but all four of them lingered as they reflected on Luna’s intentions.
Black Jack shook his head. “That could have gone better.”
“That is not why she means to go to Cloudsdale,” Fancypants commented sadly.
Petronel shrugged. “Everything she said is technically true.”
“This coming from our intelligence director?” Black Jack said with a scoff.
The director smirked. “I did not disagree with the ambassador. It was merely a comment regarding the princess’s approach.” He headed for the door, stopping to look back over his shoulder at Twilight.
“Come along, Miss Sparkle. It seems it is my turn to teach you some magic.”
Luna reached the roof of the university in a huff. The signing had taken far too long. It needed to be done and the ponies of Equestria had to see her do it as a symbol of their country’s determination, but it had detained her from the true weight on her heart far too long.
A short distance away, three ponies sat by the edge of the roof, and Luna trotted to over to join them. Two pegasi of the Day Order Royal Guard sat at attention, motionless in the cold breeze of winter. Ponies were naturally equipped with coats to protect against the elements, but the guards wore metal armor. In conflicts of the past, Luna had come to know the discomfort of wearing plate during the cold months. They knelt as Luna approached them.
Princess Celestia sat looking east. Her mane danced in the breeze, and Luna could see clearly that it had lost some of its luster. Her eyes were focused on the distant horizon. She did not turn as Luna drew near, but the Princess of the Night knew that her elder sister was aware of her approach. Even escorted by her personal guard, Celestia looked tired and alone.
The physical marks from the battle where wholly gone by now, though Luna could still picture her sister with the bruises and shallow talon cuts visited upon her by the griffin Cyrus. Only her mane still bore signs of the battle. Drained of some of its color and sheen, it wafted lazily in the cold morning breeze.
Luna could tell her sister was hurting. She only hoped that Celestia would break with habit and open up to her sister. As Luna stepped past the guards, Celestia spoke without turning.
“Colonel Daybreak, the guard is dismissed. Leave us.”
The pegasi both jumped, startled by the sudden terse order. It couldn’t have helped that they had probably been up a whole day and night after fighting a terrible battle. It was a testament to their endurance and devotion that they were awake at all.
Daybreak stiffened and looked to the princess, clearly distraught at the idea of leaving his post. “Princess, are you certain?” Even among his fellow Day Order guards, the pegasi colonel’s devotion to duty was something to behold.
Celestia softened her voice but still did not turn. “Twilight will be returning to Ponyville soon. I need you to escort her once again.”
The understanding did nothing to cheer the colonel, but he bowed deeply. “As you wish, Highness.” Both pegasi took the air and departed, leaving the two princesses alone in the cold morning air.
Silence followed. When they were both still fillies, Luna had learned never to approach Celestia about her feelings. Her sister had always been aloof and distant about the matters of the heart. Celestia was the type of pony who had decided early in life to never allow emotion to dictate her actions, which is not the same thing as not having them. She could count on her hooves the number of times Celestia had opened up to her since her return, but in each case she had started by dismissing her guards. So Luna sat and waited.
She didn’t have to wait long.
“I failed, Luna.”
The simple statement struck Luna like a great hammer. Failed? Her sister never failed. When Discord terrorized the races of the world, it was Celestia who toiled to discover a way to save them, finally recovering the lost Elements and leading the sisters to seal the tyrant. When King Sombra had turned on his own subjects in the now-disappeared Crystal Empire, Celestia had convinced Luna that the safety of every pony was their responsibility, even those of other nations.
When Luna had fallen to her own envious pride, taken the name Nightmare Moon and tried to shroud the world in eternal night, Celestia had stopped her. What’s more, the elder alicorn had risked everything on a perilous scheme that would allow her sister to be redeemed in the end. It had worked, but the consequences had included a thousand years of separation, enough magical energy fallout to make savage the Everfree Forest, and Celestia being forever rejected by the elements she cherished so dearly.
No one had ever done as much for others or sacrificed as much of herself as Princess Celestia, and to hear her sound defeatist made Luna so, so…
Angry.
“How can you say that, sister?” Luna demanded furiously, stepping forward with a stamp of a forehoof. “Look at what you have done tonight. When the attack came, you flew into battle to protect your subjects, fighting alongside them. How many ponies of Canterlot will see the sun rise today because of your quick intervention? Captain Shining Armor was able to raise his shield because of your quick action! The city is safe, and now…we…”
Luna paused, horrified to see a change taking place in her sibling. “Sister, what’s wrong?”
Celestia was crying. It was a small thing; she sat unmoving, her eyes still focused on the horizon. A single tear ran down her cheek, falling over the edge of the building all the way to the ground below. “No, Luna, I can’t…”
“Can’t what?”
“I can’t raise the sun.”
Cold horror took hold of Luna's stomach. “What?”
Celestia took a breath of the winter air, and spoke slowly. “The griffins have armor made with star metal. It conducts magic energies. Before I understood how the weapon worked, he had broken my shield. He,” she shut her eyes, “grabbed my horn with his talons. It drained me, somehow.”
“But the sun must rise!” Luna exclaimed.
“Yes.” Celestia replied with an air of finality. “You have to do it.”
Petronel had lead Twilight back to the map room after the meeting, where he then instructed her in the casting of the telepathy spell. The tracking components were a bit difficult to understand at first, but most of the others were formula components Twilight had used before. Petronel was more than able to answer all of her questions, and soon she was ready to attempt her first casting. There was only one catch.
Everypony knows a unicorn’s horn glows its own unique color when using magic. What most ponies did not know is that the color is caused by each unicorn’s personal resonance. Even identical unicorn twins would be born with a slight resonance difference, even if it’s not visible to the naked eye. Petronel’s telepathy spell used this understanding to single out a unicorn anywhere in the realm, and send a message directly to them.
“The spell requires the sender to know the natural wavelength of the receiver’s magic,” Petronel explained for the third time. He was getting irritated. “I’ve only discovered one way to do that so far. The first time we cast the spell, we have to cross horns. It’s the only way.”
And that was the catch.
“But why?” Twilight challenged, her cheeks still flushed. “That can’t be the only way. Here, let me go to the Canterlot Library. I remember something I came across in Starswirl the Bearded’s wing that might—”
“No.” Petronel sternly waved a hoof in a cutting motion. “There isn’t time. You have responsibilities in Ponyville, and every minute we delay, the cannon comes closer to Canterlot. This method works. Every single one of my contacts across the country has had to come here to do this. I’m sorry if this makes you feel awkward or uneasy, but improving the spell will have to wait for another day.”
He was done arguing. He charged the horn with the spell and lowered his head, and waited for her to do the same. When she didn’t budge, he eyed her impatiently.
Twilight pawed the floor with a hoof bashfully. “Could you at least, I don’t know, close your eyes or something?”
Petronel heaved a heavy sigh, but complied.
Now, with nopony watching, Twilight found some resolve. She stepped forward slowly, charging her horn a little more spell with each step. She stopped mere inches from Petronel and couldn’t help but bite her lip to fight the anxiety. Doing her best to keep their faces as far apart as possible, she leaned forward. At the last second before they touched, she shut her eyes tight.
She felt a mild spark jump between their horns. It didn’t hurt; if anything it tickled, but that wasn’t quite right either. For Twilight it was if she could smell his magic, but somehow the information had skipped her olfactory senses altogether and went right to her visual cortex. It was if she could see an odor.
As Twilight processed the new sensation, Petronel leaned back and opened his eyes. “There. I trust that wasn’t painful?” he asked dispassionately. Twilight turned away to hide the red returning to her cheeks. She was trying to get past her embarrassment when she thought she heard Petronel whisper something.
She turned back to him. “What was that, Director?”
'Testing, testing.'
It was the strangest sensation. She could see the stallion standing a few feet away, his horn glowing as he looked at her. It sounded like his voice was in her head, even though his lips weren’t moving. Twilight hadn’t expected it to sound like him, though. “Yeah, I hear you. Wow.” She grinned ear to ear. “This is sooo cool!”
Petronel smirked. 'I’m glad you think so. Now you try.'
Twilight nodded. She took a deep breath, preparing the sending as the director had explained. She put magic into the words in her head, and gently nudged them out into the world.
'How’s this?'
The director blinked a few times. 'Satisfactory, though you may want to lower the volume. You are coming off a bit loud.'
“Oh, sorry about that.” Twilight made the adjustment, and tried again. 'How about now?'
'Much better.' He turned to the chalkboard behind him and began erasing the equations for the spell they were using. He had stated earlier that the spell should never be written on anything permanent, seeing as how it was a state secret. 'When you get into the field, you’ll find that we’ll both be adjusting power outputs based on range and intervening terrain. Make a habit of starting low and scaling up until I respond.'
Amazingly, Twilight understood everything the director had sent her with perfect clarity, even though it had taken less than a second to receive it all. It seemed the spell worked at the speed of thought. This was her chance to practice, so she tried it. 'That makes sense. I can also imagine changes in the weather could have an impact on power requirements. What is your furthest recorded transmission?'
Petronel answered her questions as they sat together and conversed like that for a short while, never once opening their mouths. Even after everything that had happened, Twilight couldn’t help but feel uplifted by the whole experience. Learning new spells had always been one of her passions, but this one was truly a work of art. Petronel seemed to enjoy teaching as much as she did learning. They hadn’t known each other long, but soon his guarded behavior relaxed and they chatted casually about the variables of the spell.
'This is incredible!' Twilight smiled, doing a little twirl. The other telepathy spells she had learned were clumsy and difficult at best. Even after only a few minutes of practice, this method of conversing felt almost as natural as normal speech. 'No one in Ponyville knows enough about magic for me to have conversations about spellcraft with like this. It’s nice to finally have a friend that shares that interest. And with this spell, we can just call each other up when we get stuck on something.'
Petronel froze for a moment. He sighed and hung his head. “We aren’t friends.”
Twilight wasn’t sure she had heard that right. “What?”
“I said we aren’t friends, and we aren’t going to be.” His face grew cold and stern, his eyes hard. “I understand you’re the bearer of the most important element and that you’ve done amazing feats with the power you wield, but not every problem can be solved with friendship. The griffins aren’t just going to pack up and go home because you ask nicely, bake them muffins, or spray them with Harmony.”
Twilight was flabbergasted. If her jaw could have reached the floor, it would have. “What does that have to do with two ponies being friends?”
He sighed impatiently. “This is war, Twilight. There’s a reason battle histories are glossed over in primary education and deep studies limited to the military academy curriculum. War is a dark, horrid, brutal affair, and before it is over, ponies you know will be dead. That’s the truth of the matter. When it happens, grief can cause ponies to lose focus. They make bad decisions, and then more ponies die.”
Petronel stepped forward, the seriousness of his tone relaxing a little. “You and I, Twilight, we are in the business of making decisions. We have a responsibility, and we can’t afford the distractions of thinking about who is important to us. If one of us loses focus, Equestria could fail. We’ll both have to put our emotions aside and do what is best for the country.”
He stepped back. “That is why we are not friends, Twilight. Get used to it.”
“Ahem.”
Twilight and Petronel both spun to look at the newcomer. Major Vedette stood in the doorway. He smiled at Twilight before shifting his gaze to Petronel. “I trust I’m not interrupting anything unpleasant,” he stated flatly.
For the few hours Twilight had known Petronel she had seen him go about his business with a calm, deliberate nature, but just for a moment she saw a spark of anger flare in his eyes. It was gone again even before he spoke. “I was preparing Twilight for the road ahead. She needs to understand what is coming.”
“Perhaps,” Vedette conceded. Then his face grew dark and serious as he didn’t quite glare at Petronel. “But I think that is quite enough of that for now.”
“It has to be done. Since no one else seems willing to dirty their reputation with the responsibility, I am taking care of it.” Petronel’s eyes narrowed, and he pushed out his chest as if to indicate his suit. “And I’m a civilian now, Major. I don’t take orders from you anymore.”
The sudden tension hung in the air for a short moment as silence reigned between the stallions. Vedette, the shorter of the two, somehow seemed to loom over the director even from a distance. Petronel stood his ground, though against what Twilight couldn’t fathom.
Then the tension evaporated as quickly as it had started.
“You are absolutely right,” Vedette said with a genuinely happy smile. “I know it hasn’t been easy for you, Petronel, but you’ve grown into a fine stallion. Without your talents and leadership, this war may have already become unwinnable. Even magic aside, it’s something I could never have accomplished. Equestria is in your debt.”
Vedette offered the younger stallion a quick but obviously heartfelt salute. “Thank you, Director Petronel.”
Petronel blinked, seeming dazed, before he tilted his head in a baffled expression. He opened his mouth once as if about to speak, but then closed it again. Vedette waited a few moments for a response from the younger stallion, but the director said nothing. Finally Vedette turned to Twilight.
“Miss Sparkle, I understand you are here waiting for your aide to arrive?” When she nodded, he smiled again. “Well, then let’s get a move on. We have a chariot to catch.”
Between the exhaustion from the night’s events and trying to understand the exchange between the two stallions, it took Twilight a moment to comprehend. “Celestia sent you as my aide?”
“It was Luna, but yes. I’ll be traveling with you as your military liaison. Come now, mustn’t keep Colonel Daybreak waiting.” Vedette turned and trotted down the corridor. Twilight hurried to follow him, but stole a quick look back at Petronel before they headed outside.
He stood alone in the room, still facing the spot were the major had saluted him. He could have seen her trying to meet his eyes, looking for some kind of simple goodbye, but he didn’t seem to notice. He just kept staring at the spot where Vedette had been, silent and motionless but for a few blinks. He didn’t look angry anymore, or even sad or hurt.
He just looked confused.
Luna gulped. “Me? Sister, I’m not ready.”
Celestia smiled lovingly at her younger sister and came closer, her cheek still glittering from her single tear. She favored a foreleg, taking care to put too much weight on it. “Since your return, you have recovered ever so quickly, both in your duties as princess and in your understanding of Harmony. I have not been easy on you, but you have risen to each new challenge and surpassed my expectations.”
She reached around Luna’s shoulders and held her tight. “You are and will always be my little sister, Luna. I had faith this day would come.”
“Even,” Luna sniffed, remembering her betrayal. “Even when…”
“Especially then. A pony might not always know the details, but when you trust in the ponies you love the most, that is faith. That is the faith I am placing in you now, little sister, and after this,” Celestia turned her gaze to the stars, fighting back happy tears, “you will finally take your place as my equal in every way. I am so very, very proud.”
Another drop streaked down Celestia’s cheek, this one landing in Luna’s mane. Luna choked in sympathy, now with her own tears streaking her face. “Oh, sister…”
They sat together sharing quiet tears, until Celestia finally pushed her little sister away with a heavy smile, backing away with a limp. “It is time, Luna. Show your light to the world.”
Luna took a deep breath, shored up her feelings of doubt as best she could and looked to the east. Closing her eyes, she reached deep within herself, the midnight blue of her magic taking form around her horn. She searched her soul, calling up memories of places and ponies from her past. Some of them were old memories, from before her banishment. Others were new, like the time spent with her sister, the citizens of Canterlot, and the lessons she had learned from the new elements of Harmony.
They were ponies that cared about her, ponies that Luna held dearer than anything in the world. They were the real Equestria, and she loved them all. She grabbed that love from deep inside, with all the warmth and sorrows that came with it, and poured it into the spell. The glow of her horn changed from night blue to brilliant white. As the energies continued to build, she felt herself floating in the thrall of pure magic she was collecting. It was every close moment she had ever shared with a pony she loved all at once. The burning heat of all that love threatened to break free and drive her to broken sobs of joy.
When the power of the collected experiences was almost too much to bear, one of her dearest memories surfaced.
Luna lay defeated on the cold stone floor of what used to be her home, The Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. Against all odds, six ponies had become the first to wield the Elements of Harmony in over a millennia, even coaxing them out of their inert state to do so. In that moment, the awakened elements had judged Luna to be disharmonious, and stripped her of her armor and all her power. Without Luna’s magic to sustain the banishment spell, her elder sister had escaped her imprisonment and brought an end to the short lived eternal night. Celestia returned and towered over the defeated alicorn, rested and strong. With Harmony restored by Celestia’s side, Luna knew in that moment her elder had complete power over her.
She had only to await her punishment.
“It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this,” said the sun princess with a dark frown. Yet even in her moment of complete victory over her rebellious sibling, Celestia knelt lovingly by her younger sister. “Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister. Will you accept my friendship?”
Shocked by the elder’s forgiveness, Luna bolted to her sister, burying her tears in her coat. “I’m so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister.”
Celestia had smiled down at her, and shared in her tears of joy. “I’ve missed you too.”
Now, Luna wrapped the forgiveness she received that day around all the love she could muster and poured it into the spell. It lanced toward the eastern sky, growing brighter as it went, and disappeared behind the horizon. The midnight mare landed on the platform with an exhausted gasp, and crumpled to the ground.
Celestia raced to her sister. She took a few hobbled steps in pain before taking flight the rest of the way, calling out as she flew. “Luna! Luna are you alright?”
A red sun rose in the east. It was the dawn of Luna’s day.
Luna was hardly able to lift her chin from the platform, but she smiled up at Celestia all the same. “I have never been better, sister. It was just like you always told me.” Her eyes sparkled with joy at what she had done, reflecting the light of the new dawn.
“Friendship is magic.”