"Apple Bloom! Ya get yourself away from there, ya hear?"
"Ah, I ain't in the way or anythin'," the young filly called out as she backed away from the forge and closed her eyes. "Besides, Scootaloo's watching out for me."
As she watched her sister back up, avoiding everything in her way with her eyes still closed, Applejack glanced up the cavern wall to an outcropping where Scootaloo was relaxing and watching the scene below. "I know ya'll still have that link and everything, but can ya please stop doin' that! It ain't natural."
"Applejack, dear, after what they have been through, I hardly think that being a little...gifted...is all that much of a issue." Rarity commented as she strode up to her friend with Sweetie Belle trailing behind her. "I am just relieved we got them back unharmed from that vile creature."
"Oh, I'm with ya on that Rarity, but these abilities just ain't natural. And bein' from Nightmare Moon... their 'bout the last thing I want Apple Bloom usin'."
"I think it's neat," Sweetie Belle said with her head cocked in puzzlement. "We can do lots more than we used to and it makes plannin' our next crusade a lot easier! Why, I reckon that we'll get our cutie marks darn tootin' an' be able ta show 'em off to ya'll before... Hey! Stop doing that Apple Bloom!" she shouted towards her giggling friend.
"Sorry, but that was me this time," Scootaloo called out chuckling as she landed with a thump on the cave floor. "You gotta admit though, hearing you talk like that is hilarious!"
"Oh it is, is it?"
"Yeah, that particular shade of crimson you turn when you deduced the hoax we duped you into... Hey! No fair making me saying things I don't understand." Scootaloo yelled as her face lit up a deep red.
"See what I mean?" Applejack muttered at Rarity. "Bein' inside each other's heads like they are just ain't right."
"Yes, yes, it certainly does make it easier for them to get into more mischief," Rarity mumbled back. "Which is why I agreed to bring them here for Luna to try and sever that link. You do think she will be back today?"
"I don't see why not," Applejack said as she looked around at the still-bustling foundry area. "Besides, even after she clues in Celestia to all the goings-on, she'll have to come back and round everything up. It's not like we was plannin' to just let this all rust, no matter how things go in Canterlot."
Rarity let out a small sigh as she thought about their work ahead. "True. I just hope we really can pull this off. And having both of them together should really help even the odds."
"Yeah, I'm thinkin' that we got a real solid chance to..."
"To arms my warriors! To arms!" a voice boomed out over the entire cavern as Luna materialized at the entrance. "Grab sword and shield and prepare for war! To arms my warriors! To arms!"
Applejack and Rarity just looked on in shock, with the majority of the caves inhabitants joining them, as Luna trumped out her order. The only movement in the stunned cavern came from Luna's original Night Guard's, who wasted no time in rushing towards the weapons racks, and began to don their contents. Seeing the Guard's professionalism seemed to animate the rest, and soon every pony was making their way over to help. Every pony - except for Applejack and Rarity, who made their way over towards the princess. The fillies tagged along as well, but after seeing the look on the Princess's face decided to stay quiet.
As they reached her side, Rainbow Dash raced over, her face a combination of shock and rage, "What the Tartarus do you think you're doing?! You said you were going to explain things to Celestia!"
"That was my intention this morning Rainbow Dash," Luna commented as she watched her warriors assembling. "However, somepony reached her before I did and has since accused me of treason. They have poisoned my sister's mind against me, and plan on using her to crush us all."
"And just who in tarnation could do that? Who has that much sway with her besides ya?"
Luna let a cold glare enter her eyes as she replied, "My accuser was none other than Twilight Sparkle herself."
"Twilight? Ya mean..."
"Gracious, it really was..."
"I knew it! I knew that she would..."
"Silence." That one word had such frozen venom in it that the three friends instantly obeyed. "While I shall admit that Twilight Sparkle's survival is heartening and can be, beneficial to us in the long term, her appearance now is most disturbing and can only mean one thing: they are moving, and she would kill us all herself if we but give her the opportunity."
"Why would she do that!?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she gave a small hop and hovered at the princess's eye level. "And you told us she was dead! Why weren't you doing something to help her?!"
Luna held Dash's gaze icily and slowly forced her back to the ground. "While I know you can be rash at times, do not give me a reason to think you are also stupid. I told you Twilight Sparkle was dead because I truly believed she was. I never in a thousand years believed she would break, and had given up hope of ever seeing her again. Also, if I had wasted even a single day since then, we would have no other option but to kill her ourselves." Looking at the shocked faces around her, Luna continued to glare for a few seconds longer and then let her face soften as she placed a hoof against the bag around her shoulder. "As it stands, however, we are now able to do otherwise."
"Ya mean we might actually be able to get her back?" Applejack asked with a light in her eyes.
"Yes. Our chances are slim, but if we are successful, then we shall have her back amongst us."
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's do this!" Hearing Dash's words caused both Applejack and Rarity to exchange a small smile and they all started to stand a little taller.
"What do ya need us to do then?"
"Firstly, Rainbow Dash, your princess requires you to locate both Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie and bring them here posthaste."
"On it!" And with a quick, hasty salute of her wingtip, Rainbow Dash leapt off and true to her name, dashed away leaving a small rainbow streak behind her.
"Next, Rarity, I shall need you to gather the unicorns with an affinity for earthen magics and have them prepare a land sculpting spell for the cliff outside. If we are forced to fight here, I want enough room to maneuver."
"On my way," Rarity said, already running towards the gatherings of ponies and calling out for their assistance.
"Lastly, Applejack, are you familiar with the location of Zecora's hut?"
"Can't rightly say that I am," Applejack said as she scratched to back of her neck. "I've only been there once or twice; so I'm sure I could find it again, but it would take me some time."
"And time is the thing we are most short of. Very well, see if there is any other pony who is..."
"Oh, oh, oh! I know where it is!" Apple Bloom chimed in as she bounced up to her sister. "I've been there lots of times!"
Luna put her hoof up to her chin at this, "Hmmm, do you think you could describe the way for your sister? We need somepony whom can return here with her faster than a filly such as yourself can run."
At this, Apple Bloom just smiled, reached out a foreleg and looped it around Sweetie Belle. "I can do ya better than that. I can guide Sweetie Belle there myself!"
Luna could only cock her head to the side. "And how does having two fillies go instead of one help us?"
"It is quite simple, your majesty," Sweetie Belle said with a smile of her face, "thanks to our encounter with Nightmare Moon, we all got some nice boosts. The weirdest one was that we still have a mind-talking-link thing going on; so if Apple Bloom knows where Zecora lives, I also know where she lives. Also..." Here Sweetie Belle's horn glowed brightly and she disappeared from beside Apple Bloom and reappeared in front of Luna. "My magic got a major upgrade. She loved to teleport around the forest if she was in a hurry, so I was able to learn the spell too. And she gave me enough magical power that I could reach Canterlot and come back. While I won't be able to bring Zecora back with me, I can at least get there almost as fast as Rainbow Dash."
"And I have already given her another assignment. Humph, very well. Go and tell Zecora to make her way here at her best speed."
"Got it," and with a small flare and a brief flash, Sweetie Belle disappeared.
With her brow still creased in thought, Luna turned her gaze towards the two remaining fillies. "She said that you all retained something besides your link? So what is it that you two retained?"
"Well, it's not much, but I'm stronger an' tougher then I used to be," Apple Bloom said with a smile, "she always used me for the heavy liftin'. Scootaloo got a really nice perk though."
"Yeah," Scootaloo chimed in, "she kept on trying to make me able to fly. And even though that didn't work so well, I can at least use my wings for some really cool long jumps now." To demonstrate, her wings started to buzz and then she leapt towards the caves wall. Like she said, while it wasn't true flight, she did manage to jump at least a dozen feet up the wall from which she rebounded and jumped up even higher. After several small leaps to prove her point, Scootaloo kicked off the wall with a back flip and used her wings to slow her descent enough to solidly land on all four hooves.
"A very fine demonstration," Luna said with slight smile, "while it will not be much, I do believe we can make use of both of your talents."
"Now just ya hold it right there!" Applejack said as she interposed herself between Luna and the fillies. "I ain't goin' to let them be exposed to any more danger, ya hear!?"
"You need not worry, they will be performing support roles and information gathering only; they shall see no combat."
Applejack kept her gaze locked with the princess's as she replied, "Long as we got an understandin'..."
"That we do," Luna returned. "Now, please go assist the others with the battle preparations. I feel your kin will benefit greatly by having you there to lead them."
"OK. Just you make sure they're safe and sound when the brawlin' starts," Applejack called out as she turned around and headed for the assembling force.
"So, what are we going to do?" Scootaloo asked with a big grin.
"Has young Sweetie Belle reached Zecora yet?"
Apple Bloom closed her eyes as she replied, "Not yet. But she should be there in a few minutes."
"Very good. After she has contacted Zecora, I have another task for her," Luna commented as she started to head towards her personal area of the cavern. "In the mean time, both of you come with me. I shall instruct you in the use of my viewing orbs while I make my other...arrangements."
********
Celestia had already started to slow the sun's descent towards the horizon as she approached Ponyville. As she gazed down upon the town from her personal chariot, she wondered what the ponies below thought of the procession behind her. Over a dozen personnel wagons pulled by teams of four Pegasi each, with an additional two score flying security around the double wide column. It was a procession that hadn't been seen in countless generations - the personal force of a princess on its way to do battle.
'When was the last time I had to field a force larger than this?' Celestia thought to herself. 'Surely not since the campaign against those rogue dragons, at least. Although, I cannot help but feel slightly saddened by the turn out; only a single Company worth of Day Guard, Palace Security, and Canterlot Patrol available for this deployment? Against Luna's single Platoon, it should be enough, but I can see the peace has made us negligent in our duties. Why, we would be in dire straits if the local dragons banded together again for a direct challenge. I cannot fault their dedication though, not after that departure.'
As her chariot moved past the city below and out over the Everfree Forest, Celestia let her thoughts wander back over to the send off. 'I wish Blueblood had just left that phrase buried in obscurity, t may bolster their morale, but it belongs in the past. Along with... And what do we have here?' she thought as she felt a subtle ripple in the forest below. Calling out to one of her escorts, "Sergeant. There is a faint magical disturbance below us. Take a team and confirm its identity."
"Celestia fero Gloria," the guardspony called out as he dove towards the tree tops followed by his team.
'And there it is again; at this rate it will soon make its way into my forces once more. I have no desire to be thought of as a deity again; and any glory that I bring this day is already tainted by my failure to my subjects.' She let the guilt assail her once more as the Pegasi team approached the forest canopy. Then suddenly, she felt a number of faint ripples over the forest. No, not all over. It actually was a straight line which was, heading away? 'Oh very clever Luna, very clever indeed.'
"Majesty," the sergeant called out once he had returned to her side, "I am afraid we spooked them off. We found signs of somepony, but no solid trace of them."
"Fear not Sergeant, you merely flushed my sister out of her concealment."
"I do not understand, Your Majesty."
"It is quite simple," Celestia said as she gestured towards the mountains in the distance. "Unless I am mistaken, that was my sister's magic beneath us teleporting in short hops to run from us. She obviously came out to spy on our composition. And judging by the direction of her leaps, Blueblood was correct about the location of her stronghold." A grave expression settled on her face as she continued. "If she was still out here then it will take some time for her to organize her defenses. If we hurry, we may yet arrive before they are fully ready. Tell the column to advance at double time."
"At once, your Majesty," he voiced as he dropped speed to pass on the orders.
'Even if she is pressed for time, Luna shall have enough of it to prepare something. Whatever it is, I am sure it shall be directed at me personally,' she thought as her own chariot pullers increased their speed in compliance with her command. She felt her expression start to heat in anger as she envisioned what awaited her. 'I shall have to remember Blueblood's warning, Luna will tell me any lie to try and deceive her way out of this reckoning. And for my most faithful student, a reckoning she shall have.'
********
"Are you sure about she saw?" Luna asked the two fillies who had their eyes closed. "There were not any additional chariots or wagons behind them?"
"Nope, I just counted only those two rows of barges and Celestia's ride," Apple Bloom said as she opened her eyes and let them readjust.
"Yeah, and I counted at least thirty-five different Pegasus's before she was chased off," Scootaloo added as she rubbed her temples. "Ugh, that really gave me a headache."
"You have a headache?" Sweetie Belle reappeared gasping in a flash of light. "Try teleporting all over the forest and back. Whoa, I really need to lay down now," she finished as she slumped to the floor.
"Well done. All of you, and especially you Sweetie Belle. I could not have asked for any better intelligence."
Sweetie Belle gave a slight blush as she waved a hoof in the air over her head, "Don't mention it. But, could somepony please bring me some water? That really wore me out."
"At once, my noble little pony," Luna said as she gestured towards one of her guardponies. While he sprang into action, Luna let her thoughts flow inwards. 'Only a single company against me, my sister? Either you are seriously underestimating me, or you were even worse off than I thought.'
She let her gaze drift of the remainder of the forces, to her forges, and weapon racks as well. When her gaze did finally settle across the cave entrance, she noticed three arriving ponies: Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie who was riding on her back, and Fluttershy, meekly flapping behind them. A small smile broke the stern complexion of her face as she also spied a cloaked figure making its way to the front of her ranks. She now reached into her shoulder bags and brought out her sister's greatest weapon.
'Either way Tia, I now have more than enough to force you to listen to me.'
********
The convoy surrounded the lonely mountain peak. The wagons had peeled off into two circles with the multitude of Pegasi interspaced between them and the mountain. Only Celestia's carriage remained stationary as she considered the cavern entrance with her senior officers.
"There is not enough room to land our entire force, so we will have to land in waves. Commander, I want the first wave to consist of Day Guard Earth ponies in front with Unicorns in the rear for close fire support. Depending on the size of the interior, the Pegasi will either enter next or remain on station out here in order to keep up a barrier. If at all possible, I do not want us to strike first. We will give the Night Guard a chance to surrender, and any pony whom asks for quarter will be given it. Am I understood?"
"Completely, Your Majesty," came the reply from all sides.
"Very good. Also, under no circumstances should any pony attempt to confront Luna on their own. If she is spotted, send for me at once and I shall face her." Here she paused and gestured at the sun as it sat on the horizon. "In order to our limit confusion, I shall not be setting the sun until this is completed. So I suggest we get started so that we disrupt nature as little as possible. Let us be..."
A sharp crack shot through the air which directed all eyes toward the cavern entrance. With a series of grumbles and rumbling from the mountainside, Celestia and her officers looked on in puzzlement as the ledge around the cave mouth slowly started to expand. In less than a minute, the ground had more than tripled in size, reaching near the dimensions of the royal parade grounds.
After the ground had stopped moving, and all of the tremors had subsided, Celestia looked on with narrowed eyes. "It seems my sister wishes to settle things out here in the open. Commander, have a squad confirm the solidity of the new cliff side and strengthen it with some protective warding. Once this is accomplished, we shall land the entire force, but keep the order of march the same as before. Move out."
"Celestia fero Gloria," was echoed as the officers scattered off towards their respective commands. They left fast enough to not even notice the wince cover Celestia's face at hearing the shout once again.
Slowly, a single wagon and Pegasi flight approached the now extended cliff edge. The Pegasi landed first while staying light on their hoofs. As they slowly fanned out and let more of their weight settle, a Unicorn team teleported down from the hovering wagon and, horns glowing, examined the ground beneath them. As more and more of the ground was searched, Earth ponies in heavy armor jumped from the wagon and studied their footing. Eventually, all three groups signaled their acceptance of the grounds and gathered in its center. A sign from the unicorn Day Guard commander followed and all of the wagons made their way down.
Celestia continued to watch from above as her forces assembled. Even the entire force together only took up half of the cliffs width. Celestia wondered if Luna truly did hope to defeat them with her platoons mobility? Preposterous as it sounded, she could not think of any other reason for Luna engineer such a sizable field.
Once the ranks and files were formed and her commander signaled their readiness, Celestia leapt from her chariot and glided to her rightful place in front. With one final glance to ensure her army's readiness, she called out, "Luna! I know you are waiting for us! I implore you, you shall have your chance to refute the charges against you, but you must first come with us! Please, stand down your Night Guard and surrender yourself! I have no desire for bloodshed!"
The only sound which followed this declaration was her own echo off the surrounding walls. Celestia counted out five minutes in her head before she nodded towards her commander and he shouted out, "Day Guard! Advance!"
"Celestia fero Gloria!" The Day Guards taken only a single step forward when another shout came from the cave mouth with, "Luna nos Custodit!" Following this shout Celestia could make out her sister's Night Guard making their way out of the cave in a steady stream. Celestia could only wonder what her sister was thinking as the single platoon formed itself into a solid line. But then she realized that the flow of ponies had not stopped! It seemed to continue on forever as more made their way out and formed ranks behind that first line.
'How is this possible?! Could she have resummoned the others?'
Her commander had halted his advance after the shout. He now approached Celestia while keeping his eyes on the opposing force, which now covered the entire width of the field. "Majesty? I do not know how she did it, but if those truly are Night Guard, then I am afraid I cannot guarantee we will be victorious."
Celestia only shook her head at this comment, not in denial but in wonder. "I do not know either commander, but it is not as bad as that and also infinitely worse." Seeing the confused look on his face she continued, "Take a closer look at the ranks behind the front. While they may wear the gray armor of the Night, they do not possess the Glamour Charm of the Guards. Somehow, she has turned my own ponies against me." Here, a single tear made its way down her face.
After the grey armored force had stopped moving, Celestia shouted out again, "I would speak with my sister! Bring her forth so that we may avoid this battle!"
"I'm afraid we ain't goin' to be able to do that, Princess!"
Celestia felt her jaw nearly drop in shock as she identified the voice which responded to her. As the echoes died away, the center column of the Night Guard parted and allowed five ponies to make their way towards the front. Once she saw them advance onto the field and beyond their assembled ranks, Celestia walked forward to meet them with her commander following close behind. She received another shock after they had gotten close enough to discern details, for she found herself facing two Earth ponies, two Pegisi, and a Unicorn. And while they all sported the gray armor of her sister, they each had a single splash of color as well; they all wore a necklace fashioned after the Cutie Marks which adorned their flanks. They each bowed low as they arrived in the center of the field, and when they arose, she found herself facing the wielders of the Elements of Harmony.
"Applejack. I hope you have a good reason for being here. On the opposite side of the field from my Day Guards." Since it was she that answered her call, and since she was standing slightly in front of the others, Celestia decided to limit her conversation to the apparent spokespony.
"Princess, I never thought I'd see the day I'd be standin' on a field opposite ya. But please understand, this is not just about ya, this is about the future of Equestria."
Celestia let her gaze wonder over the ponies she had counted to save her kingdom numerous times, and who had also personally saved her life. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity all had a sad yet determined look in their eyes. Pinkie Pie was continuously gawking at the assembled armies and let off the occasional giggle. Even Fluttershy seemed to be holding some measure of resolve, although Celestia could still make out a slight rattle coming from her armor. "Equestria? How does this help Equestria? How does plunging the kingdom into civil war serve Equestria?"
"I'm afraid it's complicated, but this is also our way of finally bein' able to help Twilight."
"Now you are intentionally confusing me. Twilight Sparkle is now recovering in Canterlot from life threatening injuries. Injuries she has named Luna responsible for! How in the name of Discord is any of this supposed to be of help to her?!"
"Like I said, it's complicated. However, Princess Luna is waitin' for ya inside and would like the chance to explain it all if ya can just stop tryin' to arrest her."
Celestia looked back and forth between her outnumbered Canterlot forces and Luna's bolstered Guards. "Alone? My sister is willing to meet me alone?"
"Yeah. No armies, and no tricks, and maybe the two of ya can work this out."
"Majesty! You cannot be considering this?!" her commander said as his gaze went between her and Applejack. "You cannot risk yourself on the deceitful words of your enemies!"
"Enemies? Are you truly my enemy Applejack? Would you actually attack me or intentionally lead me into danger?"
Applejack slowly lifted her hoof and placed it on her apple shaped necklace, "Princess, I swear on my Element of Honesty that I have no desire to fight ya, or the forces under your command. However, I also swear that in order to save this kingdom, and to protect Twilight, I will do whatever is necessary."
Celestia kept her eyes locked with Applejack's as she heard this oath. After it was finished, she glanced at the other ponies and saw that each of them also held a hoof on their own elements. Taking a deep breath, Celestia let it out in a faint sigh, "Very well Applejack. I believe you."
"Majesty!"
"Quiet commander. Return to my forces and explain this to them. I will confer with my sister alone in order avoid the spilling of any of my ponies blood."
The commander let a rumble of displeasure enter his voice as he replied, "As you command. However, all you have to do is call for us and we shall fight our way to you. No matter how many stand between us, we shall reach you."
"I pray it will not come to that. Now return and tell the others of my decision." As he turned around and made for the waiting Day Guard, Celestia faced forwards once more. "Now, take me to my sister."
"At once, Princess," Applejack answered as she and the others turned around and led her back towards the Night Guards lines. As they approached, the lines parted once more and ponies on either side bowed their heads and muttered words of respect. Only the true Night Guards kept their backs straight and their attention on the opposing Day Guard as a shout erupted from the far side of the field.
"Celestia fero Gloria! Gloria! Gloria!" The chant continued as Celestia made her way through the ranks and entered the dark cavern mouth.
'I am afraid that any glory we win this day will be dark indeed.'
********
"Alright, she's comin' in now. Are ya sure ya don't want any more help?" Apple Bloom asked as she approached the princess.
"No young Apple Bloom. Against my sister, I am afraid you would be more of a hindrance than a help," Luna replied through a faint smile, "now go and join Sweetie Belle in the store rooms. And under no circumstance should either of you reveal yourselves until you are called for. That also goes double for young Scootaloo. If the Day Guard notice her hiding in the rocks outside, they may attack before they realize who she is. Am I clear?"
"Yeah, I got ya. We'll make sure to stay safe. And, good luck to ya." And with that, Apple Bloom ran off towards the deeper parts of the cavern, leaving Luna sitting by herself with her back towards the entrance of the foundry area. Where her sister found her a short time later.
"Luna? Is that really you?" Celestia asked as she rounded the last turn in the tunnel.
"Yes dear sister. I am here. Would you care to come sit with me?" Luna answered without even a glance over her shoulder.
As she made her way towards Luna, Celestia let her gaze wander over the scene in front of her. The fires of the forges still burned hot; dozens of weapons racks now stood empty, their various items now adorning the ponies outside. She saw signs of a major military center outfitted for even the longest of battles everywhere she looked; except for the one place she could not bear to glance to - her own sister.
"You have been quite busy indeed. Tell me, was all of this aimed at me? For revenge?"
"Revenge?" Luna let out a small sigh at this accusation. "No, revenge was never a part of it my sister. While a part of this was intended to be pointed at you, it would only have been barred if you had failed to see reason."
"Reason? What reason would you have to arm our ponies for war? Why would you, why did you turn them against me? If the reason was not to wound my very soul, then please tell me why you would do this?!" Celestia was barely able to restrain the tears in her eyes as she finally faced her younger sibling.
Luna was also holding her tears back as she turned towards her sister. "I am very sorry for I was being exceptionally foolish. And for that I do ask for your forgiveness. However, I do have severe matters which forced my hoof and pressed me into this very situation. If you would just hear me out, I would gladly tell you the tale."
Celestia looked her sister over once more, and could not find a single sign of preparing an attack. It appeared she really did wish to just talk. As she took a deep breath to ready herself, she reached up a hoof and wiped away her unshed tears. "Very well Luna. I shall hear this story you speak of."
Luna reached up and wiped her own tears off her face and began, "Thank you Tia. My story begins after my fall into madness and banishment to the moon. You see..."
********
"It's been awfully quiet in there," Rainbow Dash said as she attempted to keep her eyes on the Day Guard in front of her and her ears on the cave behind her. "Judging by the look the Princess had, I was almost certain she was going to sock Luna once she found her."
"Now that is no way to expect anypony to behave Rainbow Dash," Rarity responded as she attempted to split her attention as well. "You may not understand, seeing as you have no siblings of your own, but while we sometimes might wish to literally strangle our younger sisters, we will usually give them a chance to explain first."
"Yeah, yeah. I get that. But you saw the look on Celestia's face when she recognized all of us. She looked like we had just ripped her heart out and was going to blame it on Luna."
Rarity let her sights rest on Applejack for a bit as she was forced to stand in the forefront of the Night Guard formations as both a beacon and symbol for her family behind her. "Yes I saw it Dash, but do not forget. She still feels the love she has for her sister and that is what will give them the chance to end this peacefully. We engineered the timing of this too carefully to just throw it away on the assumption sisterly aggression." Here Rarity's eyes flickered momentarily towards the side.
Rainbow Dash risked her own quick glance into the rocks on the mountain side. It was hard, especially since her cloak blended into the surrounding rocks perfectly, but she could just make out the form of Scootaloo as she overlooked the battleground. "Yeah, I'll admit the squirt did really well with getting our timing down. But I still thought Celestia looked too betrayed to really listen."
"You may think that, but please pray that she does. I have no wish for this to start before it really has to."
********
"...which brings us to where we are now Tia. And to the end of my tale." Luna turned and faced her sister once more. Celestia's face had been lowered since shortly after Luna had begun speaking, and even now her face remained hidden behind her ever flowing mane. Although, Luna could now see a small river of tears as they dripped down her face.
"Oh Luna. How could I have been so mistaken?"
"Then you... then you truly believe me?" Luna turned her back to hide her own tears as she reached up to wipe them away once more. It was this motion which caused her to miss seeing Celestia raise her head with her horn glowing brightly, and it was this which left her completely unprepared for the magical blast which struck her back and slammed her into the wall.
"How could I have missed the signs this time? Even though I was so careful, even though I tried so hard. How could I have let this go on for so long that I endangered not just you, but all of my other subjects as well? To let you brainwash them with these lies, and to even let you attempt to use it on me? I am sorry for how much I have failed you my little sister." Even though the tears were falling freely now, they could not extinguish fire of anger and torment which raged in Celestia's eyes as she watched her sister regain her feet. "I only pray they, and you, can forgive me for my failure."
"Your failure?" Luna said as she spit out some blood from her mouth. "Your failure here is that you are failing to see the truth! He is manipulating you and wishes to be rid of me!"
"Enough!" Celestia shouted as she stomped her hoof and began to charge her magic once more. "We both know that they are still sealed and can never return, so I will not hear any more of this deceit! Every word from your lips has been lies for who knows how long! I am sorry it took the near slaughter of the realm, of my ponies, of Twilight Sparkle to make me finally realize it. But I will do whatever it takes to stop you here and now!"
Luna saw the seriousness in her sisters stance as she started to gather her own arcane energies. "Oh really, my sister? Ever since my fall, you have failed to defeat me in fair combat. You have been forced to rely on others to do the fighting for you, or on cheap tricks like just now! Do you really think you will be able to defeat me here, on your own, and without your precious Elements?"
"Whatever it takes," was Celestia's answer as let her magic fly.
"Then so be it," Luna replied with her own power.
The mystical energies collided in the middle of the cavern and began to fight for dominance. Bight golden light mixed with dark midnight blue as they swirled, wrapped, and attempted to smother the other. Eventually, the entire mass of power turned a burning orange color, forming one giant sphere. The forces generated by this mass had the winds ripping across the cavern complex. Mini vortexes sprang to life, spreading glowing embers and dying ashes from the forges throughout the air. It also picked up the weapon racks and slammed them into the walls, the forges, and each other, slowly grinding them down into flying spears of wood. Despite this, both princess attention remained fixed onto the other, since even the smallest distraction would lead to their balance being lost and then being overwhelmed.
So it came as no surprise that Celestia did not immediately react when she felt something collide with her back. She was forced to respond however, when she felt the sharp pain of a blade run itself from wings to tail along her spine. She bucked as hard as she could and saw a shrouded form leap from her back and scurry away. She tried to keep her concentration focused while this was going on, but the balance had already been lost. Luna's magic quickly consumed the sphere between them and with a load explosion, it bust and focused all of the constrained energies on her sister.
Celestia wasted no time as she quickly cut off her push for dominance and threw up a golden shield of protection. The unstoppable force of their combined magic's met the immovable object of her shield which quickly started to show its strain. Cracks started to form across the shields length, while the edges rapidly became chipped and jagged. She did not know how long the torrent would last, but she knew unless she poured everything into the shield that she would be instantly consumed by the elemental forces. Celestia's vision started to blur and her head started to throb as she continued to hold her ground, until she suddenly slipped and fell to the ground, and the energies abruptly shifted and soared into the ceiling. She started to immediately try and regain her footing, but Celestia found her legs had no strength, her vision was spinning, and her head throbbed whenever she tried to summon her magic.
"It is most disconcerting, is it not my sister?" Luna said as she started to advance on Celestia.
"How? Who was...that? What did you...do to me?" Celestia gasped as she continued to fight her own body.
At Luna's gesture, the cloaked form reappeared before the sisters and threw back its hood to reveal a face stripped in black and white.
"I myself have also suffered from the effects of this toxin my sister, so believe me when I tell you I know what you are going through. You have lost the ability to continue this fight. So please, surrender."
"You...you...cheated."
"But of course. I figured it was my turn and made my plans accordingly. Besides, this was far too important to leave to chance. Now, please yield, my sister."
As Zecora returned the small dagger to her harness, Celestia could just make out a subtle sheen of poison on the blade, and the faint coloring of blood along the edge. "No matter how much one struggles, no matter how much one tries, they can never defeat an enemy which attacks them from the insides." With her face softening into a plea she continued, "your body no longer listens, your head can feel only the strain. Please submit yourself, before you succumb to the pain."
With a slowness which showed the great deliberation that each action took to perform, Celestia gradually regained her feet but kept her head low to the ground and muttered, "Never. What...ever...it...takes."
"Very well then, my sister." Luna said as she closed her eyes, and summoned a magical blast which struck Celestia squarely in the face. Her sister instantly collapsed, but her head was lowered gently to the ground by the magic which still enveloped it. As Zecora rushed forward and began to position the fallen princess into a more comfortable position, Luna approached much more sedately and gently lowered her horn to her Celestia's forehead. "Worry not my sister. I shall make this quick." With that, Luna's horn began to softly glow; and when she rose once more, a faint trickle of energy flowed from Celestia's horn to Luna's which caused her to gasp.
"Are you well? Are you in any pain? Magic absorbed too abruptly will cause you a tremendous strain."
"No Zecora, I will be fine. It is just, a lot to take in all at once. I wonder if she felt the same after she had took the moon from me for the first time. Are you sure she shall be alright?"
The zebra nodded as she reached out and brushed a strand of Celestia's hair behind her ear. The ever flowing mane was nearly still and had shrunk down to just over a normal sized amount. Even though it still moved in her sleep, one could begin to see individual hairs forming around the edges. "You have been here before and were even more diminished for a time. Do not fret or worry, let us keep our eyes open until we cross our finish line."
"You are correct. First things first. Go retrieve the fillies and tell them what has transpired. Once they have been able to relay the message, you will need to secure my sister for travel. It will be a most crude use of her stature, but the effects cannot be overlooked. However, please try to make her as comfortable as possible."
Zecora merely nodded as she started to trot off towards the rear of the cavern. After Luna watched her turn a corner, she reached down and nuzzled her sister. "I am sorry it has come to this Tia, but you left me no choice. I shall do everything in my power to make this as quick and as bloodless as possible. You have my word as a Princess of Equestria."
With that declaration firmly planted, Luna turn around and head for the caverns entrance. She had an army she had to route.
********
"I can't say I like the look of this," Applejack muttered, "they've been gettin' antsy ever since that wind stopped howlin'."'
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash muttered back, "I'm surprised they haven't tried anything yet. That commander over there was just itching for a fight."
"Be that as it may dear," Rarity mumbled, "Celestia would not have promoted him that high if he was an idiot. He must know that to fight us here would be suicide."
"Oh I'll agree with ya there Rarity, but it's been plenty proven that ya don't have to be stupid in order to do somethin' dumb."
Rainbow Dash looked over her shoulder as she heard a commotion starting near the cavern's mouth. After a quick hoop into the sky, she landed again almost instantly. "Well , I guess it's time to see just how bright he is. Luna's on her way up front."
Each of the friends bowed their head and reached up a hoof to touch their necklace's. "I'm glad I didn't have to watch that. There's no way it could have ended pretty."
"Granted Applejack dear. But here comes the real test. How Luna handles the Day Guards will set the tone for how the rest of this adventure will be played out."
The rumblings in the ranks of the Night Guard were generally subdued as Luna passed through. The majority of the ponies simply bowed their heads and muttered small words of prayer for the well being of the princess they knew had fallen. The Day Guard, on the other hoof, started with cries of surprise and anguish once they realized that Luna was approaching them alone, with her sister nowhere to be seen. The only pony who seemed to keep his composure was the commander as he started to advance towards the field's center once more to parley with his enemies. Behind him, the massed guard spouted the most vile obstinacies they knew. They hurled them upon Luna and her forces as if the words could do harm in the their stead. The only thing which seemed to keep the entire force from descending into an angry mob was the discipline of the Day Guard Officers and the fear which undercut all of even their most vile curses.
As he approached the Night Princess, the commander neither cringed nor bowed. He simply looked Luna directly in the
eyes and asked, "Is she still alive?"
"Of course commander. She is a mite bruised and slightly crisped, but no great harm has befallen my sister. No matter what you were all lead to believe, I am no longer the monster I once was."
The commander nodded and seemed to mutter something like a prayer under his breath, and then he continued, "So now, I am compelled to ask, what do you intend to do?"
"I shall transport my sister back to Canterlot. There she shall witness the removal of our enemies and us ensuring our victory for all of Equestria. Now you, commander, have a choice to make. Will you yield your force to mine, or will you force me to annihilate you?"
"I have another choice in mind, your majesty. I shall lead my troops here against you and we will rescue Our Princess. The majority of your forces are nothing more than a paper dragon. And once I take care of you, we shall crush your little rebellion." His horn started to emit a soft glow as he started to show his resolve. "Out of thanks for not killing her, I will face you honorably, but I cannot allow you to return to your forces."
Luna's face quickly went from one of shock to one of mirth as she laughed out loud after hearing the unicorns words, "Do you even hear yourself commander? Do you even comprehend to whom you are dealing with?!" she cried out as she flapped her wings and slowly rose into the dusk light sky. As the opposing forces watched, Luna's horn began to shine and she called out in the Royal Voice, "I am Luna! I am the Princess of the Night! I am she who now rules all of the heavens and am she who can summon her legion to her side once more!"
With a sharp gesture towards the horizon, Luna forced the Sun down and plunged the land into a temporary darkness, until the Moon rapidly rose and took its delayed place. As the words that Luna shouted echoed off the hill side and the commander registered the noise, he turned and focused his attention on the rising moon, "No! That is impossible!"
"Not impossible commander. Merely very difficult." Luna replied in a normal voice as she settled to the ground once more.
As he watched, the commander started to make out a shadow which moved out from the moon. It was not even solid, but seemed to be a whirling mass of various shapes and forms which swirled and twisted about each other. They screamed and howled with cries of such ferocity that the very wind seemed to answer them and began to blow in gusts and bursts. Eventually, he could distinguish the occasional wing tip or horn concealed in the blackness, and the screams began to form more coherent cries of Equestria and Luna as they drew closer. The entire mass continued until it slammed into the field, kicking up so much dust and debris that the commander was forced to shield his face until the wind had calmed down.
As he lowered his foreleg again, he was faced with something out of a nightmare. Now between him and his troops, in fact, on every piece of previously unoccupied land and even covering the sky, now formed a sight straight out of Tarturas. It had the same overall shape of a pony, but the features were all washed out as if they were covered in a deep shadow. Their bodies wavered back and forth on the breeze as if they were spirits from beyond. And the eyes, they burned with such an intensity that they left a streak of fire in their wake. The ranks of the Day Guard closest to the apparitions flinched away in horror and scrambled to press themselves deeper in their own ranks, but their fellows had pressed even tighter together and held them forth as shields against the night.
As the commander looked on in horror, he twisted about as if trying to watch every side at once until Luna's voice broke through and grabbed his attention once more. "As you can see, commander, this battle would accomplish nothing beyond a massacre. And while I do not wish for that, it is also apparent your forces are too terrified to reasonably surrender. So I have another proposition for you."
"And that would be?" He was almost proud with himself that his voice was steady and that his teeth did not chatter.
"Take your forces, and run. Scatter to the winds with your tails between your legs and tell my enemies that the True Night has returned. That tomorrow on the dawn, we shall rain down on them and they shall rue their choice to stand against me. Go now and tell them that I am coming and that I bring retribution with me."
As he shrunk back from the fury he saw in her eyes, the commander noticed a gap form in the shapes around him, one that lead back to his troops. As he considered the threats hurled against him, he turned and ran as fast as his hoofs could bear him. As he approached his ranks once more, he started to shout out, "Fall back! To the wagons and to Canterlot! Fall back!"
The terrified forces did not have to be told twice, they had started to move the instant they had heard his voice. A mad dash of Earth Ponies and Unicorns struggled towards their waiting wagons, while the Pegasi immediately took flight and interposed themselves between the flying terrors and their ground bound comrades. As the various wagons neared their carrying capacity, their Pegasi teams took flight and began a mad dash away from the mountain, occasionally with a last pony or two still being levitated onboard. As the last of the wagons left the ground, the remaining Pegasi dropped in behind them and began to carry and push the wagons together in an attempt put even more distance between themselves and the horrors they had faced. Soon the only sign that they had even been there was Celestia's personal carriage which was left abandoned.
As she watched them recede into the distance, Luna heard a cheer erupt behind her and also noticed Applejack approaching. "Well, I've got to say that this was mighty impressive. I think most of us got several seasons of our lives scared right out of us, even with the heads up of what was coming."
One of the closure apparitions approached Luna as well and bowed low. "Well, we aim to please. And I believe those idiots would sprint half way across Equestria before they even thought of slowing down," it said in a rasping voice. "Funny though, I remember the Day Guard being a lot tougher."
"It is good to see you my Marshall. It is good to see all of you once more. Applejack, are the rest of your friends able to come forward?"
"I'm afraid not princess. Rarity and Rainbow are tryin' to bring Fluttershy outta her faint, and Pinkie is having too much fun trying to play tag with a ghost. I'm afraid I'm it for the moment."
"Well don't forget about me or anything," Scootaloo said as she ended a long jump next to Applejack. "It's not like I did anything to help pull this off."
Applejack just reached down and ruffled the little fillies mane, "Well arn't ya just the picture of humility. But ya're right, without ya or all of ya'll link, I doubt we could have hit the timing as well as we did. Good job there young'n."
"Ah, don't mention it," Scootaloo said with a blush, "Hey, do you think Rainbow Dash will say the same thing?!"
"I'm pretty sure she will. Why don't ya go and ask her yerself."
And with a quick giggle and glance to find her idol, Scootaloo bounded off for another round of praise.
"While it is true the young fillies fulfilled their roles admirably," Luna said as she watched Scootaloo squeal under a head rubbing from Rainbow Dash, "I must also congratulate you and your family Applejack. That fleeing commander called you all a paper dragon, but I have no doubt about the outcome if they had decided to ignore reason."
"It is funny that he called you that, even though it is us who are less substantial then mist on the winds," the ghostly voice said with a chuckle. "While it is good to see Equestria again, I am sorry that we will be unable to help you in real combat your Majesty."
"Do not worry yourself my Marshall. You shall keep the terror alive enough tonight and afford us a victory on the morrow. No go. Do that which you have learned to do best."
"By your command my Princess," the form bowed low before jumping and raising into the air, "Night Guard! We have our orders! Advance!"
"LUNA NOS CUSTODIT!" was the reply as the shadows jumped as one and trailed away into the sky. They could be seen making their way after the fleeing Day Guards, but at a very sedate pace.
"Well, we should begin our preparations to follow," Luna called out in a carrying voice, "I wish us to a parked outside of Canterlot's walls before sunrise, and I will not be delaying it just so we can be lazy. Let us move it my ponies!"
As she received shouts of acknowledgement, Luna let her eyes rest on the sight of her sisters carriage near the cliffs edge. 'Oh, that will do just perfectly. A nice crowning touch to the look,' she thought to herself as she made her way back towards the cavern's mouth. 'I am sorry for the disdain I am about to heap on you my sister, but I believe you will come to see things my way and forgive me. In time.'