The following morning in Canterlot Castle, there was a feeling of tension throughout the large dwelling. Despite no other pony being there last night, word of what happened between Celestia and Luna was leaked out and spread like wildfire throughout the castle. Guards suddenly found themselves keeping their distance from both princesses in fear they may snap. It wasn’t helped with the fact that Luna ordered her own guards to not allow Princess Celestia or any of her guards or advisors into her section of the castle. To everyone not involved in this dispute, it felt like a civil war was on the horizon.
Princess Celestia was sitting on her throne and looking out a window to see her sister’s tower in the distance. She let out a sigh and shook her head as last night’s events played through her head again. The sound of the doors opening caught the white alicorn’s attention amd looked to see a white stallion in traditional golden armor.
“Any luck yet on the negotiations sergeant?” She asked
The guard shook his head. “No your highness, we’ve tried to talk to Princess Luna into a peace talk, but she claims that you only want to take away her coltfriend. She’s placed guards now at every entrance leading to her side of the castle and refuses to allow you or any pony under your command through.”
Princess Celestia lowered her head in shame. “Thank you for trying sergeant. Return to your post until I come up with another idea to calm my sister down. And make sure none of this is leaked to the media. The last thing I need is for another large group of the paparazzi swarming the castle.” The guard gave a salute before turning around and walking out the doors. As soon as she heard them close, Celestia groaned and rubbed her temples. “Luna, I know you think I’m being the villain here, but you haven’t given me a chance to explain myself.”
“I think she has every reason to believe you’re the villain.”
The white alicorn jumped a little and looked around. “Who’s there?”
Suddenly, Stealth Sneak appeared right in front of her as her materialized and let his field down. “You’re looking quite grim this morning Celestia. Where’s that beautiful smile of yours today?”
“Do you enjoy trying to scare ponies like that Stealth Sneak?” Asked Celestia as she furrowed her brows. “And more importantly, what are you still doing here? Your task has already been completed and you’re free to go.”
“First of all, I only like to do that trick on Nightmare Night,” he said with a coy smile. “Secondly, I figured since this is all going on, I’d stick around and try to help patch things up since I’m part of the reason this happened.”
“You only did what I ordered you to do, and it was the right thing-”
“It wasn’t the right thing!” Stealth shouted out to Celestia, seeing her jump in her throne slightly as he teleported to her side. “You had no right to invade on Luna’s privacy like that, using me of all ponies because you’re too cowardly to ask her about her personal life.”
“Wha-”
“I’m not done,” Stealth chimed in and teleported again to her other side. “Celestia, you fail to see the obvious and you fail to act responsibly. You’re repeating past events that should not be repeated at all... haven’t you learned anything?”
Celestia got up from her throne and turned to Stealth. “I have learned that I shouldn’t act too late and that my sister needs to be safe at all costs,”
Stealth furrowed his brow and shook his head. “Even if it means ridding her of her happiness?”
Celestia stomped her hoof and grinded her teeth at the stallion, who did not flinch. “My sister happiness means everything to me, Stealth!”
Stealth huffed and rolled his eyes as he walked away. “With what you are doing now, I seriously doubt that...” he said as he slowly turned his head around. “I just hope that when you realize this is a big mistake, it won’t be too late.” he said and vanished from Celestia’s sight.
Celestia stood there and looked down to the ground and saw the dent that was made from her burst of anger. She sighed and made her way back to her throne, flopping down on it as she sighed.
“What would he know about me?” She asked herself, not receiving an answer. She looked up again to the tower where Luna was and shook her head.
“This can’t go on for much longer Luna.”
Celestia closed her eyes as she rubbed her forehead and started seeing images of her sister happy with the stallion, slowly turning into the abomination that would be known as Nightmare Moon. The same abomination that was exiled for a thousand years, along with Luna. How those thousand years were the loneliest for both of them and how it took her former student to rectify Celestia’s mistake.
Celestia’s eyes shot open as she furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes. She sharply got up from her throne and made her way outside.
The white alicorn walked around the castle garden and looked around desperately for any sign of her sister or Pipsqueak. The only thing she saw though were the occasional guard passing, and bowing before their co-ruler before moving on, some trimmed hedges, a couple of statues of famous ponies, and flower beds that went on for what seemed to be forever. With no sign of her sister or Pip in sight, Celestia sighed in defeat as she prepared to go search elsewhere on the castle’s grounds.
“Shh! Be quiet Pippy,” a voice said.
Celestia’s ears perked up as she recognized her sister’s voice. She turned to where the sound was coming from and saw something that made her shiver a little, the Royal Maze. She remembered how Discord tricked her faithful student Twilight and her friends and nearly destroyed their friendship with one another. Although she knows he’s reformed and has been living in his own castle on an island, Celestia still feels a little pain from that experience.
She heard hoofsteps nearby and figured it had to be her sister and Pip. Here goes nothing, she thought to herself. She took off into the air and flew over the tall hedge.
“Blimey, I didn’t think the Royal Maze was this complex,” said Pip with awe. “Are you sure this is the right way to the fountain?”
“I’m positive Pip,” responded Luna. “I’d say we are-” She suddenly noticed a shadow was cast over her and looked up to see a pony. “Going to be a little late,” she spat at the sight of the pony.
Celestia landed in front of her sister and Pip. The spotted stallion got in front of Luna to block anything her sister may have in store for her. For a few minutes, the three ponies said nothing to each other as they waited to see who would speak first. Celestia looked at Luna, who was scowling and gritting her teeth.
Time for a little bit of diplomacy, thought Celestia. “Luna . . . I know this is hard for you to see me, but if you would-”
“Don’t even bother Tia,” she said coldly.
“Please sister, you haven’t given me a chance to explain myself,” she said. “All I want from you is to please listen to reason about why I’m acting this way.”
Luna opened her mouth but felt a hoof on her back and she turned to see Pip looking at her before giving a nod. She sighed and looked back at Celestia skeptically.
“Pray tell, what errors do you see with my relationship?”
Celestia let out a breath as she smiled, but the smile vanished when she saw her sister’s eyes. “Luna, we’re not like other ponies...”
Luna arched her brow slightly at this statement. “Tell me something I don’t know...”
Celestia scrunched her lips as she tapped her hoof to the ground. “You do know that we are immortal Luna?”
“Yes?”
Celestia rubbed her forehead as she sighed. Luna, please... “Do you know that the pony you have fallen in love with is not an alicorn and is not immortal and therefore will die of old age!” Celestia shouted out and huffed slightly.
Luna simply shook her head and walked up to her sister. “Pip and I will cross that bridge when we get there... together,” she said and walked back to Pip, nuzzling him before whispering in his ear and both of them vanished from Celestia in a blink of magic.
The sun princess mouth hung open agape and she tapped her hooves to the ground in frustration. “Ooooh! That sister of mine is so... so!” She stopped and breathed slowly. She flew up to the sky and landed close to the garden statues, seeing numerous pony statues. One statue she looked at made her widen her eyes in fear.
It was Nightmare Moon, standing there with her forward legs up in the air and had a snarking scowl on her face. The thought of seeing her again when Pip dies, whether by natural causes or by some other cause sent shivers down her spine. She was completely lost on what to do now and felt a little panicked by what could happen either in a couple of years, or very soon.
“Don’t leave me Pippy!”
Celestia heard her sister’s voice and turned to see something near the Nightmare Moon statue. Luna was on the ground, holding an aged Pipsqueak, who’s mane and tail were snow white and his body was sagging a little.
“It’s okay Luna . . .” he wheezed. “I’ve lived a lovely life with you and I’ve got no regrets. I’ll still be around in spirit.”
“It won’t be the same though!” She wailed. “We . . . we can find something to make you younger again! I promise, just hang on!”
Pip coughed a little and slowly raised his head a little to give her a kiss. Farewell . . . my princess. His body went limp and he let out a death moan.
Luna shook his body and tears ran down her face. NO! PIPPY! DON’T GO! She cried into his chest over the loss of her love. The crying died down after a few minutes as Luna’s body started to shake.
IT’S . . . NOT . . . FAIR! She screamed in a contorted voice.
Celestia gasped as Luna’s body was suddenly glowing a black aura and was covered in a black smoke. A few seconds later, Celestia heard a deafening scream and saw something emerge from the smoke. To her horror, it was a vivid Nightmare Moon, who was screaming hysterically.
IT’S NOT FAIR!! She howled. IF I CAN’T HAVE A SPECIAL SOMEPONY, NOPONY WILL EVER HAVE ONE!
“Luna, no!” Screamed Celestia as she closed her eyes.
She opened them to see that Nightmare Moon wasn’t there and neither was Pipsqueak. She panted and felt sweat rolling down her like as if she finished running around the castle five times. She took several deep breaths and shook her head.
Calm down Celestia, you’re just acting paranoid, she told herself. I’m thinking this too seriously and being irrational. Just collect your thoughts and calm yourself. She took another deep breath before flying into the sky again and back to the castle.
“Princess Luna!”
A lunar guard saluted the princess before bowing to her. “I come with grave news in this hour,”
Luna got up from her throne and walked slowly towards the guard. “At ease lieutenant,” she said softly to him. “What news is this you have for me?”
The guard removed his helmet and looked up to the Luna’s level. “I don’t know how to tell you this princess...”
“Please speak up.”
“Prince Philip Brave has fallen in battle.”
Luna’s face turned grim as she landed on her haunches and started breathing heavily. “No, it can’t be...”
The guard closed his eyes as it became moist. “I’m so sorry your highness...”
Luna raised her head as more tears started streaming from them. “Please... leave.”
The guard did as he was told and left the throne room with haste. Luna walked up to her throne and stared at it for a few seconds before she used her magic and flung it across the room with all her might. She fell down on the floor and started crying in her hooves as memories of her and Pip flow through her mind.
“Pippy . . . I should’ve been there to protect you,” she sniffled. “Why didn’t I stay with you instead of listening to your advice of staying here?”
Her sniffling soon turned to panting as she felt anger rise up in her. “I . . . I should have been there!” She yelled. “I WILL FIND WHO DID THIS TO YOU!”
Much like the last vision, Celestia saw Luna’s body glow and black smoke form around her for a few seconds. The smoke cleared and Nightmare Moon appeared again, this time with her eyes were narrowed and were glowing white.
“I DON”T CARE HOW MANY PONIES I NEED TO KILL,” she boomed. “I WILL FIND WHOEVER DID THIS TO PIP AND GIVE HIM A NIGHTMARE THEY’LL NEVER FORGET!”
“Princess Celestia!”
The white alicorn jumped again and looked down to see a guard looking at her curiously.
“Is everything alright your highness?” He asked. “You were staring at that corridor with a blank expression on your face.”
Celestia maintained her composure and gave a nod. “Yes private . . . I was just thinking to myself. I’ll be in the throne room if you need me.” She trotted passed him briskly and could feel sweat rolling down her head as the vision played out in her head.
As Celestia went to the throne room, she noticed that it seemed to be taking longer than it should be for her to get there. She looked around the castle to pass time and noticed a gargoyle statue on one of the castle’s edges. All of a sudden, an image of one of those gargoyles falling and killing Pip flashed before her eyes. The white alicorn shook her head and took a few deep breaths as she trotted faster.
She looked at one of the suits of armor in the hallway, which was carrying a large battle axe in its hoof. Another image flashed in her head of Pip accidentally being chopped to death by the ax falling on him and Luna screaming in horror. Celestia shook her head again and trotted faster.
The further the white alicorn went into the castle, the more things she started to see of possible death scenarios for Pip. A chandelier falling on him and killing him instantly. The image of him falling down a staircase and dying, and even a loose piece of stone from the ceiling coming down and killing him. All of the images ended the same way, with Luna screaming in horror and her turning into Nightmare Moon.
Celestia started panting in panic and her eyes started twitching as she was practically galloping towards the throne room at this point. She didn’t dare look anywhere else but what was in front of her in fear of seeing something that could make her think of Pip dying and Luna being mortified. She passed by several guards, who were mystified by how she was acting, but didn’t give a second thought to them. At long last, she reached the throne room and quickly went in there and slammed the doors shut, leaving her to think of what to do.
As she made her way to the throne and sat roughly down on in, Celestia began fidgeting with her hooves and looking at them with narrowed eyes. What to do?! What to do?! What should I do?!
Celestia noticed that her guards were looking with concern at her and she immediately regain her composure, waving to a guard to come forward. “Please find Stealth Sneak for me, at once.”
“Yes your majesty!”
With the guard running out of the throne room, Celestia sighed as her eyes went to Luna’s tower again. She didn’t know how long she was staring at the building, as her ears perked to the sound of the throne room opening again. She turned her attention to two ponies entering the room, one of them was Stealth.
“Guards, please leave us,” she ordered her guard ponies, though they looked suspiciously at Stealth. “I will be fine with him here...”
The guards saluted to their monarch and walked out of the room, passing by Stealth as each of them gave a glare. With the throne room’s door closing, Stealth and Celestia stared at each other until Celestia got up and walked towards the stallion.
“Stealth,” Celestia began to speak with a soft smile, a forced smile. “I need you to do me a-”
“I refuse.”
Celestia was taken aback by Stealth’s sudden answer and she looked on with wide eyes at the stallion. “I beg your pardon?”
Stealth looked at Celestia with a furrowed eyebrows as he frowned. “I refuse to do anything that requires me to invade on the privacy of your family members,” he said plainly to her. “Which I find a little sick.”
The princess regained her composure and cleared her throat. “It’s not sick to protect my sister Stealth,”
“It is when you are trying to govern her life like you are doing now!”
“You’re sounding just as bad as my sister,” said Celestia. “Stealth, I know you’re under the assumption that I’m being unreasonable here, but I just ask that you please listen to me for two minutes. I promise you that my reasons are good and not just for any selfish gains.”
The green unicorn pondered for a few minutes before giving a small nod. “Alright . . . but you better not be pulling any tricks here.”
Celestia sighed in relief and gave a quick explanation about her encounter with Luna earlier. She said that she tried to warn her about Pip’s eventual death, but shrug it off and ignoring it completely. She wanted to talk to her more, but she and Pip disappeared before she could and is now unsure on what to do.
After her explanation, Stealth gave a deadpanned expression. “So let me get this straight,” he said. “You’re worried that once Pip dies, Luna will fall into a deep depression that she may never recover from?”
“That is correct Stealth,” said the white alicorn. “Now do you see why-”
“So then why didn’t you bring up that issue to Princess Cadence when she married Shining Armor?”
Celestia’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You didn’t bring that up when Princess Cadence married Shining Armor.”
“Well I just-”
“You didn’t even bring this up when Princess Twilight Sparkle married Big Macintosh. So why are you bringing this up now?”
“. . .”
“Princess Celestia, are you still hiding something from me?” Demanded Stealth. “Whatever you’re keeping a secret, you need to tell me. I want nothing but the truth about this. It could very well decide on whether I want to help you or not.”
Celestia was about to say something, but suddenly saw something behind Stealth’s back. It was Nightmare Moon, snarling her teeth and her eyes narrowed. Her heart started racing and she knew what she had to do.
She lowered her head and muttered, “Nightmare Moon.”
Stealth was about to open his mouth, but something suddenly clicked inside his mind. His eyes softened and he looked down. “That’s right . . . I didn’t think of her at all,” he said. “I think I understand what you’re thinking of now.”
Celestia nodded and her lips were quivering, with her eyes becoming wet. “Yes...” she croaked out as she lowered her head. “I can’t lose my sister again, I just can’t...” she sniffed as more droplet of tears landed on the floor.
The green stallion stood there until her finally acted, by holding Celestia close to him. She returned the gesture and he patted her back as she sobbed more into his mane. “Celestia,” he started and sighed slightly. “I’ll do you this one last favour.”
Celestia’s eyes opened as she let go of him, showing red from crying. “You will do so for me?” she said softly.
“You could say so, but I will say this...”
Celestia blinked for a moment, regaining her posture. “What?”
“You must have more faith in your sister.”
Celestia furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean? I have much faith in my sister!”
Stealth merely looked at her and shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he said and raised his hoof, stopping Celestia from speaking. “If you had faith in her, you would find a way to speak to her rather than use underhanded methods in getting your point across...” he told her as he looked her in the eye. “With family, it is always important to speak to them no matter how difficult it may be.”
Celestia groaned and she rubbed her forehead. “If I talk to her, will you do my favour?”
“Very well...”
“Now then, I want you to bring . . .”
Stealth pressed against the wall and used his magic to emit a cloaking field around him as two Lunar Guards passed. Once the guards passed him, the green unicorn peaked around the corner and smiled at what he saw. The doors to the Lunar Guard Gym opened and Pipsqueak stepped out of them. He wiped his forehead along a sweat towel before opening a chute and dropping it in there.
The green unicorn ducked back and thought to himself. Alright, I have the target in sight, but I can’t just take him like that. He’s pretty much built to tackle anypony that gets in his way. How can I capture him?
“Oh bugger, my muscles are going to be sore in the morning,” said Pip. “I’m going to need to tell Lulu to watch how hard she hugs me.”
Wait . . . I think I may just have the solution. Stealth cleared his throat and took a deep breath. I just hope those voice acting lessons actually paid off in training.
“Oh Pipsqueak,” he said in a ladylike voice. “Could you come here for a minute?”
Stealth slapped himself and shook his head. Faust, that wasn’t even close to sounding like Luna. I may as well make a hasty retreat before he find me.
“Lulu? Is that you?” Asked the spotted stallion. “You don’t sound too well. Did something make you ill?”
Sometimes I even amaze myself. Stealth cleared his throat again. “Uh . . . yes Pippy, I remember you saying you could make some really good soup. Do you think you can make me a bowl please?”
“Be right there,” he said and began trotting towards Stealth’s direction.
The green unicorn saw a small golden candlestick and used his magic to pick it up. Alright . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .
“Luna?” Asked Pip as he rounded the corner. “Where are you?”
THUNK
The spotted stallion groaned as he was hit square over the head and fell over to the ground. Stealth went over to check on Pip and noticed that aside from the swelling red spot on him, he was fine and he was out cold from the hit.
Mission accomplished, he thought to himself. “I’m real sorry about this... and by Equestria, if something happens... forgive me.” Using his magic, he levitated Pip’s body and they both teleported away.
With heavy eyelids, Pip opened his eyes as he let out a groan. He rubbed the back of his head and looked up to where Celestia was sitting, on her throne. Pip stood up groggily and continued to rub the sore head of his. He heard the sound of hooves walking up to where he was and turned to see Stealth walking in between him and Celestia.
“If this is yer way of bringing ponies in to have word with ye, I made the right decision to join the Lunar Guard...”
Celestia sighed and closed her eyes slowly. “I am sorry it had to come to this, bringing you in like this...”
“Well if Luna finds out, yer gonna have to make a whole essay and broadcast it just to be on her bright side,” Pip said as he shook his head and turned to Stealth. “And don’t get me started on yer shady flank.”
“Noted...”
Pip gave him a withering glare and turned his attention to Celestia. “Alright, I’ll bite... what’s your issue with me and Luna?”
Celestia looked at Pip before standing up again. “Philip, do you know that Luna and I are immortal?”
“I happen to note the obvious, the same with Princess Cadance and Princess Twilight... and both are happily married to mortals,”
Celestia flinched slightly but sighed. “Yes, but this is different...”
Pip scrunched his lips as his brow furrowed. “How so?”
“My sister is special and she requires special needs...”
Pip narrowed his eyes at Celestia. “She’s not mental or deformed in anyway, if you are so blind!”
“Not like that Pipsqueak,” sighed the white alicorn. “I mean . . . like she’s very well . . . sensitive.”
“Sensitive? I know that. Anything else you’d like to point out Princess Obvious?”
“I mean, once you’re gone, how do you think she’ll react?”
“We’ll talk about that when we get to that point in life. She’ll most likely remember me forever, even after I’m gone though.”
“And what if it goes further than that?” Pondered Celestia. “What if she feels bitter or hateful towards other ponies about having a special somepony, yet she knows if she dates a mortal, they’ll die. Think about it Pip. What do you think would happen to her then?”
The spotted stallion thought for a couple of seconds before his eyes widened. “You’re not bringing that sick beast into this, are you?”
Celestia slowly gave a nod. “I’m afraid so Pip,” she said. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but since my sister won’t listen to reason, I think you need to talk to her about this. This is something you can’t just put off in the future, you need to talk about this now.”
“I can understand your concern Princess Celestia,” said Pip. “But I think you’re still missing the point of why your sister is angry at you about this.”
“And what would that be?”
“She feels that you don’t trust her at all. And the reason she won’t listen to you is because you don’t listen to her. You’re not giving her the trust that she feels she deserves from you.”
“If she would please-”
“And one more thing, why are you talking to me about this? You should have Lulu here to talk to about this.”
“Well you saw how well that went earlier,” she muttered. “Listen, all I ask is that you talk to Luna about this please and to start planning about what to do after your death.”
“That’s not my job your highness,” said Pip. “If you want to talk to Luna about this, then you need to mare up and speak to her yourself. Because as far as this goes, you can never get me and Lulu to separate.”
Celestia opened her mouth to say something, but she suddenly heard a cold laughter echo in the room. No . . . not now . . .
“Oh yes Celestia,” said a smug mare’s voice. “You know now about what will happen to your poor sister in the future. Too bad you couldn’t do anything to help her.”
Celestia started breathing frantically as she turned to Stealth, who just stood there as though he were stuck in time.
“Your own trusted spy can’t help you with this Celestia...” Nightmare Moon appeared where Pip was standing and began to walk towards the frightened sun deity.
“Stay back!”
Stealth looked at Celestia with concerned eyes and back to Pip who was confused, he walked towards Celestia. “Princess?”
“They cannot help you, it is inevitable!” Nightmare shouted out as smoke began to rise from her hooves and travelled towards Celestia. “That colt’s love for Luna is so strong, that once its gone... an even stronger sorrow will be all that’s left,” she said as she disappeared from sight. “And with that sorrow, will come the darkness... me!” She appeared right before Celestia in a flash and showed her fangs to Celestia and laughed maliciously.
“No!!!!” Celestia shouted and got up from her throne fast, channeling her magic to shine as bright as the sun itself. “You will be gone from Luna’s life!” She shouted and before Pip could react, the magic made contact to him. The magic covered his body and in another moment, he was gone.
Celestia breathed slowly and a small smile crept on her face, as Nightmare Moon was now gone. “It’s over... it’s finally over, it-”
“Celestia! What have you done?!”
The sun princess’ eyes widened as reality came back to her, who she saw before her was only Stealth.
“Where’s Philip?”
Stealth grinded his teeth and he stomped his hoof. “To where ever you just teleported him!”
Celestia breathing was going frantic again as she looked around her to see if Stealth was only pulling her leg. But he wasn’t.
“Oh no!”
The doors to the throne room suddenly opened up. “Princess Celestia!” Shouted a voice.
The white alicorn looked down to see Princess Twilight Sparkle, wearing her Element of Harmony as a crown and golden hoof bracelets much like hers. Right along her side was the tall red stallion, Big Macintosh, whose mane had been tidied and cut shorter and was wearing a white Stetson hat, but still looked the same all around.
“Um . . . Twilight, my student. What brings you here?” She asked in an innocent voice.
“Princess, what are you-” Stealth’s voice was cut off by Celestia using her magic to clamp his mouth shut.
“What I’m here for is in concern to this letter I got from Stealth Sneak there,” she said as she pointed a hoof at him.
Celestia released the hold on the green unicorn’s mouth and took the letter as she read it. The contents of the letter warned Twilight about what was going on and how she needed to talk some sense into her teacher, before she did something irrational. The white alicorn felt her stomach churn and sweat build up on her forehead.
“Princess, I mean no offense at all, but what’s wrong with Luna’s relationship with Pip?” Asked the lavender alicorn. “You didn’t object to it when Big Macintosh and I got married.”
“Eeyup,” said the red stallion.
“Oh don’t worry about it Princess Twilight,” spat Stealth Sneak. “Your teacher here already took care of that problem herself.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well you see-”
“CELESTIA!!!” Boomed a voice so loud, it caused the room to shake and a little rubble to fall down.
Faust have mercy on me, thought Celestia to herself as she gulped.
As she waited for her sister to arrive, the white alicorn tried to think of something to throw Luna off until she could fix this. Her mind though was racing so much, she could barely put together a plan at all, much less a simple thought.
Before she could think things more clearly, the doors to the throne room opened with a thunderous boom as the doors hit the wall. Celestia looked up to see a livid Luna, with eyes so narrow, they could possibly shoot out daggers at her. She couldn’t help but feel intimidated and shook in fear of her safety.
“WHERE IS HE!?” She barked. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY PIPSQUEAK!?”
Celestia’s eyes flew from one corner to the other, as she was biting on her lower lip. “I-I... you see Philip is-”
“TELL ME NOW!”
Twilight rushed forward and she immediately held Luna’s shoulders with her magic. “Luna please! Whatever happened here, I’m certain Pip is alright,” she said softly, which seemed to calm the lunar princess down a little. “As a matter of fact, I’m on your side with this Luna. Whatever happens, everything will be ok and-”
“Like Tarturus it will be!”
Everypony’s attention turned to Stealth, who had broken free from Celestia’s hold and glared daggers at the princess sitting numb on her throne. “You want to tell them what you did?! Or shall I?!”
Celestia looked at Stealth, then to Twilight who was looking at Celestia with concerned eyes and back to Luna who only showed scorn in the eyes. She sighed and got up from her throne, with her head hung low in defeat.
“Philip is...”
“Yes!?”
“He... it was on accident and-”
“What!?”
“I SENT HIM AWAY, OK!” Celestia shouted out, crying as she clenched her teeth. “I COULDN’T BEAR TO SEE YOU BECOME NIGHTMARE MOON AGAIN! I HAD TO SEND HIM AWAY! I DON’T KNOW WHERE I SENT HIM, BUT I HAD TO!”
The silence in the room was universal after Celestia’s outburst. Twilight could only look at her teacher in shame, as she sighed and shook her head. She looked up to Celestia with narrowed eyes, ones that Celestia had never seen before.
Stealth turned away from Celestia, and his eyes fell on Luna. Luna stood still there, with the build up of tears in her eyes.
“How...”
Celestia bit her lower lip and approached her sister. “Luna, please...”
“How could you...”
“It was for the best, I swear you will be better now...”
“BETTER!?” She screamed. “HOW CAN LOSING THE PONY I LOVE BE ‘BETTER NOW’!? OR IS IT BETTER FOR YOU!?”
“Luna . . . I swear, I didn’t mean to do that to him,” pleaded Celestia. “Calm yourself and I swear I’ll help you find Pipsqueak.”
“HOW CAN YOU FIND HIM IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE HE IS!?” Boomed Luna.
“Princess Luna, I know you’re upset over this, but try to listen to your sister,” said Twilight.
“SO . . . YOU SIDE WITH HER AS WELL!? TWILIGHT, I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND!”
“Princess, it’s not like that at all.”
“YOU LIAR!” She shouted in a contorted voice.
Celestia’s heart nearly stopped as she heard that voice. “Oh no . . .” she muttered.
Luna looked around at the terrified group of ponies. “YOU’RE ALL AGAINST ME! EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU! YOU ALL TOOK MY SPECIAL SOMEPONY FROM ME!”
“Luna, calm yourself!” Shouted Celestia. “You need to stop before-”
“IT’S YOU WHO SHOULD HAVE STOPPED CELESTIA!” Barked the blue alicorn. “YOU’RE THE REASON BEHIND ALL THIS! YOU ALWAYS GET IN THE WAY OF MY HAPPINESS!” She panted heavily and lowered her head. “YOU . . . YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS!”
Luna began to growl and her eyes glowed white. The four ponies stepped back as Luna hovered into the air and her body started glowing a black aura. Celestia wanted to do something to stop her sister, but she was paralyzed with fear. The next thing anypony knew, Luna’s body was engulfed in a black smoke and a large gust of wind blew around the room, catching everypony off guard. Twilight used her magic to encase protection bubbles on herself, Big Macintosh, Stealth, and Celestia.
The wind intensified for a few more minutes before it stopped for a moment. Celestia looked up to see the smoke still around Luna, but nothing else. All of a sudden, a booming scream echoed in the room and across the castle, making everypony in it cover their ears and cry out in pain.
The smoke started to clear out and Celestia opened her eyes. She tried to keep some hope that Luna was still there, but one clear look instantly sunk any hope she had. A black figure descended to the ground and looked around. Her mane and tail were dark blue and flowing wildly and was wearing a blue helmet on her head. Everypony in the room gasped as they recognized the figure right in front of them was Nightmare Moon.
Nightmare Moon opened her eyes to reveal them to be dragon-like and she smiled deviously, revealing razor sharp fangs. She started to laugh wickedly, looking to a mortified Celestia. “I must say, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would still be trapped!”
“No...”
“Oh yes!” Nightmare Moon cackled as her magic created lightning bolts that traveled to every guard, hitting them in the chest. “Thanks to your fears, and to banishing that meddling colt to who knows where, you have guaranteed my rule over these ponies!” She yelled out and began to form thunder again, this time sending it to Celestia and Twilight.
“Twilight get down!” Big Mac yelled as he grabbed his wife and ducked to the ground, narrowly missing the magic that was directed towards her.
Stealth jumped before Celestia, taking in the full impact of the spell and falling onto the steps unconscious. “Stealth!” Celestia shouted out as she reached for the unicorn and looked to Twilight, who nodded. Both alicorns channeled their magic again, this time making everypony in the room disappear.
Nightmare Moon was left alone, as she chuckled at the throne which she sat down upon. “Feels a lot warmer than that useless mare’s throne. No wonder most, if not all ponies, frolic to the sun’s side.”
The dark mare laughed hysterically, though unnoticed by her, a single tear travelled down her cheek as she closed her eyes and opened them again. She looked to the city of Canterlot, using her magic to lower the sun and bring about night eternal.
A large flash of light appeared for a second before vanishing. Celestia, Twilight, and Big Macintosh, who was carrying the unconscious Stealth Sneak, appeared in another area of the castle.
“Princess Celestia!” The group turned to see a frantic royal guard running towards them. “Thank Faust I’ve found you so quickly,” he said. “The entire castle is wondering why the sun is already down. It’s not even three in the afternoon.”
“Well . . .” Celestia heard somepony cleared their throat and saw Twilight glaring at her. The white alicorn swallowed her pride and said, “I’m afraid that this is my fault. I . . . I . . .” She tried to finish her sentence, but felt her voice fail.
“Nightmare Moon has returned,” said Twilight Sparkle.
“WHAT!? How can this be!?” Inquired the guard. “Your sister showed no signs of turning back into her!”
“It’s . . . it’s a long story and we have little time to prepare,” said Celestia. “For now, we need to make sure Nightmare Moon doesn’t try to leave the castle. Lieutenant, I want you to alert all the guards, including the Lunar Guards about this and tell them to prepare to defend the castle at all costs. Get a large group of guards armed and get another group to evacuate civilian personnel to the escape tunnels. Now hurry, we’re running short on time.”
“Yes your highness!” Shouted the guard. He turned around and galloped down the hallway.
“Alright, now then, Princess Twilight, I need you to-”
“Not so fast Princess Celestia,” she said coldly. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
The white alicorn turned to her student. “Please Twilight, we don’t have much time to spare. You need to-”
“Forgive me Princess, but I must ask you one thing. How could you think of doing this to your own sister?”
“I . . . well . . .”
“Didn’t you even try to talk to her about this before you banished Pipsqueak?” She demanded. “And for that matter, why couldn’t you let your own sister be happy with a relationship?”
“You don’t understand!” She screamed in a broken voice. “I . . . I couldn’t stop seeing Nightmare come back. I . . . I kept seeing Pip die and my own sister turn into her again. I was so afraid! I didn’t want Luna to suffer the same fate she suffered over a thousand years ago! I didn’t mean to banish Pip! I just wanted to stop Nightmare from coming back!”
Twilight shook her head in disbelief. “Then why were you so against her and Pip having this relationship!?”
Celestia looked to her former student, eyebrows furrowing and her teeth clenched. “Because once Pip is gone from this world, Luna would fall into great depression because of her losing the one she loves!”
“So you thought by breaking them up, it wouldn’t break her heart too?!” Twilight shouted out as she stomped her hoof. “Of all the idiotic things you can do! This is just purely moronic!”
Big Mac placed his hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Twi, please,” he said softly to her and she seemed to calm down for a moment. “Princess, with all do respect... why ain’t your sister allowed to love a stallion?”
Celestia sighed as she looked to Big Mac. “Because I know that one day that pony will grow old and perish and will leave Luna all alone in the world to-”
“Then why’d you bliss ma wedding with your student?”
“Excuse me?”
“Y’all blessed ma wedding along with Twilight here,” said the red stallion. “I don’t remember ya bringing up anything like what ya did to yer sister there.”
“This is different! My sister may have been freed from Nightmare Moon’s spirit, but she still lingered around my sister’s soul, most likely biding her time to strike.”
“So then what if it happened to me?” Asked Twilight. “What if I ended up being so depressed, some malevolent spirit took possession of me? Did you think about that Princess?”
“I . . .” Celestia tried to find some counterargument, but words failed her.
“I guess he was right after all . . .” said a weak voice.
The group looked to see Stealth Sneak crawling off Big Mac’s back and steadying himself.
“Stealth, are you alright?” Asked Celestia. “That bolt must’ve done a lot of damage to you.”
“I’m fine Celestia . . . but as I was saying, he was right.”
“Who was right?” Asked Twilight.
“Silver Storm,” he said. “He said that ‘Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it’. And right now . . . Celestia has doomed herself, along with Equestria, to the same fate a thousand years ago.” Something suddenly clicked inside his mind. “Princess Celestia . . . I have an idea, but it’s a long shot.”
“What is it?” She wondered.
“You need to go talk to Silver this instant and see if he can think of anything. Wherever you’re keeping him, you need to get to him and talk to him about a possible solution.”
“I don’t get it,” said Big Mac. “Why would some adviser be able to help us out?”
“It’s because he’s been helping Princess Luna all this time,” responded the green unicorn. “He may have something in mind to stop this.”
“You may be right,” said Celestia. She looked around the castle and recognized the area she was in. “We aren’t too far from the dungeons Silver is being held in.” She turned to Twilight, who still looked a little angry. “Twilight, I know you’re upset about my actions, but there’s no time to waste. I want you to use your magic to put up a force field around the castle, making it impossible for Nightmare Moon to get out.”
Twilight groaned and looked back to her husband, giving him a fond kiss. She then walked away from the others and channeled her magic. Her eyes turned white as the magic shot through to the roof, with it intensifying as she furrowed her eyebrows. The others looked outside to see a lavender aura dome surround the city of Canterlot.
Once the spell was done, Twilight wobbled a bit her eyes grew tired and she nearly fell to the ground were it not for Big Mac catching her. She smiled demurely at her stallion as he helped her up and she turned back to Celestia, wearing a bitter look at the sun deity.
“So where’s the dungeon, Celestia?”
Celestia flinched as her proud former student said her name in venom. Never once in her life had she called Celestia’s name without using the title princess, but with what has happened now she deserved to be named whatever the ponies may call her.
“This way.”
A lone gray unicorn sat alone in his dungeon cell as he was whistling a tune to pass the time. Silver was counting the bricks on the walls around him for the fourth time today, until he heard the sound of hooves approaching. His head turned slowly to the cell door, expecting a few guards to enter. Instead, four other ponies came in.
“Silver?”
Celestia stood before Silver, with her eyes moist and her hair disheveled. Silver also noticed Twilight Sparkle and her husband Big Macintosh. The other pony, who Silver identified as Stealth, stood next to Celestia, looking irritable at best.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of your company in my current residence, Princess?” Silver asked Celestia plainly as he scratched the beard that was on his muzzle.
The sun deity sighed as she lowered her head. “I need your help, Luna has-”
“So Nightmare Moon has returned?” Silver asked as Celestia nodded. “I warned you, that if you continued down this path only disaster will be met.”
“I know, but-”
“And did you listen to me? You’re former adviser before you assigned me to Luna? Nooooo~” Silver chimed in with sarcasm heavy in his voice. “So what did you do with Pip if I may ask?”
“She banished him to Faust knows where,” Stealth answered for Celestia, seeing as the princess was too shaken to answer properly.
Silver rubbed his forehead and sighed. “Fantastic...”
“I’m tempted to send out a platoon of guards to find Pip, but it would be impossible to find him,” said Celestia. “The land is too big and I don’t know how long this force field can stay up before Nightmare Moon finds a way to break out of it.”
“Hmm . . . I think I may know how to find him,” said Silver. He turned to Twilight. “Your highness, I have a rather odd request of you.”
“What’s that?” She asked.
“I want you to concentrate some of your magic to the tip of your horn and then place it on the tip of Princess Celestia’s horn.”
“Why?”
“You’ll find out in a minute. And you’ll see whether or not this can help you find Pipsqueak.”
The lilac alicorn slowly nodded closed her eyes in concentration. A small purple aura shimmered around the tip of her horn and started to move in on her mentor. Twilight slowly leaned inward and carefully placed her horn on Celestia’s horn.
All of a sudden, Twilight saw a huge wormhole flash before her very eyes. She was whizzing through what looked liked a forest and some meadows for a few seconds before the scenery changed to desert tall mountains and then to a snowy landscape. The speed slowed down until she could see a vision of a spotted stallion lying unconscious in the snow.
Twilight gasped and staggered back, only to be caught by Big Macintosh. She took a few deep breaths as she tried to regain her composure.
“What happened Twilight?” Asked Big Mac. “Ya look like ya seen a ghost.”
“I . . . I don’t know,” she said. “One moment I’m here, the next moment I was seeing somepony lying in the snow.”
“Was that pony Pipsqueak?” Asked Silver.
The lilac alicorn gave a nod. “It looked like him, but it’s hard to determine where he is.”
“How so?” Wondered Celestia.
“Judging from what I was seeing, it looks like he’s in the Frozen North, past the Crystal Mountains. The problem is that I don’t know where in the north he is. He could either close to the Crystal Empire, or very far away.”
“So why don’t ya teleport over there then?” Asked Big Mac. “Grab Pipsqueak and then come back with him.”
“It’s not that simple sweetie,” said Twilight. “This dome prevents unicorns from teleporting out of here, even alicorns. We need to send a message to somepony about this. We need to-” An idea suddenly clicked inside her mind and she beamed. “I’ve got it!”
Twilight used her magic to make a scroll, inkwell, and quill show up. “There’s only one dragon who can save Pipsqueak before it’s too late!” She proclaimed.
“You mean Spike?” Asked Celestia. “But where is he now?”
“He, Rarity, and Elusive are in the Crystal Empire,” she said. “It’s the tenth anniversary of the Empire’s freedom and Spike was invited, along with his family, to a parade honoring his heroic actions. They’re even going to crown him an honorary prince to the kingdom.”
“Well you better hurry and write that letter,” said Stealth. “It’s only a matter of time before Nightmare tries to break the dome.”
The lilac alicorn gave a nod and began writing her letter.