- XII -
“Sister.”
Celestia sobbed quietly. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Sister? Open thine eyes. Thou art dreaming again.”
Celestia’s eyes flew open, and she sat up swiftly. She was sitting in the banquet hall in Canterlot Palace again, and Luna was at her side, her face full of concern.
“Luna...” Celestia gasped, glancing around. “How did I get here?”
“Thou must have fallen asleep. What is wrong, Celestia?” asked Luna.
“I... just discovered something awful,” breathed Celestia, trying to compose herself without much success.
“Let me share thy burden, sister. Tell me what thou hath discovered, and be swift, for I have much to tell thee,” spoke Luna with urgency in her voice.
Celestia shook her head. “I need a moment. Please, speak first.”
“Very well.” Luna glanced around briefly, before continuing. “The manifestation thou saw when last we spoke was a remnant of a shadow upon my realm of dreams. I would have assumed that it was the... spirit... of Nightmare Moon. The presence of a dark power that stays in a place for an extended period of time may leave a residual effect in my realm of dreams for those that stay nearby. What thou saw was not Nightmare Moon, but just the effect of her prolonged stay on the lunar surface.”
“I suppose that makes sense,” murmured Celestia.
“However, sister, there is another issue.”
Celestia looked up, meeting Luna’s gaze, which had grown deeply concerned. “What is it, Luna?”
“I cannot locate thee on the moon. Thou may be shielded from me by some power, or the spell that binds thee there. Nor can I find this city hidden on the dark side of the moon, within the crater.”
Celestia nodded. “I... figured as much. I’m afraid that I may be stuck here for a bit longer... but I’m learning much... perhaps too much.”
Luna leaned forward. “Tell me.”
Celestia swallowed, unable to meet her sister’s intense gaze. “Luna... Nightmare Moon... did something on the moon, while she was in exile... she used a spell to... subsume herself within your mind, hidden away.”
Luna’s eyes widened. “Thou cannot mean to say...?”
“Yes. You were the one that was forced to live out her exile on the moon, while she slumbered, dormant, inside your mind, waiting for the stars to aid her escape.”
Luna shivered. “I don’t remember any of it.”
“The nightmares, Luna. The city in your dreams. It is here, this place,” Celestia said, her voice growing quiet.
Luna swallowed hard, looking away from Celestia for a moment, before casting her grim gaze once more on her sister. “No matter. The priority is recovering you from the moon, dearest sister. We can speak more of what transpired later. The manifestation of the Nightmare will come again, swiftly, so our time is short. Please, you must tell me all you can remember of how you were brought to the moon. Last you spoke, you were telling me of the Crystal Palace, and meeting with Twilight and Cadance.”
Celestia nodded, drawing strength from her sister’s own conviction. “Yes. The Crystal Palace... Twilight had called me there to assist her with a dangerous task.”