//------------------------------// // Checkmate // Story: Rocinante and the Return of Chivalry // by Charliemane //------------------------------// It was all Princess Celestia could do, just to keep her sister from flying off of the balcony, once Discord looked up towards the castle and right into the eyes of the telescope and the Princesses who were watching it. Discord wasn't just attacking the knight-errant, he was aiming at the two sisters as well. Neither of them could hear what Discord was saying as his lance rested on Rocinante's nose, but Discord was careful to mouth his words very clearly so that they could read his lips. And though she couldn't tell what words Rocinante spoke in response, by his actions Princess Luna knew exactly what he said. With a violent and renewed anger, Luna pressed against her sister who was barring the way out. “Tia! Let me go! I must get down there!” “Luna get a hold of yourself! That's just what Discord wants you to do!” “We sent him there! I sent him there! His suffering is now for my sake! I shall not permit that wretch to add such insults on top of my knight's injuries!” As Luna tried to force her way past her, Celestia grabbed hold of her sister in a desperate bid to stop her from attacking Discord head on, just like her knight had. “Luna!” Celestia held on to her sister with with all of her might as Luna ignored her and tried to flap her wings. Despite Celestia's interference, she was beginning to get enough lift to raise the two of them slightly off of the floor. “Luna! Cease this foalishness before thy anger brings about the undoing of the very thing thy Knight of the Restored Moon fought to achieve!” Celestia's sudden use of the old Canterlot voice knocked Luna off balance. Then, as though the fighting spirit suddenly left her, Luna's wings slowly stopped flapping and she looked to her sister with eyes that were both frightened and confused. “Sister...” “Luna, look.” Celestia put a wing over her sister and pulled her into an embrace as she pointed to the projected image just as Sassaflash helped her cousin up. “He will be alright, Luna. He will be fine.” Luna forced herself to nod as the telescope swung elsewhere. “Was he... Was Sir Rocinante successful? How many of Twilight Sparkle's letters wert thou able to send? Did thy pupil understand the meaning of thy messages?” Celestia nodded. On the projection ahead of them, Luna saw a restored Twilight Sparkle and her friends racing to catch a still grayed-out Rainbow Dash and though Celestia smiled, her heart was heavy. “Because of Rocinante's intervention, I was able to send all of Twilight's letters back to her without Discord noticing or interfering and before long, Twilight and the Elements of Harmony will defeat him. Sister...I know what I asked you to do was...” Celestia paused as she looked for words to express how sorry she was for what happened, but Luna shook her head. “Do not be sorrowful, dear Sister. Indeed thou didst not risk my knight anymore than thou didst risk thine own pupil. And thou were indeed correct. The task had to be done. Thy rule over Equestria has indeed been long and prosperous because thou art able to discern when personal feelings must be cast aside for the greater good. I was in the wrong.” Celestia held on to her sister a little tighter. “It is never wrong to care for any little pony in our kingdom.” Luna nodded, but avoided Celestia's eyes. “I...I understand, but I am still unable to put such personal feelings behind me when the kingdom is in need of decisive leadership...as thou can.” Celestia searched for words until Luna suddenly looked into her sister's eyes with a teary eyed smile on her face. “Alas, clearly we are in need of more time to roam in this, our noble land of Equestria, before we are able to return to thy side.” Celestia smiled as her sister brightened up. She had a feeling she knew where her sister was going with this line of thought as she continued. “Though after our previous difficulties upon the road, we have found that perhaps we should not travel alone. Thus, after Discord hath been bested and his damage undone, we shall need to find a guide who knows the lands better than ourselves and brave enough to protect a princess from any threat should the need arise.” Celestia gave a lighthearted laugh as the two looked back to the projection. Twilight and her friends were already challenging Discord, who clearly was unaware of what had happened while he was busy with Rocinante. As the Elements of Harmony began to light up and their power began to grow, Luna sighed. “'Tis a pity indeed that we are not the ones down there with the Elements.” Celestia nodded as a great rainbow leapt from Twilight Sparkle and her friends and arced high into the air. “I know. But some things must be passed to the next generation.” As Ponyville became bathed in light, Celestia finally let herself breathe again with a sigh. It was over. They had won. Before long the light had dimmed and Luna looked to her sister with a smile. “All should be well now, yes?” “Yes, Everything Discord has done, even to Sir Rocinante, is undone.”