The tall alicorn twitched and quivered in it's armor. It's crimson eyes darted in between Luna and Levier. The helmet lay on the ground. It stared into it's helmet's eye holes. Luna couldn't help but look at the helmet too. It felt like blackness began to swallow up her vision as whispers cooed to her. Sleep they called out. It took all her energy to keep herself from falling over. Though fatigue choked her and eventually the young pony fell to her knees.
"Luna?! " Levier ran over. She glanced at the helmet only to feel the same effects. Levier pulled her eyes away and covered Luna's eyes with her wing. The tall alicorn's head turned to look at them. Her face contorted into rage. The flames that made up it's body erupted with anger and the alicorn hissed. Levier cowered, shielding the young princess. The tall alicorn stomped it's hooves on the ground, the earth underneath shuddering. It stumbled around, occasionally letting out an angry roar. It stopped and glanced directly into Levier's horrified eyes. The tall alicorn's eyes glowed and It let out a terrible screech. Static blared and the temperature exploded. The tall alicorn lifted it's helmet over. It clicked into place and with a burst of speed it took off into the air. Levier could only watch as it stumbled around in the air only to finally stabilize itself and disappear into hot sky. The heat wavered and disappeared after it left.
"L-Levier.." Luna shakily said, looking up to Levier with horror filled eyes.
"Shh. It's ok." Levier said softly.
"W-What was that thing?" Luna asked. Levier held the young alicorn closer.
"It was no doubt Celestia. But at the same time not. Aurinko has.. corrupted her. I never thought it'd be so bad though." Levier said. Her tired eyes almost closed.
"Who's Aurinko?" Luna asked. Her lip quivered.
"I'm not sure really. All I know if that she is old. Very old. Possibly even older than your parents. Older than life itself even." Levier said quietly. Luna's eyes widened
"But if she's so old then why would she make ponies evil? Aren't old ponies nice most of the time?" Luna said in between tears. She wasn't sure why she was crying then. Was it because she was scared? Or was it because she was hungry? Or maybe because she felt as if every part of her being had been beaten to a pulp? For once she didn't know.
"It's not really her fault. She doesn't mean to make them evil. She... makes them go insane really. I suppose maybe it's her magic or just her words. She doesn't mean harm. She wants to help really." Levier said, she hugged the fragile filly closer. Luna could feel Levier's ribs poking out but she was no better really. Under normal circumstances both of them would be dead. The only thing keeping either of them alive was their magic. Their very will was the only thing keeping them alive.
"Levier. Will Celestia comeback?" Luna asked.
"There is only one thing I can think of. But first you and I need to get back to Canterlot." Levier said. Luna nodded.
"Can I sit here for a bit? I'm tired."Luna said. She opened her eyes only to rub them. Her eyes puffy. Levier nodded. She took a deep breath and stood up on wobbly legs.
"How exactly are we gonna get home anyways?" Luna questioned.
"I suppose we could walk but I don't know if we have nearly enough energy for that." Levier said. Luna put her hoof up to her chin.
"We should find a village or something. That might help. Maybe get a messenger or something." Luna said. Levier shook her head.
"I don't know if you want to see the path of destruction." Levier said.
"I see..." Luna said with an exasperated sigh.
"Well we can't just sit here either. There's not much food left anyways.. or water for that fact." Levier said.
"I guess i'll just have to hold on a bit longer. We need to get back to Canterlot." Luna said, her voice a bit firmer than before. Levier glanced at her then looked up to the orange and red sky.
"Then let's go." Levier said. And so they began to walk. They walked slowly to preserve energy; Not that they had much. Hours passed and eventually they had to stop.
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"Hey Levier.. is the Sun.. Setting?" Luna said excitedly. She jumped out of her makeshift bed of soft earth. Levier lifted her head up to see that in fact the sun was finally climbing down from it's high perch to the west.
"Do you think you can muster up the energy?" Levier said, She rose up to stand next to Luna. The area they chose to sleep on was possibly the shadiest spot for quite sometime; Under the shade of a barely green tree. Luna was so excited to see something green; even if it was just barely. She watched Levier pour magic into the tree and in return parts of her mane became a sick green. It was better than nothing. Levier seemed to be a bit more vibrant actually; Her eyes returned to the bright green Luna remember them as. Luna shook her head and marveled at the Sun's swift descent.
"Maybe Tia's back!" Luna said as she fluttered her small wings.
"That could be a possibility." Levier said. She stood next as they watched the sun set. Purples and pinks spread around the orange disk. Luna flew up best she could with barely any magic coming out of her horn. As she soared upwards she sent more of her will into her horn and as she did the moon poked through the horizon. Luna forced more into her horn and eventually the Moon had risen. With no clouds to keep the intense heat to the earth the air finally cooled. Beads of sweat dripped down the small alicorn's face but she was smiling nonetheless.
"I did it!" Luna said excitedly. Levier let out an excited "woo!" Luna glided down, now tired. Levier caught the small alicorn and hugged her tightly as she spun around.
"That was amazing Luna!" Levier said happily. The kirin set Luna down and danced a bit. Luna beamed.
"I can't believe it. I did have enough." Luna said in astonishment. She blinked.
"Anyways let's get some sleep. I don't know how long the Sun will stay down." Levier said. She walked laid back in the softened dirt and slept. Luna cuddled closely to her. Feeling safe, Luna closed her eyes.
Thank you. Luna thought as she finally drifted off to sleep.
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Levier woke up and yawned. She could see the Sun poking out to the east, waiting to be pulled upwards. Luna yawned and stretched. She stood up.
"I guess it's now or never." The young alicorn said. Seeing as she had been waking up every morning ever since she'd first raised the moon it made sense she'd know whether or not it was quite time to gently lead her silver disk across the sky. Luna's horn glowed and the moon slowly descended downwards beyond the horizon. She took a deep breath and turned to Levier.
"Good morning." Luna said. Levier giggled.
"Alright. It looks like we have another day of walking." Levier said. And with that They began their trek towards Canterlot. Thankfully Levier knew the lands well (Getting Lost doesn't sound like much fun now does it?)
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They walked in silence. Luna did not complain she was tired or that she ached. Mostly because her hooves were numb. She only noticed when her hooves began to bleed.
"Oh dear. Maybe it's time for break. I'll go find something to wrap that up in." Levier said. Luna nodded.
"You stay right here. No wandering off." Levier said. Luna nodded half-heartedly. The kirin sighed and left into the charred forest. Luna sat, and sat, and sat. She sat for all of five minute before getting up. It didn't hurt to walk so she might as well do it for now. She had a pretty good idea that as soon as she had some food and water in her everything would start to hurt.
Fantastic. Luna thought with clear sarcasm in her face. She walked around in circles only to find a stick. Luna smiled as an idea popped into her head. Luna's magic maneuvered around the stick, only showing up once it made contact. She sat down in the center of the circle, looking as the small, barely noticeable hoof prints in the ground. She huffed and began to draw. She drew Levier's head and the sun. The moon and the castle as best she could remember (Seeing as she had a terrible headache she had trouble doing anything really in depth) when she got tired she drew herself and Celestia. Not the tall alicorn that almost killed her and Levier. No. Her sister. The kind pony who cared so much and went to great lengths to make others happy.
"Nebula c'mon. There's no need to be scared." A small creamy alicorn said. The small blue unicorn quivered in the corner.
"P-Please Tia. I don't wanna go back. Your mom will yell at us for stealing the bread." Nebula said.
"Don't worry. She's nice. We might get a scolding or five but I promise she won't hurt you." The filly fluttered her wings. Nebula looked up and rubbed her puffy eyes.
"O-Ok. But she yells-" Nebula said. Celestia smiled and dragged her. the alicorn was a bit taller than her friend.
"Let's go!" Celestia said as she dragged the confused unicorn across the ground. Celestia turned out of be correct, no they didn't get yelled at but Galaxia did scold them for eating all the bread and not saving any for her.
Luna giggled and drew her other friends. She drew Wind Song and Spark Shower, Lily and Nebula. Her friends. She smiled and drew Nebulis and Galaxia too. Eventually she the whole circle filled with drawings of her friends and family. Her home and the moon. She fluttered her wings as she smiled brightly. The green kirin trotted forward to see the large circle filled with drawings. She spat out the semi-dry leaves in her mouth.
"I see you've been busy." Levier said.
"Yep!" Luna said, Her eyes fixated on the picture of her friends.
"well I have our 'bandages' here." Levier said, she was careful not to step onto any of the drawings. Carefully she cleaned off luna's hooves and wrapped the leaves around them. It stung for a little but eventually went back to being numb.
"Where'd you get those plants from?" Luna asked.
"I found them on the ground. I just poured magic into them and then they were green again." Levier explained. Luna blinked.
"Coooool." Luna said she smiled at Levier and stood up.
"well we should get going!" Luna said. Levier nodded and they began to walk again. Though the sun beat down on them, they slowed their pace if the wind picked up they would enjoy it. If there was any dry grass they would eat small amounts. After a few hours of walking they stopped to set their beds for the night.
"So this is how you lived for a while Levier? Except nothing was on fire, charred or brown really." Luna said thoughtfully.
"Yep. I would travel the lands of the world checking it's flora." Levier said with a small smile. She seemed to recall fond memories as she looked into her bed of softened dirt.
"It seems kind of lonely." the small blue filly said with confusion.
"It was at times. But I appreciated the quiet. If you listen closely you can hear the earth you know." Levier said. She closed er eyes to listen. Luna did the same. Her face scrunched up.
"I don't hear anything." Luna said in disappointment.
"You have to relax silly." Levier said. Luna nodded and took a deep breath. She let it out and listened. But nothing would come. Levier opened her eyes and sighed.
"I suppose you cannot hear the earth's song. The birds don't have much food so they refuse to sing. There aren't any leaves to rustle in the wind either. " Levier said somberly.
'it's ok Levier. Once we get Tia to stop with the whole 'BURN EVERYTHING RAAAH.' then it will cool down and the plants can grow again." Luna said optimistically.
"You're right." Levier said calmly. But she held the sorrowful look in her eyes.