“It’s a bit ironic, Princess, that one group of vandals help you in fighting another, isn’t it?” said Twilight.
Luna sat up and thought about the question for a moment.
“Twilight Sparkle, one of the things you must learn as you grow—will learn, for We know that you are a pony of excellent quality—is why ponies do what they do. Putting yourself in the other pony’s horseshoes is the phrase used. Having been born to the purple as it were, We have never known what it is like to be hungry or homeless or impotent. There is no excuse for denying another pony the use of his property, but there may be reasons.
“This is the difficulty of a ruler. As much as Celestia and We try to govern ponies by rules and laws, and to let them be as free as possible, ultimately power is in our hooves and we have to decide where it should be used. If the prisoners in the dungeons were to have walked out at the first, it might have worked out anyway that they turned over a new leaf. But that they didn’t gave Us confidence that the decision to let them go was the right one, though made out of necessity. And conversely We never had any compunction about fighting Taur as hard as we could and showing no mercy. No rule-based justification can be given, but We feel that one party can be judged to one result and another to a different one.
“And when somepony has shown time and again that even when they wrong you they’re doing it for an understandable reason, it becomes easier to judge them. Such is the case with Our sister. There have been many things she has done that We considered to be slights against Us, but in all cases We saw at the time, or came to realize later, that it was done out of protection and love. That is why We understood why, in despite of Our power and Our desperate desire to help in the defense of Canterlot, when the battle came, she let Us sleep through it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the only time since We had assumed Our royal duties that We woke in darkness, having neglected to raise the moon. And yet darkness did not reign entirely. From the window could be seen fires raging throughout the city. Canterlot was burning.
We hurried to the main chamber, where Celestia was issuing orders to countless guardsponies and soldiers running in and out, and accosted her. “Why did you not wake Us sooner?!”
“They came upon us so sudden, I have been directing our defense unceasingly. Had I but a moment to spare I would have.” We saw this as a white lie, but had no time to argue the matter.
“’Tis no matter; We are here now. Direct Us.”
“Luna, I love you and would fain have you in as little danger as possible. Stay here where it is safe.”
“We cannot hide while Canterlot burns!”
“Then attend to your nightly chore and raise the moon that we might have better light, but pray, stay above the battle, and return at need!”
We moved to the window to take wing. “Have you the Elements of Harmony at the ready?”
She patted an ornate wooden box with her hoof. “Right here. When the beast Taur shows himself, I will stop him, and I want you at my side.”
“Then until we meet again, beloved sister.”
And with that We soared into the air. With all haste We cast the spell to raise the moon, and as its first light poured over the horizon, We saw a sight to raise Our spirits.
On the road that led to Saddlebrook, a lead of five guards racing toward the city, and in their train the mares that survived the flood, galloping with blazing speed and with rage in their eyes. They had not camped or slowed, but galloped with all haste, scarcely arriving sooner than We could.
The shadow-clones of Taur had lost all their power to dazzle our soldiers or dissuade them from fighting, and the tactical matter of the battle was going our way. As this cavalry charge entered the city they trampled through, effortlessly picking out the false ponies from their fellow Equestrians.
But We knew that all this was only a prelude, and the true contest would not occur until the beast showed himself.
And as though Our thought had set it off, from the same direction We heard the rumble of hooves and saw a black shadow eclipse Our beloved moon, and fear struck Us again, for by some evil sorcery Taur had grown to many times his prior size, and could bestride a house as we ponies would a stone. And his voice trembled the very foundations of the land, as he spoke cruel mockeries.
“Thank you so kindly for gathering in one spot. Know now that your running gives me speed and your cowardice gives me size. We have grown fast on your folly and fat on your fear! And now, the last city of the ponies shall fall!” And he charged into the city.
Canterlot Castle stood, as it does now, on a promontory jutting out from the side of a mountain, and is narrowest at its base. Taur threw his shoulder into this lowest part, and we saw a fissure form between the castle and the wall of rock as its weight was no longer supported. We screamed in terror, “Celestia!” as the towers foundered and landed on their side.
But Celestia flew out of one of the windows even as the castle was traveling down. We thought of all the others who had not escaped, and it was a terrible feeling of guilt that We could not summon the same grief for them as we had for the ponies We had already seen fall. They were merely more casualties.
We soared to embrace Celestia, but as we neared, she called out, “The Elements! They are still in the main chamber!” We diverted Our flight, calling back, “We will get them! Buy Us some time!”
We found a window and entered. Navigating Our home when on its side, damaged, and denied light was no easy task, but not for naught are We called Princess of the Night. We made Our way through sideways doors and inverted halls, past shattered priceless treasures and shattered bodies worth even more, until we reached the main chamber and found the wood box laying on its side by Celestia’s throne.
We smashed the box with a hoof. At the time the five known elements were all bound on one necklace instead of spread as they are today. We grabbed it in Our teeth and flew back the way We came.
As we ascended once again into the night We saw Our sister battling with Taur. Though with his monstrous size he could have crushed her, she was swift and agile, never letting him get close to her and forcing him to turn his bloated body every which way. We streaked toward Celestia, but Taur noticed Us and raised a large hoof to strike Us down. Celestia flew high in the air and with all Our strength We hurled the Elements of Harmony up as the blow landed, knocking Us out of the sky to crash among the rubble. But the necklace had followed its course and a blinding light spread across the city. All action ceased, and Taur was rooted to the spot where he stood.
We have not to this day seen Our sister show anger as she did then. She lowered herself to the ground, and we were separated by a distance of some yards. From the blow of Taur’s hoof or from the crash Our legs and wings were broken. We crawled toward Celestia as she spoke masterfully.
“Thrice-accursed and damned be you, Taur! Your crimes are unforgivable! You have seen fit to rape our land, murder our subjects, and strike a royal personage whom I love more than my life! Your reign of terror ends now! You can no longer create your golems in the shape of Equestrians!”
And a pulse of light flew out from the Elements, and every false pony who did not belong in that city was turned to dust. All the citizens who remained looked on in wonder. And still We crawled on.
“You will no longer molest our homes!”
Another pulse of light burst from Celestia’s neck, and every fire in the city was put out at once. Only the clean, pale light of the moon remained. And still We crawled on.
“You shall no longer take a stance above anypony based on fear!”
A third pulse came forth, but this one lingered and surrounded Taur. And the foul black body shrank until he was no taller than Celestia herself. They stood mere inches from each other.
And still We crawled on. We wanted to be by her side in her moment of triumph.
“You are banished from this land henceforth. Leave now with your head bowed, or in the name of these Elements of Harmony you will be struck down where you stand!”
Taur did bow his head, but then he let forth a low chuckle. “Honesty. Laughter. Generosity. Kindness. Loyalty. Fine sentiments all. They have but one drawback.”
Our crawl had ended. We had reached Celestia. We held out a hoof to her.
“They cannot be used. . . by one who is dead!”
And so quick than nopony could react, Taur raised his head, and with his great bull’s horns he gored Celestia right through her heart.