Chapter 8: Christmas in Canterlot
"Come on, Luna! You're gonna miss it!"
Luna wrenched herself from the depths of her slumber to see what Snowdrop was so excited about. The last few days had been the best of both of their lives, and Luna hoped that would last many, many years into the future.
"What doth thou wish to showeth me," asked Luna as she made her way onto the balcony to a sight she hadn't seen in many years.
It was snowing in Canterlot! But it wasn't just any snow...
"Do you like them," asked Snowdrop, "I've been making them ever since I first got into that cave! Aren't they so beautiful!?"
Luna had to admit, the snowflakes were breathtaking. Each flake had such intricate designs, as if a master mason had sculpted them from stone. But these were ice, and had been made by Snowdrop, who'd had one thousand years to perfect her craft.
"They are beautiful, Snowdrop," said Luna.
Down below, the ponies were rejoicing, for Snowdrop's snow had not fallen in many, many years, and never in such vast quantity. There were celebrations going on, parades being planned, and many other things, but most of all, they were preparing for Christmas, as it was Christmas Eve.
"LOOK! There they are," Snowdrop said, pointing at a carrriage moving through the streets. There was an armored human sitting in front, while two strong-looking Bat Alicorns, obviously from Nightmare Moon's Shadow Guard due to their pitch black armor, pulled in front.
Snowdrop raced out of the room before Luna could even react.
"Snowdrop," Luna called before running after her, "Wait for us!"
Luna rushed into the hall to find the castle in a state of panic. Ponies were running about, screaming. Luna grabbed one of them.
"What is happening?"
The frightened mare could barely speak. "Ce..Ce..Celestia's gone N...Ni...Nightmare!"
Luna released the mare, who quickly galloped off. She was in shock. How could her sister, who had ruled Equestria well for so long, suddenly succumb to the Nightmare without any warning? Luna realized she had to find Snowdrop, and make sure Crystal and Nightmare Moon were alright.
After much searching, she found Snowdrop outside the castle with Crystal and Nightmare Moon, who had both only just arrived.
"We are afriad that thou must leave, right now," said Luna hurriedly.
"Why? They only just got here," said Snowdrop.
Nightmare was about to say something, but was interrupted when the doors to the castle blew open with a ball of flame. In the doorway stood Solar Flare, Celestia's Nightmare form.
"On second thought, let's go," Snowdrop said, her eyes wide. She had only been talking to Celestia a few hours before. "Could this be my fault," she asked herself under her breath so nopony could hear.
"Agreed," Stormcry said as the four Alicorns ran into the carriage. The Shadow Guards wasted no time and were immediately off, moving faster than they ever had before.
5 Minutes Later, Some Distance Away From Canterlot...
Behind them, a wave of flame was washing over the city. Somehow, Canterlot had been evacuated in the short time between when Celestia was corrupted and when Solar Flare exited the Castle. Luna could only watch as her home burned.
"I'm sorry," said Crystal, "Celestia said she'd found another Shard of Love, but thought there was something wrong with it. There was nothing any of us could have done if the Shard had indeed been defiled."
"We should have been there," Luna said, "This is not what we wished for Christmas."
Nightmare came over and gave her original a hug. "It may not be what you wanted, but we can still fix this, right Crystal?"
Crystal nodded. "It seems there are dark forces trying to prevent the reunification of the Element of Love. If that is so, then we must hurry. I will go into Canterlot and retrieve the Shard Celestia found. The rest of you head to Ponyville to meet up with Crystalia, Fate and Elegance. They might have located more Shards."
Everypony nodded in agreement.
"Right, let's go!"
~~~~~~~~
Solar Flare watched as the group of Alicorns split up, three going with the escort while one appeared to be coming back.
"Oooooh! This should be most entertaining," said a voice from behind her. She turned to see Discord sitting in a seat made entirely of flame. "My, I'm in the hot seat, aren't I?"
Solar Flare rolled her eyes. "Just be ready when the Alicorn arrives. Lead her to the Shard, then let the magic do it's work."
"As you wish," Discord said, "Or as I wish? Hmm, I never really understood that..."
Discord disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Solar Flare alone on the Sun Balcony of the burning castle.
Celestia finally let down her disguise, exhausted from the effort it had taken to keep up. She had ordered the evacuation, knowing that somepony thought she wouldn't be able to detect the dark enchantment and dispell it. She decided to lay them, and make it seem like she really had turned to evil.
"So, Discord is already against us," Celestia said to herself, "Hmm, no suprise there, really. I just hope they can find the other Shards, and Discord doesn't realize the dark enchantment on the Shard is gone."
Celestia looked out to see which Alicorn it was, and was suprised to see an Alicorn that almost looked like a younger version of her, except with a longer mane and a cutie mark identical to Cadence's.
Crystal Heart was coming to get the Shard. Celestia almost felt bad...for Discord.