//------------------------------//
// Attacked 
// Story: Sisters Forever 
// by Arya Stark 
//------------------------------//

The dead pony lay on his side, blood pooling onto the rug. Her name had been Sir Clydesdale, but of course, that was back when she had a heartbeat, and lungs that conjured breaths. He had been the head of the Guard, a noble, strong stallion with good morals, loyal to the royal family. His signature maroon pelt was a shade darker, crimson blood flowing from his nostrils and corner of his mouth; though around the edges it was flaked and crusted over. Glassy brown eyes stared blankly into the distance, though to Luna, it seemed like he was staring directly at her.

Luna felt no compulsion to stay longer by the victim than she had to, but something kept her hooves riveted, staring, her eyes wide in horror. Her eyes drifted to the bloody flank, where there was evidence of horn stabs, then travelled around the room, where there had been obvious evidence of a fierce struggle. Curtains were ripped to shreds, picture frames were shattered with glass littering the ground. There were scorch marks in the white walls, along with dents from magic that Celestia couldn’t even conjure to imagine. 

All I wanted was a place to hide from Septa Nanny Hoof, Luna thought to herself faintly, feeling her heart in her throat. 

“Luna!” came the call of her septa, sounding furious. Luna flinched in panic, as if she herself were the perpetrator, though her dark hooves remained bloodless and perfect. 

The moon filly had slipped from her sewing lessons, which for some odd reason, Septa Nanny Hooves seemed stubborn that the two filly princesses should learn. Celestia had jumped in eagerly, demonstrating her superiority over Luna with pride, using her magic manipulation to elevate the fabric and needles. Luna however, had a hard time focusing, hating being cooped up in the stuffy room, when her wings longed to be stretched. They were growing, she knew it, and soon she would be able to fly, as soon as she finished molting. So as soon as the two had their backs turned, Luna gave them the slip, leaving her sister and septa to their petty sewing. 

It didn’t seem long before her absence was noticed, and at the wrong time and place, nonetheless. 

Why did bad things always seem to happen around her?

First it was the waking nightmares. She didn’t mean to cause Celestia any harm, but the only thing she remembered was hearing her sister’s screams, and being snapped out of a fuzzy dream-like state, seeing gashes all over her sister from where she had apparently been attacking her, rearing and tossing her mane like a maniac, wings sweeping, hooves flashing dangerously. Her sister hardly spoke to her for the remaining week, making Luna feel lost and sad. 

What hurt the most was her parent’s disappointed looks. Behind the concern, Luna could clearly read the disappointment and anger in their expressions as they pushed past her, Sun Burn calling frantically for aid from a nurse, while Black Knight stood to the side, hanging his head over his bleeding daughter, refusing to look at Luna. 

Luna was known to be the rebel between the two sisters, refusing proper manners, skipping out on behavior lessons, and participating in events that her parents along with Celestia, insisted was most improper. But why sit and practice how to bow correctly, especially when it was to her own parents? And patching up rips in garments were the seamstress’ jobs, not hers. 

Her job was to learn how to fly.

“Luna?!” 

The quiet voice interrupted Luna, and she jolted, tearing her gaze from the dead guard. Bristling, ready to defend herself, she turned, only to see Celestia in the door way, eyes wide and shockingly blue against the dark light in the room. The sun princess let out a small gasp as she approached Luna, who braced herself and prepared to volley back defenses on how it wasn’t her fault, she had just found him that way. But surprisingly, no accusations came. All she did was press herself into Luna’s side for support, looking as weak as Luna felt.

“Are you ok?” Celestia spoke quietly, her own voice sounding hollow. “You weren’t attacked too, were you?”

Luna shook her mane, surprised by her sisters concern. “No, I just…found him like this.”

The two fillies were silent, both keeping to their private thoughts. If it was they didn’t know what to do, or to say to each other, neither knew, but at that moment, Luna was more grateful for Celestia’s presence than she ever had been.