//------------------------------// // The Clash of Two Sisters // Story: Road to Twilight // by ShadowBrony //------------------------------// Twilight blinked as she felt her whole body go ridged. “You want… My Keyblade?” Celestia slowly nodded, “It must be done to insure the safety of all. Please, hand it over.” Twilight began to shake, her face starting to scrunch up. Luna looked at Twilight with worry, “Twilight, are you alright?” Twilight tried her hardest. She knew this was a serious moment. She knew that Celestia knew nothing of the Keyblade. But still, Twilight knew that she could not hold it back. Twilight did something, the last thing anypony ever expected. She laughed. Hard. “HAHAHA YOU WANT ME TO HAND OVER MY KEYBLADE?!” Twilight did her best to control herself while Luna, Dinky and Nyx looked at her as though if she had lost her mind. Even Celestia took as step back in confusion. Twilight laughed for a full minute before finally she managed to calm herself. “Sorry about that but what you are asking of me is completely impossible.” Celestia regained her composer, “I know this may be surprising but even you must admit that laughing in my face was un-called for.” Twilight shook her head, “That laugh was only partially due to surprise. You see Celestia, my Keyblade is a part of me. I couldn’t rid of it even if I wanted to.” Celestia frowned, “You mean like it is a part of your body?” Twilight shrugged, “More or less. To be exact, my Keyblade is connected directly to my heart. Even if I could materialize it right now and give it to you, you wouldn’t be able to do a thing with it. It isn’t connected to you like mine is.” Celestia’s frown deepened, “I see... So there isn’t any way to separate it from you easily or peacefully.” Twilight lowered her head, her seriousness returning to her, “Celestia, it is impossible, to try and take it from me. Force wouldn’t work either. Since the Keyblade is connected to my heart, taking the Keyblade from my heart could shatter it. Even if it didn't, I would not survive the process.” Celestia faced turned grim, “This certainty makes things more difficult then.” Twilight felt her heart skip a beat. “Wait, Celestia, you’re not considering…?” Luna slammed her hoof into the table again, “Sister, don’t even let that thought finish itself. What you would be doing is beyond the unthinkable. Not only is Twilight’s life worth more than anything, she is the Element of Magic. If we lose her, all is lost.” Celestia took a step back, her face contorting. She stared off into space for a moment. Luna tilted her head, unsure about her sister’s behavior. She felt even more off when Celestia began to speak. “No…” She whispered to herself, “I can’t… I mustn’t!” Celestia stared off into space, a tear slowly forming out of the corner of her eye. “I know what I am!” Celestia put a hoof to her head. Luna got up from her chair, “Celestia, what is going on? Who are you talking to?” Celestia glanced over and locked eyes with Luna. Luna gasped, “Sister… Your eyes...” Celestia’s eyes had turned grey. Luna felt a shiver run down her spine. “Celestia, why do I feel another presence near me?” Celestia shook her head, “I am sorry Luna, but he is right. I must do what I think is right.” “Celestia, what are you talking about?!” “…Even if it means to protect those I matter most, I must also sometimes destroy those who matter most.” Everypony’s blood immediately turned cold as they stared back at Celestia in horror. Celestia began to glow a bright orange. Luna’s eye widened and immediately glanced down at Nyx and Dinky. “You two, do you remember what we discussed earlier?” Both Dinky and Nyx looked back up at her, unsure what was going on with Celestia. Dinky winced, “Yes, I remember, the special room, top shelf.” Luna nodded her head, “Good, please be quick and good luck.” Dinky nodded and quickly dashed off out of the room. Nyx hesitated. Luna shook her head and placed a hoof on her shoulder, " I will be fine. Please, go and help Miss Hooves.” Nyx glanced away for a moment before turning back to Luna and quickly nodding, but still looking worried. She turned and dashed out of the room as fast as her little legs could carry her. Luna watched her go. As soon as she was outside, she lit up the doors with her magic and closed them. She then turned to Twilight who was now backed up against the wall, unsure of what do. Celestia had grown brighter as magic began to spark around her. “Twilight,” Luna called out to her, “I am assuming you are still unable to summon your blade.” Twilight looked over at Luna and frantically nodded. “Please get behind me then.” Twilight kept her eyes locked on Celestia but quickly made her way over to Luna. “I don’t understand, what is she doing?” Luna began to look grim as the air seemed to grow cold around them. “She’s summoning an old friend.” Celestia raised her head high as armor began to appear around her head and torso. Golden armor, that looked like something out of the windows seen in the throne room. Then the air began to shimmer above her head as a wooden staff appeared with a blade forming at the tip. It curved and began to remind her of the weapon carried by The Pony of Death himself. Celestia gazed back down at Twilight and gave her Scythe a practice swing. The blade seemed to cut the air itself, leaving a trail of energy behind it. Luna winced, “It is a weapon I have not seen her use since we were young. Not even my transformation into Nightmare Moon could bring her to use it. It is a weapon she promised to only use as a last resort. I thought I would never see it again. It is her most powerful weapon of all. Said to slice the souls of ponies with a mere touch. Solar Reaper.” Twilight jumped back as blue flams began to emit from Luna. Her mane began to shimmer a much darker blue while her eyes began to turn while. A bluish, silvery armor began to appear on Luna. Similar to her Nightmare Moon outfit. Her helmet being to only thing not to materialize like the rest however. Twilight watched as the armor quickly finished materializing as the blue flames quickly died away. Luna’s eyes soon returned to normal. Looking down out herself, Luna gave a small smile. “It’s funny, I almost feel a sense of Déjà vu wearing this.” Twilight blinked, unsure of what to say. Luna lit up her horn and a blue ball of fire shot from it. It bounced off the ceiling and landed right in front of her. It soon lifted itself from the ground and hovered right in front of Luna. Then the ball expanded to 3 times its size. Luna reached out to the ball of fire with her magic. The ball quickly disappeared leaving a sword hanging in mid-air. The blade was a long sword. The guard was slightly curved like the moon and had a star at the end of the hilt. The blade itself was a soft bluish purple. Luna took it with her magic and swung the blade a few times. Smiling, Luna turned her head towards Twilight. “Now Twilight, meet my old friend: Star Seeker.” Twilight stared at the blade. For a second, and it may have been her imagination, but she could have sworn she saw a star shoot across the blade. “Wow…” she whispered. Luna gave one last smile at Twilight before turning back to her sister. “Celestia, you know I will do whatever it takes to protect those I care about. Just as you would do the same.” Celestia took a step forward, “Yes, I know this. Your compassion is what makes you so different from me. It is that compassion that made you watch over the ponies while they slept and acted as the guardian of the night. But that same compassion is your downfall. Nightmare Moon wasn’t the only time you rebelled against me, am I not correct?” Luna went wide eyed, “When did you know?” “A few years after those fillies went missing. It was only a matter of time before I figured it out.” Luna felt her heart quicken, “You haven’t tried to force them to come back have you?” Celestia took a step to the right, Luna took a step to the left. Both Alicorn’s began to circle each other. Celestia growled, “Unfortunately, I have yet to locate them. You have hid them well.” Luna let out a sigh of relief, “Thank goodness. Their off spring should have grown strong. The fact that they managed to allude you all these years makes me very proud of them.” Celestia stomped her hoof into the ground, “You're foolish! Why didn’t you listen to me?! Do you not realize you could have shattered our weakened kingdom? Why go off and disobey me. Why did you refuse to listen to me!?” Luna grimaced, “You mean like the way YOU listened to ME?” Celestia sighed through her noise. Luna bit her lip but soon was unable to hold back her words, “All you have ever done is treat me like I am below you. When I need you most, you were never there. When I wanted to talk to you, you refuse to listen. When I wanted us to be happy, you turned me away every time!” Luna felt a tear roll down her cheek. Celestia stopped, her whole body going stone cold as she stared back at Luna. Her expression unreadable. Luna stared back, trying to hold back her emotions as she stared at Celestia with defiance. “I’m sorry,” Celestia muttered. Luna froze as the words hit her. “Wait… What?” Celestia took a deep breath, “I’m sorry. I know I wasn’t the great leader I was supposed to be back then. It was a mistake that led me to want to protect those I care about more than ever.” Celestia raised her head and looked straight at Luna’s eyes. Luna gasped in surprise as she could see her sister’s eyes start to shine, just for a moment. “It’s because of you that I do everything I can to fix my sins. I cannot lose another pony I care about.” Luna shook her head, “Then stop this madness! Let’s work together to help Twilight. Let’s save Equestria together just like we used to!” Celestia lowered her head, “Please understand sister, I want to do that more than anything.” Tears began to fall from her face as she yelled, “I want all this to stop!” The room grew silent for a moment as Celestia breathed heavily through her nose again. Luna held her breath, unsure what to do or say. Celestia broke the silence with a sigh, “But… I am afraid my heart tells me that it is the wrong choice.” Celestia raised her head and took a step forward. “You see, I have been talking to this spirit for a long time now. He rests within my heart and has been helping me through these difficult times.” Luna felt a chill run down her back as Celestia eyes began to turn grey. “I am afraid that he doesn’t think that is a good idea. He wants the Keyblade. And for some reason, I feel like that is the better answer.” Luna gritted her teeth, “I see, so a spirit has taken thee? It is my own fault then. You had no resistance to darkness. Your heart must have been easy to take.” Luna sighed, “I see that there will be no talking you out of this. Not like as you are now. Forgive me sister, but I cannot allow the darkness to win. Please sister, if you can still hear me, fight it.” Celestia snickered, “There is nothing to fight; other then you of course.” Luna raised her blade, “Fine then.” Celestia charged, her blade held high above her head. Luna raised her blade and ran forward as well. Both ponies brought their weapons down on each other as both weapons clanged on impact. Both Celestia and Luna growled as their blades rattles against each other; both ponies doing their best to push the other back. The tip of Celestia's blade digging into the blunt side of Luna's sword. Luna suddenly jumped back before rearing her head and takes a side swipe swing. Celestia jumped back, dodging the blade before bringing her own down onto Luna. Luna jumped back once again before spinning quickly around with her right wing outstretched, causing it to strike Celestia in the head. Celestia immediately staggered back in surprise while spiting feathers from her mouth. Luna took this opportunity to light up her horn began to enact a spell. Celestia shook her head in order to refocus. She then glanced over at Luna just in time to see her let loose a spell that shot just a few yards above her. Celestia quickly looked up as a dark cloud began to materialize and was now hovering over her head. The cloud was sparkling and soon began to shake. Celestia’s eyes widened as shards of ice began to shoot down from the cloud. Celestia quickly raised her scythe and began to rotate it over her head like a fan. The weapon soon became a blur as the ice shard broke into oblivion on contact. Some of the shards landed around Celestia but not a single one hit her. The cloud soon disappeared and Celestia stopped her weapons motion. Celestia turned back to Luna and glared at her, “Well that was a bit excessive wouldn’t you agree?” Luna raised an eye brow, “Said the powerful sun goddess with a scythe.” Celestia smirked as her own horn began to glow. Her scythe began to glow a bright gold as the blade emitted a surge of powerful magic. Celestia cocked her head back before swinging it along with her blade. The blade sliced through the air creating a blade of pure magic in the air and sending it right towards Luna. Luna quickly jumped straight up, the blade of magic just barely touching her hoof. Luna winced as the magic passed below her. The heat and power of the magic felt lethal and only proved its own power but continuing through the wall behind her and exploding in the hallway next door. Luna extended her wings and propelled herself as high as she could go without hitting the ceiling. Lighting up her horn once again, she aimed it down at Celestia began firing beams of pure magic down at Celestia. Celestia, now on the defensive, began to dodge left and right try to keep from getting fried by Luna. Luna kept up her shots of magic as the floor began to burn at Celestia’s hooves. Celestia winced as one of the shots got too close for comfort. Glancing back up at her sister, Celestia decided she had enough. Her horn glowing brighter than ever, Celestia concentrated on Luna before disappearing from sight with a loud pop. Luna blinked in surprise before quickly looking around her, unsure where Celestia was going to strike. Unfortunately for Luna, Celestia managed to pop back in just out of sight above her. With a loud grunt, Celestia slammed the blunt side of her scythe into Luna's head, sending her falling towards the ground. Luna landed hard and slid until the wall was kind enough to stop her. Luna coughed, the air having been knocked from her lungs on impact. Twilight, who had been watching this all unfold in front her, closed her jaw before quickly running over to her. “Luna?! Are you alright?” Luna staggered back to her hooves, “I’m fine. Just stay safe. Perhaps try and see it you can convince your Keyblade to help us out here. I’m not sure if I will be able to stop her alone.” Twilight nodded and quickly made her way over to the far side of the throne room. Once she was there she turned and saw that Luna was back into the fight; her sword once again clashing with Celestia’s scythe. Twilight sat down where she was began to look within her heart once again. Her Keyblade lay out before her. Unlike last time were she was planning on taking things slow, this time, things seemed a bit more troublesome. Which meant it was now or never. Twilight stared down at her Keyblade and did what she does best, lecture it. “Alright, Aigam… You know why I am here. You are my blade and my only way of helping Luna. You are a weapon. Therefore, you must be getting bored sitting down here in my heart. So why don’t you come out for a bit? Help stop Celestia. I can’t do this without you. You know as well as I do that if Luna fails, we may both end up being destroyed. So whether or not you care is not up for discussion. You will have to help me or be destroyed along with me.” Twilight took a step forward and held out her hoof, “So, what do you say we team up just for now?” The Keyblade stayed where it was. Twilight held her hoof out for a full minute before groaning in exasperation. Putting her hoof down, Twilight sat down in the darkness, glaring at her Keyblade. “I just don’t understand you!” The Keyblade silently floated in front of her as Twilight felt her anger starting to grow, “There has just got to be a way to get you out. What am I missing?” A sudden explosion rocketed Twilight. Twilight quickly opened her eyes back to the world of the living and saw that Luna had taken a heavy hit. She was now pinned against the wall with Celestia’s magic. “Not good.” Twilight squeaked. Celestia horn began to glow bright; to the point it was impossible to look at. Twilight’s eyes fell onto Luna and saw that balls of energy were now coming from Celestia’s horn. The balls of light quickly floated over to Luna and wrapped themselves around her hooves. Her hooves were then locked against the wall she was pinned against. Then a small ring formed in midair and was placed around her horn. Twilight could see Luna’s horn dim as the ring was wrapped around it. Twilight could only assume that meant that Luna’s magic was now blocked. Luna was out of commission. Twilight frantically looked around her, trying to come up with a strategy. But there was nothing to use. The throne room was practically empty, save for the thrones. Twilight turned back and saw Celestia gliding toward her. Twilight backed herself against the wall. Celestia took a deep breath, “Sorry Twilight,” Celestia said coldly. Her voice sounding less like hers, “But the time has come for your Keyblade to become mine.” Twilight mind raced. Perhaps she could make herself angry. Maybe think about her friends while doing so? Twilight tried to do just that, but her panic kept her from thinking straight. Twilight watched in horror as Celestia raised her blade. Twilight wanted to scream but her heart was beating too fast for her to say anything let alone breathe. Celestia’s eye’s narrowed as she dropped her blade down at Twilight. Twilight felt the whole world seem to slow as the blade made its trip down to her. There was a crash and a black blur… Twilight gasped as the blur moved in front of her. The blade made the trip down but was stopped ¾ of the way. There was a loud clang and Celestia’s blade bounced away. The world began to move at normal speed again. Twilight blinked, her brain trying to process what just happened. Her eyes glanced downward; she could now see she had been saved… by the last pony she would expect to be saved by. Dinky was standing in front of her with Nyx on her back. Nyx’s shield was grasped firmly in her mouth. The thing that has saved Twilight just seconds ago. Twilight sputtered, a complete loss for words. Nyx hopped off of Dinky and stood between Celestia and Twilight. Dinky turned around, a sack full of potions now lay across her back. With a look of determination Dinky gave Twilight a large grin, “Don’t worry Twilight, the cavalry has arrived.”