The Truths We Deny
Chapter 2
Celestia grimaced, her eyes blazing with rage. She stomped her forehoof again, causing a crack in the stones below her. “Where is Serenity?”
“Serenity?” Tirek mused. The centaur reached up and began to stroke his beard with one of his hands. “I'm afraid I don't recall that particular name, dearest Celestia. Even if I did, why would I be inclined to tell you? It's not in my best interests after all. I'm already imprisoned.”
Celestia snorted. “Liar!” she shouted. “You know where she is. I read your brother's diary. You were there.”
“My brother? My brother was a traitor and a liar,” Tirek replied casually. “He followed me faithfully until he was infected by the so-called 'friendship' that you ponies tout.”
“Regardless, his word was considered trustworthy,” Celestia said. “I read the book myself. You and Serenity fought. She defeated you, and disappeared in the process. You are the only one around that would know what really happened. Your brother is unfortunately unreachable.”
Tirek grinned widely. “Yes. I'm fully aware of that. Again, what reason do I have to help you? What are you going to do if I don't tell you?”
Celestia paused for a moment. She hadn't considered what she might do if Tirek had been resistant. She had been so focused on learning where Serenity was that he hadn't fully planned around the centaur's wiles.
“You will tell me where she is,” she finally said. “I've heard that the lords of this lower realm are highly skilled in the art of torture. If you don't cooperate...”
Tirek raised an eyebrow. “I must admit, you surprise me. That's dark, even for you, Celestia. Given how you banished your own sister to the moon and all.”
Celestia glanced away, trying to not let Tirek see the anger in her eyes. She was letting her emotions get the best of her again. She was letting the anger seep in, like she had done when she'd used the Elements on Luna. The alicorn breathed out deeply before returning her attention to Tirek.
“I'm serious,” she said. “Tell me where Serenity is, or else you shall face my wrath.”
“Your wrath? Are you joking?” Tirek said. The centaur snorted. “Do you even know how cliché you sound? Even I was never that bad.” Tirek grimaced. “Fine. I can tell you where you can find a clue to the location of your precious Serenity, but that's all I can do. The Princess of the Final Rest banished me from her realm, but I secreted away a piece of her power in those final moments.”
Celestia's eyes widened, her anger deflated by Tirek's sudden reply. “A piece... of her power?”
Tirek's grin turned wicked. “Yes. Her crown.”
********************************************
Princess Twilight glanced down at the markings on the floor. Everything was perfectly in order. They would be able to find Celestia before anypony else realized that she was gone. Celestia would be safe and sound. She would make sure of that.
“Alright girls. It's time to get ready,” she said to the others standing around the circle.
“Ready whenever you are, Twi,” Rainbow Dash said. “Let's get our Princess back.”
Twilight nodded, lifting her hoof and placing it out towards the center of the circle. The others followed suit, their hooves forming a smaller circle inside the larger one. Beyond the ritual area, Princess Luna and Princess Cadance stood watch.
“Once we're connected to the flow, we won't be able to disconnect until we've found her,” Twilight said. “The spatial properties of the harmonic convergence will prevent that from happening.”
“The what now?” Applejack replied.
“She means the big spinning rainbow thing,” Pinkie Pie casually interjected.
Twilight let out a gruff sigh. “Yes, Pinkie. The big spinning rainbow thing.”
Twilight's horn began to glow softly, the magic traveling down to her hoof from her horn. Once the magic reached there it sat and waited as the chain reaction began to start in the others. From each pony an aura of magical power made its way from the heart to the hoof. The magic began to intermingle, coalescing into one giant raging funnel of power that expanded to encompass the entire ritual circle. The storm of magic raged around the six friends, nearly knocking them off their hooves.
“Everypony hold on!” Twilight shouted. “The convergence is beginning!”
The magic began to spin around the circle, increasing in speed with every rotation. It engulfed the six ponies, shining brighter and brighter. Finally, everything stopped in a sudden flash of blinding white light that seeped into every inch of the room. The six opened their eyes, in awe of the magic around them.
“Where... where are we?” Rarity said after several long moments.
“I told you, this is the convergence created by the power of the Tree of Harmony,” Twilight said.
“Yes, darling. But... where is that? Are we even in Equestria anymore?” Rarity asked.
“And how do we find the Princess?” Rainbow Dash interjected.
“I... I don't know yet,” Twilight replied. “This is all very new to me as well. Let's take it one step at a time.”
“How about that step?” Pinkie Pie said, pointing at a large set of glowing stairs going upwards. “Maybe the Princess ran that way!” The energetic mare bounced up and down towards the stairs.
“Pinkie, wait! We don't know what dangers this place might --” Twilight started to say.
Pinkie Pie landed on the first step and stopped suddenly, her eyes wide as she looked up the colossal staircase. “Guys... you'd better see this.”
The other five ventured over to where Pinkie stood. Twilight grumbled, but came along as well. She too stopped on a dime as she looked up the stairs to nowhere.
“Celestia?” she said.
********************************************
“You say you took my sister's crown, and hid it?” Celestia said, grimacing.
“Yes... I had hoped that someday it's power would give me the ability to leave this forsaken prison you put me in,” Tirek said, sighing. “I never would have thought it would have taken an inept guard dog instead.”
“Never mind how you planned to escape. You will tell me where the crown is hidden,” Celestia said, narrowing her eyes at the centaur.
Tirek grinned slightly. “Indeed, I shall tell you. It is of no matter to me any longer, after all. I cannot access it, and neither will you be able to.”
“Enough games, Tirek. Where is it?” Celestia said angrily.
“It is here, in Tartarus. I hid it here, on the lowest layer. I daresay that one of the other desolate creatures of this place have found it, but they would not know it for what it is,” Tirek said. “I placed a spell on it to disguise it's true nature, only to be revealed to beings such as you and I. Deities.”
“Do not compare yourself to me,” Celestia fumed.
“Such anger, Princess. Such beautiful anger. It's no wonder you don't let anypony see the real you. The real you is far more of a real pony than you pretend to be,” Tirek said.
“You know nothing of me!” Celestia said, stomping a hoof. “Now stop with these games, and tell me what the crown looks like.”
“Fine,” Tirek replied. He sighed loudly. “The crown and the first piece of Serenity's power appear to be as simple as a rock engraved with the symbol of her cutie mark.”
Celestia grimaced and looked away. Tirek grinned deeply and leaned forward.
“You don't remember what her cutie mark looks like, do you?” he said.
Celestia frowned. “Of course I do.”
“Well, then what is it?”
“I don't have to answer to the likes of you,” Celestia snapped. She stood calmly. “We are done here.”
“Ahh... you don't then. Well, then this shall be fun... for me at least,” Tirek said, chuckling softly. “Good luck then, Princess. I hope you find what it is you are looking for.”
Celestia glanced away and then back at Tirek. With a powerful flap of her wings she made her way to the base of the stairs, leaving the centaur behind. She touched the ground softly and let out a deep sigh. Tirek was right. She didn't remember what Serenity's cutie mark looked like. She barely remembered what the mare herself looked like.
Celestia sighed again. What in the world was she doing here? Serenity was dead. There was no reason to be on this fool's errand, to leave the citizens of Equestria without their beloved Princess of the Sun. Tirek's taunts nagged at her confidence. She wondered if she would even be able to find the crown in the first place. Tirek had said he had disguised it so that only those of sufficient power could see its true form.
Celestia hardly felt like a deity. Instead, she felt more like an old mare who had turned her back on family when it mattered the most. Still... maybe if she found Serenity, she could make the things she had done right. She could make up for her mistakes. She could atone...
“Pix!” the mare shouted in the bleakness of the Tartaran wastes. “I know you're out there!”
A soft *pop* alerted the alicorn mare to the presence of the imp, who floated lazily along on an invisible breeze. “Hello, Princess Pony. I see that you returned safely from your trip up to see the Dark Lord himself.”
“Yes... and I need your assistance with something, if you think that you can handle it,” Celestia said.
Pix's red eyes widened. He straightened up immediately. “There is no task that Pixalagoricax cannot handle, dear pony. What can I do for you?”
“I want you to take me to your lord... Daxis was it?” Celestia asked.
Pix choked loudly. He glanced up at the alicorn with fear in his eyes. “I'm sorry, what did you just say?”
“I said that I would like to meet your lord, Daxis,” Celestia replied. She stamped her hoof in place. “This is urgent, Pix. I have something I must discuss with him.”
“I understand your urgency, pony, but Daxis would kill me if I showed my face around his realm of influence,” Pix said, scratching the back of his head. “Why do you think I'm all the way out here in the middle of nowhere?”
“I thought you said that you were the great messenger of Daxis?” Celestia said, narrowing her gaze at the imp. If he wouldn't be able to help her, she was going to have to find this Daxis on her own. An idea formed in her mind.
“Well you see... I...” Pix stammered.
“I see. You can't help me then. And I was going to reward you for your assistance, too. Shoot, I guess I'll have to find another guide then,” Celestia said, smiling wryly at the tiny imp. She moved to turn away from him.
Pix shot up into the air and stopped squarely in front of Celestia's face. “No no no no, I can do it, I can do it!” The imp had a pleasing toothy grin plastered on his. He nodded excitedly. “I can take you to Daxis. You failed to mention a reward, after all,” he said.
“Excellent,” Celestia said. “Lead the way, then. We don't have much time, after all.”
“But... what is my reward? Is it gold? Silver? Gems? What?” Pix cried out emphatically.
Celestia tittered. “Dearest Pix, your reward shall come when I speak with your master, and only then. Now, show me the way to his domain.”
“Fine. Follow me,” Pix said, scowling deeply. He motioned with a claw.
Celestia grimaced, but followed behind the imp deeper into the wasteland that was Tartarus.
******************************
“Celestia?” Twilight Sparkle said, blinking.
The scene laid out before the young princess confused her greatly. It technically was Princess Celestia standing there, but she looked... young. Too young, almost the same height as Twilight herself. Her mane was more pinkish in nature and she had a wry smile on her face. She appeared to not notice the six Elements of Harmony as she fluttered about with...
“Luna?” Twilight continued, feeling even more confused. Running alongside her older sister was a much younger version of Princess Luna. Twilight blinked again, clearing her eyes.
“Twilight,” Applejack said from next to her. “What in the world is going on here?”
“I... I don't know,” Twilight said frankly. The alicorn grimaced. She didn't know what to make of the two alicorns running and laughing in front of her. Were they witnessing some memory of Celestia's? Was that what the convergence was supposed to do?
“Tag! You're it, Tia!” Luna shouted playfully, interrupting Twilight's thought process.
The younger version of Celestia laughed gently, giving chase after her sister. She jumped into the air and flew over Luna, landing next to the dark alicorn. She booped Luna on the nose, grinning widely.
“Gotcha,” she said.
Luna frowned. “No fair! You can fly better than I can.”
“You never said no wings,” Celestia replied casually, giving her snowy wings a light flap to emphasize her point. “Besides, I'm kind of bored. Isn't there anything better to do than play tag?”
“Mom said we had to wait until she got home,” Luna said. “I don't see you coming up with anything fun to do.”
Celestia sighed, looking exasperated. “Mom said this, Mom said that. Jeez, you're such a Momma's girl, Lulu.”
“Am not!” Luna protested. “Besides, you promised to play with me!”
“Well I kind of thought you meant that we'd play chess or something like that,” Celestia said, frowning.
“Now that's boring,” Luna said. “Why would I want to play some old board game?”
Celestia's eyes flared. “Chess is not a boring game! It's full of very intricate little details and can be quite complex, I'll have you know!”
“Is that why you play it? Or does it have to do with that new boy at school that likes it?” Luna teased.
Celestia faltered. “That... that has nothing to do with it!” she said, her face flushing pink.
“Uh huh. I bet it doesn't.”
“That's not funny, Luna.”
“Celly and... wait, what's his name again?”
“D-D-Discordant Noise,” Celestia muttered under her breath.
Luna's eyes widened. “Hah! I knew it! You do like him!”
“And I said, that's not funny!” Celestia replied, her horn glowing fiercely. “Now cut it out!”
“Nope! Not until you admit that you like him!” Luna said angrily.
“It's not like that!” Celestia shouted.
“GIRLS!” a voice came from above the two young alicorns. Celestia and Luna both stopped immediately and looked up, their eyes shrinking.
The mare standing above the two was a beautiful snowy white alicorn, far whiter than even Celestia herself. Her mane was spun out of strands of golden rays of light mixed with twinkling motes of black stars. She wore a stern expression on her face.
“Wait... who is that?” Rainbow asked from beyond the scene.
“I think... I think it's their mother,” Twilight uttered back.
“Their mother?” Rarity echoed. “But I thought... I thought alicorns were created, not born.”
“I... I don't know, Rarity. It's true that I was elevated to this status, but Celestia and Luna have been around for... well, for ages. It's possible that they were born this way,” Twilight said.
The mare standing above the two alicorns began to speak. “Now, what am I going to have to do with both of you girls? Why must you fight so vehemently?”
“Sorry, Mom...” both younger alicorns said in unison. “We're sorry.”
“Don't be sorry to me, say sorry to each other,” the older mare replied in kind. “After all, you were the two fighting.”
Luna sighed and looked over at Celestia. “I'm sorry, big Sister.”
Celestia frowned. “Alright, fine. I'm sorry, too.”
“Celestia...” the older mare said. “Be nice to Luna. You two are going to have a lot of responsibility to take on when you are older, and you're going to need each other to get through it.”
Celestia rolled her eyes. “I know, Mom. Sorry, Lulu.”
The older mare frowned. “Fine. I have a surprise for you both. Come, I want you to meet somepony.” She motioned for the young princesses to follow behind her.
“Should we follow?” Applejack said.
“I'd prefer not to,” Fluttershy squeaked. “I don't like this place.”
“I think we have to. There's a reason we're seeing this, I just don't know why yet,” Twilight said. She started walking after the trio of alicorns.
The others nodded, following closely behind Twilight, even Fluttershy. They walked until they found themselves at the base of a quaint little cottage on the side of a dirt path. The older mare and the young Celestia and Luna stood on the path up to the house.
“We're home!” the older mare cried out. “You can come out now!”
The door to the house creaked open, revealing a young unicorn filly. She wore an expression of fear, her eyes darting back to the door as if it held some sort of safety for her.
“It's alright, my dear, you can come down and say hello,” the older mare said. “Girls, I want you to meet somepony. This here is Serenity. She's going to be living with us from now on.”
“What?” Celestia said. “You're kidding, right, Mom?”
“I am most certainly not,” the older mare said. “I found young Serenity here just outside of town. It seems that her parents died a most tragic death when she was younger, and she has been living by herself for a long time.”
“Does this mean I'm going to have to give up my room?” Celestia replied.
The older mare chuckled. “I'm afraid so. You're going to have to share a room with Luna. Serenity will be taking Luna's room for the time being until she's a little older.”
“Oh pony, I gotta share a room with her?” Luna said, pointing at her older sister. “She's gross, always talking about boys and reading those magazines of hers.”
“Magazines?” the older mare said, raising an eyebrow.
Celestia chuckled slightly. “Oh you know, teenager stuff, Mom. Besides, Luna's a whiny little crybaby at night. She's gonna keep me from getting my beauty sleep.”
“Am not!” Luna shouted.
“Are too.”
“Am not!”
“Are too.”
“Girls!” the older mare shouted, stopping them instantly. “I will not stand for this kind of arguing in this house. You're scaring poor Serenity.” She pointed a hoof.
Celestia's eyes followed her mother's indication and found that Serenity had indeed retreated back to the door of the house. She sighed deeply and started trotting up the path. Serenity recoiled when the younger mare reached out her hoof.
“Hey... I'm Celestia. It's alright, kid. I guess you're part of the family now, right? So... sisters?” she said.
************************************
“Are you certain you know the way to your master's lair?” Celestia said, glancing about the dark cave that Pix had led them into. Her horn blazed a brilliant gold, illuminating what she could of the path ahead of them.
“It is not far, pony,” Pix said, rolling his red eyes. He flapped his wings lazily as he wafted down the path.
“I have a name, you know,” Celestia replied.
“I do not believe the pony ever gave it,” Pix said.
Celestia grimaced. “If you had cared to know, my name is Celestia du Sol, daughter of the wise Queen Bright Star, Crown Princess of Equestria, the Solar Regent.”
“That's a mouthful, whaddya expect me to call you that all the time?” Pix said, his expression one of confusion.
“Err... no,” Celestia said, realizing what she had done. “The rest of that is my title. I am the Crown Princess of Equestria, but you may simply call me Celestia.”
Pix nodded, saying nothing. His batlike ears suddenly perked up.
“Is something wrong?” Celestia asked.
“Yes... we're here,” Pix said, pointing up ahead.
Celestia followed the imp's claw, her eyes widening at the scene before her. In the cavern beyond the tunnel they were in, hundreds of beasts gathered in a macabre mockery of a normal town. They moved to and fro, growling and snapping at each other. Celestia blinked. They even had houses! Her eyes drifted to the center of the town, where a massive beast lay curled up on a mound of what appeared to be bones. Boils popped on its leathery skin, spraying pus down its bloated body. It's red eyes, all six of them, closely watched the smaller creatures milling about it.
“Is... is that...?” Celestia uttered, more to herself than to her companion.
“Yeah... that's Daxis,” Pix said, grimacing.