Part I: Old Wounds...
Five Years Earlier...
Celestia had taken several students, and at the time and currently, she had Twilight Sparkle, a young and eager unicorn with a thirst for knowledge. Celestia had sent her to Ponyville to oversee the thousand-year celebration, and to make new friends along the way. Twilight succeeded in gaining five new friends, but her victory could not come at a worse possible time.
An ancient prophecy had foretold that Luna would return on the thousandth year of her exile. Most ponies discredited the tale as myth and that Celestia's reign would protect them. However, on that night, the prophecy came true. Celestia went missing, being cast under a spell that would place her in stasis.
Twilight and her friends had the ultimate task of trying to defeat this new threat, and eventually found the Elements of Harmony, old relics that could be used as a powerful source of magic. They succeeded in activating their use, and tried to overpower Nightmare Moon with the power of the Elements.
However, after a thousand years of seething and only growing in power, Nightmare Moon was able to resist the magic. The Elements for the first time, were actually challenged in power. After successfully deflecting its power, she shot back with her own powerful dark energy. Eventually, Nightmare Moon was in a position to where she could defeat the Elements.
With the Elements in danger, Celestia managed to break free from her stasis. She then burst into the hall to see this display. In horror, she saw the magic struggle. On one side, was the rainbow colored stream that came from the Elements. On the other, and quickly approaching the six, was a large beam of the darkest energy in Equestria. Twilight and her friends were about to collapse under the pressure of Nightmare's assault. Celestia had no time: it was either now, or never.
With all her might, she cast a large spell into the mix. In a blinding flash and explosion, the magic of all three sides were directed in portion back at each of them. They were thrown back, and soon, all eight combatants were on the floor, incapacitated.
Celestia woke up soon after, and got up slowly. She felt weak, as if something was missing. She trotted, almost limping, to Luna. No longer in the guise of Nightmare, she saw her sister's face, and was shocked. A long jagged scar of white was etched into the right side of her face, and numerous other abrasions on her body. In an attempt to see if she was still alive, Celestia nudged her sister.
But then the mare's eyes opened wide open, and in a quick and almost blinding motion, a hoof struck Celestia's face, knocking her back.
Celestia recovered quickly, and tasted the blood emitting from her face as it reached her mouth. She watched as Luna struggled upward, and drew her hoof across her face, feeling the scar. She then shot a look of pure contempt at Celestia.
Luna looked menacingly at her sister, and raged filled her eyes as she approached Celestia. Celestia stepped back as Luna advanced. Without her magic, Celestia was nearly defenseless against Luna's rage.
But both of their concentrations were shattered when several hooves were heard entering the room. There stood Captain of the Guard Shining Armor, with a contingent of guards.
"Quickly!", the Captain ordered, " Arrest the dark one! She's threatening the Princess!" No sooner had he said this that his guards rushed toward Luna. They tackled her, and brought her to the ground. She tried to resist, but the battle left her damaged, and her magic was also useless. Eventually she was on the floor again, being tied by the guards.
"It's not over, Sister!", Luna yelled as she was drug away. "I will have my revenge!"
Celestia was nearly traumatized by the ordeal. For so long, she was convinced that this day would never come, and before her eyes, lay solid evidence that she was wrong. She failed to notice her Captain heading towards the six other mares thrown across the floor.
"My... my sister", the Captain trailed lowly. Celestia turned her head to see her Captain staring straight at Twilight Sparkle. Celestia trotted over beside him. She noticed a strange broken head ornament beside her Celestia tried to use her magic to lift it, but was even too weak to do that. She then looked back at Twilight, and nudged her with her hoof, and Twilight groaned lowly.
"She's alive, Captain", Celestia stated. "But you should get all six of these mares medical attention."
"Yes, your highness", the Captain answered, and he quickly left to seek help. Celestia then looked noticed the ornaments next to each of the mares. These ornaments were being worn by the mares during the battle, and she remembered as there were six Elements...
Those, the Princess began to think, are the Elements of Harmony! But, she realized, the ornaments are ruined.... does that mean the Elements are too?
Celestia pieced together what had happened. When she added her magic into the mix during the battle, and the magic was directed back at the users, the force of the Elements themselves, Celestia's magic, and Luna's dark magic had all overpowered the Elements, and just about destroyed them. Whether or not the Elements were truly destroyed, Celestia was nearly certain that she or any other pony would never be able to use the Elements again.
She stared again at the mares thrown across the floor as she heard the rushing of hooves into the room. She walked away to go into her chambers. She needed rest, and to gather her thoughts on what happened...
* * *
Celestia stormed into the prison the next day, and directed herself into the maximum-security cell where Luna was being held. Celestia still was weakened in her magic by the battle, and expected Luna to be the same way. Twilight and her new friends were currently recovering in a hospital, as the battle had been slightly harder on them physically.
She trotted through the halls of the prison, escorted by two guards. At the door, six guards stood watch guarding it, to ensure that Luna would not escape. One of the guards unlocked the door, and Celestia stormed in.
The Princess of the Moon was tied to the wall by all four legs, and her wings with metal bands. The scar still appeared fresh on her face, and her body was covered in abrasions from the night before. Celestia wondered what had caused the scar, and figured it was probably a mark left by either her own, Celestia's, or the Element's magic hitting her. It was strange, though. Celestia nor the other six had any visible scars like that.
"Answer my question", Celestia asked harshly. "Why did you come back, sister?"
Luna chuckled, and grinned. "Sister, you sent me a thousand years ago to an exile," Luna started to answer, "and I returned for my vengeance."
"We could've ruled Equestria together, Luna", Celestia said. "We could've lived in peace, if you had just listened..."
"No, . Don't you see?", Luna cut off, "You were wrong! I did not deserve that exile. Your greed for power is intolerable. I needed to stop you..."
"Oh please", Celestia scoffed, "you were just jealous."
Luna answered indignantly, "You were taking too much power for yourself. What was I doing? Raising the night, just so you could have the satisfaction of ending it? To promote yourself?"
Celestia was insulted by the accusation. "How dare you, you ungrateful, little..." Celestia said with anger in her voice, and advanced toward Luna.
"Aren't we forgetting something", Luna answered smirking. "You're supposed to love and tolerate, sister, be the good pony.".
Celestia backed off. "You showed me no love of any kind", Celestia answered, turning her head away.
"Celestia, you're my sister", Luna started, "nothing will change that, but that doesn't make us friends."
Celestia turned back looked confused at her sister. "Why do you refuse my friendship? Why can't you rule by my side?"
"Sister, the time is pass for us to rule alongside each other", Luna replied. "Both of us have grown too powerful. Equestria cannot be ruled by both of us. And I will not let you rule this land by yourself."
Celestia looked at her sister, and turned around.
"I will keep you in here", Celestia said, "Until you either agree to rule with me or die. I can't afford to let you grow in power, so you will stay here where I can watch you. You're too dangerous."
Luna shuffled in her bonds. "You can't treat me like a child anymore. I will get out of here, Sister. When the citizens of Equestria have found out that you failed them, they will see how weak you are. They will call for my release. And then
Equestria must decide who is the rightful ruler."
Celestia scoffed at first, but then considered what Luna said. It was true, the public must know of Luna's return by now, and that they might be upset that she failed to prepare them. Celestia started thinking; was it true that with the return of Luna, the ponies might consider a new leader?
But Celestia turned those thoughts aside, and answered in vanity:
"Equestria has the ruler it needs"
* * *
Two months later, the citizens of Equestria were divided amongst each other. The citizens of Equestria did learn of Luna's return and imprisonment, and just as Luna predicted, thousands, if not millions, rallied in support of Luna. With the arguments heating up, she worried that Discord might be awakened, so she had his statue removed from her land and shipped to a remote location, where no one would find it. However, that was the least of her worries. Right now, there was a crisis on her hands.
Luna's supporters called Celestia "tyrant", "heartless", and "oppressive". At the same time, there were still many who supported Celestia, and challenged the Luna supporters. They refused to believe that another ruler was needed. But both sides were brewing for a brawl, and Celestia started getting desperate.
She consulted her Captain, Shining Armor, and ordered security around Canterlot be doubled at all times. This protected
Celestia, but all across Equestria, protests were held. Though violence was not common, the Solar princess was worried about what this might turn into.
Fortunately, Twilight and her friends had made a full recovery, and were in full support of Celestia and her rule. Celestia was glad to see that they were safe and healthy, but concerned that they re-emerged at a time like this. They were despised by many for their views. Stones were thrown through the windows of Twilight's residence. She started to worry for the safety of her student and her friends.
Celestia had experimented with the ruined Elements of Harmony, hoping to try to fix them. But each time ended in failure; the Elements were simply broken beyond all repair. There was nothing she could do, so she had the Elements sent away, for the safety of future generations. She knew as a result, her power was significantly weakened. But so is Luna's, the princess thought to herself, we're both on equal ground then.
But at the moment, Celestia needed to act fast and try to deal with this unrest. She decided to go pay Luna another visit.
She left the throne room and flew to the prison. After trotting through the corridors, accompanied by her guards once more, she entered Luna's cell.
A week earlier, Celestia allowed Luna to be let off the wall, but now she walked with a heavy chain and ball attached to her left foreleg. Luna looked surprisingly well, despite being in prison for months. Her mane was ruffled, but that was almost all sign that she was a prisoner at all. The cell had a window viewing the countryside, but Luna knew what was going on from the news she was allowed to receive weekly.
Celestia trotted in, and Luna turned her head at her guest. The scar was still conspicuous and jagged across the right side of her face. Celestia couldn't help but notice it.
"So", Luna started, "has my sister come to discuss her problem?"
"Luna, you know that I don't like this", Celestia said. "We can't let Equestria be split. We've got to make a compromise."
"And what", Luna asked. "Will you just cast me aside like you did all those years ago? Do you take me for a fool? No, I will not rule with you. Not now; not ever."
"Sister, please", Celestia asked, almost begging. "I promise to acknowledge your contributions better. I just can't let you..."
"That's it", Luna cut in. "You can't let me. That's all I am to you: a pet. Well, no. That's why I won't rule with you. You will limit me as if I were your slave."
"What", Celestia nearly gasped. "I would never do that! You are my sister, I respect you!"
"DID YOU RESPECT ME WHEN YOU EXILED ME", Luna yelled back, advancing to Celestia . The guards readied their weapons, but Celestia motioned them to relax.
"I did what I had to", Celestia said, "I hate myself for it."
"Really now", Luna shot back, "was that before or after I returned? Before or after I threatened your rule?"
"Luna please", Celestia begged.
"No", Luna said. "You are in no position to rule this country alone anymore."
Celestia looked at her sister with the most authority she could muster, but still saw the regret in her eyes. It was true, she had been perfectly content before Luna came back. It was only after she really started to reconsider.
Luna sighed as well, and trotted back over to the window. She stared out for a few seconds, then looked back at Celestia.
"I said, sister, I would not rule alongside you", Luna said. "But that doesn't mean I can't rule at all."
Celestia was puzzled at what her sister just said. What could she mean, I'm not giving up the throne, she thought.
Luna sighed again. "I therefore present a new option:
"give part of Equestria to me. I will rule it myself."
"WHAT", Celestia gasped, shockingly. "Equestria has never... for as long as I can remember..."
"Sister", Luna said with a plead in her voice. "Do you really want this entire nation to fall because of your greed? I think you just need to face the fact that as long as I'm here, the ponies of Equestria will always be split on which of us is truly better. So let us not allow an entire nation to disintegrate because of us, but rather, allow ponies to choose their own way. Allow them to live under the one they choose."
Celestia stood there for a second. For nearly as long as she could remember, even under Discord, Equestria had always been united under a single ruler. Now her sister was suggesting that the tradition be stopped due to an argument? To actually divide Equestria by choice?
"No", Celestia said. "I will not allow it. It is ludicrous."
"Okay", Luna said with a warning attitude. "Just tell me when you see Equestria burning..."
Celestia watched at her sister resume her position by the window, and she stared at her for a second. She then turned away, and trotted out of the cell, contemplating on what had transpired.
Will I ever be willing to divide the land, just so I could remain in power?, Celestia thought. She hoped that it would never have to come to that...
* * *
Five months after Luna's return, Equestria was in near-anarchy. Civil order had broken down almost completely, and fighting was common in the streets. Even the pro-Celestia police forces couldn't hold down the Luna supporters. More and more ponies were joining Luna and vowing loyalty to her, and even she saw her own former servants and guards among the ranks of the Luna supporters. Celestia was deeply troubled.
The fights became very violent. Deaths numbered in the hundreds already. Fortunately, Twilight, nor none of her friends or their families had been hurt. But the civil unrest was still a major issue in Ponyville. But the conflict had affected them: two nights ago in Ponyville, Twilight's friend's Cupcake shop was burned down when she dared fly a Celestia flag outside of it.
Canterlot was even threatened, as thousands of pro-Luna supporters rallied outside of the walls, while pro-Celestia supporters clashed with them, taking position in front of the walls. Celestia could not possibly rule like this anymore. If she did not please the populace soon, she would be history.
At first she tried to handle it as best she could, and so she had Luna released from prison, hoping that her freedom would satisfy the protestors enough for them to accept her rule again. If anything, however, it made things worse. Luna quickly rallied her supporters against Celestia, and the princess knew that Equestria was on the verge of total revolution.
Celestia continued to consider more options, just options that would make everybody happy. She couldn't stand to see her people like this, fighting each other in the streets. She slowly started to consider what Luna had said, about splitting the nation...
I can't... can I? If I give Luna what she wants, will that be the key to peace, Celestia thought. If she gave them their own nation, will the two sides cease hostilities, knowing that they were now separated from each other, like breaking up two fighting fillies?
She looked out to the land. Outside the walls, she heard the protests. All of them, declaring that she had ruled long enough and it was Luna's time to take power. She started to realize how dire the situation was, and that right now, she could only see one solution.
It shamed her greatly. If only, if only the Elements had succeeded, she would have a sister that would rule beside her. Together, she remembered. The time, when the two ruled together, without conflict.
Now no longer. Now, it must be apart.
* * *
Luna was summoned to Canterlot. Though suspicious, she decided to go anyway. She was told she was summoned to the throne room by Celestia. She could only wonder what her sister wanted now.
Luna was given access when the guards confirmed she wasn't carrying any hidden weapons. When she entered, Celestia stood at a window, staring outside. "It's been months, you know, since your return", Celestia started. "And already, ponies are shouting your name and praises. Amazing really; five months ago you were a myth."
Luna stood there, looking at the awe of the throne room. She looked around, and saw the intricate designs of the tapestries and windows that lined the walls. Luna looked back at Celestia and answered, "Mythical or not, they support me. I told you they would."
Celestia dropped her head down, and sighed. She knew what she was going to have to do. I am so ashamed of myself right now, the princess thought to herself, that it will come to this.
"Luna", Celestia started, "I know you will not rule alongside me. So... as a result of recent events, I... have decided to let you rule part of Equestria as if it were your own. You will receive land at which you can form your own nation"
Luna smiled when she said this. She knew that Celestia couldn't rule under this pressure forever; it was only a matter of time until she cracked. She was glad it had come this quickly.
"It was a hard decision, you know", Celestia said, "to allow myself to split Equestria..."
"Oh come off it", Luna said in a victorious manner. "You should've known you were going to have to do this." Celestia shot Luna a look, but said nothing.
"That's why I called you here", Celestia said. "I want to draw up an arrangement, so we can both decide how we are going to divide the land..."
Luna was more than eager to get started.
* * *
Two weeks later, two massive crowds gathered side-by-side in Canterlot. On one side, were all of the supporters of Luna, who were about to make a mass exodus to their new homeland, with a capital in Hoofingham. Already, preperations were being made to build a palace for Luna there. On the other side of the field were supporters of Celestia, and honestly glad that the Lunars were getting their own territory and stay out of theirs.
Inside the halls of Canterlot, Celestia and Luna walked side by side to the table. Guards dressed in both of their colors flanked them at each side. When they reached the table, they saw the document, written in fine ink on parchment.
The document guaranteed the liberty and recognition of the Lunar Empire, which would compose of about half of pony-held territory in Equestria. The Lunar Empire was also given full rights to a military and the right to produce arms to defend itself. The Solar Empire could not interfere or take action against any military, domestic, or foreign issues in the Lunar Empire, and the Lunar Empire could not do the same to the Solar Empire. Along with this, as their jobs were to raise the sun and moon, they agreed that when it was day in one country, it would be night in the other, to remind each other of how opposite they were.
With the document drawn up, all that was left was for Celestia and Luna to sign it. Using her magic, Luna casually lifted the pen with her magic and made her signature on the page, and awaited Celestia.
Celestia stared at the document in front of her. Signing this would seal fate and history forever, and things would never be the same. She took a moment to lament, and then raised the pen with her magic as well.
Carefully and skillfully, Celestia signed her name onto the document. It was now official: Equestria was divided for the first time, and Luna ruled a kingdom of her own.
The two sisters walked out of the hall onto the balcony, and looked out to the amassed crowds, going wild with joy. Both raised their hooves in the air, and looked at each other.
"I'm going to miss you, Luna", Celestia said.
"I will promise to take care of my people, sister", Luna answered. The two embraced one last time, and Luna then unfolded her wings and flew to the Lunar side of the crowd.
"Come, citizens of the Lunar Empire", Luna said proudly, "let us go to our new homeland and prosper!"
The ponies there then marched in the direction of the Lunar lands. Pegasi flew up and led the crowds to the border. The mass exodus had begun.
Celestia only looked out onto the countryside, of a divided Equestria. All because she couldn't stop her sister. She started to shed tears at the thought. It was done: Equestria would never be the same again.