Apprentice of the Stars

by Vohira

Chapter 13: Ashes

Princess Celestia was still sitting with her sister Luna in her study, when both of them heard somepony running. The hurried steps came to a halt before the doors and there was a quick, strong series of knocks.

“Princesses you have to come to the town square, this is urgent.” The guard’s voice sounded almost scared.

Both alicorns looked at the doors and in a perfect synchronisation stood up. Luna and Celestia had a good guess what made the guard sound as scared as he did.

“Twilight.” Celestia voiced their guess.

In a bright flash of pink magic Twilight teleported herself and her prisoner to one of Canterlot’s busiest squares. With her wings spread and flapping slowly she hung in the air while with her magic the lavender alicorn held Chrysalis, beaten and dejected. With a quick spell she transfigured an old fountain into a makeshift podium, creating a few puddles on the cobblestone. Only then did she land with her helmet covered head held high.

From the moment the crowds seen the bright flash all present eyes were turned on the new arrivals. All of the gathered ponies had their eyes wide with amazement, disbelief… and fear and only the trio of normally stoic Royal Guards that were there on duty for that day were able to move as fast as they had.

“Go Blitz, get the Princesses here… now! You have to...” The commanding Guard of the trio spoke but didn’t got the chance to finish as two things happened at once. One his friend Blitz run off in the direction of the castle as if all of Tartarus was hot on his fetlocks. Secondly the stunned silence of the square was shattered by a voice that made his hair stand on ends.

“Citizens of Canterlot!” Twilight’s cold voice rolled over the crowd like a tidal wave, reaching further into the city. From alleys and streets more ponies began to move towards the square, to see what the commotion was all about. “Many of you may not recognize me as I am now. Do not fear me as I am Twilight Sparkle… and I will protect you.”

The announcement of the lavender warrior-princess was meet with whispered conversations. Most of them focusing of how she now looked like Nightmare Moon. But those voices were quickly shushed by other ponies that felt it unwise to voice such thoughts in that moment.

But to Twilight it made no difference, she heard them all. The good, the hesitant, the fearful… She heard all of their talks and a small fanged smile bloomed on her lips.

“I will protect you from those that would wish you harm! No enemy of Equestria will go unpunished. No threat will go unanswered.” With her magic Twilight yanked the changeling queen before her, scraping the stone of her makeshift stand with Chrysalis muzzle. To her it was amusing that most of those watching her just now realized she was not alone.

Cries of fear and outrage began to rise among the crowd. The dark purple alicorn just raised one of her front hooves in a silencing gesture… and the crowd obeyed.

“Today one such criminal shall be judged and punished. You know her. Queen Chrysalis, leader of the changelings and the reason why our city was attacked when Princess Cadance and my brother Shining Armor were getting married.” As she was talking, Twilight levitated the beaten changeling into the air to let everypony see her. She smirked with satisfaction when a few shouts of “Justice!” started a wave of similar demands.

“You ask for justice, demand a punishment. But… I propose more! Let Chrysalis be an example of what happens to those that dare to threaten our lives! What say you… My subjects?!” While the shouts were sparser now than before, as some ponies began to wonder where exactly the dark alicorn was going with this, it was still those that agreed with Twilight that were the most vocal.

A deranged, hateful laugh filled the air followed by the sound of coughing and spitting. Chrysalis while suspended in the magic field glared at her captor.

“This is your trial Sparkle? This is your justice? Maybe I should have died in the Hive, it would have been more merciful afte-” The changeling Queen didn’t end her little speech as she was smacked with an armored hoof with enough force to crack her dark chitinous skin and a splatter of green blood painted the stone stage Twilight was standing on. Chrysalis coughed painfully spitting out some more blood.

“Yes Chrysalis, this is MY justice. I am the accuser! The judge, the jury… and executioner.” Twilight turned her glare at the crowd that went deathly silent when the changeling queen began to speak. “For too long have Celestia been forgiving. For too long we have turned the other cheek time and time again. Not anymore.” When she finished Twilight focused and her magic began to concentrate into a shape, becoming more solid with every passing second. Finally in her magical grasp she held a claymore. Its blade looked like it was made from a crystal so black that it sucked in all light that dared to fall upon it, it’s guard was formed into six wings wrought from dark iron as was the handle. In the pommel was a pink diamond shaped like a six pointed star.

In the mean time the crowd has grown so dense at the square that ponies stood shoulder to shoulder and all were mesmerized by the frightening spectacle going on on the podium that was once a fountain. Pegasi were spared being squeezed in the crowd, opting to hover at a safe distance or sit at the roofs.

“Any last words Chrysalis?” Twilight asked looking here in the eyes as she leveled her claymore at the high of her captive’s neck.

“Go to Tartarus, Sparkle!” Chrysalis shouted and spit at the alicorn, her mixed saliva and green blood splattering on the now enraged alicorn’s muzzle.

With a quiet snarl Twilight brought her newly created weapon high over her and the willed it to fall upon the Changeling Queen’s neck.

When the black crystal sword was somewhere in the middle of its deadly arch, the crowd gasped as a golden sword that was a bit larger and thicker than Twilight’s own, with a thick ring with six short spines as its guard that made it look almost like a sun, clashed with the black blade stopping it dead in the air.

The golden aura surrounding the white hilt intensified and Twilight frowned as she had to strain her magic to match the power put behind the opposing blade.

“Celestia… I should have expected you would interfere.” The dark purple alicorn’s voice came out cold as she turned her head to her right side to see the Princess of the Sun hovering in the air, with her wings flapping slowly.

“Stop this madness Twilight! You’re better than this!” The instant those words left her mouth, Celestia knew it as the wrong thing to say as her only answer was a cruel laughter.

“Of course I am! After all this is only the beginning of something that you had no courage to do. I on the other hoof can and will… ugh…” Twilight’s rambling was forcefully interrupted by a powerful blast of blue magic that sent her flying into the nearest building, sending her through the glass display of a store.

That also sent the crowd into a state of panic and the gathered ponies started to run away.  

“Priorities sister! Subdue first, talk later.” Luna’s voice cut through the square that suddenly filled with screams of fear as she fearlessly flew right behind Twilight into the inside of the store. For a heart beat Celestia just hung in the air with her jaw dropped before she shook her head and her expression turned determined. That is why, when a dark purple body came forcefully flying out of the store in a flurry of wings and flailing limbs, Celestia was ready.

With a powerful flap of her wings Celestia propelled herself forward and spun.

While she may have ruled benevolently and adored peace for majority of her life, this adoration didn’t came out of nowhere. She saw her fair share of battles and fought countless times for the sake of said peace… and as she spun Celestia extended one of her wings, willing her magic to strengthen the bones, muscles and feathers... It connected with the still helplessly flying Twilight with full strength.

Twilight didn't know what was going on, she couldn't keep up with the far faster Luna. One second she was smashing through a glass pane, that hardly even registered as the glass wasn't able to pierce her alicorn skin, in the next instant Luna was ahead of her and sent her flying backwards with another blast of magic that made her spasm as if a lightning bolt struck her.

Then her eyes widened as she saw a wall of white crashing down on her midsection. The pain of breaking ribs that shoot through her made her want to scream but almost in the same instant she crashed into the cobblestone and shattered it creating a small, alicorn sized crater. Her breath taken momentarily away the only thing she could do was let out a pitiful groan, as she tasted blood in her mouth.

The purple alicorn was certain that if not for her ascended status, that blow would have turned her into a bloody smear on the cobblestone. Her whole body ached to such a degree that the only thing she could do when she heard the steady clopping of hooves on stone was to turn her eyes in that direction.

Side by side, Luna and Celestia approached her. One angry, one sad, but both determined.

“You may have the raw power and a body of an alicorn Twilight, but you still have much to learn. Do not make us do something drastic.” Luna said as they stopped mere wing span from the downed alicorn.

Maybe it was the small smirk forming on her lips or the subtle shift in the air, but Celestia’s eyes widened.

“No!” She shouted quickly gathering her magic, but she was too slow. With a deafening crack and a blinding flash of light, Twilight was gone.

Blinking rapidly to get rid of the temporary blindness, Celestia let out a frustrated shout in a rare, open display of emotions.

“Should have seen that one coming…” Luna grumbled angry at herself.

“Can you trace her? You know I’m not the best when it comes to such subtle magic.” Celestia asked as she looked around and took in the deserted and somewhat demolished square, noting that Chrysalis didn't move from her spot, looking as dejected as before.

“Hardly but, yes. She cast it hastily, burned through a lot of magic and it muddles hers trace.” Luna began speaking with closed eyes, her horn glowing slightly. “Hmm… Somewhere to the south… close enough… Ah, yes, definitely somewhere near Everfree forest. That’s all I can tell.”

When she opened her eyes Luna was greeted with a sight of her sister taking flight. Readying her own Teleportation spell.

“Ponyville. You stay here and take Chrysalis to the dungeon.” Was all Celestia said before she too disappeared in a flash of golden magic.

With a sigh Luna dropped her gaze to look at her newest charge, only for the Changeling Queen to stare back as she sat up. When Luna got close enough to get a closer look at the state of their new prisoner she saw a small, fanged smirk on Chrysalis muzzle.

“You know, maybe there is some justice in this world after all. She killed off most of my hive, now she turned on both of you. At this rate, you may just have to kill her… What a wonderful teacher you turned out to be Luna.”

Anger flashed in her eyes and Luna struck the changeling’s muzzle with her forehoof.

Chrysalis moned in agonizing pain as she felt her chitin crack and her jaw brake as she fell back on the hard, cold stone of the podium. But in her mind, riling up her once upon a time ally was worth it.

“I will personally make sure to make your stay in Canterlot dungeons a very uncomfortable experience… Chrysalis.” Luna spat the name as if it was the worst curse. Without much care Luna began levitating the changeling as she trotted towards the castle.

And even if a part of her admitted that Chrysalis was right, she buried that thought as deeply as she could manage.

When Twilight teleported into the Ponyville Library, she was greeted with a startled shout of a certain baby dragon.

“Twilight?!” Spike almost fell of his ladder, as he was apparently dusting the higher shelves.

“Spike…” The alicorn whizzed, feeling the pain of her broken ribs. “Get me the potions that… Zecora made me.” Long ago, or at least in her mind it was long ago, before all of this started she asked Zecora for some basic first aid potions and lotions as she knew that her magical experiments sometimes tended to get out of hoof and she was unable to perform medical spells due to her large magical reserves which made controlling the subtler spells that much harder.

“What happened? Who did this? Andy why do you look like this?!” Spike was stunned and could only really think about all of those questions that flew through his young mind.

“Get… Me… The potions.” Twilight uttered as she struggled to stand up with such an angry glare that Spike eyes widened even further and he felt true fear not for her, but of her for the first time. With a loud gulp he dashed into the basement and not a minute later returned with a small crate filled with vials of colorful liquids.

“Good, now go to the window and tell me if you see Celestia, Luna or just Royal Guards.” She didn’t even look at him as she looked through the potions and picked up one after another only to drink a few of them, making a disgusted face as she tasted them.

Now a nervous wreck, Spike followed her command not wanting to end up on her bad side.

In the mean time, Twilight could feel her pain slowly fading and a numbness setting in around her chest. Mending bones took time but for now she was just grateful for some pain relief potions. With her magic the dark purple alicorn tor down one of the window curtains, the tearing sound made Spike jump. Guiding the piece of material she tightly wound it around her chest, grimacing when the potion didn't quite manage to block out all of the pain.

“Oh, um… Princess Celestia is outside.” Spike said with uncertainty and fear in his voice. It wasn't after all a common occurrence for the Sun Princess to fly around with a big, golden sword in her magical grip.

“Damn it... “ Twilight stomped in frustration, then finally looked at her self proclaimed Number One Assistant. “Got to the back of the library, do not look outside. And remember…” She said as she approached Spike and nuzzled the top of his head. “Whatever they say about me it’s all lies, but you know that, don’t you?”

“Y-Yes…” He couldn't quite put his claw on it, but something in Twilight’s tone of voice put him even further on edge, as if one wrong answer would be the end of him.

With that out of the way Twilight teleported outside of the library to stand on the street, glaring at Celestia.

“Twilight, give up. We can purge the Nightmare out of you and all will return back to the way it was.”

“That is where you’re wrong Celestia. Nothing will ever be the same.” Twilight said spreading her wings and allowing her magic to envelop her, making her glow faintly with a pink-black aura. She stomped her hoof once, and instantly spikes of earth began to shoot out beneath Celestia. The white alicorn saved herself by teleporting into the air.

“You leave me no choice then.” Celestia said and suddenly the dark purple alicorn found herself enveloped in a white flash, and when it passed she noticed that both of them now were on plains far outside of Ponyville, with the town being a speck on the horizon now.

“That’s it? You just teleported us here? For whatever reason?” Twilight couldn't help herself but ask.

“To avoid collateral damage…” Those words made Twilight’s draconic eyes go wide, before a searing heat and bright light surrounded her. Again, if it wasn’t for her magic instinctively protecting her and her new body… She shudder internally and then screamed in anger and pain as her hastily raised shield shattered. Quickly she teleported out of the way, but not before the feathers of her wings were reduced mostly to ash.

Everypony close enough to witness the magic, would swear that on that day the very heaven was torn asunder as a blindingly bright pillar of light descended from it.

Twilight was in shock, for long minutes she crawled around after teleporting blinded by the light and the pain of her burnt wings.

“Why?” She muttered, and then screamed with a hoarse voice. “Why are you now so powerful when fighting me, but couldn’t handle anything major in the past?” Twilight finally looked at Celestia as she stood, not having moved from her spot. What she saw made her equally shocked and angry. Gone was the seren mane tha so much resembled horizon at dawn, replaced with a raging inferno of fire.

What she also realized was that between her and the white alicorn where grass was, now was only a rough, large circle of black glass. She could even spot a few small fires around herself, as the grass was dried and dying.

“Because sometimes the greatest threat to what we love and want to protect, are ourselves.” Celestia began speaking as she slowly walked towards Twilight. “I can be the delicate flame that nurtures life, but also a raging inferno that turns everything in its path into ash. However I’ve made my choice a long time ago Twilight.” The white alicorn’s mane returned to the serene colors as she stopped over her fallen ex-student. “Would you have really prefered that I smote Chrysalis where she stood then at the wedding, knowing that in doing so no one would have been spared? Or that I gave up hope of having my sister returned to me? I had faith in you back then, even when you faced off with Discord... and I still have now.”

Twilight was conflicted now. One one hoof she apparently miscalculated Celestia’s strength and now realized that without extensive training and broadening of her knowledge she had no chance of winning. That also made her realize that Luna was probably also holding back on her by quite a margin but, she could still escape... On the other hoof a part of her wanted to end this. She started this mess without putting much thought into it, which was not like her.

Celestia stood and observed how a myriad of emotions went through Twilight, her eyes and muzzle showing them.

“Then… Have faith in me, I’m not Nightmare Moon. I didn't want to fight you or Luna.” Slowly Twilight stood up on shaky legs, gasping in pain with her wings uselessly hanging at her sides. “You’ve made your choice, so have I. Stop me if you want to, banish me if you must. But it will not change my mind.”

Celestia watched as Twilight picked herself up, and slowly turned hers back to her. The sight of her burnt wings made her cringe and fall deeper into sadness. Before she sighed and lowered her head to take a deep breath, then she looked back up at Twilight.

“If this is your choice, then so be it... For attempted murder with cold blood, which is the highest crime against Harmony, I Princess Celestia... banish you from the lands of Equestria.” Celestia’s voice almost cracked at one point with sorrow she watched as Twilight began to slowly limp away from her.

Twilight stopped after a few steps and looked behind herself.

“Farwell Princess… Tell everypony that I’m sorry.” Slowly the injured purple alicorn resumed her slow walk, with her head held just a bit lower.

In the light of the setting sun Celestia saw glimmers of sunlight falling from Twilight’s muzzle and she soon realized what they were. Tears…

Celestia couldn't watch this any longer, she turned her head and disappeared in a flash, the delicate wind carried her last words.

“Forgive me, for everything.”

Luna watched her sister sitting on the balcony of her private chambers, looking at the last rays of the setting sun. It has been three hours since she returned from her brief confrontation with Twilight. It was hard at first to get her to talk about what happened between the two of them, but with the reports coming in, and the sparse comment from Celestia she was able to more or less piece it together.

The Princess of the Night was startled then, by the breaking of the silence.

“I can almost see her… Walking, thinking.” Celestia whispered with her gaze focused on the horizon and then she began to sing.

Luna looked at her hooves, wanting to go to Celestia and comfort her, but she doubted that her company would be appreciated at the moment. Silently, she stood up and left Celestia’s room with only one last glance at her sister's back, illuminated by the reddish light of the dusk, before gently closing the doors.