Nopony spoke for a few minutes. Only the guards, who were quietly surrounding us, were moving.
"Princess?" I asked, getting closer to her, "You knew?"
The Princess looked up at me, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that your life was ruined, that your father went insane and that he is now an Alicorn."
I stepped back, "Why would you be sorry? It's not your fault."
The Princess regarded me, "Everypony leave." She spoke.
Everypony except for me left the room.
Then I heard the five words that changed everything.
"Because it was my fault."
I was given a room to stay in. Tomorrow the Princess would call me back to explain what she meant.
Then she would ask for my help.
I looked around my temporary room. It had a large bed. A desk and lamp sat next to it. The room had a small balcony with a table and chairs.
I even had my own bathroom.
So why did I feel so. . . empty?
Deciding to gather my strength, I flopped onto my bed and grabbed my journal.
And here I sit, wondering if there's anything else to add. . .
I'll let you know tomorrow.
Instead of meeting in the throne room, the Princess required us to meet in the archives.
Why there? I had no clue. Perhaps she wanted a more quiet place.
We kept moving through the archives until we reached a long tapestry.
The Princess quickly looked both ways before moving it aside to reveal a door.
It was old and ornate. It had an atmosphere around it, as if opening it would open a door to the past.
The Princess walked inside, not wanting to waste time.
I followed her into what looked like a study.
A shelf with journals, a desk, a quill and ink, and finally a large ornate chair.
The Princess strode over to the bookshelf, and pulled a very old looking book. Tattered and torn, it looked like it was over a thousand years old.
"Swift, after I tell you my story, please don't think me different." The Princess asked me, sitting down in the old chair.
"I-" I paused, what exactly did she do? "I promise."
The princess nodded, "Then my story begins, before Discord, before Sombra, and before the loss of my sister. This is the truth of the elements of Harmony."
Over a thousand years ago. . .
"The Tree of Harmony." Luna whispered, awed by the tree.
"I told you girls that it was beautiful." Starswirl said, his tired eyes full of hope.
"But, why keep this secret?" Celestia asked, looking at her mentor.
"Because, like the soul of a pony, the tree can be corrupted." Star Swirl the Bearded explained, "And it would doom us all to disharmony."
"What of that?" Luna asked, pointing at an alter that sat in front of the tree.
"Yes, this altar holds a second set of elements. I'm not sure why there's a secondary set, but I do know that they are alike in every way." Star Swirl said. "Well, except for this one" He spoke as he held up a gem that was colored green. "It is like magic, yet different in a way I can't understand."
While Luna stared at the strange green gem, Celestia was reading words on an altar.
"And there would come the Sun and Moon,
one of which for millennium doomed.
From one's jealousy and rage,
to the others destruction and strife.
The harmony elements will undo both lives."
Celestia took a step back. "What does this mean? That one of us is doomed?!"
Star Swirl scoffed, "Hardly, most of these old riddles are just telling one possibility. So, while there is a chance, it is not likely."
"Really Tia, don't be upset. Nopony can tell the future." Luna said, turning back to the tree.
"Alright girls, I think we've been here long enough. Time to go back to your lessons." Star Swirl announced, turning towards the cave exit.
Luna, who was still young, jumped up and flew out of the cave. Giggling all the way.
Before Celestia could follow, Star Swirl put a hoof on her shoulder. "Your sister is right. Nopony can predict the future. Don't worry about this."
Star Swirl then left the cave, whistling a tune.
But Celestia looked toward the altar again, her mind still on the words it bore.
She shook her head. Luna was right. Nopony could tell the future.
Present Day. . .
I stared at the Princess before me. "So this poem, it said that it would ruin both lives, but only one is doomed. . . how would that work?"
The Princess sighed, "Luna, in her jealousy over me, and rage at the ponies, caused the events where I had to use the elements. It ruined both our lives. Yet Luna is returned, and she is fixing her life."
"So at least half came true," I muttered, "Jealousy and rage."
The Princess nodded. "That is the case."
"So what of the "destruction and strife?" I asked, looking back up at the Princess.
Celestia sighed, "The destruction already happened. And strife has happened repeatedly, and I believe it will happen again."
I cocked an eyebrow, "It already happened? The whole poem?"
Celestia shook her head, "No. I believe I am the one doomed. I just didn't know how until now."
"How?"
"Your father's destiny," The Princess looked at me, her eyes suddenly looking ancient and tired, "is to kill me, with my own magic."
I couldn't form words, how could somepony accept their fate like this?
"You still don't know how the destruction part happened." The Princess sighed, "And you must know."