//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Blueblood Chronicles // by No One and Nobody //------------------------------// Chapter 3: The Fall of the Rebellion. "Our forces had grown and were advancing towards Manehattan. The campaign was so important that even my father and I joined the front lines. But when we arrived, the barricade was too great to overcome. So we pushed farther north and put out sights on the Crystal Empire." "How did Celestia and Luna know of your plans to overtake Manehattan?" Twilight queried. "Do you remember the pegasus messenger Blueblood told you about?" Celestia asked. The ponies nodded. "He was a spy placed by us," Celestia said, "We had cast a spell on him so Lucifer couldn't control his mind and he would report to us." "What happened to him after the Manehattan campaign?" Rarity asked, "Was he... you know... killed?" "No," Celestia said, "Luckily he was able to escape the night before the attack. By the time the attack failed he was safe in Canterlot." "So what happened on the Crystal Empire campaign?" Twilight asked, leaning in. "We were successful and had the Empire in no time," Blueblood said, "And my father enslaved all of the crystal ponies." "Wait a second," Twilight said, looking up from her notebook in which she had taken down every word spoken in the room, even the joke about Luna's name, "This sounds very similar to a previous villain we've defeated." "Long before this point," Blueblood said, "My father had begun to call himself King Sombra." "SOMBRA!?!?!?!?" the mane six cried. "Sombra is your... BROTHER??" Twilight screeched at Celestia and Luna. Celestia and Luna nodded. "Man," Rainbow Dash said, "Does going crazy run in the family? First Lucifer, then Luna. When are you gonna lose it Celestia?" Celestia looked at Rainbow Dash with a raised eyebrow. "Ha ha," Twilight said, grabbing Rainbow Dash out of the air and putting a hoof around her, "Rainbow's such a kidder." Twilight then glared at Rainbow Dash and whispered, "What's the matter with you? Do you want Celestia to banish you? Or throw you in a dungeon? Or throw you in a dungeon in the place that she banishes you?" "Why in Celestia's name would he give up the name Lucifer?" Rarity asked, "It's a name fit for a prince." "He didn't believe himself to be a prince any longer," Blueblood said, "He believed himself to be better than Celestia and Luna and therefore made his title greater. And as for the name change, he no longer wished to be a servant to all the ponies of Equestria but rather the king of shadows." "Of course," Twilight said, "Sombra is Sponyish for shadow." "Any way," Celestia said, "Now we had him trapped in the North. We began to move in." *** "He's got no way out," Celestia said, "He can't escape North with winter approaching. Even he's not that crazy. There are no towns around him and the railways have been shut down. It's only a matter of time till we starve him out." The royal pony sisters stood around a table with a map of all known Equestria. Red and blue markers representing Sombra's army and the royal guard were scattered around the Crystal Empire. "Alas sister," Luna said, "If he starves, as do the Crystal ponies and all the innocents in his armies." "Exactly Lulu," Celestia said, "Which is why we must gather our forces and strike." Luna rolled her eyes. "Agreed," Luna said, "I shall mobilize the troops at once with myself leading them. You sister should stay here." "I'll do no such thing Lulu," Celestia said. Luna moaned softly. Why must she treat me as a filly who needs constant watching? "But if something were to happen to the both of us, what would happen to the kingdom?" Luna said, "If something happens to me, I know you would be able to carry on and raise the moon. I could never raise the sun." "Yes you could sister," Celestia said, "You're just as powerful as I. I shall go mount the attack on the Empire." "NO!" Luna said, striking the ground with her front hooves. Her eyes turned white and the ground beneath her cracked. "Luna?" Luna shook her head as if she was waking up. "Apologies sister," she said, resting a hoof on her forehead, "I do not know what came over me. Please stay in Canterlot while I lead the troops." Celestia put a hoof on her sister's shoulder, "I realize that you wouldn't want anything to happen to me, but I feel the same for you sister." "No sister," Luna said, "My intentions are purely for the citizens for Equestria. You are more talented than I and could carry on. I could never govern both the sun and moon." "Very well," Celestia said, hugging her sister, "my thoughts will be with you." "And mine with you," Luna said, "I shall depart tomorrow. Thank you for understanding why I need to go alone." Luna left the room to prepare for the journey. Celestia left the room and walked down a long hallway. "Commander Moondust! I have an errand for you to run." A silvery unicorn approached Celestia. Thank you for understanding why I need to go alone. "We'll see about that little sister," Celestia said, turning to the guard with instructions. *** "Why did Luna's eyes go all?" Twilight asked, waving her hooves around her head and rolling her eyes. "Ooh ooh ooh," Pinkie said, jumping up, "Did she eat too much cake? (No wait that would be Celestia) Did she have a cold? 'Gasp' Did she have a bellyache?!" "That was the beginning of my transformation into Nightmare Moon," Luna said, "Shortly after we vanquished Luke, uh... Sombra was when I became evil and tried to take over Equestria." "HEY," Pinkie yelled, "Don't give away the end of the story. I love suspense." "Apologies," Luna said, rolling her eyes. "GASP!!!! LOOK AT HER EYES!!!!" Pinkie yelled, "SHE'S BECOMING NIGHTMARE MOON AGAIN!!!!" Pinkie made a bolt for the door but Rainbow Dash grabbed her tail in her teeth. "No she's not Pinkie," said Rainbow, around a mouthful of tail. "Oh whew," Pinkie said, returning to her jovial self. "Why do you not continue the story, Princess Luna?" Rarity asked. "Very well," *** "Your Highness," said a unicorn guard, bowing low before Princess Luna, "The troops have broken through the barrier and are headed towards the castle. What are your orders?" "Don't enter the castle," Luna said, "Lucifer is mine." Luna narrowed her eyes and unsheathed a sword of polished metal that glinted in the sunlight. The guard swallowed audibly. "Also, your Highness," the unicorn said, "Your sister arrived to help you take down the enemy." Celestia landed beside her carrying a box ornamented with gold leaf and countless scintillating gemstones. Luna eyed the box and could guess the powerful content. "Sister," Luna said, as Celestia landed, "It was my impression thou stayed in Canterlot." "I wasn't going to let you face Lucifer alone. So I waited for you to leave and then I retrieved the Elements of Harmony. We may need them to beat him." Celestia opened the box to show Luna. Luna shook her head in frustration. This was exactly what she had expected from her over-lord sister, constant baby-sitting. "Why did you assume that I needed your help?" "This IS the first time you wanted to go it alone Lulu," Celestia said, ruffling the top of Luna's mane with her hoof, "I don't think you should just go in without a backup plan." Luna gritted her teeth in anger. She hated when Celestia messed with her mane. "Besides, I don't know if you can quite... handle it yet." "I can defeat him without thy interference," Luna shouted, "I am not a filly anymore Celestia, I don't need you!" Luna's eyes began to glow again. She rose off the ground. Dark electrical sparks began to permeate the air around her. "I have no doubt that you can defeat him Luna," Celestia said, putting a hoof on Luna's shoulder, pulling her sister down to the ground, "I just don't know if you can handle it... Emotionally. Plus, you can not use the elements without me. Just think of me as... Insurance." "Very well," Luna said, harrumphing in annoyance. "What's the situation?" Celestia asked. "He's barricaded in the castle," Luna said, "He can't escape. All we need do is take him." "Where is Blueblood?" "At his father's side. We shall take them both." "Sister remember, Blueblood did not choose this path. We should not hurt him." "No harm shall befall the colt, provided he stays out of the way." "Luna..." "What? He's my nephew as well." "I know," Celestia said, then she muttered, "But will you remember that?" "Let us be off," Luna said, taking to the air. "Father," Blueblood said, running into the throne room, where his father sat, "The final battalion has been defeated. Celestia and Luna are headed here to defeat us." The normally brilliant and bedazzling throne room, and the castle for that matter, had been darkened by Sombra's presence. The walls were opaque, letting no light in. The room would have been pitch-black if not for the one window Sombra kept open so Blueblood could see. "Never," Sombra said, rising from his throne, "For we have dark magic on our ssssside." "What must we do to stop them?" Blueblood asked. "I sssshall lure them in here," Sombra explained, "Then you, my sssssson shall fire a blast of your most powerful magic at Celesssssstia. With her out of the way I can reason with Luna. She was always so much more agreeable that Celessssstia. She shall join usssss and together we will rule Equesssstria." "How do you know she will see things our way?" Blueblood asked. "I have seen her through my sssspellssss... sssssshe is tired of ruling alongside Celessssssstia. The prospect of governing the ssssun and moon will thrill her." "You would share the power?" Blueblood asked. "Not the power, just the responsibility," Sombra said, "For I need an alicorn to raise the ssssssun and moon. The heavensss were never my ssspecialty. Luna will have the ssssssky to play with and I..." Sombra chortled, "... I shall have Equesssssstria and everypony in it." "How will that stop Celestia from overtaking you both?" Blueblood asked. "You will make sssssure that never happens," Sombra said, "By killing her the instant sssshe is inside." "KILL HER!" Blueblood exclaimed. Sombra nodded. "But... I've never killed anypony before. Just incapacitated them. To kill my own blood..." "That is the only way we shall ever be free to rule Equessstria," Sombra said. "Think about it," he whispered in his son's ear, "You. Free to do whatever you wish. Nopony telling you what to do. You could have whatever you dessssire." Blueblood's ear twitched as he considered the endless possibilities. Complete freedom, it was a tempting offer to anypony. Plus, he would no longer have to live in the shadows or on the run. "But..." "Besidesssssss," Sombra continued, "If you don't we sssshall lose. And I know that Celessssstia will not show the same mercy you wish to besssstow upon her. Do thissssss for me... Your father." Blueblood felt something inside him change. His father was right of course. Celestia would never return the favor. Blueblood's irises expanded to cover his entire eyes and his pupils narrowed to slits. "I'll do it," He answered back. "Exccccellent," Sombra exclaimed, excitement in his voice, "Now, prepare your ambush." "Yes father," Blueblood said retreating behind the throne, hiding himself from the window facing Celestia and Luna's troops. Celestia and Luna landed on the balcony of the Crystal Palace. They walked in through the heavy, light-killing drapes. Celestia and Luna glowed like candles in the darkness. "Careful sister," Luna said, "We know not where he hides." "Let's try the throne room," Celestia said, "That is where I'd expect him to be. Any place that makes him feel powerful." The sisters entered the throne room to find Sombra standing in the middle of the room, as if he'd been expecting them. He stood before them, a mere shadow of what he had used to be. His royal bearing had left him and he looked dead inside and out. He didn't even seem to miss the wings he had removed. His horn glowed with an eerie luminescence, allowing confusing shadows to dance on the walls. He's attempting to distract us from something. Celestia deduced, The question is, what? "Welcome to my palaccccce," he said. "Lucifer-" Celestia started but was cut off by Sombra's sharp reply. "It's Ssssssombra now, didn't you hear?" "You are NOT Sombra," Celestia said, "You are Lucifer... You are Luke, my brother." "You ssssshall never call me that again Celesssstia," Lucifer said, "I have the upper hoof... NOW!" Blueblood stepped out from behind the throne and shot a blast of the darkest magic he had ever used before at his aunt. Celestia screamed and there was a resounding thud as she collided with the wall. The box containing the Elements of Harmony skidded across the floor now that Celestia wasn't carrying them with her magic. There was silence as the sound resounded throughout the palace. "LUCIFER!!!!" Luna screamed, throwing herself at Sombra with a sword in front of her, gleaming. Blueblood noted that Celestia still seemed to be alive and trudged over to her to finish the deed. As he stood over her, he observed his aunt. A patch of her coat had been burned black by the intensity of the blast. Her breathing was heavy and labored but a fire still burned in her eyes. Celestia looked up into Blueblood's eyes with those firey, loving eyes and said two little words, "Go ahead." These two, simple words struck Blueblood like a fifty pound sledge hammer. For he had heard those words before. From a dear friend. Suddenly, Blueblood felt a rush of emotion enter his body. An emotion he had forgotten even existed. Love. His thoughts flew to the citizens of Equestria, forced into labor like the Crystal Ponies had been. I can't let that happen. What do you care? Celestia's eyes burnt holes through his shut eyelids. He realized that those eyes shone with love. He saw visions of Stormwing and his family, all crying over the death of their beloved princess. Then he saw them enslaved by his father. Blueblood saw Stormwing's innocent little sister forced to work, to never go to school again. The images flooded his mind until her thought it would burst. Go ahead. Those words spun round in his mind. He saw himself and Stormwing laughing in front of a campfire, he saw Stormwing risking his life to save his and he saw Stormwing's terror when he learned of Sombra's plan. Go ahead. Why did he risk his life for me? Because he was your friend! I’ve lived a different life from you, We are different. No, Thought Blueblood, I must do this. Would you be that calm if it were your family? No. Blueblood shouted to the figures in his head. But they wouldn't leave him. He squeezed his head between his hooves, trying to force the images and thoughts from his mind. But Celestia's eyes burnt on in his mind. Along with those two, little, powerful words. Go ahead. "I... I can't," Blueblood said, letting his head fall and the weight of the world slip from his shoulders. Celestia coughed and stroked his mane. "I know. You are different, nephew. You are strong." Blueblood helped her stand and heal her wounds, after which she turned to Sombra who had been speaking to Luna ever since she tried to kill him. Luna slid across the floor, her horn smoking from the blast that her brother had delivered to her. Her sword had melted from the heat of the spell Lucifer had cast. She would not give up though. She would avenge her sister... No matter the cost. "How foalisssssh of you Luna," Lucifer said walking over to her, "Coming at me like that. You know I have alwaysssss been better at magic than you. Now if you had been Celessstia..." "I am just as powerful as Celestia!" Luna hissed, "If not more so." "And aren't you just sssssick of ponies thinking you are the weaker of the two sissssssters?" "Nopony thinks such things!" Luna growled, trying as much to convince herself as her brother. "Oh you would think sssso? Well I know what the ponies really think. They know Celesssstia is ssssstronger than you or even I," "How would you know?" "You live in Canterlot, far away from the realities of life in Equessstria. I have been among the common folk. And they think you are weak Luna." "Well I shall show them... One day." "Why not let it be today?" Luna shook her head to clear her mind. "Get thou behind me Lucifer." "But you do ssssseek power, is that not true?" "My loyalties lie first with my subjects and sister." "But you would be able to raise the sun AND the moon. You would not have to ssshare the power with anypony. I would oversee Equessstria and you would govern the sssskies." "Yes but at what cost to the citizens of Equestria?" "Does all that really matter? Join me and we shall rule." "No," Luna said, "I am a servant of Equestria..." But Sombra could feel her resolve diminishing. "Think about it," Sombra pressed, "You could keep night as long asss you wisssshed without the interference of the sssssun to end your glorious nightsssss." "Never?" "Never. We could rule as brother and sisssster." "But, what of Tia?" "Ssssshe issss already dead." "NO!!" Luna screamed, her fiery anger returning. She lunged at Lucifer, trying to stab him with the only weapon she had left, her horn. Lucifer blocked her with his horn and tripped Luna. He stepped on her horn, pinning her to the ground. "Really Sisssssster, think rationally. Celesssssstia may be dead, but now there issssss nopony in our way Luna. Bessidessss Equesstria still needss a princesss to govern the ssky. Would you really sacrifice your ssubjects jusst to try and sstop me? You ssaid yourself, your ssubjects come first. Think about it." Luna thought. "Night everlasting?" "Yessss." "The respect I deserve finally granted to me?" "Yessssss." "You shall not hurt me or by subjects?" "Unlike your ssubjects," said Sombra, "I need you, and most important... I know I need you." Sombra removed his hoof, letting his sister stand to contemplate the offer he had presented her. Luna struggled with this. She had long felt this nagging feeling of resentment for Celestia. Now, that nagging feeling had turned into a burning desire. A desire to rule. Listen to him. He understands the glory of night... No! He cares not for the welfare of the Equestrian citizens. He cares only for his selfish desires... But he will let you run free, giving your night all the time it deserves... At the expense of the ponies who are my subjects... Why should you even care about them? They don't care about you. Besides this world still needs me. I can't risk dying at the hand of my brother. If I die, so does Equestria. And he will let you use your title to it's fullest... "I... I..." she stammered. She felt a hoof on her shoulder and turned to find Celestia. "TIA!!!" she yelled, throwing her hooves around her sister. Luna turned to Sombra. "I would never betray my sister. Not in a thousand years." "Give it time," Sombra said. "Unfortunately," said Celestia, opening the golden box with her magic, "You don't have the time." The elements of Loyalty, Honesty and Laughter levitated in front of Luna while Generosity, Kindness and Magic hovered before Celestia. "No," Sombra said, his eyes contracting to the size of pins when he recognized the elements, "Blueblood! Stop them!" A magical aura formed around the alicorn sisters and a rainbow shot from the top of it, heading towards Sombra. Blueblood found himself moving out of sheer force of habit. He threw himself at his aunts. The force of Blueblood's collision caused the rainbow to misdirect and shoot out of the castle and up to the highest tower in the empire where the crystal heart was hidden away. The rainbow blasted into the crystal heart. The heart began to spin violently, faster and faster as the power charged it up. Then, with suddenness that would stun a timber wolf, the power of the Elements shot out of the heart in all directions. A magical aura slowly began to envelop the Crystal Empire. Celestia grabbed Blueblood and leaped into the air. Blueblood looked back to his father, who stood stoically on the balcony, awaiting whatever came next. He looked up to his son and their eyes locked. "I'll be back," Sombra mouthed just as Celestia cast her teleportation spell, saving herself, Luna and Blueblood from the reverberation of the spell. The empire vanished from sight. "Father?" Blueblood said, staring in awe at the empty space where his father's empire had stood, now replaced with snow and ice. Celestia and Luna bowed their heads in silence for the ponies of the Crystal Empire. "If only," said Celestia, "He had listened to us." "Goodbye Luke," Luna said. *** "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" bawled Pinkie as two waterfalls erupted from her eyes. Her speech was interrupted by gasping breaths, "That's...huh... so... huh... SAAAAAAAAAADDDDD!" "Indeed," Luna said, her head hanging in remorse, "The castle was long after a place of mourning. And though Celestia and I were close to Luke, twas Blueblood who felt the most remorse." Pinkie Pie grabbed onto Applejack and sobbed into her mane. "Oh Pinkie..." Fluttershy said, "Please stop. You're gonna make... me... cry-y-y-y-y-y-y..." Fluttershy began weeping and collapsed onto Pinkie. Next to break was Rarity, while Rainbow and Twilight stood by observing. Applejack fidgeted under the weight of her three friends. "Would it be best if we stopped the story here?" Celestia asked. Pinkie stopped crying immediately. "No way Jose. Which is weird considering your name is Celestia. You can't stop the story there, the readers will be all mad and the authors will get nasty comments. You wouldn't want that, would you?" "Ummmmm..." Celestia said with wide eyes. "Just ignore seventy percent of what she says," Twilight said. "Good for you," Pinkie said, looking off into the distance, "You could have turned that into a cheap twenty percent cooler joke but you restrained yourself." "Like that," Twilight said.