//------------------------------// // Have We? // Story: Have We? // by pokefreak13 //------------------------------// Princess Celestia was laying on her bed, sipping milk tea from a cup. It was midnight, and though she should be getting a few more hours of sleep, the full moon was out. Something her little sister took great pride in, so she wanted to stay up just enough to see it's glowing figure through her balcony windows. "Sister, may I come in?" Luna's voice could be heard. Celestia took a sip of tea, "Luna, you don't need to ask permission to enter my chambers. After all, you are my beloved sister." The door opened and a dark blue alicorn trotted in, her cheeks a light tint of red. Levitating next to her was a small stack of papers. "What can I help you with?" Celestia asked before setting her cup on a nightstand. "Well, it's just that, after reading Twilight's very detailed report on her experience with time traveling, I couldn't help but wonder about some things." The white alicorn raised an eyebrow. "And what are these things, dear sister?" Luna shifted under her sister's gaze before taking a deep breath. "It's just that, have we gone too soft these days?" "Too soft? Sure our punishments are not less...messy, but isn't that a good thing? After all, we must adjust to the present." Luna's sister exclaimed before getting out of bed, causing her sister to back up a little. "Not like that! Too soft as in being door mats. After all, if Twilight and her friends weren't there to help, Equestria would've probably fallen not once, but five times." Luna's teeth were clenched and her hoof struck the polished floor. Princess Celestia took a deep breath."It is true that the alternate universes Twilight saw were...unsettling. However, she only stated that we only were defeated twice. Once by Discord, who we all agreed we weren't as strong the time we turned him to stone, and the second being..." "Nightmare Moon," Luna finished, causing her sister to lower her eyes, "Celestia, you may be right. Hypothetically speaking, we could've been somewhere Twilight wasn't, fighting. However, this brings up my other issue. What if we we've become too depended on Twilight and her friends. After all, the only reason we're still ruling is because of the Elements of Harmony." "You...you may have a point, Luna. Though, what is wrong with that? The Elements have chosen them, like they chose us thousands of moons ago. What is so wrong with stopping evil? We did that in our youth." "But unlike us, Twilight and her friends have lives outside of saving Equestria. They have family, jobs, and maybe one day even foals. We cannot expect them to bear Equestria their whole lives. After all, do we expect them to do vanquish evil when they're sixty?" Princess Celestia began to pace around her room. Her sister's words beginning to dawn on her. If Twilight and her friends were to die, what would happen to Equestria when a new evil attacks? After all, it took a thousand years before the Elements of Harmony chose Twilight and her companions. "I-I transformed Twilight into an alicorn, so I can just turn her friends into-" "Celestia, you're talking nonsense! Twilight is an artificial alicorn. Sure she'll grow taller and live a little longer than most ponies, but she isn't immortal." Luna informed while placing a hoof on her sister's side, causing Celestia to stop pacing. From her position, Luna could tell that her sister's heart was beating rapidly. "O-oh Luna, what are we going t-to do?" Princess Celestia whispered before plopping onto the cool floor. The dark blue alicorn sat down and placed a hoof around her sister's shoulders. "First we should strengthen our army. Secondly, we should train as well. We have dad's blood in us after all, so I say we make the most of it!" "You want us to become like him and destroy countless beasts even if they did nothing wrong?" Celestia asked, causing Luna to shake her head. "No, not like that. We need to learn how to master and build new weapons, spears aren't going to cut it during a real war." She explained. Silence lingered between the two sisters. The clock's ticking and their breaths the only sounds that could be heard. However, soon Celestia broke into a grin as a chuckle escaped from her mouth. "I don't know what dad was thinking in the first place when he invented them." "And remember when we use to shrink them when we were little and use them as toothpicks?" Luna giggled. "Yes, those were the years," She smiled, "anything else you want to bring to my attention?" The dark blue alicorn shook her head. "No, those were it, sister." Princess Celestia gave a quick nod before getting up and stretching, small crackling echoing throughout her chamber. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. You and I shall get to work at once. However, it is almost two and I must be prepared to raise the sun soon." Princess Luna got up as well and moved her head side to side, causing a loud crackling sound as Celestia flinched. "Understood sister. I cannot wait to begin!" "I still don't know why you crack your neck, it sounds so...sickening." She exclaimed while opening the door for her sister. "It may sound sickening to you, but it feels nice to me," Luna replied, "see you at breakfast." Once Celestia nodded her head and closed the door, Luna trotted down the sleek hallway. A smile adorned her face. Drastic changes were going to be made, and Luna couldn't help but feel excited about it. Soon her sister wouldn't be called weak behind her back by the Canterlot Elite. Instead, they shall praise her sister's name! After all, Celestia took her in with welcoming hooves after Nightmare Moon was defeated. Now, this would be her way of repaying that kindness.