The Truths We Deny

by volrathxp

Chapter 9

        “Wait a minute,” Twilight said.  “None of this seems right at all.  Celestia wouldn't say those things.  It's completely out of character for her.  Even if she were jealous of your relationship with Discord, she would try to understand, to empathize.”

        Serenity coughed.  “You didn't know her back then.  How would you know how she would act?”

        “Because, as the Princess of Friendship it is my duty to understand ponies and the magic that is created when we connect with them.  And there is no other pony that is a greater friend to me than Celestia,” Twilight challenged.  “She is my mentor, the one who showed me that there was more to life than dusty old books!  I've seen enough of your lies, Serenity.  Free her and leave in peace.”

        “Twi... Twilight?” Celestia uttered blankly.  “Please...”

        “Who says I am lying?” Serenity said.  “These are not Celestia's memories.  They are mine.  I experienced this.  And it shall continue!”

        Serenity's horn glowed brightly and the memory returned to the forefront.  The Celestia in the memory was staring hard at the younger Serenity.

        “I hate you,” she continued.  “I've always hated you.  Perfect little Serenity.  Able to do everything I couldn't.  Mother even loved you more.  She hated me.”

        “The truth comes out,” Serenity said, glowering at Celestia.  “You were jealous of me.  Of my magic, of the fact that Discord loved me more than he did you.”

        “I said to LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS!” Celestia shouted angrily.  The ground beneath her hooves shook.

        “That's really what this is about isn't it?  It was never about Mother, never about me.  It was about him,” Serenity challenged.  “Welcome to the real world, Celestia.  I loved him.  He loved me.  We wanted to be together, but you couldn't handle that.”

        “No... I couldn't,” Celestia said, her teeth gritting.  “I couldn't handle watching my sister steal my love from behind my back.  I loved him too, and we were just fine before YOU came along!”

        “I never asked for Discord to love me!” Serenity shouted.  “He approached me!”

        “But you knew!  You knew that we were together,” Celestia shouted back.  “You could have said no!  You could have refused!”

        Serenity paused and looked down at her hooves.  “I... I tried.  I told him that he was crazy, that he could never... never want an outcast like me.  I was abandoned by everypony but you.  I looked up to you!  I never wanted to hurt you!”

        “It's too late for that,” Celestia said.  “I am past hurt, Serenity.  Discord is gone, sealed away forever.  Every time I look out into the garden, I see him.  I see his twisted face.  I see what he did to himself, what he did because he wanted to be with you!”

        Serenity grimaced and made her way forward, lifting a hoof.  Celestia stepped back and swatted it away with a strike of magic.  Serenity's eyes widened.

        “I told you before.  You are incapable of ruling this realm.  It is time for your rule to end,” Celestia said, her horn glowing brightly.

        “No...” Serenity said, moving back to fly away.

        Celestia growled and lashed out with her magic, sending the dark alicorn mare back to the ground.  Serenity tried to shuffle to her hooves, but stopped cold as bonds of golden magic held her firm.  Celestia stepped forward, a wicked grin on her face.  Her eyes glowed yellow.  The memory stopped suddenly.

        “Hold it,” Twilight interrupted.  “Something doesn't add up.  Why would she attack you?  If the journal leads to your end, then how did you survive?”

        “It's clear, Twilight.  Celestia was driven by her rage over having just sealed her sister in the moon, and her loss of me to my current form,” Discord said.  “Anypony in her state of mind would do anything.”

        “Yes, but Discord, think for a second!” Twilight insisted.  “This is Celestia you're talking about!”

        “Do you always place ponies on a pedestal?” Serenity asked.  “You are refusing to see that your precious Princess Celestia isn't the perfect pony you proclaim her to be.”

        Twilight growled under her breath.  “No.  You don't understand!  You've spent this whole time, locked in the memories of the past, when you can't see what's RIGHT in front of you!  Look at her, Serenity!  She's terrified, upset!  She is remembering everything that happened between you!”

        “That only strengthens my case!” Serenity argued.

        “No.  It doesn't.  Because if Celestia was the mare in the memory, then she wouldn't be acting this way now!  She would be confident that she was in the right!” Twilight shouted.  “Instead, she's quivering with fear and guilt!  She's showing you how much she cared for you!  Why continue to punish her so?”

        Serenity snarled.  Her horn glowed, restarting the memory.  “We shall see once it is done!”

        Celestia in the memory stopped just in front of Serenity.  She sighed.

        “I am sorry about this, Serenity.  But I am doing what I must to prevent this realm from falling, just like what I had to do with Luna,” she said.

        “Stop... you have to stop... please...” Serenity pleaded.  “What are you going to do to me?”

        Celestia grinned.  “What I should have done long ago.  Remove you from the equation.”

        The solar mare's horn glowed brightly, blinding even those watching the memory.  It rushed over everything, and when it dissipated, Serenity was gone.  The present Serenity stopped the memory.

        “I still don't understand,” Twilight said.  “What happened to you?”

        “She tried to kill me,” Serenity said.  “I reappeared in the Summer Lands, inside this castle.  Much time had passed since, and my power had waned considerably.”

        “No...” Celestia uttered.

        “What's that, dear Sister?  Have something to say?” Serenity said.

        Celestia lifted her head.  Tears streamed from her face.  “That's not what happened!” she cried out.

        “Don't try to patronize me.  I know full well what happened,” Serenity spat.  “Now silence, while I pass judgment on your own fate!”

        “Stop!” Twilight shouted.  “If this is truly a trial, as you claim it to be, then Celestia must be allowed to be speak in her own defense!”

        Serenity glared at the other alicorn.  “Fine.  She may talk.  But her words are like venom to me.  The lies she has spun throughout the years, they build up.  She may not even realize that she is telling them anymore.”

        Celestia gritted her teeth through the tears.  She had to end this.  “Serenity... I confess, I was jealous of you.  I was... stupid.  I saw the signs.  I saw how Discord loved you, and I confess I wished I had that.”

        She grimaced and continued as best as she could.  The memories were jumbled but there was one truth she still held close to her heart.

        “It's true that I intentionally gave you the role of Princess of the Final Rest to separate you,” she said.  “Mother had said I had the choice.  However, I gave you the choice as well.  You chose to become the Arbiter on your own.  I will admit, I was gratified.  It meant that I could spend time with Discord, and hopefully sway him to my own.”

        “Princess...” Twilight breathed.

        “I'm sorry you have to hear this, Twilight,” Celestia said.  “You are a far better mare than I when it comes to love and friendship.  But hear this, I did not kill Serenity.  I did not confront her that day.  I was going to confess.  To confess what I had done, to give her a chance... a chance to be free of her obligation.  I had hoped that Serenity could calm Discord, reform him as he is now.”

        “Lies!” Serenity shouted.  “You attacked me!”

        “Memory over eons is a funny thing,” Celestia said.  “As I live in the past, my memory becomes clearer.  It strips away the falsehoods.  The truth that you deny is that I am not responsible for your demise.  He is!”  She pointed at Tirek.

        “Me?  Dear, sweet Celestia, I think you have me confused with someone else.  I was imprisoned at the time these events took place,” Tirek said.  He jangled his chains for effect.

        “Wrong!” Celestia exclaimed.  “It was a clever ruse, Tirek.  One that I would not have seen through had I not been paying attention to these memories closely.  The journal was false, yes.  Scorpan never witnessed any such event of you attacking Serenity, because you placed the memory there.  Serenity was gone when I went to the Realm of the Final Rest, because you had achieved your goal in making her believe I was the one who had done the deed.”

        “More lies,” Serenity growled.  “It was your jealousy that drove you to attack me.  Just like it was your pride that drove Luna to become Nightmare Moon.  Luna was gone by the time you came to me!”

        “Not quite,” Celestia said, her horn glowing.  She reached out and activated the memories once more, showing a very specific memory.

        Celestia and Luna appeared in what looked to be the Realm of the Final Rest.  Celestia appeared apprehensive.

        “Are you alright, Sister?” Luna said.

        “I'm worried.  What if Scorpan was right?  What if Serenity is gone?” Celestia said.

        “Do not worry, Sister.  If she is here, we will find her,” Luna said calmly.  “I am not certain I trust this Scorpan character, myself.”

        “He warned us about Tirek,” Celestia pointed out.  “He could have allowed Tirek to take over Equestria, but he chose to warn us before his brother could become more powerful.”

        “You have a point,” Luna said.  “Perhaps it is in my nature to be paranoid.  I am the defender of the dream world, after all.”

        Celestia nodded, striding forward.  She stopped at the base of the river.  The ferry boat lay overturned next to it.  The entrance to the Summer Lands shimmered at the far end.  There was no sign of Serenity, nor any sign of a battle.

        “Nothing,” she muttered.  “Where could she have gone?”

        “Perhaps we can glean some knowledge by invoking the Elements of Harmony,” Luna said.  “They may be able to help us ascertain what happened here.”

        Celestia grimaced.  “The Elements are not a toy to use at our whim, Sister.  They are forces of magic in their own right.  Who are we to ask them for a simple soothsaying spell?  Nay, there is enough magic here that you and I should be able to view the events that transpired.”

        Luna nodded and her horn began to glow a subtle blue.  Celestia's light joined hers, a blazing yellow in the darkness.  The magic intertwined, coursing through the air around them before finally displaying the images of two ponies.  One of them was Celestia, the other...

        “Serenity?” Celestia said, her ears pinning back.  “I don't understand.  What is this?”

        The two mares watched as the events that Serenity showed occurred.  Celestia's face contorted as she witnessed herself utterly destroying Serenity.  Luna turned to her.

        “I do not believe that this is you in this image,” she said calmly.  “We must watch further.”

        Celestia nodded.  The dust cleared in the wake of her mirror image's spell.  The other Celestia's eyes glowed softly as the form of her body reverted to a very familiar shape.

        “Tirek!” Twilight shouted.  “It was him all along!  He used his magic to deceive you, Serenity!  He made you think that Celestia killed you!”

        Serenity's eyes widened.  “No... it can't... It was Celestia!  She was jealous and angry, so angry...”

        Celestia stomped a hoof.  “Of course I was jealous and angry!  I was forced to watch as the stallion I loved became a monster to be with you!   But I would never kill you!  I loved you, Sister!  I was going to come and tell you that I forgave you for what happened!  That I wanted you to be free, to help reform Discord!  Tirek stole that from me!”

        Serenity stared at Tirek, her gaze wide with fear.  She looked back at Celestia.  “I don't understand...”

        “I'm confused on just one tiny little piece,” Discord interrupted.  “If Tirek falsified Scorpan's memories about what happened, why did he have Scorpan tell Celestia and Luna about himself?  It seems to me that he just hastened his capture.”

        “That is a very good question,” Tirek spoke.  He lifted his arms, snapping the chains that bound him into two pieces.  “It was necessary in order to study the power of both Tartarus and the Summer Lands.  As it turns out, I was successful in achieving that goal.”

        “Stand down, Tirek!” Celestia shouted.  “You will pay for your crimes.  I will see to it myself.”

        Tirek snorted.  His eyes glowed and he waved his hands.  The chains reappeared around Celestia's front hooves, rooting her in place.

        “I think not,” he said.  “This little ruse of mine has finally given me the strength I need to resist you.  Once I am finished devouring the magic off of Serenity, I will control both the Summer Lands and Tartarus.  Imagine, an army of the dead and demonic overturning not just Equestria, but all worlds!”

        “I won't allow that,” Twilight said angrily.  “My friends and I will stop you.”

        Tirek lifted his hand.  “Ah yes.  Your friends.  The so-called Elements of Harmony.  I do not think you will be able to stop me this time.  Last time your power was too great for me, because it was rooted in stolen Equestrian magic, but this time... the magic is of the things that entire realms are made of!  Serenity, dispose of our guests.”

        Serenity growled, turning.  “What?  I thought this was about Celestia?  You said...  You said she was the one who tried to kill me!”

        “What I said is nothing of consequence.  Your power is mine, now.  You will do as I ask!” Tirek shouted angrily.  “Destroy these fools!”

        “No.  I won't do it,” Serenity said.  “If what Celestia remembers is correct, you are the one who attacked me!  It was your doing all along!  I won't do your dirty work!”

        “You don't have a choice!” Tirek said, lifting his hand.  Dark magic erupted from his claws, worming its way into Serenity's body.  The dark alicorn struggled against the magic.

        “No!” Celestia roared.  “Let her go, Tirek!  It's me, you want!”

        Tirek cackled madly.  “Yes, and I shall have you!  Destroy them!”

        Serenity stood, her eyes glowing.  “Yes... my Lord.”

        “Serenity!  You can fight this!” Twilight shouted.  “Discord, you have to do something!  Try and get through to her!”

        Discord sputtered.  His eyes were wide.  “I... What should I do?”

        “Talk to her, keep her busy while I try to free the Princess!” Twilight said.

        Discord nodded, slithering directly in between Serenity and Celestia.  “Now now, my dear.  Let's not get too hasty.  Tirek has got his little wormies in your brain.  This isn't you.”

        “Kill him,” Tirek said angrily.  “Fulfill your purpose to me!”

        Serenity snarled and her horn blazed, firing a blast of dark energy at Discord.  The spirit of Chaos snapped his claws, catching the magic in a U-shaped tube that sent it flying back at the alicorn.  It dissipated as it washed over her.

        “You'll have to do better than that,” he said.  “Please don't make me fight you.  You can't beat me.”

        Serenity stomped her hoof and fired again.  Discord dodged and moved, redirecting the dark magic away from where Twilight and Celestia stood.

        Twilight's horn glowed fiercely as she tried to remove the bonds from the other Princess’s hooves.

        “Come on!” she shouted.

        “Twilight, you have to leave me,” Celestia said.  “I can hold Tirek off.  You have to get your friends.  Stop him.”

        “I'm not leaving you!” Twilight said, her eyes wide.  “We have to stop this here and now!”

        “Twilight!  I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth.  I knew all along that I could have been the one who...” Celestia said, hanging her head.

        “But it wasn't you!  You loved her, because she was your sister!” Twilight countered.  “I'm not letting you die here!”

        “I'm afraid you have no choice,” Celestia said.  “Discord!  Please ensure that my student... nay, my friend... is safe.  I will hold off Tirek and Serenity.”

        “What?  But you can't...” Discord said as he redirected another blaze of dark magic back at the alicorn and centaur.

        “You can and you will!” Celestia said as her horn glowed brightly.  “Promise me that you will do this for me!”

        “I... I promise,” Discord said.  “For you.”\

        “No!” Twilight shouted.

        Celestia reached deep inside for the magic, wrapping the spirit of Chaos and Twilight in it.  She enveloped them in light and when she was done, they were gone, leaving only her, Tirek, Serenity, and the entranced Pix.

        “What have you done?” Tirek said.  “You have sealed your own fate, it seems.”

        “I did what I must,” Celestia panted.  “I did it because she has the best chance at stopping you.”

        Tirek snorted.  “There is no stopping me this time.  The more I feed upon the magic of the Summer Lands and Tartarus, the stronger I become,” he said.  “You are a fool, and you will pay for your actions.”

        “So be it,” Celestia said, leveling her gaze at Serenity.

        The dark alicorn made no move, nothing that indicated that she recognized her sister.  Her eyes merely glowed, soulless orbs of pure power.  Her horn brightened.

        Celestia closed her eyes and waited for the end.

        Twilight and Discord reappeared in a flash of blazing light, dropping to the ground in front of Twilight's castle.  Twilight stood, realizing where she was.

        “No!  Why did she...?” she shouted weakly, tears forming in her eyes.

        “Twilight Sparkle,” Discord said.  “We must get inside.  I made a promise to keep you safe.  Tirek will be coming soon, and we must be prepared.”

        Twilight nodded, following behind the spirit of Chaos.  She couldn't get back to the Summer Lands, not on her own.  She was going to need Cadance and Luna.  They made their way to the room with the map, where the others were apparently still waiting.  Their eyes widened as they saw them.

        “Princess Twilight,” Luna said.  “Where is my sister?”

        “What happened to you both?” Rarity said.  “You look terrible.”

        “Where's Celestia?” Cadance said.  “What happened?”

        Twilight grimaced weakly, stepping forward.  “Celestia... Celestia is... gone.”

        “What?  What do you mean, 'gone'?” Luna said angrily.  “What happened?”

        “It was Tirek.  He's controlling Serenity.  He's free,” Twilight said, tears streaming down her face.  “Celestia sent us away, teleported us back here to hold... hold them off.”

        “Tirek?  But he was locked away!” Rainbow Dash said.

        “He used Serenity, used her to gain access to the magic of both the Summer Lands and Tartarus,” Discord explained, a solemn expression on his face.

        “Oh no...” Fluttershy said.  “What do we do?”

        “We have... have to get back to the Summer Lands,” Twilight said.  “Princess Luna, can you take me there?”

        Luna grimaced.  “I am afraid that I cannot, Twilight Sparkle.  Ever since my return, I have been cut off from those realms.  The magic simply does not recognize my presence any longer.”

        Twilight hung her head.  She sighed.  “There has to be a way,” she said.

        “There is,” a voice said from behind the group.

        Twilight turned.  It was the imp from the castle.  He stood, fidgeting.

        “You're... the imp.  Pix, was it?” she said.

        “Yes,” the imp replied.  “Your Princess.... Celestia... she's alive.  Tirek wants her for something.  You still have time to save her.  There's a way back into the Summer Lands, but it's... it's not easy.”

        “How?” Twilight said.

        “Through Tartarus,” Pix said.

        Celestia groaned as she opened her eyes.  Was this what death felt like?  She had always pondered death, and whether it would actually happen.  When you lived as long as she had, one had to have a hobby after all.

        Her eyes adjusted to the darkness as they found Serenity, standing outside of caged bars that held her.  She appeared to be in some sort of dank dungeon.

        “Serenity?” she asked softly.

        “Serenity is no more,” a voice said.

        Celestia's eyes drifted to see Tirek, standing at the top of the stairs leading out of the dungeon.  He grinned wickedly.

        “Serenity is gone, dear Celestia,” Tirek said.  “And soon, you will join her.  With two of Equestria's most powerful alicorns under my control, this world and all the worlds that follow will know the might of Tirek!”

        “Twilight will stop you,” Celestia spat.

        “Princess Twilight cannot even come here,” Tirek said.  “You sent her away from this realm, the so-called Summer Lands.”

        “What have you done, Tirek?” Celestia asked.

        “I've made some improvements.  The Summer Lands are no more.  From now on, this realm is the Nightmare Realm!  From now on, this place shall forever be known as Midnight Castle!”