"Ulfrid!" cried Luna, watching as Celestia disappeared over the balcony.
"Easy, my liege," said Ulfrid softly. "It is over now."
Luna stood unsteadily and turned to face him. "She... she tried to destroy me!"
Ulfrid faced her with a large plush cushion, only slightly charred, hanging from his muzzle. He set it down gently. "But she did not," he comforted. "Come, sit. Help will soon arrive."
Luna blinked, then made her way to the cushion. She looked up at Ulfrid, now taller than she was by half, and settled into the plush slowly. She buried her head under her wings and shuddered. "Was that really Celestia?" she asked, her voice muffled.
"Aye, Highness," replied Ulfrid. "But she was not herself either."
Luna took a series of deep breaths, burying her face against the cushion. "You said help is coming?" she asked, finally. "The Captain is coming?"
"Aye, my Liege, and he brings Sunset Shimmer."
"Sunset... who?"
Ulfrid smiled. "She is the unicorn that you have been waiting ten years to confront."
Luna frowned in thought, and then she blinked and lifted her gaze towards Ulfrid. She was shocked. "THAT unicorn? Coming here NOW, whilst I am weakened?"
Ulfrid nodded. "She is not the same unicorn as she was so long ago, either. All will be well, but you must be ready to receive her."
"But why is she coming here? How am I to pass sentence in this state?"
Ulfrid smiled, "I do not believe that you will have to, my Liege. But she has played a part in all this and her information will be most valuable, I think."
"But what will I do with her?" insisted Luna.
"You are still ruler of these lands, your Highness. Hear what she has to say and then do what you feel is right. That is all anyone would ever ask of you… and that is what I ask of you now."
Luna bit her lip and gazed deep into Ulfrid's eyes for a long time, seeking some form of answer for the questions that always filled her mind when he seemed the sole voice of reason. But there was nothing, save some sense of raw honesty that she always fell back on. Ulfrid's eyes just told her to trust him... and once again, she decided to.
"All right," replied Luna at last. "When will they arrive?"
Ulfrid bowed once again. "Very soon."
Luna rested her head back on the cushion and relaxed as best as she could. True to Ulfrid's word, it wasn't long before she heard hooves galloping up the stairs. Shortly thereafter she heard the Captain's voice.
"Your Highness," he said. "We got here as quickly as we could."
Ulfrid replied for her. "Captain Sterling Honor, Sunset Shimmer. Thank you both for coming." He then looked down to Luna and nodded.
Luna stood and climbed off the pillow to greet her company. She nodded to the Captain, still bowing, and then cast her gaze over the brilliant amber unicorn behind him. She recognized Sunset from her vision, and she was somewhat surprised that such a brilliantly colored unicorn had eluded capture for so long. She found herself thinking that Celestia could not have found a more appropriate looking student to represent the sun.
"We meet at last, unicorn," said Luna. "It would appear that we have much to talk about."
"P... Princess Luna?" Sunset held her place, frozen in shock by the devastation in the room.
Luna nodded once, and then smiled. "So you do know my name."
Sunset nodded slowly. "I... of course. Everypony knows the legend, and I've studied it as much as I could."
Luna frowned and took a step forward. "Indeed. So that you could defeat Nightmare Moon, am I right?"
Sunset took half a step back and widened her eyes, but then she lowered her hoof to the ground slowly. She nodded again, averting her gaze. "Yes, Ma'am. But I seem to have only made a bigger mess of everything."
Sterling Honor stepped forward, impatience in his voice. "Enough of this. Your Highness, are you all right? Where is the Solar Princess?"
"Peace, Captain," growled Ulfrid. "There is time enough for that."
"Hold your tongue, dog," growled Sterling in response. "Unless you care to explain where you were during the attack? I take my orders only from the Queen."
"Enough, both of you!" snapped Luna. "Ulfrid stopped the attack, Captain, you need not question his honor. As for my sister, she retreated... I cannot sense her any longer."
Sterling frowned, looking towards the balcony. "So it really was her?" he asked.
Luna nodded to Sterling, "Yes, Captain. There can be no doubt that she has returned." She then turned her attention back to Sunset. "I am told that your name is Sunset Shimmer, is that correct?"
Sunset nodded, "Yes, Ma'am."
"You don't seem to be making any attempt to escape."
Sunset shook her head. "I... I made a mess of things. I messed up ten years ago and I messed up again today. I want to help fix it, if we still can."
Luna's horn lit and she levitated a pillow over towards Sunset. "Sit," she invited. "I wish to hear your story." She smirked. "You can begin where I first saw you, at the Summer Sun Celebration ten years ago."
Sunset's eyes widened, but she accepted the pillow and stiffly sat upon it. "Thank you." After a moment she added, "So you know that it was me all the way back then?"
Luna nodded. "Oh yes. I did not have a clear recollection until recently and now I suspect that may have been only because you were so near. But I remember you."
"Aren't you going to punish me?" asked Sunset.
Luna paused. "Perhaps," she replied at last.
Sterling frowned but said nothing. He stood on guard in a position where he could observe the small group and the open balcony. Ulfrid settled down on the stone floor, stretching his paws in front of himself and Luna summoned her own cushion closer and laid down upon it, facing Sunset. "But I will hear your story for now," she continued. "How came you to be here today?"
Sunset took a deep breath and let it out slowly, bringing back the memories.
"I was a student at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns at the time..."
Not just any student, either, I was Princess Celestia's personal student. She said that I had more magical ability than any other pony she'd ever met, and that she was going to give me special studies. She was going to help me achieve something great.
I didn't know what it was and she wouldn't tell me. I convinced myself that she was going to make me a Princess. I was so full of myself! I didn't study as hard as I should have, but I did enjoy my studies. I loved learning about new magic and trying it out, but I didn't care about anything else.
When Celestia sent me to Ponyville to oversee the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration, I thought it was a waste of my time. I thought we could just as well have sent a few guards. Once I started my inspections, I found there was really nothing I needed to do. But it came together well enough, or so I thought.
Then at the grand unveiling, Nightmare Moon appeared instead of Princess Celestia.
Sunset broke out of her story and looked at Luna apologetically. "Well, I mean you appeared." She frowned. "I knew you must have done something to Princess Celestia, but when you announced that the night would last forever I was terrified. I saw my entire future melting away and I knew I had to act at once. I gathered everything I could and threw it at you in one offensive blast."
She shook her head, her ears folding in shame. "You deflected it so easily and directly back at me without even looking. I had never felt so weak in all my life. I ran, certain that you were going to follow up with a shot of your own and then it would all be over."
Luna chuckled softly and Sunset frowned at her. "Forgive me," Luna said. "If you had only known... I barely detected your attack in time. It was only luck that I managed to deflect it at all, greater luck that it went back to you. I have often dwelt upon what would have happened if that blow had struck. Believe me; I did not want to be hit by that, even with the power I was carrying."
Sunset's jaw dropped. "Why... why would you tell me this?"
Luna shook her head, smiling. "What is the harm? Here we are: three drained unicorns and a wolf. But even if you sought to push a perceived advantage, I am still alicorn and my two most trusted allies are at my side. Beyond that... I would say that we have a greater concern right now, wouldn't you?"
"Celestia," replied Sunset.
"Celestia," confirmed Luna. "Now perhaps you can continue your story and tell me how she came to me as she did."
Sunset nodded. "Yes... well, I went into hiding. I was afraid that you would be looking for me, so I kept undercover and on the move."
Luna made an amused sound. "You did well. Even my Captain's forces were unable to locate you, and I daresay they were pushed hard for at least the first year or so."
Sterling Honor shuffled a little bit at the mention, but he attempted to look detached as Sunset replied.
"I... I stayed as far from the capital as I could. I must have circled Equestria three or four times before I finally settled a year or so ago. I just got tired of running."
"Things were very quiet after that," Sunset continued. "I continued to keep as low a profile as I could. But a few days ago, my diary went off."
Luna tilted her head. "'Went off'? What do you mean?"
"Well, when I was Celestia's student, I had an enchanted diary. If I wrote in it, the words would appear in a similar book that Celestia kept, and vice-versa. I used it to report my progress when I studied remotely. When there was a new message, it would glow and vibrate."
"Fascinating," replied Luna. "So you received a message?"
Sunset nodded. "It was my last connection to my past, so I kept it with me for sentimental reasons. At first, I thought it was a trick, that maybe you found Celestia's book. But I answered the call and met Celestia in the Everfree forest."
Luna's eyebrows went up. "Everfree? So she was there after all." She frowned. "Doubtless her arrival was the meteor that was reported."
Sunset looked up. "I... I don't know about a meteor. Actually I didn't ask how she got there, I was just so happy to see her again."
Luna frowned and looked aside. "Of course you were."
Sunset looked down and folded her ears. "I... well, I was. I thought it meant things would be all right again."
"Because things were not all right as they were, of course." Bitterness was starting to seep into Luna's voice.
"Peace, your Highness," interjected Ulfrid, his voice gentle. "The story is not yet complete."
Sunset held her voice for a moment, and then nodded. "I'm sorry."
Luna sighed and looked to Ulfrid, then back to Sunset. "Please continue," she said levelly.
Sunset took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "All right. Well, she was back, but she was really weak. She had almost no magic reserve and her left wing was badly broken. I'm not sure how long she had been at the ruins, but it didn't look like more than a couple of days. And then you appeared, so we had to move. We moved into the crystal caverns under Canterlot, which is where your guard found us."
Luna shook her head. "My sister was anything but drained when she came to me – she was surging at a level I've never seen any pony at before. How did this happen?"
Sunset ground her teeth for a moment and then opened her saddlebag. She drew out Luna's diary and offered it to her. "Celestia had this. I was able to break the spell protecting it, and... well... I used your spell."
Luna took the book in her magic and opened it up. She turned the pages slowly for a few minutes as she read it, the others sitting quietly and watching her. At last Luna spoke, closing the book as she did. "I was very young," she said. "I never expected that another unicorn would attempt to unlock the book for my sister."
Sunset blushed a little. "Um, yeah. Sorry."
"So Celestia has read my words?" Luna asked.
"No," replied Sunset. "I... I didn't tell her that I managed to unlock it."
Luna fixed her with a curious look. "You said you used my spell? The spell from this book? That should have been far beyond your abilities, no matter how skilled a unicorn you are."
"Well, not all of it," explained Sunset. "I was able to separate the power transfer you used and adapt it to work on its own."
Luna paused, and then nodded. "Very impressive. But you still would have required a power source, something to draw from. You would not have been able to draw from the land as I did."
Sterling coughed gently, breaking from his attentive stance. "I'm afraid that's where I come in, Highness." He frowned, a combination of annoyance, disgust and embarrassment on his face as he opened his own saddlebag. He drew the wasted amulet and offered it to Luna. "She used this."
Luna frowned. "Is that your 'family heirloom', Captain Sterling Honor?"
"It's the Alicorn Amulet," offered Sunset. "Or at least, it was. Legend claimed that it could grant the wearer near infinite power. When I saw him wearing it, I took a chance that it would have enough energy to restore Celestia."
Luna took the amulet into her magic field and examined it, rotating it in the air before her. "I am not familiar with this amulet, but if it was a legendary artifact then our laws are quite clear about what was supposed to have been done with it, Captain."
Sterling stiffened his stance and nodded once. "Yes, your Majesty. I am prepared to face the consequences of my actions."
Luna made a dismissive sound. "Later, perhaps," she said. "If we are still able to. Otherwise we may all face the consequences of your actions." She looked at Sunset. "Have you analyzed this? Do you know what was behind its power?"
Sunset shook her head. "No... the transfer spell drained me pretty badly. But we brought it in hopes that you would be able to work out more than I might have."
Luna frowned, and focused on the amulet. "I am not surprised," she said. "No part of that spell was meant to be cast by a mere unicorn." She pondered and drew the amulet nearer, brightening her horn. "I should have enough magic."
Luna frowned as her magic probed the amulet, causing it to glow and sparkle from time to time. Whispered voices, distant and indistinct, seemed to come from the amulet as it rotated. Sunset watched closely until at last the princess let it settle onto the floor.
"It's drained," she announced, "as you expected. But it suggests traces of dark magic indeed. It was a battery of sorts, holding a strong charge. It was probably powered up via many sources... but there was a side effect. Almost certainly any pony under its influence would be tempted by desires, driven to overcome fears or perceived weaknesses."
Sunset nodded. "The information I remember suggested that it would 'corrupt' its user."
Sterling looked at the floor as both Luna and Sunset looked towards him.
"Captain?" asked Luna. "Will you please let us know whether that is an accurate assessment?"
"Yes, your Majesty," replied Sterling dully. He paused, then took a deep breath and continued. "It would make suggestions... encouraged me to take stronger actions to secure my position as your lead commander. It encouraged me to take risks, and once it started, it didn't even seem odd to me that I heard these suggestions."
Luna nodded again, turning back to Sunset without comment. "So we are faced with two questions, then. First, did this curse transfer along with the amulet's power? And if so, what happens when an Alicorn is cursed by the Alicorn Amulet?"
"I... I couldn't even begin to guess," replied Sunset.
"Indeed. You have much to learn about experimenting with unknown magic, Sunset Shimmer. The first rule is: don't. You should not have so much as opened my book, let alone try the spells found therein. You particularly should not have acted without guidance."
Sunset opened her mouth to protest. "Hey, I..." She stopped, and nodded. "I was just trying to solve everything by myself... I guess you're right. But can we fix it?"
Luna frowned as she considered the question. "I can guess fairly well what my part of the spell did, and from Celestia's appearance we can infer that she received quite a large reserve of magic. But if the amulet is drained, then she can't be drawing any more. The surge may indeed burn itself out."
"Nay, I fear not," commented Ulfrid. All three ponies jumped at the unexpected voice.
"Geez, I forgot you were here!" exclaimed Sunset.
"What do you mean, Ulfrid?" asked Luna. "What did you see?"
Ulfrid bowed his head. "Forgive my intrusion... but a source has been missed. As alicorns, you and Celestia both draw from the land itself. Celestia's draw from the land has been accelerated. Her magic reserve is drawing in a larger proportion of magic than she would normally receive."
Sunset blinked, "Wait... how do you know that?"
Ulfrid looked to Sunset and dipped his head again. "I serve," he replied.
"Not again," muttered Sunset.
Luna frowned, looking pensive. After a moment she spoke again. "Are you saying that she is still drawing power, Ulfrid?"
Ulfrid nodded to Luna. "Aye, your Highness. She continues to increase her reserve, even without the amulet."
"What does that mean?" asked Sunset.
Luna considered for a moment. "Even an alicorn has limits... Celestia cannot draw power forever. The land also has limits. If she draws too much power from one location, the land will lose its magic and become uninhabitable."
Sunset frowned. "In what way?"
Luna turned her head. "A large portion of the magic I used to become Nightmare Moon came from the lands around the Palace. Without the natural protection of Equestrian magic, those lands devolved into what you now see as the Everfree Forest. But that was an artificial, deliberate pull. An alicorn's landed power is more subtle, it's a slow, continuous draw."
Luna mused for a moment. "I do not know if she could truly affect the entire land... although it may mean that her power is nearly limitless. But that is only if she continues to control the magic she draws in. I imagine you know what happens to a unicorn who cannot control her surges?"
Sunset lowered her head and folded her ears. "She dies."
Luna nodded. "Yes."
Sterling made a hemming noise. "So perhaps it will not burn out, but it may resolve itself anyway if we can keep her away long enough?"
Ulfrid rumbled as Luna shook her head. "Even if she were not my sister," she began, "that much magic will not go quietly back to the lands. No, if Celestia succumbs to magical surges of that level the result will be devastating to whatever town she is in, perhaps more."
Sunset frowned. "So all we have to do is find a super-charged alicorn before she overloads, possibly taking the land with her."
Luna nodded again. "That would appear to be the situation."
Sterling fixed Ulfrid with a steady gaze. "What I don't understand is how a wolf could have driven her away?"
Ulfrid dipped his head. "It appears that the curse is unstable in my presence. She grew confused and took her leave."
Sterling stamped a hoof as he returned to attention. "If she is confused, then this is an opportunity. We have the entire Royal Guard at our disposal. I can have six squads of pegasi in the skies within half an hour, and we can rouse the guard in every major city in Equestria inside of an hour. If she's out there, we can find her."
"Very well, Captain," agreed Luna. "Send out your orders."
Sterling saluted and turned to leave the room when Sunset protested loudly. "Princess Luna! You can't be serious! They'll try to hurt her!"
Luna rolled her eyes. "As if they could. Very well. Captain, your orders are to locate Celestia, but not to engage her. Is that understood?"
Sterling snorted, but stomped a hoof and nodded as he repeated his salute. "Absolutely, your Majesty."
"Good. Then go."
Sterling turned and made his way quickly down the stairs as Luna turned her attention back to Sunset. "As for you," she commented. "You are still under arrest pending sentencing for your crimes against me. For now, you will stay with me in order to advise and, if necessary, assist with the restoration of the kingdom. Do you have any objections to this order?"
Sunset blinked. "I... I get a say?"
"You will be of no use to me if you are not truly prepared to help. If you choose not to assist me, you will be imprisoned until such time as I can deal with you. I realize that this is not much of a choice, but it is possibly more than you deserve. Time will tell. In any event my own options are rather limited."
Sunset nodded. "I want to help," she stated. "It's mostly my fault in the first place."
Luna fixed Sunset with a strong look, and then nodded slowly. "We will see about that as well. For now..." She levitated her diary up again and flipped the pages open and then placed it on the floor between herself and Sunset. "For now, explain to me which parts of my spell you used. We will need to better understand what has happened to my sister if we are to hope to counter it."