//------------------------------// // Celestia // Story: The Light of Despair // by Gordon Pasha //------------------------------// Equestria, 1000 years ago. “What is the matter, sister?” Luna asked as she stepped out into the morning air. It was rather chilly, she observed, but that was no doubt due to the high elevation. For she now stood upon the turret of one of the highest towers of the Castle of the Two Royal Sisters. Celestia was already there, staring out far into the distance, as though her gaze could take in all of Equestria. “Sister?” Luna said, having not received an answer. Celestia looked over her shoulder. “Oh, Luna, how long have you been there?” “I just came up now,” Luna responded. “I know something is troubling you, sister. I caught a glimpse of it in your dreams last night. I have been waiting for you to confide in me, but you have not.” “I’m sorry, Luna,” Celestia responded. “I should have told you immediately. But there is so much to come to terms with. The situation in Whinnysburg, for instance.” “I understand why you would find that troubling,” Luna said. “I just received another report today. The plague has claimed even more lives and we’re still no closer to ending it.” Luna approached. “’Tis strange that none of our magic has any effect on it, but I am certain that we shall find a remedy in time.” Celestia shook her head. “Still, it isn’t easy to wait. They look to us for a cure, but nothing we do helps. I am still not sure whether imposing a quarantine on the town was the right choice.” “You did what you thought best,” Luna responded, putting a comforting hoof on Celestia’s shoulder. “Many more lives were saved by that timely action, no doubt.” “Perhaps….” Celestia once more turned her eyes northward and seemed to become lost to Luna again. Luna steadied herself for what had to be said next. “Sister, I know you are not being fully honest with me. The plague, tragic though it is, was not the main import of your dream.” Celestia was silent. Luna looked down at her hooves and let out a little sigh. It had become increasingly like this ever since the loss of the Crystal Empire. She and Celestia had been each others’ rock of support for as long as either of them could remember. But now, they were growing distant. Luna wasn’t sure why, or who was to blame, but it was happening. “Sister, confide in me,” she said. “You cannot keep these things inside. You know that.” “I know,” Celestia said quietly. “But it could have been just a dream.” “It was not. We both know that.” Celestia nodded. For a few moments, there was silence and stillness. Then Celestia turned to Luna. Luna surveyed her face. There was nothing but resolution there, firm resolution. This was Celestia being a princess, Luna knew. This was Celestia facing the truth. This was Celestia choosing truth over how she felt inside. “I saw Hope,” she said. Luna’s brow rose. This was interesting. “It’s been sometime since Radiant Hope disappeared into the Frozen North.” Luna felt like adding a incredulous 'Are you sure?' But it seemed like bad form after she had just demanded that Celestia be honest with her. “I know, but I had supposed she’d return eventually, once she realized her quest to save Sombra was hopeless,” Celestia responded. “But, if she is returning, perhaps she has,” Luna said. “Why are you so troubled?” “She is going to Whinnysburg,” Celestia said. Luna considered. “Hmm, that is rather distressing. But why is she heading there?” “From what I could tell, she’s gone through all the provisions she took with her into the north. Whinnysburg is the closest town on the northern frontier. She’s going there to resupply.” “I see. But perhaps it is a happy accident. With her great healing power, she might be able to–” “If she reaches Whinnysburg, she will be lost to us,” Celestia said. “Whatever happens, she will never come back to us.” Luna did not need to question it. That Celestia had interrupted her, the urgency in her sister’s voice – they both told Luna that Celestia was as certain about this as anypony could be about anything. “Then we must prevent her from reaching the town,” Luna said. “Surely, the guards that have been posted on the roads are more than up to the task. She won’t be able to evade them.” “Her choices right now are to restock her provisions at Whinnysburg or give up her search and come back south. And my sense is that she’ll do anything if she views the alternative as turning her back on Sombra again.” “And between that determination and her remarkable skill with magic, you feel that she’ll manage to get into the town despite our guards’ best efforts.” “Precisely.” “But is there nothing we can do to keep her from Whinnysburg?” “Nothing.” Celestia’s glance once more began to turn northward. “Unless….” “Unless?” Celestia gave a quick shake of her head. “No, I fear that even that would not work.” “What were you thinking?” Luna asked. “I was thinking, if I could just talk to her, maybe I could persuade her. But my feeling is that, if we could not even convince her to continue her studies, I won’t be able to keep her from Whinnysburg.” Luna nodded. “Your fear is well-founded. But as I see it, you must try.” “Even if I’m bound to fail?” Celestia asked. Luna placed her hoof on Celestia’s shoulder. “Of course! If you give Hope every chance to avoid it, then you cannot be held responsible for what she chooses. You ought to do that much. You owe it to yourself to do it.” “You’re right, Luna,” Celestia said. “I shall do it.” But she did not seem very enthusiastic. “Should I perhaps do it instead?” Luna asked. “No,” Celestia responded. “This is something I need to do.” Without another word, Celestia turned northward and began to spread her wings. “Do you have any idea where she is?” Luna asked. “I’ve got a hunch,” Celestia replied. And, in a moment, she was gone, soaring into the blue noontide sky. Luna watched her sister closely until Celestia had disappeared beyond the horizon. “Try not to blame yourself too much, sister,” Luna said, though Celestia could not possibly hear. “I’ve never met a pony more intent on going her own weird way than Radiant Hope. The consequences of that are Hope’s to face, not yours.” 'Whinnysburg.' The sign said, 'Whinnysburg.' That much Hope could make out. She could also barely make out what looked like a directional arrow. It seemed to point toward the left-most of the two roads that currently forked from her position. But the sign was so crude and so worn from the elements that Hope could not be sure. Still, there was no other indication to go on, so she would have to trust the sign. A chill wind caused Hope’s cloak to whip and fly around her. With a spark of magic from her horn, she quickly pulled it back against her lavender coat. Not that she felt like she much needed it. It was cold around here, but not nearly as cold as it was deep within the bounds of the Frozen North. Why, the snow was even slowly giving ground to grass and shrubs, so Hope knew she must be nearing more temperate climes. Besides, crystal ponies seemed to have a greater tolerance of the cold than other ponies. Still, it would be nice to get to someplace where she could sit in front of a warm fire for a change. Hope felt her stomach growl, a reminder of the fact that she had had to begin skipping most meals in order to conserve what was left of her foodstuffs. But even after that, they would only last another day or two. So, Whinnysburg or bust, Hope thought. She quickly brushed back all the strands of blue hair that the wind had thrown into her eyes and began to trot along the left road. She did not make it far before she heard a tremendous swooping sound nearby. Hope wondered what it was, but with her straits so desperate, she would have kept going regardless, if it had not been for that voice. Hope’s hood all but knocked out her peripheral vision, but the voice she heard was unmistakable. “Radiant Hope!” “Princess Celestia?” Hope asked in shock as she whirled around. “What are you doing out here?” “Radiant Hope, I have come to see you,” Celestia answered, tucking her wings in as she strode forward. “See me? But why?” Celestia now stood before Hope. Or, rather, Celestia towered over her. Hope did not know why – maybe it was the regal posture Celestia had adopted, or perhaps the ground was merely uneven – but Celestia seemed even taller and more imposing than she had remembered. “I had hoped that you were finally ready to come home,” Celestia said. Hope let out a sigh and shook her head. “Oh, that’s why. I thought we were past this. You know I don’t have a home, Princess. I lost it.” “You lost one home,” Celestia said. “But I could help you make another. Please, Hope, come back south with me.” “I can’t,” Hope said. “Not until I’ve found a way to save Sombra. The answer is out there. I just know it is.” “I know how much Sombra means to you,” Celestia said. “But don’t you think you can help him more by continuing your studies and getting a better idea of what we’re facing?” “Studying can’t help me anymore. Whatever Sombra is, whatever happened to him, I’m not going to find out from books and lectures. But I just have a feeling that, somewhere in the Frozen North, is the answer to everything.” “There are many things in these northern climes that are unknown to ponykind,” Celestia said. “And that is usually for the best. Did you ever consider that you might be better off not knowing what is hidden beneath the waste and snow?” “That doesn’t matter,” Hope responded, her eyes shining, filled with resolve. “Whatever happens, I have to find Sombra and I have to save him. What happened with him, with the Crystal Empire, is all my fault. I have to make it right. I can’t let him down again.” Celestia smiled one of those warm smiles of understanding that she was so well-known for. Stretching out a wing, she wrapped it around Hope’s shoulder. “You have nothing to blame yourself for,” Celestia said. “Sombra made his own choices, just as we all do. What happened was the consequence of his own actions, not yours. If this has been about punishing yourself or trying to make up for what happened, you don’t have to.” Hope tore out from under Celestia’s wing. “You don’t understand. Sombra is the only pony who has ever cared about me and I betrayed him when he needed me most. How can I just let that go?” Celestia stiffened a little. “Hope, that’s not true. Sombra is not the only pony who ever cared about you.” “Yes, he is!” Hope snapped. “That’s why I owe it to him to do whatever it takes to save him.” “But you can do so much more for Equestria, for ponies, if you just–” “What does any of that matter if I can’t save Sombra?” Celestia was stern and silent. She did not answer. Hope recovered herself. “I’m sorry, Princess. I shouldn’t have snapped or interrupted you. I do want to help other ponies. I do. But if I can’t even help my best friend, how can I help anypony else?” “Hope, I don’t know how many more ways I can say this,” Celestia said. “You have tremendous healing power. There are so many ponies suffering from injuries, from diseases, that you could heal. There is so much suffering to alleviate. As much as you love Sombra, can you really put one pony’s life above that of so many?” “But I’m not letting my healing power go to waste,” Hope responded. “I am still using it. Just the other day, I came across a pony that had broken his leg climbing a mountain. I healed him. He would have died otherwise. But I saved his life. And I’ll do that for anypony who needs it. But it’s because I have this great power inside of me that I have hope that I can use it to save Sombra too. And I need to try. Before I’ll ever be able to come back down, I need to try.” The look on Celestia’s face was difficult to discern. Was it anger? No, no. Celestia was rarely angry, except with those that threatened her subjects. It was more likely that disappointment was beginning to crack through her stern façade. Disappointment perhaps, or the loss of hope. “Maybe I can’t convince you to come back to your studies,” Celestia said. “But at least listen to me when I say this. Don’t go to Whinnysburg.” “How did you know I was going there?” Hope asked. Celestia did have a penchant for overreaching knowledge, but still.... “Don’t go to Whinnysburg,” Celestia said again. “But why, Princess?” “If I told you, you would go to Whinnysburg,” Celestia said. “Please, Hope, just take my word for it. Nothing good can come from you going to Whinnysburg.” “But I need provisions, and Whinnysburg is the only settlement this far north.” “Perhaps I can help you. I can fly provisions to you.” “Thank you, but no, Princess. I don’t want to waste any more time. I want to get to Whinnysburg, quickly resupply, and then continue my search. You are very busy ruling Equestria, and I don’t know how quickly you could be back here.” Hope just managed to prevent herself from adding, ‘I don’t know if you’d even come back.’ It would, after all, be in Celestia’s best interest to stall her and force her to return south. “Is there nothing I can say or do to convince you not to go to Whinnysburg?” Celestia asked. “No,” Hope said. “That is what I have to do if I want to keep searching for Sombra. And I’m not going to give up. I think you know that.” “Very well,” Celestia said. “I see I can’t change your mind. But at least let me help you this much.” With her magic, Celestia floated something out from beneath her regal collar. Quickly, she pinned it to Hope’s cloak. It was a badge of some sort. A badge in the shape of the sun, exactly matching Celestia’s cutie mark. “What’s this for?” Hope asked. “That will allow you safe passage to Whinnysburg,” Celestia said. “Show it to the guards and they will let you pass.” “Why are there guards on the road to Whinnysburg?” “You will find out soon enough.” “But if you don’t want me to go, why are you helping me?” Celestia smiled. It was warm and kind, but also sad. Very, very sad. “Because this is the last thing I shall ever be able to help you with,” she answered. Hope felt a chill inside her at these words, a chill far colder than that coming from the whistling winds. If anything could make her turn back, that could. But Hope was resolved never to turn back. Not until Sombra was by her side again. “Thank you, Princess,” Hope said. “But don’t worry. I know I can find out what Sombra is and how to save him. Then everything will be better! I’ll come back with him and I’ll resume my studies and I’ll use my powers to help ponies throughout Equestria. It is all going to work out! You’ll see.” Without waiting for a response, Hope turned and once more began trotting down the road to Whinnysburg. It was done. There was nothing more she could do. Celestia held back a tear as she watched Hope go. “If only, Hope, if only,” she said. Then, daring not another glance, she turned her back. “Now you are lost to us forever.” What awaited Radiant Hope in Whinnysburg? Read on.