MLPMTG Five
Princess Celestia awoke and rose the sun as was her duty. Without stopping to eat breakfast or drink coffee Celestia rushed to her throne room. Princess Luna and the head of the Equestrian military were waiting for her.
Princess Luna spoke first. “We are glad you rested for you shall need all of strength of this most dire of days. King Sombra has begun his assault on The Crystal Empire. He is using some form of artificial army. His magically made phony ponies have no true wills of their own, but they have been impossible to destroy. They repair themselves immediately once damaged. The Empire’s defences are holding, but with Princess Cadence heavily pregnant, none can mount a magical counter attack.”
Princess Celestia turned to the head of the military. “We have plans in place for this. If the troops have not already been made ready, prepare them. We will travel north to aide our ally before midday.”
The head of the military saluted. “Yes, your Highness. The troops are assembled and await the order to move out.” The armoured Earth Pony said smartly.
Princess Luna raised her hoof. “There is more, Sister. It has been reported Lord Tirek has escaped and is already terrorizing ponies and stealing magic. Princess Twilight Sparkle has travelled to another world to seek a mage who can undo the magic surrounding the Tree of Harmony.”
Celestia put her hoof to her chin. “Perhaps we should deal with Tirek before we travel to The North. Shining Armour has trained his army well. They should be able to survive a siege for some time.” She said.
Luna shook her head. “With all due respect, Sister, both threats are equally dire. If Sombra were to break the Empire’s defences, the tragedy would be unbearable. You must go north and save our niece. We shall handle Lord Tirek. He has weaknesses only I can exploit. While Sombra is King of Shadows, you are the Sovereign of Light.”
Celestia embraced Luna and whispered into her ear. “Don’t take any unnecessary risks. You have nothing to prove. I lost you before. I couldn’t bear to lose you again.”
Luna gently pushed Celestia away. “I share your sentiment, Sister, but the safety of Equestria must always be our top priority. No time can be wasted. I will leave at once.” Luna said.
“Will you at least take your Royal Guard?” Celestia queried.
“No, that would only increase the risk. For my plan to succeed, I must do this alone.” Luna turned and galloped away crying out. “We shall not be gone long. We shall raise the moon this night.” The doors of the throne room were thrown open, and Luna launched into the air flying faster than the eye could see out of the castle and away from Canterlot.
Celestia looked at the head of the military with a steely eyed ferocity. “We shall travel north in five minutes. Relay the orders. We shall join you in the command carriage shortly.”
The head of the military saluted. “Yes, your highness.” The brave pony trotted away smartly.
Celestia looked around until she saw the pony she was seeking. She spotted a regal and handsome unicorn standing proudly in a sunbeam.
Celestia spoke to her nephew as a princess. “Prince Blueblood, I will leave you in charge in our absence. The reserves must be ready to face battle if we should fail. This must be done in such a way that will not cause panic. If it is widely learned that Equestria may well face its darkest hour, the consequences could be dire.”
Prince Blueblood bowed. “You can count on me, Aunty.”
“Remember, you are not alone. All of Equestria will rise to the call and stand for peace if it should come to that. Ponies may be initially skittish, but there is no end to their bravery when appropriately rallied. I will go now to the North. Canterlot is in your hooves.” Celestia said. She trotted away flanked by her royal guard.
As soon as Princess Celestia left the throne room, Prince Blueblood’s head slumped. He let out a massive yawn. “This is too much for the crack of dawn. Some ponies do like to take advantage of the nightlife in Canterlot. Oh well, can’t be helped. Some pony get me a mug of coffee, and some other pony get me the pony who is in charge of the reserves. The sooner I get the balls rolling. The sooner I can take my mid-morning nap. I don’t envy Aunt Luna one bit. She was up all night, and now she is out hunting a truly dangerous fiend.
In a far flung region of Equestria, a Unicorn stallion cowered on the ground. “Please, I’ll give you all my bits. Just don’t hurt me.” He begged.
Lord Tirek giggled with glee. “I desire something far more precious than bits, and when I take it, it won’t hurt a bit.” The Centaur open his mouth wide to consume the Unicorn’s magic. He began to suck only to find an invisible barrier protected his intended victim.
A proud and noble voice spoke loudly behind Tirek. “Your theft of magic ends today. You shall terrorize Equestria no longer.”
Tirek faced Princess Luna and looked about wildly. “You are alone? Foolish. Had you brought your sister and your guards I would have been defeated, but I have grown strong enough to overcome you, Princess. I will enjoy thrashing you almost as much as I will enjoy taking your power when I am done. You can fly away if you like. Alicorn magic is best when saved to last.” Tirek joked.
Luna was unmoved. “I come not looking to battle but to bargain. Would you hear me out?” She asked.
“I am in no hurry. Say what you will, moon riser.” Tirek said. He sat on the ground, and stared blankly and the dark alicorn.
“I have a proposal. If you will allow me to dream with you for three hours, I will give you magic if you still wish to have it upon awakening.” Luna said.
Tirek stroked his beard. “A strange proposal. How do I know this is not some kind of trick, and I will not simply be caged while I sleep?”
A scroll materialized in front of Tirek. He swiped it from the air and read it. Tirek looked at Luna in shock. “This is a pact than cannot be broken. The magic that governs it is older than memory.”
“Yes, I am certain of my actions.” Luna said.
Tirek pressed his thumb against a mark on the scroll. “I am certain I will have your magic in three hours.”
Luna’s eyes and horn glowed white. A thin beam of light struck Tirek in the forehead.
Tirek looked from side to side. “When do we start?” He inquired.
“It has already begun. We are dreaming now of the place where our bodies stand protected. You will note the Unicorn is no longer present.” Luna said.
“Uh huh, so do we just sit her for the next three hours.” Tirek asked.
“If you wish, but we can go anywhere you have been or anyplace you can imagine.” Luna said.
Tirek stared hard at the alicorn. In the waking world she was beautiful and regal. In the dream world, Luna was almost holy. Tirek had heard myths of angels. Was Luna one of them? Nonsense. He had taken her magic before, and felt nothing divine. A question rose in Tirek’s mind.
“Can we also go to places you have been?” He asked.
“Yes, where would you like to go?” Luna replied.
“I want to go to a cloud. I want to gaze down onto all of my future domain.” He said.
The world turned to mist and reformed to nothing but cloud white and sky blue. “This is Equestria as it was but a few days ago. I often fly above Canterlot before I retire for the day. From this cloud I beheld the most stunning view. The morning light glinted off the river as if it were made of the most perfect jewels. Gaze as you will.”
Tirek trotted to the edge of the cloud and circled around. “Magnificent. I shall carve that mountain there into a statue in honour of my glory.” He bragged.
“An ambitious goal. Would you care to see more?” Luna asked.
“More of what?” Tirek queried. He trotted around and around the cloud laughing and taping his fingers together.
Luna walked onto the open air to put her face in front of Tirek. “Would you like to see more of the world? I have been to the moon. The view from up there is beyond compare.”
“That does sound unique. I must admit I am curious. To the moon it is.” He said.
The cloud turned it the blackest smoke. The smoke rose up and blinded Tirek. Before Tirek had a chance to react, the smoke cleared. Tirek found himself in a garden filled with exotic fruits and flowers. A large butterfly flew past his face. “This is the moon?” Tirek asked uncertainly.
“This is as it was when I lived here as Nightmare Moon. It is a mysterious place. It has all the things a pony needs to live, but I was the only one here when I lived here. I found many artefacts when I explored this place, but I found no definitive answers too many of my questions. How does this garden survive on a world that is not but barren waste elsewhere?” Luna said.
“You were here for a thousand years.” Tirek said.
“That is another mystery to this place. Time moves differently here. A thousand years in Equestria is but one year here.” Luna said.
“Even if you had spent a thousand years here, I would feel no pity for you. This place is a hundred times better than Tartarus. If I never smell another three headed dog again it will be too soon.” Tirek said.
“Why did you choose to remain in Tartarus if you disliked it so?” Luna asked.
“I did not choose to remain there. I was a prisoner.” Tirek retorted.
“I was there when you were sentenced. If you had but given up on your goals to steal the magic of those in Equestria, you would have been released immediately. I aided in casting the spell that made this so. My sister and I are not cruel. It saddens us to imprison any being for any reason, but we could not allow you to harm our subjects.” Luna said sombrely.
Tirek growled. “I am not sure it something that a pony could understand, but you are unworthy of the power you possess. You do not have the same will as one such as me.”
Luna casual adjusted her crown. She used her magic to polish her silver shoes. “I would like to know how you came to hold such beliefs.” The princess responded.
Tirek put his face in front of Luna’s muzzle. “It is not beliefs. It is the truth. Take me to my land. Take me to the days when I was small, and you shall see the falsehoods of your rule.”
“Close your eyes and remember. When you open your eyes we shall be where your will takes us.” Luna said.
Princess Luna opened her eyes. She found herself in the dusty courtyard of some kind of school. A crowd of fantastical beings stood in a circle. They watched a young Tirek wrestling with a sphinx. The part man, part bird, part lion was not only grappling with Tirek, but the sphinx was also casting some form of magic at the centaur.
“Submit, Tirek. A beast like you is no match for an elite mind like mine.” The sphinx declared.
“The only thing you are elite at is bragging, Cairo, and you won’t be doing much of that when this beast devours your magic.” Tirek said. His horns glowed red as he pushed the sphinx to the ground.
“You are a beast that needs a little more time before the slaughter. I will start with one who is fattened for the kill.” Cairo said.
Luna heard a cry from behind the Sphinx known as Cairo. A winged Minotaur was writhing on the ground. A blue light was streaming from him into the Sphinx.
“It is against the rules to bring outsiders into a duel.” Tirek said.
“In a war, victory must be won at any cost. Submit or I will drain your brother dry.” Cairo threatened.
Tirek put his hands down. “I submit.” He said softly.
The sphinx opened his mouth and sucked the magic out of Tirek. The magic drained out of him as liquid light. After twenty seconds, Tirek collapsed on the ground.
Tirek’s brother vanished. “Ah ha ha ha!” Cairo laughed out loud. “Your brother was never here. You were fooled by nothing more than illusion. I told you a sentimental beast like you was no match for a mind that can think. Come to the bar fellows. Let us leave this wretched husk on the ground where he belongs. The first round is on me.”
The assembled crowd cheered. They followed Cairo as he strutted proudly away.
Hours passed like minutes in the dream world. Tirek’s brother stood by his fallen sibling. He held out his hands a gentle light pulsated from them. Tirek glowed. Tirek stirred then stood abruptly. “You should have let me spend the night in the mud regaining my strength instead of giving me some of your own. I need to learn the price of failure. Power is only for the worthy.” Tirek said.
The winged Minotaur laughed. “The price of failure is a chance to learn a lesson that cannot be gained through victory. What have you learned, brother?”
Tirek thought. “I have learned that one’s sentiment can be used as a weapon against one self. Perhaps ruthlessness is the path to true strength.”
“There is weakness in strength and strength in weakness. This we were taught was true.” The Minotaur said.
“Philosophical rubbish. I lost to Cairo in a duel. I wish I had been taught how to win.” Tirek said.
“Did you lose to Cairo, or did you lose to you? You are a better fighter than him, but he is cunning. Did you challenge him? Did your vanity blind you? You were trying to show off like a bully, and you paid the price. If you learned that lesson, I am glad you lost.”
Princess Luna and present day Lord Tirek watched the two brothers depart together.
“He was always weak minded.” Tirek muttered.
“And yet you cared for him more than winning a duel.” Luna said. “I have recently relearned the value of love for one’s siblings. I believe we have more in common than you know.”
“Then you believe wrongly, Pony. There were more lessons than this one. I was actually considering the point of view of my brother until the truth was made painfully clear to me. Allow me to open your eyes.” Tirek said.