• Published 23rd Feb 2015
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The Missing Moon - AlicornMistress



Celestia's tale of what happens to her when she can no longer raise the moon and Luna has gone missing. Also with small episodes featuring a few Nightwing OC's

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Chapter Two: Celestia's Lament and Twilight's Beginning

The Missing Moon: Chapter Two



Two 'Nights' later.



Celestia had just finished talking to her advisers about 'the issue,' which she was now calling her inability to raise the moon. She was more than embarrassed about being weak in any way. The fact that she had lost her flowing pastel mane and tail just made it worse. Everywhere she went, ponies couldn't keep themselves from gawking in shock at her appearance. They tried to spare her feelings and pretend that there was nothing wrong, but Celestia knew that there was something wrong and so did they. She couldn't blame them for their reactions to her weakness, after all she had been all powerful for generations and everypony thought she would remain that way for time everlasting. To see her weakened and flawed like everypony else was well, shocking to say the least.



Worse still was that the Lunar and Solar courts had also been put on hold by Luna's disappearance, and the nobles were getting restless. Something would have to been done soon to alleviate their fears otherwise they would be talking about another coup d'etat. The last thing Celestia needed now was the nobility to get any ideas of rising up and going on about replacing her as ruler, again.



She just wanted to go to her bed and sleep. She hadn't truly been able to rest since she woke up in the infirmary, her mane wild and fluffy around her face, which had been so irritating that she couldn't help putting it up in a braid, garnering even more stares and unreadable looks from ponies every where, both noble and castle staff alike.



The guards, on the other hoof, were working their wings and horns to exhaustion in search of the Lunar Princess, yet had not caught hide nor hoof of her since they started. Every one of them had been shaken by Celestia's briefing on the disappearance. In all of their time guarding the Diarchs, they had never thought about what they would do, if one of their Princesses were to simply vanish. Even though there was a plan just in case one of the Princesses went missing, they never thought they would be forced to implement 'The Missing Crown' protocol.



'The Missing Crown' protocol was a plan set up before even Celestia and Luna's time when Lady Sunflare, the Princess' mother and Lord Nightfall, the Princess' father had still ruled Equestria.



'The Missing Crown' Protocol was in three parts:



First, establish all known information pertaining to the disappearance of all rulers. Establish a chain of command within the chain of command. Since it was just Luna that was missing Celestia was still in command of the Equestrian forces. Luna's room and the surrounding sections of the castle had been locked down and were being guarded while one of the search teams was looking over her room for clues.



Two, all appropriate cabinets within the government were to be notified and a full media blackout would be set into place until information was available. All media outlets would be notified on a need to know basis of the situation. All of the media outlets were notified of Princess Luna's inability to raise the moon. They were told that steps were being taken to rectify the situation and that Princess Celestia was unavailable for comment. All cabinets of the government were notified and taking steps to find Princess Luna.



Third, with the information at hoof the military forces would be divided into defense and search parties. If the current military power is weakened stallions and mares would be drafted from the surrounding towns and cities for country defense and search efforts. With the Lunar Guard still trapped beneath the castle the military force in Canterlot was cut in half. General Star Nova had divided the Solar Guard in half to protect the castle and begin the search for Princess Luna. He also recalled the Wonderbolts from their stations around Equestria to the castle to begin and aerial search of the surrounding areas. He had also summoned the Elements of Harmony to the castle at the Princess' request to help with the search efforts.



This was 'T.M.C.' protocol in effect, it had yet to produce any results.



*********



The Mane Six had just arrived at Canterlot castle to be greeted by a compliment of Solar Guards.
General Nova was standing in the very center of the guards waiting to greet the prestigious Elements of Harmony with his cap held to his chest and a firm look on his face. “Welcome Elements of Harmony to Canterlot. Thank you for joining us in our most depressing hour. And thank you for coming so quickly, please do follow me.” With that he turned on his hoof leading the Elements into the castle to see Celestia.



Twilight looked at her friends and shook her head. None of them moved an inch and when the general looked back with a stern face she huffed. “We're not going anywhere until you explain this whole debacle General Nova..” She said in a frustrated tone before she stomped her hoof in defiance with her friends all standing in line behind her the same stern looks on their faces and the true spirit in their eyes.



The general just stared at the defiant unicorn with a very frustrated look before he sat his hat back atop his head and looked her directly in the eyes. “I'm sorry that I can't tell you anything Ms. Sparkle but unfortunately I am under a gag order. My orders are to bring you to Princess Celestia as soon as you arrive. Nothing more nothing less. Now if you are done please do follow me.” With that he once again turned and lead them through the entry hall into the grand foyer.



They followed and Twilight was silent. She couldn't fathom why Celestia would be keeping so quiet even to her most faithful student. The only sound were the robotic hoofsteps of the general's men and the mane six as they walked through the halls of the castle to a part of it that Twilight remembered very fondly from when she was a student under Celestia. They were heading to Celestia's bedchambers.



Other than Twilight the rest of the mane six were very much awed by the beauty of the castle interior. Rarity if she could have would have been taking pictures. Fluttershy was having a bit of an internal freak out. Rainbow Dash was in awe of all the paintings hanging on the walls. From famous Wonderbolts to unknown ponies she saw history before her eyes. Applejack was seriously trying to keep as far away from anything that looked breakable as everything looked more expensive than anything the Apple family could replace even given a ten year period. Pinkie Pie was unfazed by all of the glamour of the castle interior and just continued to bounce along behind her friends.



They arrived at Celestia's bedchambers, Twilight knew it because of the many times she had journeyed to this room. The General said nothing as he opened the double doors in front of the group. He ushered all six of the Elements into the room quickly.
“The Princess is waiting for you and she will explain everything.” General Nova said flatly before turning to his soldiers. “Bar the door let no pony in or out as per the Princess' orders.”



The doors slammed shut before a loud click was heard. There was a faint blue glow of a spell which Twilight knew as a barrier spell. It wasn't one she couldn't undo as that type of spell was foal's play to her now. The really question was why were they being locked in?



Before the others could protest Twilight quieted them. They needed answers first and would complain about their poor treatment later. The six mares walked deeper in to the dim room to find Celestia. They found her laying on her bed back to them with her head buried in a cloud pillow. She looked nothing like the Celestia Twilight remembered. She seemed smaller, more frail then the Princess that commanded the Sun everyday. Twilight knew that whatever happened to her had to do with the Moon not raising in the sky and Luna not returning any of Twilight's letters.



When they approached the Sun Goddess slowly lifted her head not yet looking at them. “Come closer and sit with me. What I am about to tell you is quite shocking and what you will see might shock you.” she turned her entire body to face them her hair slowly falling and catching the light as the six ponies gathered around her on the bed.



Gasps were heard as they got a good look at her and Twilight was the first to react mouth hanging agape like a fish out of water. When it came to Rarity she fell over a hoof going across her face as she fainted. Applejack slipped her hat over her face to keep from laughing knowing that it would be a mite bit rude of her. Fluttershy just hid behind her mane with a small blush on her cheeks. Rainbow Dash looked away from the entire scene trying to keep from bringing attention to the fact that Celestia's mane was pink and no longer flowing but flat against her skull.



“Wowie Zowie, you sure look different?” Pinkie said with her usual Pinkie keen smile.



Rainbow Dash was the one to stuff a hoof into Pinkie's mouth. She looked sheepish for a moment before turning to the Princess. “Sorry Princess but Pinkie doesn't know when to not say something.”



Twilight was frantic as she was hopping from hoof to hoof staring at Celestia. She couldn't understand this and it was making her frantic and her mane was already starting to frizz a bit.



“What Happened? Why are you locked away? How'd your mane revert to it's old state? Why were we locked in here? What do you need us to do?” She said this all so quick and her eyes had gone wide with fear. She would have continued if AJ hadn't stuffed a hoof into her mouth to quiet the frantic unicorn.



“Twilight, ya need ta calm down, sugarcube. It's okay we all just need ta relax and figure this out.” Applejack told Twilight softly as she held the frantic unicorn to her until she calmed down.



Once Twilight stopped hyperventilating Applejack let her go and turned to Princess Celestia. “Princess Ah don't want ta sound out of place or nothin' but could ya'll explain what's goin' on, please?” Applejack asked before giving Celestia a short bow.



“Its quite alright Applejack no offense is taken and under these circumstances I think its best we dispense with royal decorum.” Celestia said with a bit of a depressed tone.



“Well my little ponies to be frank about the situation Luna has gone missing. We have not been able to find any trace of her for the last two days. When she initially went missing I tried to raise the moon but because of Luna's return I have fallen out of harmony with the moon and it rejected me. Because of that rejection I have lost a great deal of magic. We hope that with a few more days of rest it will return but until it does I'm about as strong as a unicorn in magical strength, that's the reason why my mane has returned to its original state. I'm rather embarrassed to be seen in such a weak and fragile condition. Hence the reason why I am hiding in my room.” A blush rose to the alicorn mares cheeks as she bowed her head.



When Celestia finished speaking Twilight had finally come to terms with the situation, she had relaxed in Applejack's grip her breathing becoming even and calm. Now was not the time for panic with Celestia weakened and Luna missing Equestria needed the Elements of Harmony to calm and collected.



Applejack released the unicorn mare once she was calm and stepped back to give her some space. Twilight stood there for a moment collecting her thoughts as she thought of the best way to solve the problem at hoof. After thinking for a moment she could see that Celestia was truly disheartened by the loss of both her magic and her sister. Without thinking Twilight walked over to her and threw her arms around the mare that had acted as teacher and mother to her for so many years.



“Its going to be okay. I'll find a way to fix this, to get your magic back. The girls and I will find Luna as soon as possible, you have my word as the Element of Magic.” Twilight said into her mentors mane before she pulled back and smiled.



“I'm not worried about myself Twilight as this was bound to happen sooner or later. I am several thousand years old after all. No my little pony I'm worried about Luna's Nightwings locked in the underground barracks. Until we can raise the moon I'm afraid they're trapped. Let General Nova worry about finding Luna for now, you and your friends need to worry about finding a way to get the Nightwings out of the underground barracks. I'm afraid if they don't get out soon they may just do something to hurt themselves or go stir crazy in the process of us finding a way to release them.” Celestia said with worry in her tone.



“Do the Nightwings know about Luna's disappearance? Have you sent somepony to tell them or are they in the dark like the rest of Equestria?” Twilight said with a serious tone before scowling back at her snickering pink friend and the rainbow maned mare holding her.



“Sorry about that Twilight I'm trying to keep her quiet she just won't stop fidgeting.” Rainbow Dash said before she jumped. “Ewe Pinkie don't lick my hoof! That's so gross!”



Twilight went from scowling at her friends to staring at her laughing mentor. “Oh I'm sorry Twilight but I've not laughed like this since the last time I visited you and your friends in Ponyville.” Celestia said as she finally stopped laughing.



“Princess please be serious. Do the Nightwings know?” Twilight asked with a serious no nonsense look, which failed miserably as the alicorn Princess just burst out laughing again. “Oh Twilight you should know that I get that same look many times a day from dignitaries and nobles alike. But from you its... just... so... funny!” Celestia cried not able to control her laughter anymore.



Twilight was getting frustrated and simple let out a huff of annoyance. “This is important and your acting like a school aged filly!” By now her mane was frizzed and she was hopping from hoof to hoof unable to keep her cool now. She spun around on her laughing friends and sent them a disappointed look which just made them laugh harder.



“Enough is enough my little ponies. We must be serious now but truly I do appreciate your good humor..” She said with a slight giggle in her tone before she turned back to Twilight and placed a hoof on the unicorn's should. “Yes Twilight I have sent word to the Nightwings they or rather their general knows about Luna's disappearance. It would be best if you could go and talk to her directly, see what you can do for them until we fix this issue with the moon or find Luna.”



“I'll see what I can do Princess.” she said after smoothing her mane a bit and hugging her mentor one last time. With that Twilight gathered up her still giggling friends. “C'mon girls lets leave the princess to rest.” She said once they had calmed.

Comments ( 1 )

i understand the plot very much and i am in wonder if you will be the making of more. i hope you editor but i think dont need

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