"How could I leave that poor girl there alone?"
Celestia leaned on the balcony outside her chambers. The moon had recently escaped the coverage of the gray clouds to reveal Equestria once again in its moonlight. Unlike most nights, when Celestia would speak with the moon, tonight, she cast her eyes downward towards the Canterlot and refused to see the giant orb in the sky.
"It's happening again, Sister. A thousand years have not made me wiser. All the ages have done is let me forget any lessons I've learned."
Her eyes wandered around the east side of Canterlot. She, of course, could not see Wing Beat's home from that view, but she felt she could. She felt she could pinpoint the tiny dot in her perspective and say that that was the house that held the ill child. How many Dayshines were out in my grand city?
A knocking sounded from her chamber door. Her thoughts retreated back to the present and she turned around. With caution, she approached the door. Her brow raised, she took hold of the door with her magic and opened it only slightly.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Your Highness!" Corporal Armor said frantically. "Sunset's escaped!"
"Does not surprise me," Celestia said lowly, not a strain of emotion from her words.
"We believe she is in her study. Some of the servants said they heard talking in there."
"Then go get her."
Armor pestered her still. "Your Highness, you should have seen what she did to Private Jack in the dungeon. She is dangerous and we believe you're the only one that can talk sense into her."
"Shining Armor, I've tried to talk sense into her for all this time. I was about to give her one last chance in the morning. I'm not sure if I could even give her that chance. Every waking moment depletes any hope I have for her. She is your task now. She is not Sunset Shimmer, but a faceless criminal. Treat her as such. I wash my hooves clean of this issue."
"Your Highness-"
"I've given my orders. Carry them out."
Celestia shut the door with a heavy sigh. She did not even look at Shining Armor's shocked face before shutting him off from her. The interaction did not make her feel any better. Actually, she felt worse from her rude treatment of one of her stallions. A stallion who enlisted himself knowing full well he could die like Wing Beat's teammates. I am their leader, what am I if I do not show my appreciation?
She then opened the door and walked out. Shining Armor was down the hall, speaking with other Royal Guards. With a slight briskness to her step, she went down the hall. The corporal looked at her with a raised brow.
"Corporal, I want to apologize for my treatment of you," she said softly.
"Do not worry, Your Highness," he bowed. "I understand why you're upset."
"Good. I'm glad-" she stopped.
"What is it?" Shining asked.
"Did you hear that?" Celestia whispered.
The corporal looked around and then scratched his head. "Um, no."
The princess looked back and realized the door to her chambers was still open. My bedroom! The amulet! In a mad panic, she sprinted towards her room, making the guards jump in fright. When she reached her chambers, the door slammed shut in front of her.
"Sunset! Sunset Shimmer!" she cried.
She tried to open it with her magic, but it stayed put. She's boarding it with her magic. Celestia took a step back, her horn ignited into a bright light and she aimed her head at the door.
"Step back, guards!" she told the running group of stallions.
A great beam flew from her horn and blasted the door to pieces. With no hesitation, she leaped inside, ready to defend herself. However, no attack was on its way. The room was filled with flying papers, making a vortex that shrouded almost half of the room. She kept her horn lit and approached the paper vortex.
"Sunset?" she said cautiously.
"You're not good at hiding things, princess," was the response from within the vortex.
"Sunset, please don't do this."
"I made a promise..."
The whirlwind died and all the pages flew across the room. Sunset stood where the vortex once was, her leather jacket on and the Alicorn Amulet hanging on her chest. Red wisps of magic floated from the sides of her eyes. No devious smile was on her lips, only a solemn frown that accompanied her hateful eyes.
"Take that thing off, right now!" Celestia demanded without confidence.
"I can't do that, Celly," she returned. "I made a promise, I'm keeping it. I'm also tired of you and the Equestria you stand for. All you do is stay up in this palace and act like you're ruling. You don't care about ponies down there, like me and Dayshine. You've been ruling a thousand years and I doubt you have anything to do with our progress."
"I am not perfect, Sunset. I know this too well. Please, this is not the answer. You cannot save your sister with the amulet. I told you this. You are denying reality. Take it off and we can act like civilized ponies once more. There's no need for violence."
Flames danced around Sunset's hooves. "You're lying to me. I can cure her. You can too. You just refuse to. That's the kind of pony you are, princess."
The guards finally charged in the chambers, but were promptly thrown out by Sunset's magic. The doorway was then shut with a wall of red fire. Sunset and Celestia were now alone.
Sunset paced around the room. "All you've done is lie to me. Where is all your humor now? Huh? Where are your wisecracks and giggles? All you did was mock me, but now your mouth is shut since I'm now more powerful than you."
Celestia held her ground. "My former student, I can only advise you to end this quest. You do not have your sister's intentions at heart. You want power, you want authority. You never came here to get help, you came here to help yourself. You lied to your sister, you never cared for her. I'm sure even Wing Beat knows of your constant deceptions."
"You know nothing! All you do is make assumptions that fit your agenda! I love my sister. The world has not favor her and I. We've been outcasts, orphans, rejected kids on the streets. I did not steal because I wanted, but because I had to. Yeah, it was fun, but I didn't want my whole life to be that way. I need something more than that, for both of us. We are gonna have adventures together once she is healed. She'll be a new pony when I'm done curing her."
"You could have placed her in the hospital! You could have helped her!"
"And what will that do? Celestia, I've thought long and hard about what I'm about to do. They aren't gonna heal her, only keep her alive a few days longer. I am going to be her hero! I am going to be the sister she always thought I was! You don't understand what it's like being an older sister!"
"Sunset, stop!"
"They all look to somepony like you like you're a hero, but why not me? You have all the power, why not me? I'm shunned by ponies! I am thrown out into the streets and forgotten by my own parents! You get a palace! You get immortality! Why can't I get that? Why are you exalted when other ponies fall? They shun my night!"
Celestia blinked in shock upon hearing the last words. Sunset stepped forward, her horn glowing red with the amulet's magic. The princess's heart started racing as she began to hear a familiar voice cry from the thief.
"I am forgotten! Thrown away like trash! They enjoy you! Ponies from all over Equestria pay money just to see you! But I have to live in the shadows! I am forgotten while you are praised. You had every opportunity to fix this, my sister, but you didn't! You never fix anything, only make it worse. I sicken at your silliness, I cry at your lack of care, and I won't stand for it any longer."
"Luna please!" Celestia cried. "I don't want to do this, not again. Please..."
"You cry now because of your mistakes, Tia!" Luna pinned Celestia to the wall, a vile snarl upon the little sister's lips. "You cry now because you only now realize how poorly you've treated me. What kind of sister are you? Because of you and those awful ponies, the moon shall stay up in that forsaken sky for eternity. Because of you, I have to show the world why I am relevant in their pitiful lives."
"Do not do this again to me, dear Sister," Celestia uttered. "Do not lie to yourself. You are relevant. You are loved. Lower the moon, it is your duty."
"Do not force me to stand idly by while they all bask in your precious light! No, you've had your chance, Sister. Only one princess shall rule this land from here on, and that princess will be me!"
Luna jumped back from Celestia and her horn glowed with magic. Red flames sprouted from the air and whirled about the throne room of the Castle of the Two Sisters. The moon decorated drapes and the ceiling's windows watched the two sisters battle for the eternity of the world. Or did they? All the flames from the little sister were only deflected by the elder. Celestia kept backing away from the attacks. She grunted as each powerful hit struck her bubble shield, making cracking sounds much like the shattering of glass.
"Sister! Cease!" Celestia yelled.
"Enough talk!" Luna growled. "You had your chance, Celestia! You took your opportunities to help me and threw them away! You are nothing but a failure, and I, your consequence!"
Magic took hold of Celestia and she was thrown into a wall, making dust and bits of stone fly from it. Still now she did not retaliate against her assailant. She was thrown against another wall, cracking the ancient stone with the force alone. Luna took a breath before slamming her sister straight into the floor.
"Have you given up so easily, Tia?" she mocked.
Flames danced around the beat down. Blood fell from Celestia's lips and she struggled to even get to her feet. Her knees buckled, her voice kept echoing one distraught phrase after the other. It was a pitiful sight. So much so, that Luna herself pounced on her sister and pinned her down. The fires in her eyes, the red magic that surrounded her. Her small muzzle was close to Celestia's and her voice was filled with anger.
"Fight me!" Sunset screamed. "I've waited so long for this! To put you down, to free myself! Fight me!"
"Luna?" Celestia asked the young mare.
The chambers of the princess were now burning everywhere. Her bed, her books, just about anything of value was engulfed in a raging inferno caused by the thief. Sunset was on top of her, red tendrils coming from her eyes and the Alicorn Amulet glowing bright in its pleasure of being used so improperly. Celestia looked at her former student with regret and regret only.
"Who are you talking about?" Sunset demanded with a slight scoff.
"Sunset, it does not have to be this way. I am not your enemy..."
"Maybe."
Sunset jumped back and blasted a bolt at the princess. It struck Celestia and she tumbled across the floor and over burning bed. It was an agonizing hit and she barely stood from it.
"Maybe you aren't my enemy," Sunset said, "but I know you aren't my friend."
Sunset took Celestia in her magic grasp and threw her forcibly out onto the balcony. The cold wind swept around Celestia's damaged mane and the moon watched in silence. The princess pathetically pulled herself up on the balcony and looked at the thief with sorrowful eyes. No resistance was found in her being at all.
"I'm sorry, Sunset," Celestia spoke. "I never realized I hurt you this much. I've only tried to help you. I would be lying to say otherwise. I will never beg you to believe me, but I think you do already. You are in denial. You don't want to know what is true and what is logical. All that has happened to you has placed walls that cloud your judgment. I am not your enemy, Sunset. The enemy is yourself and I've only tried to save you from what you may become."
"Oh? So it's like you know everything, huh?" Sunset rolled her eyes.
"I don't know everything, but I certainly know more than you, young one. I am a failure; you are my consequence. You have taught your lesson to me, now I ask you to leave. Go. Save your sister if you can. When I spoke with her, I knew I was already too late."
Sunset scoffed. "No, you simply don't have the guts to help her. That's why I never asked you to do anything. I know you can't do it."
"Neither can you," Celestia then pointed at the city. "Go! Prove me right! Ponies who have walked your path do not end with happiness. I have seen it all too many times. You will be miserable. You will believe you are lost. You will be hopeless. You will have no friends."
"I'll tell you otherwise when I prove to all that even a pony like me can achieve greatness," Sunset stuffed a hoof into Celestia's bloodstained fur.
"I'd like to hear it," Celestia snarled.
"Next time, Celly, put up a fight."
Sunset was then surrounded by red flames and disappeared. The wall of fire that blocked the guards from entering was now lifted. The guards were caught standing there with buckets of water and other useless devices for extinguishing flames. Corporal Armor was the first to react and rushed over the burning room to Celestia.
"Your Highness! We must get you to a hospital. You're wounded!" he cried.
"I've been through worse, Shining..." Celestia pushed him away. "Sunset has the Alicorn Amulet; I shall do my best to keep her in check. The night is not over, far from it."
"Your Highness, please do not do anything you'll regret!" Armor begged.
The princess placed a hoof on his shoulder. "I already have, Corporal. I already have. It is time for me to give her that one chance."
Celestia kept the guards at a distance and spread her wide white wings. Her sides ached, some parts bled, and she was bruised all over, but she kept her solemn expression. With one hoof, she lifted herself onto the railing. Letting herself fall off, she glided down and away from the balcony, leaving the Royal Guards watching in bewilderment.
"Your Highness! Think about this!"
"Stop!"
"Come back!"
Their cries were not heard by the princess who flew across the skyline of Canterlot. Her wings took over farther and farther away from the palace. Whatever happens, even if is just as I predict, I shall not be ready for it. Her eyes looked up at the moon. The imprint of an alicorn that branded the surface of the moon for a thousand years stared back at her. The time was different, but the wounds were the same. It's too soon to feel this again. A thousand years too soon.
"I shall never let this happen again. Maybe it is not Sunset who needs a friend. Perhaps, it is I..."
PTSD.
Hoo boy.
Lessons learned late, lessons having to be retaught, lessons that bring pain. Celestia has made her mistakes now she needs to answer for them. I hope you do an epilogue where Sunset and Celestia reconcile because even if they can never repair their relationship they should at least try.
7228191 Yeah, don't worry, I've been thinking about it. It may end up being 2 part epilogues. One for the almost immediate epilogue and one for the current time of the show. I'll also share some deleted chapters/scenes as there are some that I really liked, but they wouldn't fit in the story (such as one short scene where Sunset is attacked by Philomena when the former tries to steal a piece of cake).
There will never be enough likes for this story.
7228242 Heh, thanks, mate.
Words can not describe what happened here. only this can.
7228287
7228300 yup that and the next one.
Sadly Tia STILL doesn't learn from this. "Canterlot Wedding". She is the worst judge of character ever.
Sadly i feel so bad for Dayshine. She was screwed the moment she was born.
the story about Luna is a flashback right?
7228325 Not really sure how "A Canterlot Wedding" equates to this situation or what lessons she learns. One is dealing with a changeling, this is dealing with the struggles to reform or guide somepony. Yes, in both scenarios, she failed as a teacher, but they were very different. Actually, this story would add more to her reasoning to distrust Twilight. Why trust her student if all she is used to is betrayal? Cadance would be one of the few that have ever stayed with Celestia and not turned her back. Perhaps Celestia was so insulted by Twilight's accusation of her niece that she instantly denied it. She also would believe Shining Armor, who has been with her for years according to this story, over Twilight.
Celestia undoubtedly learns something from this. I simply think you haven't thought of the particular lesson. If you notice, my Celestia and the show one are a tad different. They aren't the same for a reason.
7228394 Flashback, triggered memory, hallucinations, any of those will do.
7228404 Let's look at her history. She completely ignored the issues her sister was having till Luna became Nightmare Moon. With your story she didn't understand how committed Sunset was to her cause. Or in canon not notice how far Sunset was falling till she left through the mirror. For the wedding Twilight immediately notices something off about Cadacne even though they haven't seen each other for a while Yet Celestia sees her likely everyday and never notices how 180 Cadance becomes. Judging by what we know of Cadance now she would never be a bridzilla and Celestia should have known that. Then trusting Discord agaisnt Tirek.
Celestia is a horrible judge of character and she never really learns from this mistake.
...this chapter feels like it kinda gets all mushed up at the end. I couldn't tell if it was Luna or Sunset at times.
Also, I think I just realized something about this story. There is almost never a moment that someone is nice to Celestia. Like, every scene is ponies hating Celestia or not trusting her though she hasn't done anything wrong.
We meet again cliffhanger. Why must you be in my way?
Sunset... you have no idea what you just did, do you?
This will only end in tragedy.
Celestia, if only you told Sunset about Luna, things might have shaped up differently.
But that's what this is about, isn't it? A story about mistakes and consequences.
And you (I'm looking at you, Gapeagle!) are doing an incredible job so far
7228774 Cadance? Shining Armor? Raven? They are quite nice to her.
Also, you are supposed to get lost. Luna was never there, was she? It wasn't you who was getting confused, it was Celestia.
7228478 Once again, you look at the end and say something bogus. Look at Twilight's reasoning at the time. She only had seen Chrysalis zap Shining Armor with something for his headache. That's it. If you were Celestia, would you instantly believe Twilight over two ponies you've raised and promoted? Or are you, unlike Celestia, just perfect in every way? It has nothing to do with this story. Your reasoning is like saying: "he quit drinking, but didn't learn anything because he forgot his mail." The judgment of character, which is still a bogus argument because Twilight had crap evidence to accuse Cadance of being evil (Evil! Twilight simply called her evil! Why would any logical person believe such a childish accusation?), is not to be found in here. However, a different lesson is and that is what I'll show you.
And don't throw out this "Cadance was 180." Was she publicly being terrible? Was she insulting ponies right in front of Celestia's face? No, one evidence of her being "off" was when no one was looking, dumped some treats in a garbage can. Also! Usually the bride is pretty stressed with a wedding and all. Also, what would you do? I don't think anyone was thinking there were changelings. So anyone who is acting "off" automatically becomes evil? I am sure Celestia knew she was "off" but what would you do? I mean seriously? Celestia wasn't going to do anything harsh just because her niece was "off." To think otherwise is unrealistic. Take away the ending and be stuck in her place and see how you would react.
This whole story pretty Cleary shows Celestia as not being perfect, so why do you continue to put her to such standards?
7228984 Because it is a trend with her. and Note Cadance was more then 'off'. Note I'm not the only one who notices this flaw in the episode. Celestia knows Cadance just as well or if not better then Twilight and doesn't notice the 180. Especially since a threat was made against Canterlot. You can be the real Cadance was all giddy and bubbling happiness on the wedding before Chryssy replaced her. Sorry but unlike Shining who has the excuse of mind control she should know better. Especailly if we add in your story on top of Luna she really can't judge character and never learns how to. This is a dangerous flaw that she needs to be rid of yet no matter how tragic the lesson is she fails to learn from it and makes the same mistake again. Unlike Luna who tries to learn from her mistake Celestia never does. Heck she never apologizes to Twilight when it was proven that Twilight was 95% right. Only thing Twilight was wrong on was the fact it wasn't Cadance.
There is a reason Celestia is usually on the bottom of the Princess list and that's because of crap like this which even other fan fics.
7229354 Sorry, but I'm only starting to sense some bias and extreme judgment on your part. Especially in that last bit. One, it's completely false as Cadance is usually at the bottom, and two, Luna is much worse when it comes to being a good, competent pony (look at Luna Eclipsed, look at Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?), so why is she more popular? Yeah, no. Luna has a better design and is more relatable, that's why people love her. Celestia is the Dumbledore character. She's not relatable. Yeah, I love how you're so willing to put Celestia down, yet forget that Luna was never there to help and didn't even know that a city-wide invasion occurred during the wedding. "She should know better."
If you care to notice, Celestia has done a lot of good. Twilight became a princess BECAUSE of Celestia's teachings. Twilight is a sensible pony and she only admires the best. Celestia saved Equestria just as many times as Twilight, just not as much recently.
She wanted Discord to be reformed because she knew how valuable he was. Yeah, he tripped up with Tirek, but what has happened since? Discord now has friends and a new life thanks to Celestia's intervention.
"A Canterlot Wedding" is still a bogus argument as you only assume that Cadance CAN'T become a bit rude (180? Really? I didn't see Chrysalis go killing ponies. She's a 45 at most). You also assume that Twilight is always right. You also assume that Celestia watched Cadance 24/7. And most importantly, Celestia would have to go against logic to say that Cadance was a changeling queen trying to invade Canterlot as the only other option was that she is EVIL, which is not logical because of how well she knows Cadance. Shining, who no one knew was being mind-controlled, was telling everyone who was suspicious that Cadance was fine. A guy that Celestia entrusted so much that she appointed him as Captain of the Guard. His words carry weight as he is not only the BLOODY HUSBAND, but also the leader of the military. Also, Twilight never brought up the argument that she could be a changeling. If she did, it would be more likely for ponies to react better, especially since they were trying to defend the city from an unknown threat. I mean, she was shocked when the real Cadance was in the cave, because a changeling being in the mix never occurred to her. No, Twilight thought Cadance had turned evil. She even went to fake Cadance and asked for forgiveness. If Chrysalis accepted the apology and went on, she would have won. Once they did have proof that Cadance was fake, Celestia instantly stood her ground to fight against the bug queen.
Luna is doing so much better by torturing herself for her mistakes. Is that really better?
All I see is you striving to find every flaw. If you want a character to be a failure, you'll focus on their failures. Celestia is learning, even with her tiny amounts of screen time, but they seem to not be the lessons you want them to be. Look at Celestia when she confronts Luna and look at her when she confronts Twilight. In the former, she was brass and direct with her little sister. "It is your duty to lower the moon!" There was no forgiveness in her voice or demeanor, only harsh demands. Now look at her with Twilight. Yeah, she can be pissed off (just like any realistic character), but she has much more forgiveness. Even after Twilight made a mess of Ponyville in Lesson Zero, Celestia forgave her. Yeah, she wanted to punish Twilight for her mistakes, anyone would, but once she saw that she had made such good friends, she realized it would serve Twilight better to remain in Ponyville. She's learned forgiveness so much so, that it went to Twilight next. Celestia forgave Discord for his actions and Twilight forgave Starlight for hers.
Majority or a loud minority don't make a right. If that was the case, then Newbie Dash was a mockery of PTSD, Brotherhooves Social was transphobic, and my favorite, Feeling Pinkie Keen was promoting religion over science.
7229454 the Wedding episode had MANY issues. Luna MIA is among them.
Cadance and Celestia are interchangable depending on the person.
I personally do not like Magic Sheep but it at least shows Luna trying to not repeat her mistake. While Celestia seems to make no attempt to correct that flaw.
As for the Wedding. You have a threat made against Canterlot and if you don't delay the wedding they you should be extra vigilant and not dismiss things so easily. She, Twilight, and Shining should no Cadance very well and notice when she is acting way out of character. Shining again gets a by for Mind control but as far as we know Celestia never was and should have been more aware of the change.
In my own work Celestia usually does the wrong thing for the right reasons.
Should Celestia be better, sure but canon has shown us an incompentant ruler when defense is needed.
7229490 Neither of us are wrong. Celestia does make mistakes, but we must ask why they happen. They happen because the plot needs to go on. If everyone was perfect or made no mistakes, nothing of interest would happen. Celestia, as the Dumbledore character, must make mistakes otherwise anything that involves her would be completed without a problem.
I just like to add this to her character. She is always trying to do right, but has trouble fulfilling her plans. By trouble, I mean a ton of trouble. However, I like to see this as a flaw that keeps Celestia interesting. She's always trying to be better, for a thousand years she's tried, but she simply can't reach there because when push comes to shove, she falters and screws up to just have another memory of her failure haunt her. It's really sad if you look at it with that perspective. She knows her faults, but even if she tries, she cannot remove them entirely. It's like she's in a unwanted addiction to failure. She tries and tries to get off it, but after a few good days, she's back at it and nothing has changed.
So, she knows she fails and makes mistakes, but as a leader of a country, she has no time to degrade herself. She has to hold up the facade that is perfect and that ponies should look up to her for guidance and protection. As Luna beats herself up, Celestia must hold herself like the princess she is. This is why I'd always say that Celestia is the better leader of the two. She puts other ponies before her and she has successfully trained Twilight to be a leader. Good leaders make leaders.
As many bronies, I can only hope that Celestia gets more screen time. She needs it the most of the princess characters.
7229528 on that we can agree and in some of my fics she will correct her mistakes. I like to see her get some improvement in that field but jsut her repeat gets annoying.
7228984 Well...they are nice but they're barely in this story.
I really don't know how to feel about this fic anymore. I won't say the story is bad, since is one of the best stories I've read so far in this site. But... I don't know. I don't want to see how this will end anymore. It's not a enjoyble reading anymore. I'm not saying it's bad... Yet... I don't feel good reading it. Also... I'm still confused about a lot of things that happened in this story, but I don't wanna an explanation. I have question, but I don't want awnsers. I guess I should just let things go their way.
Please, keep the good job and have a good day my friend.
7232373 it's not been a happy read, that's for sure. I can understand since you do know how this will end, but hopefully I can pull out a happy note. Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better.
So, yeah, I understand. It is a tough read because of how sad and dramatic it is. It was doomed to be a sad one before it was even born, since we already know the aftermath of Sunset and Celestia. Like I said, I hope to end it with something that will not leave the reader feeling miserable.
7232412 Hum... Well... About that... No, it's better I keep this to myself. I did said I didn't want explanations nor answers. So yeah. Let's leave things like this. Have a good day.
I love (more like love/hate) the entire scene, as to me it was genius. I could tell from the start of it that Celestia was being confused, which made it more interesting than if the scene had just had Sunset instead of memories mixing with reality.
7237707 Thanks, I had this scene planned for a long time, even before most of the story. Glad ya liked it.
love this. always loved the idea of thieves in equestria
Celly...I think you mean to say:
PUT THAT THING BACK WHERE IT CAME FROM OR SO HELP ME!!!