Kept from Mercy

by Jubilee Bloom

Past and Present

"I wish there could be a place like this in the real world."

On slower nights, Luna liked to pop into Celestia's dreams to visit. Tonight, she had taken the liberty of transforming Celestia's dream into an endless landscape of fluffy clouds painted rosy by a perpetual sunset.

"I wish so too, sister," Luna remarked with a thoughtful smile, admiring her work before moving to sit beside her sister.

The two sat in silence for a while, simply enjoying each other's presence and the beautiful scenery around them. The younger princess's skill with the realm had developed greatly, and everything from the intricate details of the cloudscape to the gentle, warm breeze adding even more movement to their manes and tails, was perfect.

"How have you been holding up?" Celestia gently nudged her sister out of her reverie.

"Okay, I guess," Luna replied with a shrug. "Still, I would have rather not have been reminded of..."

She trailed off, swallowing the lump that had suddenly risen to her throat.

"Deep breaths, Lulu. Deep breaths." Celestia scooted closer to her sister, offering a single comforting wing, which Luna gratefully snuggled under, trying not to cry.

"It's been three weeks since Cozy's imprisonment," Luna mumbled into her sister's soft coat, shaking. "I should have moved past this by now."

"You spent a good few hours during those weeks holding me while I bawled my eyes out." Celestia gave a small, sad chuckle before nuzzling her sister and pulling her in even closer. Luna wrapped her own wings and hooves around Celestia, and the favor was returned fully. Ivory and deep koamaru intertwined, and all was calm.

For a few minutes.

Luna stiffened, then untangled herself from her sister.

"Nightmare?" Celestia asked.

"Nightmare," Luna replied. "Later, Tia." She left Celestia's dream to find the pony in need, taking great care not to disturb her atmospheric masterpiece. It had taken a lot of time and energy practicing the ability to sense a troubled dream while within another's, and it still wasn't perfected yet, but it was still helpful.

She arrived at the dream giving off the distress signal, and entered it, to find Starlight Glimmer in what seemed to be her guidance counselor's office. Only, everything was darker, more clouded, and voices echoed from every corner of the room. Starlight herself was hiding under her desk, covering her ears. But in mere seconds, the desk she had hidden under was cleared away, as were the rest of the surroundings.

Starlight, opened one eye slowly, then the other, before noticing the princess. "Oh, Luna! I'm so glad you're here!"

"Of course, my dear subject. Now, what seems to be the problem?"

Starlight opened her mouth, before closing it again without speaking.

"Go on," Luna prompted gently.

"It... it might sound weird, but..." Starlight fidgeted nervously.

"I have heard many weird things, trust me," Luna reassured. "Go on."

Starlight froze for about five more seconds, before blurting out "Is Cozy okay?" She froze again after the outburst, clamping her mouth shut.

Luna looked surprised at first, then a look of understanding spread through her face. "You shouldn't be ashamed that you worry about her. You and I are former villains ourselves." Starlight relaxed a bit at this but still looked up at the princess with wide, nervous eyes.

"Between calming the citizens of Equestria after their loss of magic, working with Chancellor Neighsay to rewrite the EEA codes, and aiding in research to make sure that there were no severe permanent effects of Cozy's scheme, my sister and I haven't had much time to think about Cozy herself. But once we have time, rest assured, we will figure something out. She won't be left in Tartarus her whole life; you have my word."

Starlight breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad to hear it. She's only a filly. Fillies don't deserve to be imprisoned. Ever." She paused, noting an odd look on the princess's face that she couldn't read. "Um, Luna?"

Luna gave a slight jerk. "Oh, sorry," she shook her head slightly. "Anyway, yes. We will find a better solution."

"I can help, if you want," Starlight offered.

Luna thought it over for a moment. "Yes, if you could assist, that would be wonderful."

"All right," Starlight smiled. "So, I guess this means you're leaving then?"

"I guess so. Usually, I spend more times in ponies' dreams, but I guess we cleared this up pretty quickly." Lighting her horn, Luna left Starlight's dream and made her way back to Celestia's. Entering once more into the realm of clouds, she alighted once more next to her sister.

"That was fast," Celestia remarked. Luna retold the events of Starlight's dream to Celestia.

The two smiled, settling once more into a hug, this time sitting side by side with one wing each around the other, staring off into the plane of clouds.

"As long as we continue to have ponies who stand against child imprisonment, everything shall be quite alright, methinks," Luna said quietly.

"Oh, Lulu." Celestia laughed softly at her sister's rumination and the resulting sentence that still carried notes of the old royal Canterlot way of speaking.

Their silence was held for just a bit more before Celestia spoke again.

"Do you think he'll ask about it?"

Luna was confused, until the magic of sisterhood translated her message. "I hope not. I wouldn't have to explain it."

Celestia nodded in agreement. "If nopony else has to experience what we did at her hooves, I will be happy."

They shuddered together, before finally coming to rest in complete silence and stillness, until it was time to bring the dawn.

Comments

[Jubilee Bloom]

9460553
That's all for this story, I'm afraid.

I never even intended this chapter to happen. It just kinda did.

Maybe there will be a sequel someday.

Also, it's "upon," not "apon."

[Zuabug]

I am curious as to who she is? Is it a nod to an episode I haven't seen or a comic I haven't read? Or just vague fluff for the 'universe' of the fic?

[Yosh-E-O]

Very nice story. It goes the extra mile in sharing how putting a filly in Tartarus is just plain awful. However justice must be served and Cozy Glow did offer no choice.

The way you had it mirror what happened between Celestia and Luna was quite smart. I never thought of how alike the situations were. Luna felt Celestia had the love of all and became Nightmare Moon. Celestia didn't want to banish her sister but, as Nightmare Moon, Luna gave her no choice.

I imagine the scars of the Cozy Glow event will have both sisters feeling uncomfortable for awhile. I doubt Starlight will ever feel good either. :(

[Jubilee Bloom]

9460713
Vague fluff of my personal canon in which this fic resides.

However, she is in the show.

[Jubilee Bloom]

9461140
Thanks for the kind review!

[Jubilee Bloom]

9460962
Are you referring to the story as a whole or just the second chapter?

[Lets Do This]

9461153
Just ignore him, he does that to everyone, apparently in the mistaken belief that leaving one- or two-word reviews makes him look cool. It's just irritatingly unhelpful.

[Jubilee Bloom]

9461197
Well then.

I asked because the second chapter was written close to midnight, and I wouldn't have been surprised if mild sleep deprivation had affected the quality.

[Lets Do This]

9461199
I can answer that -- no, the quality of the writing in the second chapter seemed fine. It was a little on the short side; if you were doing it over you could just roll the two chapters together. Also, the references to "he" and "her" toward the end are a little too obscure for someone who's unfamiliar with your take on the series. Since they're not just an easter-egg reference, but part of the actual close of the story, it would make sense to throw in a bit more of a hint of who they are, just enough so that drive-by readers will understand what you're referring to. But otherwise, great job. I liked it!

[Jubilee Bloom]

9461214
Why thank you.

And as for the mystery characters, I've intended for them to remain a mystery. For now, that is.

[Jubilee Bloom]

9461302
Thanks.

[fanreader999999]

9461153

The last time I talked with a defensive commentator in the discussion I got a death threat. So let me revise my previous comment and say, your story is so awesome God Himself couldn’t do better.

[NobodieZ]

Wonderful work on this.

[Jubilee Bloom]

9462411
Thanks!

[NobodieZ]

9462753
You're welcome.

[Renodil]

"Do you think he'll ask about it?"

Who’s he?

[Jubilee Bloom]

9720846
That shall remain undisclosed for now. It will be revealed... whenever I get to writing the intended story. I have a bad habit of coming up with a scenario in my head and then having to backtrack to figure out how to write from where I am now to where I want to be. And procrastination.

[Latecomer]

9925249
The CMC still being considered young fillies is a travesty of chronology.

[My Little Epona]

This was really good and really sad. You took me for a trip on the feels train there.

[611fan]

great story really liked the stuff with starlight celestia and luna i made a theory that i think the reason why celestia and luna putted cozy glow in tartarus was as i said a big cross the line for the royal sister's cozy glow almost killed starlight so i'd think with one on their own trying to kill their subjects was not acceptable i'd still wish they made an episode with starlight after being in the orb during the season 8 finale.

[TOMNICE]

If they put a scene similar like this in the original episode it could have been better. Nice story.