A New Dawn

by Foals Errand

First published 18th of November, 2015

It's time for Princess Celestia to face her own nightmare.

How can this be true? When the sun was later in rising than it should have been, Princess Luna became concerned for her older sister. No pony had seen her since Princess Cadance and Shining Armor's reception had ended late the night before. However when Luna went to urge the moon down hoping to nudge Celestia into completing the cycle, her magic brushed against an aura she had hoped and prayed to never glimpse again.

Had her inability to protect the ponies she cares so deeply for, driven Princess Celestia to do... The unthinkable?

Prologue

“Love is in bloom! A beautiful bride and a handsome groom!”

Celestia smiled as her dear student belted out the lyrics in her smooth voice. Truly, if Twilight had not been such an adept magic user, I would have given odds on her becoming a professional singer. She shook her head and lightly bobbed her head a bit to the music as Luna was next to her attempting to “head bang” in a regal manner.

She wasn’t fully succeeding.

“You’re starting a life and making room for us.”

Celestia watched as the entire wedding party joined Cadance and Shining Armor on the dance floor. All eyes were now off of her, even Luna was distracted, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the music. Celestia slowly took a step back.

“Your friends are all right here! Won’t let these moments disappear.”

Celestia shook her head, spreading her wings and taking to the sky. With the volume of the music along with everypony’s attention on the happy couple, it was far easier than Celestia could have imagined for her to fly back to her own quarters. After but a few seconds of flight, Celestia felt the cold stone of her balcony upon her hooves as she landed. Folding her wings back against her barrel, she opened the glass door leading into her room with a small sure of magic.

With a half hearted movement, Celestia closed the door behind her with her back hoof. Her eyes gazed around the minimalistic room: a fire lit in the hearth cheerfully sparked as she sadly shook her head. A small bit of magic undid the clasp that held her torque around her neck. Celestia let the piece fall to the floor with a clunk. She stepped over it, sliding off her hoof shoes as she did so, leaving them next to her torque. Celestia lifted her crown off her head, holding it within her magic, slowly rotating it so she was able to truly look at it. A new scratch was clearly visible from where it slammed against the floor after falling off her head. Celestia swallowed hard as her magic tightened around the crown for a split second. She considered throwing it into the wall but stopped instead, laying it gingerly on her desk.

The jeweler is going to have to get the scratch out… Luckily, it’s not that noticeable.

Another heavy swallow and a deep breath escaped Celestia as she reached into a cabinet withdrawing a single wine glass and a label less bottle of silver liquid. After a moment of consideration, she poured a full glass before recapping the bottle and putting it away. Carefully holding her glass, she settled down on the couch in front of her fire and took a swallow. The silver liquid was like ice, but it burned as it slid down her throat. She gave a shiver. Only Luna’s moonshine was capable of making her feel this way.

For some time, Celestia simply watched the fire crackle and nursed her glass of moonshine. Her head began to feel fuzzy as she finished off the glass she took a deep breath. Relax, Celestia. There was nothing you could have done. That Queen... she was so drunk off of Shining Armor’s love.

“Is that all, though?”

Celestia blinked and looked around, her eyes narrowing. “Who’s there? You have no right to be here within my personal quarters!”

“Oh, dear Celestia. Poor, poor Celestia... defeated by the changeling queen without even getting a shot in! Could it be that you are getting weak, my dear?”

“...I’m not weak. I just wasn’t able to use my full strength; it would have destroyed Canterlot,” Celestia mumbled as she continued to scan the room, her eyes finally pausing upon the mirror hanging on her wall.

“Of course, dear, of course. It wasn’t as if your entire country was in danger after all, was it?”

Celestia’s eyes widened as she watched her own lips speak the words that were insulting her. “I’ve gone mad…”

“Have you? Well then, that makes things so much easier. You see, Celestia, my dear, you don’t need to worry about problems like changelings anymore.”

Celestia turned away from the mirror, her ears pinned back. “I’m not listening; this isn’t happening. I must have had a little too much of Luna’s moonshine. I just need to sleep. When I wake up, everything will be better.”

“Oh yes, Celestia, just go to sleep and everything will be just fine and back to normal. Twilight will return back to Ponyville where she’ll continue to be your faithful student… Oh, wait a moment, that’s right; she tried to tell you there was something wrong with Cadance.”

“Stop it…” Celestia sat down, her hooves over her ears, desperately trying to block out the voice.

“But the mighty and infallible Princess Celestia didn’t see anything wrong with her beloved niece.”

“Stop it…”

“In fact, you dismissed Twilight, telling her you were... what was it? You were very disappointed in her, and she had a lot to think about?”

“Stop it! Please stop it!” Celestia trembled, the words coming from her own mouth felt like a branding iron.

“She was right, though, wasn’t she? Hmm? There was something wrong with your precious niece. She was replaced! Tell me, dear, what if Twilight hadn’t been sent to the same spot as Cadance? Do you truly think that she would have kept Cadance alive once she had what she wanted?”

“Please, please, I was wrong. I was wrong. Twilight was right. Cadance is all right... please…” Celestia gasped out, tears flowing down her cheeks, her hooves pressed so hard against her ears they were beginning to bleed.

“Did you tell Twilight that you were wrong? Hmmm? Oh, that’s right! You are infallible, aren’t you? Everypony will just forget what happened today, won’t they…? Just like with Luna”

Celestia had given up speaking and descended into sobs, the word “please” escaping her lips in an almost inaudible manner.

“It won’t take long to change the history books again to paint you as the all knowing Celestia. Generations of ponies will know that you knew about the changelings. You simply wanted to give your faithful student Twilight the chance to prove herself again.”

“Never wanted Twilight in danger! Never! Please! Please!” Celestia curled into herself, eyes squeezed shut.

“You’ll always know the truth, though, won’t you? Once again, you didn’t trust the pony most loved by you. Once again, you almost lost your country. You just got lucky there isn’t a new profile on the moon tonight: Twilight’s!”

“No! No, not Twilight! Not Twilight! I could never! Never!” Celestia jerked up, the idea of doing that again to anypony… but Twilight? Her faithful Twilight…

“Hush, Celestia, you don’t have to worry about losing Twilight. It’s not like you won’t be prepared for the changelings if they were to come back… I can help you after all.”

Celestia turned to look back into the mirror, her tears having mixed with the red blood dripping from her ears and dyeing the fur under her eyes red. “Help me?” she mouthed the two words and shivered swallowing hard. “H-how?”

Celestia watched as her lips curled into a smile that didn’t quite seem to fit her face as her mouth opened again. “Just let me have control, dear sweet Celestia. I can make you stronger. Nothing will ever defeat you again; you’ll never doubt your student again. Just, give me control.”

Celestia stared into the mirror, her breath escaping in small gasps. “N-Nightmare… h-how can I trust you. You took Luna from me!”

“Do you truly think that eternal night was my idea? No, I am a symbiotic with my host. Luna wished for the night to be eternal so that all ponies would witness the splendor. I simply did as she requested. You, though, all you want is to protect your ponies.”

Celestia nodded a tear slipping from her eye. “So… you wouldn’t create eternal day?”

“Of course not. I’ll simply protect. Now… just give into me, Celestia.”

Celestia closed her eyes before giving a simple nod. She felt her eyes snap open, glowing gold, the tip of her horn, which still burned from the encounter with the changelings, began to burn the black, slowly flowing down the spirals. The tips of her white ears became spotted with black; it felt as if water was dripping into her body, each spot it touched darkened until she was the color of ash. Her multicolored mane stood straight before bursting into crackling flames. Finally, Nightmare grinned and began to laugh, her teeth sharpening into sharp fangs. She lifted a hoof and gazed at it. “Not bad, not bad at all. Luna was the younger after all. It only figures the elder would be so much stronger. But so much easier to trick.”

She stretched out and cracked her back, her horn glowing as she reached to the moon, caressing it as one would a lover. “Believing I have a symbiotic relationship. Foalish mare! I desire the night eternal and I will have it!”

---

Celestia curled into herself, she had pulled at the bars weakly that were surrounding her. They were solid... I should have expected nothing less… Truly, I am the fool. I’ve doomed everypony. Oh Luna, Twilight, forgive me!

“You can’t give up yet, Princess.”

Celestia looked up to see a shimmering vision of Twilight standing right outside of her cage. “...Twilight?”

“Your student speaks truth, Tia. I know you can overcome this.” Twilight was joined by a vision of Luna who was smiling.

“Luna, I-I’m so sorry I had no idea!”

“Better mares than you have been fooled by the Nightmare’s sweet words, Tia. There is nothing to forgive.” Luna simply shook her head.

“She’s right, Auntie. We all know you can defeat this.” Cadance appeared along with Shining Armor who held his right foreleg up in salute.

“We’re here for you, Tia. None of us will leave you. You are loved.” Luna smiled, reaching a hoof through the bars, which Celestia reached out to touch.

Celestia looked over to where Twilight was quietly watching. “Oh, Twilight, I’m so sorry for not believing in you, my faithful student.”

Twilight smiled, holding up a golden key, the bow shaped like the sun. “Then get out of here so you can tell the real me.”

Celestia nodded, taking the key in her magic as the images of her family faded away. “Thank you, thank you all.” She placed the key into the lock and turned it the bars exploding into sunlight.

“Nightmare! Face me!”

A shimmering image of an ash-black Celestia appeared. “You! How did you escape your cage?”

“It was never meant for me. Just like my body is not yours! Leave now!”

Nightmare laughed. “I’m sorry, pet, that's not how this works. This is my body now, and well, I like it a lot. I think the first thing I’ll do is order those elements to be destroyed. Actually, to be on the safe side, I think I’ll have your precious Twilight dehorned. If you ask nicely, I’ll even have it done in surgery.”

Celestia glared at the image before her, clenching her teeth tightly together before remembering the key. “No, I still need to apologize to Twilight. I’ll never allow you to hurt her!”

The Nightmare took a confident step forward and smiled. “As if you could stop me, weakling.”

Celestia snarled, and, without thinking, took the key in a firm grip and slammed it down into Nightmare’s right eye and turned it. “You will not keep me from any of my family ever again, Nightmare. This, I swear!”

Nightmare screamed as beams of sunlight burst from her body. “N-no you couldn’t!”

Celestia panted, her horn glowing. As she forced the power of the sun into Nightmare’s body, the beams of light began to multiply. As Celestia panted, her nose bled.

Finally, Nightmare fell to the ground and began to laugh. “Cele-stia, you surpr-rise even me… you win. Heh, though, I will make you lose in my final moment: I curse you, Celestia Everfree. Never again will your ponies love you as they once did, for though I am gone, I will always remain. I curse you to wear my form the rest of your life!”

Celestia gulped breaths of air as the form went still.

---

Celestia opened her eyes with a groan, lifting a hoof to her muzzle to staunch the blood dripping from her nose. Her throbbing head quickly caused her to close her eyes again and stumble across the room to curl up onto her couch. The slight buzzing of the sun wanting to get up filled her head. Celestia wiggled a bit and sighed. Just a small nap… the sun can be late rising just this once… Her eyes slid shut as she fell into a deep sleep.

---

Luna savored a final bite of cake; sometimes being the only pony used to being up at night was a good thing. Her ear flicked as she felt the normal buzz of her sleepy moon and smiled. “I agree. It’s time for a bit of sleep.” Her horn glowed as she reached to help the moon down when she froze. A magic she never wished to feel again was wrapped around her moon as if it was being embraced. “No… no, it’s not possible. The Elements destroyed that thing! No, I can’t lose myself to her again, I must go to Celestia! Tia will help me!” The moon needing to be set temporarily forgotten, Luna leapt into the sky. Landing on her sister’s balcony, she yanked the door open, shattering it harmlessly against her fur.

“Tia, Tia awaken, please! You must help me, please!” Luna whimpered as she quickly crossed the room to the couch her sister often slept on. “Please help me.” She froze as she saw the being where her sister should be, a whimper escaping her throat. “No, oh no, Tia! No no! Tia!”

Celestia groaned a bit, opening her eyes to see Luna staring at her tears rolling down her cheeks. “Lulu? Lulu, what is it?” She paused; her voice sounded odd a bit… off.

“Thou hath no permission to refer to us in such a familiar manner! Remove thyself from our sister!” Luna slammed a hoof down, cracking the marble.

“Lulu, it’s me! Your Tia! Please relax!” Celestia sat up, smiling at her little sister. What a horrible dream that was… Luna must have seen it as well.

“Lies! Remove thyself from Celestia, Nightmare!” Luna snarled into Celestia’s face.

Celestia’s eyes widened as she caught sight of her black hoof. “No, no, I won… I won! I won!” She flung her forelegs around a very confused Luna and bawled.

“I… I won...”

Author's Notes:

Just a few grammar fixes.

Chapter 1

Luna stood stock still, supporting the full weight of the alicorn who was hanging onto her for dear life. Every couple of seconds, the black mare would whimper or let out another sob. Luna herself was in shock what she saw, the voice she could hear. It led to a conclusion she just couldn’t accept: Celestia had fallen to the Nightmare.

Slowly, and ever so carefully, Luna bent her knees and slowly sunk to the ground. Celestia, or whatever she now was calling herself, simply sank down with her as if all of her bones had vanished. Luna closed her eyes and allowed her horn to flare, pushing down the moon and forcing herself to ignore the remnants of the Nightmare’s magic. She paused, glancing down at the mare still clinging to her. Broken… She reacts as if she’s broken. Momentarily, she opened her mouth to request her to raise the sun, but shook her head. Something was clearly wrong, but now was not the time to figure it out. The sun needed to be raised.

Luna glanced out the window, trying to remember the last time she had raised the sun or even if she ever had. She squeezed her eyes shut and reached tentatively for the sun waiting right under the horizon. Slowly, she felt the sting from the heat as if it were testing her. Luna wasn’t surprised though; ever since attempting to bring eternal night, she and her sister’s charge hadn’t been exactly on speaking terms.

I know I’m not who you were expecting, but please, you must rise. There is something wrong with your warden. Once things with her are better, I swear to you that she will happily return to her duties, but, until such a time, I beseech thee. Allow me to warden you.

After a few moments, Luna felt the stinging sensation pass and the sun began to peek up over the horizon, a sight which had Luna slump even as she was relieved. Oh, Tia, what have you allowed to happen? Why, Sister…?

Luna gently reached back with her magic and pulled her sister’s forelegs from around her neck and laid her down upon the cold marble floor. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the sight before her. The black alicorn mare was no larger than her elder sister, though that was not so surprising. After all, Nightmare Moon was roughly the same size as Celestia. Her wings were still roughly the same shape, a fact that mildly surprised Luna. After all, when she had been within the Nightmare’s grasp her wings had been changed into a form even more frightening than what Luna normally thought her wings were, not that she felt that way anymore. In fact, she had become quite fond of them, but seeing Celestia’s swan-like wings dyed a deep black... It was disturbing.

Like a fallen angel…

Ever so slowly, Luna kicked one of her shoes off and ran the bottom of her hoof over Celestia’s fur. It was soft; it even felt new, like the fur of a foal. Luna shook her head, taking in Celestia’s cutie mark. A bit darker in color, but no huge change. Finally, her eyes took in the crackling mane and tail waving around; no longer as if in a celestial wind, but as if an out of control blaze. Taking a deep breath, Luna reached a hoof out and placed it upon her mane. It was warm, but, to Luna’s relief, there would be no chance of even a mortal being burned upon it.

Luna suddenly stopped as she felt somepony—or creature—watching her. Ever so slowly, she looked down and caught the gaze of Celestia. Her eyes glowed with a golden light, though the pupils she retained were that of a normal pony and not the serpentine ones which Luna had worn as Nightmare Moon. Luna swallowed hard as she gazed into them; these were not the eyes of a monster, a being which needed to be defeated. No, she knew this look. It was the same one she saw whenever Celestia saw Luna struggling with something she had missed in the past one thousand years. Grief and pain... Oh, Tia, what have you done…

“Tia? Tia, can you hear me?” Luna’s hoof began to gently stroke Celestia’s mane. “Can you answer me, Celestia?”

The mare blinked, new tears trailed after the dozens before them to stain the fur under her eyes. “Lu…”

Luna smiled, refusing to allow her sister to see any emotion but love from her. “Yes, I’m here, Tia. I’m here.”

Celestia closed her eyes and turned her head away from Luna. “Leave me…”

Luna shook her head. “Never! Do you think I don’t know? Celestia, I know better than anypony else what you are feeling. Let me help you, and, together, we can defeat the Nightmare. I am cer—”

“There is no need…” Celestia interrupted, her voice quiet and hoarse from the sobbing.

“What do you mean there is no need? Celestia, you are not invicta, and I am not Umbra anymore! Let me help you!” Luna choked back a sob. “You are not alone. I’m not going anywhere; not now, not ever.”

“I… I know that, Luna... It is just that there is no Nightmare to defeat…” Celestia slowly sat up and looked into Luna’s eyes as her own once more filled with tears. “There is no Nightmare to defeat. I killed it.”

Luna stared as the two tears escaped her sister’s eyes. “Killed it? But if that is true, th-then why?”

“Do I look this way?” Celestia replied, her voice as quiet as a whisper. In fact, Luna wondered if her sister could speak any louder. She doubted it.

“Yes. Do you know, Tia?” Luna placed her hoof on top of Celestia’s and was startled as she quickly withdrew it. “Tia?”

“D-don’t touch me….p-please Luna, I don’t want to infect you.” Celestia held her hoof up and away from Luna as if it was on fire.

“Celestia, you know now as well as I do that the Nightmare does not work like that, now please talk to me… What is going on?”

Celestia bowed her head, staring at the hard, cold ground. “She… it, I suppose, tricked me. The Nightmare made me think that if I gave it control then I would have the strength I needed to defeat whatever threatened my… our ponies. What a foal I was to believe her…”

Luna placed her hoof under Celestia’s chin and lifted her head so she could look into her sister’s eyes. “Shhh... She is or was a manipulator to you. She offered strength when she came to me, she offered the love and recognition I wanted from our ponies. Do not bear shame at falling for her sweet lies.”

Celestia stared into Luna’s eyes which showed naught but love for her elder sister, and smiled the barest bit of a smile. “I… will try not to blame myself, but that is all I can offer, alright Luna?”

“For now it will suffice. So, once she convinced you to give her control you found yourself locked within a cage, didn’t you?” A small nod was Luna’s only response as she sighed, rolling her eyes. “Well, at least she was consistent... So tell me, how did you escape?”

“You helped me.” Celestia licked her lips, “And Cadance, even Twilight... you all helped me.”

Luna nodded. “Visions of us? Your mind truly surprises me, Celestia.”

Celestia’s ears pinned back as a small hint of red graced her cheeks for a single moment. “You always find some manner in which to tease me, Luna.”

“But of course, Celestia. After all, I am your dear baby sister. Now what happened next?” Luna urged Celestia to finish with a soft nuzzle of her cheek.

“Twilight, she had a key. Once I took it the cage I was held within exploded in a flash of sunlight. It was then that the Nightmare noticed me. She stated she was going to destroy the Elements... th-that she planned to remove Twilight’s horn.” Celestia’s mane seemed to crackle more as her hooves pressed more firmly into the marble, causing a spider web-like crack in the floor. Luna cooed gently as she leaned in for another nuzzle. “I… I’m sorry, but remembering that…”

“Nothing to apologize for, Tia. If it had been me I most likely would have reacted in a similar manner. Please go on?” Luna pulled back from the nuzzle but took one of Celestia’s hooves into her own.

“I was just so very furious, Luna, then I remembered the key Twilight had given me. The bars had exploded into sunlight when inserted into the lock of the cage the Nightmare had fabricated, so I… I thrust it into her eye socket.”

Luna blinked once or twice before nodding. “The sun destroyed her, didn’t it, Tia?”

“It did, but as she or it was dying, it laid a curse on me that my ponies would never see me as they once did, as I would wear this form the rest of my life.” Celestia released a shaky breath. “Luna, what am I to do? Nopony will believe I am me looking as I do.”

Luna opened her mouth then stopped, her ears pinning back. She knew Celestia was right. She herself had been healed of the Nightmare over a year prior and ponies still viewed her with suspicion. “We’ll figure it out, Celestia, I promise you.”

Celestia nodded, lifting a hoof to wipe the tears from her eyes. “Crying will do nothing to help me through this.”

A knock sounded on the door, causing both royal sisters to look up in surprise. Celestia swallowed hard. “Luna, you must answer. My voice is different, even I can tell that.”

Luna nodded, walking closer to the door. “Yes? Tis something the matter?”

“Not at all, Princess Luna. It is simply that Lady Twilight Sparkle wishes to spend some time with Princess Celestia before her scheduled departure this evening,” a muffled voice replied from the other side of the door.

One of Tia’s guards, obviously … but how am I going to be able to keep Twilight Sparkle from Tia? “I’m afraid Celestia is a bit under the weather and unable to receive guests.”

“Princess Luna? It’s me, Twilight. Please let me in, I promise I won't stay long or even make the Princess, er, I mean Princess Celestia get out of bed! I-I only want to see her.”

Luna could practically see Twilight’s ears pinned back against her head, worried for her teacher. Luna winced and turned to look to Celestia. What do I say? She mouthed to her to see Celestia peer around as if in a state of panic, before finally slumping and giving a single nod.

“Alright, Twilight Sparkle, alright... but only you may enter, is that fair?” Luna asked, her magic reaching out to unlock and open the door just wide enough to allow the small mare entry.

“Of course, Princess Luna. Thank you for the escort, Sir.” Twilight carefully pushed into the room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click, and the smile fading from her muzzle as her eyes took in the image of the large black mare where Princess Celestia should have been.

Twilight wordlessly gaped for a few moments before taking a step back, her pupils quickly shrinking. A whimper escaped her mouth as she looked into the glowing eyes of the black mare.

“T-twilight?” Celestia called in the most gentle manner she could. Unfortunately it was not gentle enough, as Twilight howled and backed into the door, her mouth opening to scream and her heart racing.

The door burst open, pushing Twilight away from the door as two unicorn guards raced in to stop and stare at Celestia. One of them gasped while the other snarled. “Nightmare Moon…”

“N-no I’m not Nightmare Moon! I’m not, please...” Celestia begged, taking a step back towards her bed. Her eyes darted back and forth as she saw their horns begin to glow with a stun spell.

“Stop!” Luna cried out in the royal canterlot voice, forcing the guards to slide backwards a bit. Twilight stared from where she had been tossed, curled up in a corner. “Think loyal guards, use the brains you were blessed with. How could she be Nightmare Moon if I, Princess Luna, stand here whole before you?”

Twilight looked up and took in the sight of the tall black mare. “N-no, Princess Celestia, not you…”

Celestia glanced back, wanting to reassure her precious student, but she stayed where she was. The guards had not paused in their preparation of a stun spell. She chewed her lip, carefully considering her options.

Option one: I try to flee and am brought down before I can move three feet. Option two: I plead my case. Unlikely to work with how much of a deceiver the Nightmare is known to be. Option three: surrender myself. No choice, no choice at all.

“I surrender.” Celestia whispered.

Author's Notes:

Sorry this is short! I decided to cut the chapter in two so to make them a bit more bite sized if this is to bite sized let me know and I won't do it again!

Chapter 2

“I surrender.” Celestia whispered.

The room grew silent. If a pin had been dropped it would have made an echo. “I surrender, I won’t fight or run. I-I surrender.” Slowly, ever so cautiously, Celestia laid down on her belly, her horn touching the ground with her wings fully spread and covering the floor.

Luna watched, her mouth gaping at what she was seeing. Celestia, you foolish mare! What are you doing?

One of the guards stepped over cautiously. The other followed, a stun spell still prepared being held on the tip of his horn. “Very well, Nightmare… You are under arrest for treason. You have the right to remain silent; anything you say can and will be held against you in the court of law.” He took a inhibitor ring from his armor with his mouth. His partner continued to read Celestia her rights as the first carefully slid the ring over Nightmare’s horn. “Stand up.”

Celestia nodded as she slowly and shakily got to her feet. From the moment Twilight had screamed she knew it would end with her in a cell. Yet another thing we will have to figure out, my faithful student. Celestia hoped her going willingly without a fight would help Twilight in the near future when everything was explained. She truly hoped it would.

A piece of cloth was tied around Celestia’s barrel, holding her wings tight against her sides. While others would have thought chains would have been a better way to restrain the wings of pegasus prisoners, Celestia knew the truth. In fact, this cloth which resembled silk in its texture was stronger than steel.

Luna caught Celestia’s eye as the guard finished binding her wings. Luna’s own wings fluffed out in sympathy. Slowly, so that her sister could carefully understand, she mouthed: You don’t have to do this.

Celestia closed her eyes before turning to look at where Twilight was—still in the corner curled into a ball—then back to Luna. There is no other choice, she mouthed with a wince as the guard pulled a bit tighter than required. Don’t let her blame herself. She finished as the two guards placed heavy weights on each of her legs.

“Alright, looks good on my side. Star Swimmer?”

“All is good here. Luckily most of the visitors the palace had last night are still asleep or have already left.” With a nod he turned to Celestia. “Alright, now step out of the room and stop in the hallway. Go no further or you will be hit with so many stun spells you won’t even know what your name is. Do you understand? Nod if you do.”

Celestia closed her eyes and gave the smallest of a nod before walking from the room. The first guard followed directly after her as Star Swimmer turned to Luna. “Princess Luna, I believe Twilight Sparkle may be in need of medical care. Would you?”

Luna bit back a reply before snorting through her nose. “Yes, I will handle it. Be off with thee.”

Star Swimmer nodded, following after his partner. Luna listened until she could hear their hoof steps no more before sighing and turning to Twilight. The young mare was still curled up and trembling in the corner.

“Twilight Sparkle, please look up. It’s only me, your friend Luna.” Thinking a moment, Luna took off her crown and set it next to Celestia’s on her desk. She sat next to Twilight, placing a wing over her. “See? No crown or anything. Please, Twilight?”

Luna was prepared for many things, but Twilight Sparkle throwing herself into her embrace was not one of them. Luna cooed into Twilight’s ear, slowly rubbing her back until Twilight’s sobs slowed to soft hiccups every few moments. Luna sighed before holding out a handkerchief. “Here. Dry your eyes, my dear friend.”

Twilight nodded, still sniffling and her eyes red from irritation. She wiped her nose before turning to Luna. “Wh-what happened? I don’t... was this my fault? Was Princess Celestia injured by that Changeling Queen because we weren’t able to get the Elements like she asked?”

Luna shook her head gently. “No, Twilight. No, I promise you that you are not at fault in any way shape or form for what has happened to my sister. It seems that she was fooled by the Nightmare as I was so very long ago.”

Twilight’s breath caught and Luna could see her pupils dilate in fear. “Th-then you... is she…”

Luna cocked her head while trying to figure out what Twilight was trying to say before her eyes widened in realization. “Oh no, no! I promise you nopony will be banishing Celestia to the moon or the sun. In fact, she shouldn’t even be in the dungeons at all. You see, though Celestia was tricked by the Nightmare, she is not being controlled as I was. I know it’s difficult to believe but under the cover of the Nightmare, Celestia is still the same mare you and I both know and love.”

Twilight closed her eyes with a shudder before burying her head into Luna’s chest. “Then why… why did she…”

“Allow herself to be tricked? I… well I think the Nightmare used you, Twilight. The fact Sister did not trust you. That and other reasons I’m sure.” Luna shook her head. “Now I just have to convince her to leave the dungeons.”

“I want to help, please Luna. If this is my fau—” Luna placed her hoof to Twilight’s mouth.

“No, you are not at fault. Don’t ever believe that, just know that for you I believe Celestia would do anything.”

Twilight nodded once as Luna removed her hoof. “You are going down to the dungeons to let her out?”

Luna stood up and stretched her wings. “That is my intention. Unfortunately, not all of the palace guards have a fondness for me and believe the sentiment is shared by myself. So depending who is taking over for Shining Armor it may be more complex than just me going down and ordering her release, but I have hope that that won’t be the case.” Luna levitated her crown back on. “In all likelihood, I can get her released as long as she is magically bonded to somepony. I doubt they would allow it to be me, seeing as how I have already been tainted by the Nightmare. Normally I would think Princess Cadance or Shining Armor would be chosen, but seeing as they are on their honeymoon I am loathe to call them back.”

Twilight hesitated a moment before standing up all four legs, slightly quivering. “Could it be me?”

Luna looked over at her for a few moments without saying a word. “Are you certain? Getting all of this cleared up will take some time; you would have to stay here in Canterlot, as I assure you the courts would never allow Celestia to leave the palace, let alone Canterlot.”

“I’m sure. Princess Celestia is my teacher and my mentor. She has done so much for me, the very least I can do is be here for her when she really needs me. I’m certain that Mayor Mare will be able to find somepony else to run the library for the time I need to be here, and Spike can stay in Ponyville so I can keep in touch with my friends via dragon fire. In fact, maybe Spike could be the temporary librarian. He’s always telling me that he's not a baby anymore, and this is the perfect chance for him to show everypony just how grown up he’s become.”

Luna smiled. “Alright then, we’ll head directly to the court and get this taken care of. After that, we’ll get Celestia out of the dungeon. Now, come walk with me, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight watched as Luna left the room at a brisk but royal trot and bit her lip. I can do this... I know I can do this. It’s for Princess Celestia! With a firm nod Twilight galloped to catch up to Luna.

---

Celestia looked around the dungeons as she was led down the staircase slowly to keep her from tripping. I’ve been meaning to have this destroyed… but maybe the better idea would be to instead have it updated. Yes, once I get out of here that’ll go to the top of my to do list… When I get out of here.

“Prisoner, stop!” One of the guards—Celestia thought her name was Pussywillow—ordered at the bottom of the stairs. Another two guards stood waiting for her; these two were in charge of the dungeon area. Celestia eyed them carefully. Hmmm... one solar guard, Eyeshine; and one Lunar guard, Moonbeam. Interesting.

“Transfer of prisoner complete. Thank you,” Moonbeam stated softly, her voice like a bell. “Prisoner, follow me please. For your own safety I suggest you do not attempt to run, understand?”

Celestia nodded and followed after Moonbeam as Eyeshine opened the first cell and the one closest to where the guards spent their time. As Celestia walked in, Eyeshine’s horn glowed, removing the cloth from her wings and the weights from her ankles the. Nullifier was kept on her horn; an action which Celestia understood. The door was then locked and a key turned. Celestia turned to look at her cell: a toilet was in the corner (to her relief it was even clean), and against the wall was a writing desk. A barred window was built into the wall just above it. If Celestia looked through it she could see one of her gardens; it was beautiful even with the bars marring her view. On the opposite side of the cell from the toilet was a cot already made up. After a few moments Celestia sat down on the cot and closed her eyes.

“Miss?” Celestia looked up to see Moonbeam at the bars, a soft smile on her muzzle. “If you have any reasonable requests I’d be happy to help you.”

Celestia smiled, taking in the sight of the young thestral mare. Her armor didn’t quite fit the way it should. “Recently graduated from the academy?”

“Yes, how could you tell? Oh, my uniform... Yeah it’ll be another week or so until my tailored one is ready. Luckily one of the other guards is close to my size. So, is there anything I can get you?”

Celestia considered. “Well, I doubt I'd be allowed a quill right now...” She saw Moonbeam nod to indicate that that was true. “Well a few books would be nice, then and maybe some parchment and a few crayons?”

“I’m sure that would be acceptable, any particular books which you would prefer?” Moonbeam asked, taking a step back.

“Oh no. I quite enjoy most any books, so please use your own judgement and surprise me.” Celestia smiled, but it quickly died as she saw Moonbeam shiver. “My apologies, I didn’t mean to…” She trailed off and walked back to her cot, sitting down and closing her eyes. If I know Luna then it is likely that she stayed to speak with Twilight before doing anything else. Depending on how well my precious student takes this, I may be down here awhile… Her eyes gazed out the window where she could see a bird sitting on a small bench.

“You are so lucky... Truly you don't understand what freedom is until it is gone from your life.”

---

Luna paced as Twilight sat in one of the chairs. “Imagine if Celestia asked them to speak on a case. They would, but since it is I, no. They have a docket which must be followed. Feh. A pox on them.”

“It’s alright, Luna, it shouldn’t take much longer for this case to end. It's a fairly simple custody hearing, besides; it gives us time to figure out what to say.” Twilight smiled gently up at Luna, who was able to see that that smile didn't quite match Twilight’s eyes.

“What do you mean by what we are going to say?” Luna lifted an eyebrow as she paused in her pacing. “We will tell them the truth.”

Twilight shook her head. “That Princess Celestia willingly welcomed the Nightmare into her? After the changelings invaded us nonetheless? I worry that we’ll be accused of being mad, or worse: in partnership with the Nightmare. Let me speak to the judge, Luna. After all, it is I who am asking for this procedure to be performed.”

Luna clicked her tongue before sighing. “Very well, Twilight Sparkle. I don’t like it, but I understand it. I will, how do you say... ‘keep my muzzle shut?’”

Twilight smiled, opening her mouth to either thank Luna or to inform her the proper phrase was “keep my mouth shut”, just as the door opened and a mare poked her head out. “Ms. Sparkle, Princess Luna? The judge will hear your case now.”

Twilight got down from her chair and followed after Luna into the courtroom, where she sat behind the defendant’s table with Luna beside her. At the prosecutor’s table sat a stern looking stallion whom Twilight did not recognize. The bailiff walked up to the bench. “Nightmare Moon versus Equestria. Judge Hammer Wing proceeding. Please stand.”

The three ponies in the courtroom stood as a dark grey pegasus walked in from the room behind the bench then sat down. “Be seated.”

They all took a seat as the bailiff floated a folder over to Judge Hammer Wing. “This is case D78831: Equestria vs. Nightmare Moon. All parties are present.”

The judge nodded. “Alright. What is this in regards to, Miss?”

“Twilight Sparkle, Your Honor. I’m the personal protege to Princess Celestia.”

“Yes, Miss Sparkle, and I notice Princess Luna sitting beside you, yet I was under the assumption that this was a case involving Nightmare Moon?”

“Ah. Yes it is—and it’s not—Your Honor. You see, last night there was an incident at my brother, Shining Armor, and sister-in-law, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s wedding.” Twilight licked her lips. Come on, Twilight, you can do this! It’s the best explanation and the most likely one to get Princess Celestia freed, just stay calm.

The judge nodded his head. “Yes, the changelings’ attempted invasion was quite a horrid event. However, it appears that all ponies escaped whole and even the young Princess was alright after a good meal, now what does that have to do with a trial involving Nightmare Moon?”

Twilight took a deep breath before glancing at Luna, who nodded in approval. “Well, Your Honor, it’s not true that everypony was unharmed during the event. In fact, Princess Celestia got a rather bad burn to her horn due to magical backfire when she was fighting against the Changeling Queen. This backfire left her unable to do magic for several hours and led to her being held captive in a changeling cocoon.”

The judge nodded. “I see... Yes, I was unaware of that. But I urge you to get to the point, Miss Sparkle.”

“Ah yes, of course. After she was freed from the cocoon, Princess Celestia seemed alright—if not a bit tired—though I fear it may have been worse than we thought. She was more than lethargic; it seems she may have lost a bit of the natural protection she normally retains against spirits such as the Nightmare.”

The judge lifted a single eyebrow to indicate that he was listening. Twilight levitated the glass of water to her lips and took a sip, then continued. “After Princess Celestia left the reception last night, guards report having heard strange noises coming from her room. They couldn't say for certain but they felt that the Princess was talking to somepony, though they further claimed that they saw no pony enter or leave the Princess’s quarters.”

“Which guards were these?” The judge asked, placing his glasses on as to rest on his muzzle.

Twilight took out two pieces of parchment. “Lunar guards Sky Beam and Rough Shot. These are the reports they made, which were signed off on by their captain, Sure Clip.” Twilight levitated the two reports to the bailiff, who placed them on the bench for judge Hammer Wing to pursue, which he did without making a noise. Finally, he nodded.

“Alright, Ms. Sparkle, that seems in order. Please continue.” The bailiff took the papers and returned them to Twilight.

“Well, we aren’t exactly sure what happened next, but when Princess Luna noticed tha—”

“Thats enough, Miss Sparkle, I’ll hear Princess Luna’s observations from her own lips. Princess Luna?”

Luna blinked, remembering what Twilight had said about keeping her mouth shut, before nodding towards him. “Of course, Your Honor. As Twilight Sparkle was about to say, at 5:43 am this morning, I noticed that though my moon was no longer following the normal schedule in which it should have been moving below the horizon—feeling that it needed a nudge—I reached out to go do so; at which point I felt a magic which I had not been privy to since a year or more ago. My moon was... it had been touched at length by no other than the Nightmare’s magic.”

Luna paused for a moment to take a drink while trying to gauge what the judge was thinking. It was a fruitless task though, as the judge appeared to have only one expression. “Worried that the Nightmare was once more trying to take me, I raced to my sister’s quarters. Once there, I broke her door—on accident I swear—and saw that in my sister’s place was the being I was the most terrified of. I automatically assumed the worst, but the Nightmare was not acting as it normally did. How I remembered, in fact, is that she seemed to be in a crying panic and her eyes were darting around. I quickly became convinced that this was not the Nightmare at all, but was in fact my sister, Princess Celestia. Into much of a… ‘grief’ I would call it, I took the sun in my grasp and raised it, which was why the sun rose a bit later than normal this morning. Once I had gotten Celestia calm, she told me how the Nightmare tricked her and got through her shield, but she had destroyed it.”

“Princess Luna, if Princess Celestia destroyed the Nightmare then can you explain why the guards Pussywillow and Starswimmer arrested Nightmare Moon once she surrendered to them?” Judge Hammer Wing asked as he looked over their reports. “According to this: after hearing Miss Sparkle's screams they entered to see Nightmare Moon close to Miss Sparkle. They readied themselves to stun her but she quickly surrendered to them and was led away without a word.”

“I cannot explain why Celestia is still in the form of the Nightmare. I can only say what Celestia told me, and that is that the Nightmare cursed her with her dying breath that Celestia would bear the Nightmare’s mark for life,” Luna stated while shaking her head.

“I see. Alright, thank you, Princess Luna. Miss Sparkle, you agree with Princess Luna’s assumption that the Nightmare is in fact Princess Celestia having been cursed by the Nightmare?” Judge Hammer Wing asked. He turned to look at Twilight. who nodded.

“Yes, Your Honor. You must understand that though I had an immediate reaction I am a very logical mare, and after seeing that Princess Celestia surrendered completely and hearing Princess Luna’s conversation with her, there is no doubt in my mind that the mare in the dungeons is in fact Princess Celestia.” Twilight smiled at the judge. “Princess Luna and I simply want her released.”

Judge Hammer Wing nodded in reply. “Alright. Thank you, Miss Sparkle and Princess Luna. Prosecutor Lightning Rod, do you have any questions for the Plaintiffs?”

Lightning rod cleared his throat. “Yes, in fact I do. I’d like to question Miss Sparkle first.”

“Of course. Miss Sparkle, please come sit in the witness box.” Judge Hammer Wing nodded to his bailiff, who opened the door for Twilight to step in. Once inside, he held up a copy of The Charter of Equestria. “Please place your hoof on the charter. Do you swear that the testimony you are about to give will be true to your knowledge?”

Twilight nodded, her hoof resting lightly on the charter. “I do.”

The bailiff backed up as Lighting Rod walked up to her. “Please state your full name.”

“Twilight Abigail Sparkle.”

“Alright. Miss Sparkle, you are Princess Celestia’s personal protege, is that correct?”

Twilight nodded. “That’s correct.”

“For several years?”

“Oh yes. I believe it’s close to eleven now.”

“Would you say that you’d do anything for Princess Celestia?”

Twilight blinked. “Well, not anything. I mean, I do have morals like any pony…”

“Allow me to rephrase the question then: would you do anything for Princess Celestia that, was to your knowledge, legal?”

Twilight swallowed a bit before taking a sip of water. “I… yes. Yes, I would do anything for her if I knew it was legal.”

“And does this include tricking five young mares which you had just met into entering the very dangerous Everfree Forest on a suicide mission?”

Twilight blinked and sat up even straighter. “I… I would not call going to search for the Elements of Harmony a suicide mission, sir.”

“Is that so? Then the reports that you encountered a rock slide, a manticore, and a sea serpent along the way is in fact a fallacy?”

“No, that's all true. I should know; I was the one who filed that report.”

“Objection!” Luna called out.

“On what grounds, Princess Luna?” Judge Hammershot asked while wiping his glasses.

“Relevance! What does this have with the release of my sister?”

“Well, Mr. Lightning Rod?”

“I’m getting to that, Your Honor.” Lighting Rod nodded towards the judge, who sighed.

“Very well, get on with it though. Objection denied.”

“Now, Miss Sparkle, explain to me why it was important that you had to take these mares with you?”

Twilight blinked. “But I didn’t ask them. In fact, I told them not to come; they insisted.”

“Really? Hm... Yes... I do see you mentioning this in your report. I also see that you were separated from these mares while facing Nightmare Moon, is that correct?”

“Yes, but the separation wasn’t for very long. About five to eight minutes, I’d approximate.”

“I see. And during this brief separation you were alone with Nightmare Moon, weren’t you?”

“I was.”

“And did anything odd happen during that time?”

“I tricked her so as to gain access to the Elements of Harmony.”

“Mhm... Now we know that those mares represented the Elements of Harmony, but you stated that they all passed out and you were briefly the only one awake. Is this true?”

“Yes.”

“What happened during this short time?”

“I don’t know. I was rather—in lay pony terms—out of it.”

“Is it possible that the Nightmare took that chance to enter into your body?”

“Objection!”

“On what grounds this time, Princess Luna?”

“The prosecution is engaging in pure speculation. He has no evidence to support such an accusation. Why, he might as well ask if naked-faced space monkeys had brainwashed her! Besides that, being linked to the Elements of Harmony gives one protection from the Nightmare.”

Judge Hammer Wing hummed, rubbing his chin and suppressing a smile from his countenance. “Point conceded. I will sustain the objection. Mr. Prosecutor, please note that that last question will be struck from the record. Are there any other questions for Miss Sparkle?”

Lightning Rod clenched his jaw for a moment before shaking his head. “No, Your Honor.”

“You may step down and back to your seat then, Miss Sparkle.”

With a nod, Twilight quickly as was polite trotted back to Luna’s side.

“Now, Mr. Lightning Rod, do you have any questions for Princess Luna?”

“No, Your Honor.”

The judge nodded. “Alright, well I’ve heard enough. Miss Sparkle, Princess Luna, I’ve decided on my ruling. I’m afraid I cannot simply allow Nightmare free; Princess Celestia or not. However Miss Sparkle, as you are still connected to your Element—a known protection from the Nightmare—I will allow her release on the condition that she is bonded to you.”

“I understand, Your Honor. Princess Luna explained to me the process.” Twilight took a final sip of water. Her throat was parched but it was now far more relaxed than when she was being questioned.

“Alright, then. I think that the bond will be one of the highest extreme; meaning that you will have to stay in Canterlot Palace and the Nightmare will be unable to go more than... let's say thirty feet from you at any time. Do you understand, Miss Sparkle?”

“Yes Your Honor. May I ask what would happen if one of us got too far from one another?” Twilight glanced over at Luna, who was staring down at the table. Luna never mentioned this part…

“Simply put, Miss Sparkle: agony for both parties, and in the chance that you strayed too far from one another for too long, one or even both of your bodies may begin to shut down. Now, Miss Sparkle, I ask you once more if you are sure this is what you want?” Judge Hammer Wing looked down into Twilight’s big purple eyes.

“I... yes. Yes I’m certain, Your Honor. I know with all I am that the mare in the dungeons truly is Princess Celestia, and I know she would never do anything to hurt me. Never.”

Judge Hammer Wing nodded. “Alright, then. Judgement for the parole of Nightmare to consist of house arrest with the condition of being bound to Miss Twilight Sparkle.” His gavel came down hard twice. “Bailiff, please have the Nightmare brought to this court room.”

“At once, Your Honor.” The bailiff paused to bow to Princess Luna before going to a guard by the door. He promptly left, only to return several minutes later leading Princess Celestia, her wings and legs once more chained. Celestia was led to the front of the room where the judge looked down at her.

“Nightmare, this court has found evidence that you may in fact be Princess Celestia. However, until this evidence is found to be substantiated, you will remain under house arrest under the name ‘Nightmare.’ Do you understand?”

“I do.”

“In addition, you will be bonded to Miss Twilight Abigail Sparkle, which means you must be within thirty feet of her at all times.”

Celestia turned to look at Twilight, who was still sitting next to Luna. Twilight smiled at her before returning to look at the judge. “I understand, Your Honor.”

“You understand how bondings work, do you not, Nightmare?” Judge Hammer Wing gestured a unicorn guard over as Celestia nodded.

“Yes, I’m well acquainted to what it means, Your Honor.”

“Alright. Miss Sparkle, join us up here, please.” The judge gestured to Twilight, who stood up and walked over to Celestia. She looked up at her with a smile while restraining herself from doing more, then nodding to her.

The guard’s horn began to glow as Luna, Lighting Rod, and Judge Hammer Wing watched. “Miss Sparkle, do you accept this binding to this mare?”

Twilight nodded, standing straight with her head held high. “I do.”

“Very good. You understand the limitations this spell puts on you?”

“I do.”

“Place your hoof on Nightmare’s leg then.”

Twilight bit her tongue, her ears pinned back. Nightmare. All they can say is Nightmare… Keeping her mouth shut, Twilight placed her hoof on Celestia’s leg and gasped. Her fur was so soft; nothing like Twilight expected.

The guard’s horn glowed and a gold chain appeared, connecting Twilight’s hoof to Celestia. “The chain will fade after a day, just remember it is there.”

Twilight nodded, then turned to the judge. “Now that we are bound, would you please remove her restraints?”

Judge Hammer Wing frowned. “Be very careful in what you ask, Miss Sparkle. Legally, yes; her restraints can be removed if you request it, but do you really want her to be able to fly or cast magic?”

Twilight looked away from the judge and instead up at Celestia. “If she were to fly, I would be upon her back, and I have no fear of any spell she might cast.”

Celestia smiled slowly as a tear fell down her cheek.

Judge Hammer Wing shrugged. “Alright. Guards, remove the restraints from the prisoner.” Her shackles were slowly removed, followed by the cloth that bound her wings, which she immediately stretched out in an effort to get the kinks out. With a nod, she lowered her head so the the nullifier could be slid off of her horn.

“Alright, I think that's everything. Case dismissed.”

The remaining ponies stood up as the judge exited the bench. Twilight finally seized the opportunity to nuzzle into Celestia’s chest. Celestia smiled, bending down her neck to embrace her.

“I knew you could do it, my most faithful student. I just knew it.”

Chapter 3

Luna snorted, watching as the prosecutor left the courtroom with his briefcase levitating behind him. “Good riddance. You should have heard him, Sister... Accusing Twilight Sparkle of willfully risking her friends’ lives. Bah, a pox on him!”

Celestia watched as he walked away, her ear flicked twice before she closed her eyes. “Relax, Luna, he was only trying to do his job. Something that—had I truly been infected with the Nightmare—you would have appreciated, I’m sure.”

Luna simply snorted before walking over and nuzzling her sister’s cheek. “How are you? I hope you are not in any way harmed from the time which you spent in the dungeons?”

Celestia shook her head. “No Luna, I’m fine. After all, I was only down there for a few hours. Although, I think it would be a good idea to have have the dungeons updated and perhaps given a new name; ‘dungeon’ is rather ominous, don’t you agree?”

Luna shrugged. “They have always served their purpose, whether we call them dungeons or something else, but enough about that. Are you hungry? I know that Twilight has not had anything to eat this morning, and I must admit I myself am too wired to sleep, so…” Luna paused, noticing Celestia look away from her

“Celestia, what was that about?” Luna lifted an eyebrow.

“Well, you heard the judge: until they get more proof, nopony is going to believe who I am. That means I won’t be allowed to hold the court I normally do each day.” Celestia pawed at the floor with her ears pinned back.

“Why is it that I sense I’m not going to like what you say next, Sister?” Luna groaned as she closed her eyes for a moment, a mild headache forming right under her horn.

“Most likely because you already know what I’m going to say, Luna. We are a diarchy. When one of us is unable to fulfil our duties…”

“Then the other must take over. Yes, Tia, I recall. Well... if I hadn’t been convinced that it was only you in there, I would be now. I suppose you expect me to change to a diurnal sleep schedule then?” Luna asked with a grin.

“I thought you were trying to do that anyway, to better get to know the ponies of today?” Celestia asked, cocking her head.

“I tease, Sister, I tease. Yes, I’m trying to become a... how do you say... ‘day pony’? Though, it is not the easiest thing in the world.” Luna swatted at Celestia with her wing as Celestia grinned.

“I wouldn’t know, as the morning never started without my already being awake.” Celestia lifted a hoof and placed it on Luna’s muzzle.

Luna’s lips teased into a smile as she stuck her tongue out. Twilight blinked. “I don't think I’ve ever seen you like this before, Princess…”

Celestia smiled down at Twilight while trying to conceal her much sharper teeth. “I’m afraid, my dear Twilight, that Luna always manages to get through my mask even more than you can, Twilight.” Celestia hesitated, her smile fading away as she laid down on her belly before Twilight so that they were face to face. “Twilight, a-about yesterday, about what I said... I’m sorry, Twilight. I know you so well I should have at least checked to see if you might be right. But I… It was so soon after your, ah... ‘episode’ that I… I’m sorry for doubting you. Can you forgive your foolish teacher, my most faithful student?”

Twilight smiled and hesitated a moment at the sight of Celestia’s mane crackling around her head before nuzzling to her cheek. It’s warm… comforting, almost not hot. It’s like Celestia. “I forgive you, Princess. After all, I could have gone about my accusations better as well. I mean, the way I came in like that... If I hadn’t been me, I don’t think I would’ve believed me, so please understand that I was at fault too, and I know this, ok?”

Celestia smiled. She returned the nuzzle, relieved that her precious student wasn’t angry with her, then her lips set.

“...I’m so glad you aren’t upset with me, Twilight Sparkle. But the fact remains that, because I doubted you, our country was almost conquered, and I don't think they would have let us just continue on with our normal lives; not with the way so many of our guards were wrapped up. I feel we would of been treated akin to juice boxes, and I can never allow that to happen again.”

Twilight nodded. “Yes, I agree, but what can we do to stop it next time?”

Celestia glanced over at Luna, who stared back at her with narrowed eyes. “No. Tia, you can’t be considering that.”

“I am more than considering it, Luna. I plan to do it,” Celestia replied, before standing up.

“You are mad! Don’t you remember what happened to the last three ponies that had that rite performed?” Luna asked, a shiver traveling down her body, the fur from the tips of her ears to the end of her tail standing on end.

“I do,” Celestia stated simply, before smiling down at Twilight. “But with Twilight, I’m certain that neither of us will go through what they did.”

“You’ll need my assistance to do this, but I refuse to until you explain everything to Twilight Sparkle. Completely no secrets, Celestia.” Luna groaned as her belly growled. “...Preferably after we all have some breakfast. Stand close to me. I’ll teleport us back to your room, Sister, then we can send for breakfast to be delivered.”

Twilight blinked in confusion while watching the back-and-forth between the sisters until Luna mentioned breakfast, at which point Twilight’s stomach gently reminded her of its own emptiness as she trotted over close to Luna, but was very mindful to stay within range of Celestia.

Luna’s horn glowed and the three of them vanished in a flash of blue light, only to appear back in Celestia’s room.

Celestia glanced over to see her glass door shattered and raised an eyebrow at Luna, who shrugged with a goofy grin. Celestia simply rolled her eyes, her horn glowing as the glass pieces flew back into place.

Luna grinned, rubbing the back of her head. “Yeah... Sorry about that, Tia. I was in a bit of a panic.”

Celestia just shook her head while closing and locking her balcony doors. “Now let's get some breakf—” She stopped and sighed, catching sight of her black hoof. “That’s right... Luna, you should be the one to request breakfast. Pancakes and eggs should be good, I believe. Twilight?”

Twilight glanced around Celestia’s room. It wasn’t often that she was in here, and even then it was usually to see something which Celestia was loathe to let out of her sight. She blinked upon hearing her name. “Huh? Oh yes, that’d be fine.”

Luna shrugged and opened the door to speak quietly with the guard standing there. Twilight saw him peer into the room before he turned back to Luna, obviously in doubt of doing what she requested. Luna simply stared at him until he slowly walked away down the hall.

“Celestia, your guards have very hard heads.” Luna snorted as she closed the door and retreated to the couch, where she lazily rolled onto her back.

“The phrase is ‘hard-headed’ and they are no worse than the Lunar guards, I assure you.” Celestia smirked as she sat in front of the fire, poking at the fading embers until it began coming back to life. “Come sit with me, Twilight. The closer we are, the faster this—” She held up the hoof chained to Twilight by a thick golden chain, “—will fade away from sight. Not to mention that the physical representation of it is the smallest amount itchy, to be honest.”

Twilight bit back her giggles and sat next to Celestia’s side, smiling as Celestia’s wing was wrapped around her. “I like your room, Princess. It’s warm, like you.”

Celestia shook her head, but smiled down at Twilight. “I find, my faithful student, that a pony’s personal living quarters is one of the places their true personalities can be fully in view. You say my room is warm, but I’m rather fond of your room, Twilight. Both of them they smell like parchment and that reminds me of you, my faithful Twilight.”

Twilight blushed. “Really?”

Celestia nodded with a smile. “Although the smell of dragon fire also reminds me of you, for obvious reasons.” Celestia blinked as a flash of green fire materialized a scroll. “Well, speak of the dragon. Let's see.” She slowly opened the parchment and smiled as she read its contents. “It’s from your friends. They just wanted to check up on you and make sure you aren’t angry enough to stay here forever, because then Pinkie would be unable to give you a ‘Yay You Were Right About Princess Cadance Not Being The Real Princess Cadance and Saving Her Party and That Would Make Pinkie Super Duper Bummed Out’ party.”

Twilight giggled. “Oh geeze, I hope Pinkie doesn’t try to put all that on a banner... Not that she couldn’t; trust me, I’ve seen her do weirder things. But, well…”

Celestia nodded. “Yes, of course. I understand. Would you like me to write to Spike and let them know that I need you here in Canterlot to assist me with a problem?”

Twilight chewed her lip. “I would be careful on how you phrased it, Princess. Otherwise, they’ll think that you might be a changeling as well and come up here ready to attack you, and then if they saw you like… you are, well... I don’t want any of you hurt. Let me write the response, Princess.”

Luna saw Celestia’s ears pin back as she remembered why Twilight was there. “I know it’s difficult, Tia, but we have the greatest magician since Star Swirl the Bearded here to help us. If anypony can return you to your normal self, it is Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight flushed bright red as she wrote the letter to Spike, assuring him and her friends that she did not hate them, but that she needed to stay in Canterlot to help Princess Celestia until her horn was healed after the magical feed back burn she received. Twilight signed her name, confident that if Spike was unable to explain what a ‘magical feedback burn’ was, Rarity would at least have some kind of idea. Well, at least she hoped Rarity would know what it was. “Princess, would you send this back to Spike, please?”

Celestia nodded before placing her seal on the scroll and concentrating, sending the scroll back to Spike with a burst of green light.

Luna watched, a single eyebrow raised in interest. “You are going to have to teach me that trick, Sister. I imagine it is highly useful.”

“It only works if the recipient is a dragon, I’m afraid. Otherwise the spell is useless.” Celestia smiled, closing her eyes to enjoy the warmth of the fire when she heard a knock on the door. “That must be our breakfast. Luna, would you mind?”

Luna shook her head, lazily getting up off of the couch. She went over to the door and opened it to reveal a maid with a solar guard behind her. “Thank you, I’ll place the cart outside in the hall when we’ve finished with it.”

The maid nodded, trembling as she caught sight of the large black mare. She allowed Luna to take the cart before quickly bowing and turning away.

Luna snorted as she closed the door. “It is not as if you are laughing manically and swearing the Moon will never rise again; you are just sitting there.”

Celestia shrugged. “It’s alright, Luna, I understand her fear. I’m just glad to have you and Twilight here beside me. I don’t know what I would do were I alone.”

Twilight nuzzled against Celestia’s wing. “It’s alright, Princess. I’m not going anywhere we figure this out... I just know we will.”

Luna nodded in agreement, bringing over the three plates of pancakes and eggs. “Indeed, Celestia. We would never doubt you.”

Celestia took the warmed syrup and poured it liberally over her pancakes. “I know, and I love you both for that. What I worry about are the ponies who may hear a rumor or such. Ponies who think they know what is going on are often times more dangerous than ponies who do know what is truly going on.”

---

“I can’t believe it... Are you certain, Lighting Rod?”

Lighting Rod nodded. Once the case had been dismissed and the bond had been forged between the Nightmare and that foolish Sparkle mare, he had hurried as quickly as his legs could carry him to the only pony who could possibly help him: his old school friend and Princess Celestia’s nephew, Prince Blueblood. “I’m telling you the truth, Your Highness.”

Blueblood took a sip of his mocha before licking the bit of chocolate from his top lip... in a regal manner, mind you. “And Auntie Luna and that ruffian student of Auntie Celestia were both there? They were calling for the Nightmare’s release?”

“That’s right, they said just the right things and the judge crumbled. I didn’t even see the point in questioning Princess Luna. The only good news is that she is bound to Twilight Sparkle.” Lighting Rod closed his eyes. The caffeine from the espresso he was sipping was not helping his nerves but he didn’t know what else to do.

“So the judge freed the Nightmare and bound her to Twilit Spackle? Was it not obvious the mare was entranced?” Blueblood cocked his head. “Or is there something you have not mentioned?”

“Yes... well, it seems that Miss Sparkle is immune to the Nightmare due to the Element she is bonded to. The judge felt binding her and the Nightmare would be enough protection.” Lightning Rod sighed, swallowing the rest of his shot.

“What does this mare mean to do? Act in my dear auntie’s place? Run court? Be seen at parties with a black coat? Egads, imagine the fashion!” Blueblood shivered at the idea of what fashion would be like if all the styles were dedicated to dark coats.

“Ah... Yes, Your Highness, but what should we do about it?”

“Right this moment? Nothing. We’ll bide our time until, well… I’m certain that an opportunity will present itself to stop Nightmare once again.” Blueblood grinned as he finished his mocha. “I simply must wait.”

Chapter 4

Author's Notes:

Before I get to this chapter, I'd like to explain why Celestia was arrested and the trial. The reason she was arrested, is that simply put, she looks like a Nightmare version of herself, and as it's only been a single day since the changelings attempted to invade the guards are on high alert. They don't want to be caught with their pants down again so to speak.

As for the trial, it wasn't one it was more akin to a bail hearing. Celestia was arrested but is she going to be allowed to go home before her trial, or does she stay in jail? That's all that was. I hope that helps with any confusion!

Celestia swallowed the last bit of her breakfast and licked her lips. “I must admit, eating was a bit more difficult than I thought it was going to be. These sharp teeth truly aren’t just for looks, are they?”

Luna smiled and shrugged. “Celestia, if there was one thing I’m thankful about you banishing me so quickly after I became the Nightmare is that I never did find out for certain if those sharp teeth were necessary.” She put a hoof to her chin and considered. “However, it does seem that we will be forced to find out whether they truly are.” She shook her head in dismissal. “A problem for another day.”

Twilight quietly stacked the dishes, levitating them back onto the cart before returning to where the sisters were now sipping tea. “So, what happens now?”

Celestia smiled gently. “Well, there is something I do wish to discuss with you, Twilight.”

Luna sighed. “I think this is foolish, Tia. It’s likely to drive you both insane.”

Twilight sat down and licked her lips. “Insane? W-why would something that Princess Celestia thinks will help drive me insane?”

“I specified that it would drive you both insane, Twilight Sparkle, but I will allow Celestia to explain it, as it was her spell to begin with, after all.” Luna took a deep sip of her tea, getting comfortable on the couch to watch.

Celestia smiled. “Come here and sit with me, Twilight, so that I may tell you a story?”

Twilight nodded and sat next to Celestia, smiling as she laid her large black wing over her back. It feels exactly the same…

“Long ago, during one of the many battles which occurred not long after the windigos were banished, I noticed that several of the soldiers were having a problem; a very difficult problem to handle. You see, this was the first time ponies of different races battled with one another and not against one another, so there was distrust between them, to the point that even I could sense it. I wasn’t as you know me now, Twilight. In fact, I’m not certain if I’d be able to describe exactly what I was at the time... I suppose the simplest explanation is that I was a spirit?” Celestia looked over to Luna. “Would that be how you’d describe us, Luna?”

Luna considered for a moment and shrugged. “As best an analogy as any I suppose, Sister.”

Celestia nodded. “You see, Twilight, Luna and I have always been here, just not always as ponies. The easiest way to describe me, I suppose, is that I am the part of the sun, which is a pony. It’s a bit more complicated than that, but for now, that will do. Now, seeing all these soldiers filled with distrust caused me pain. I hurt for them, so I decided I would help them.”

Twilight looked into the fire as she tried to imagine what it must have been like to be alive that long ago. Though she knew the history behind it, the idea that ponies used to fight one another because of their race was hard for Twilight to really understand, even after being in the Hearth’s Warming play last winter.

“I’m afraid I chose a poor way to help them, Twilight. You see, I decided... well, I thought if they could understand what the others did then they would more easily be able to trust one another, and so I linked them. Three stallions: a Pegasus, an Earth pony, and a Unicorn.”

“What do you mean by ‘linked,’ Princess? You mean you bound them to one another like we are?”

Twilight looked up at Celestia to see her looking away. Why won’t she look at me?

“N-not exactly, Twilight, I bound them far deeper. You see, I made it so that they would be able to see one another’s thoughts; there would be no secrets between them. They also were able to use one anothers’ strengths. An example is that the earth pony was able to use magic in a similar way as the unicorn would. It was supposed to make them comrades... brothers... b-but it was to much too soon.”

“What happened to them, Princess?”

“They went mad, Twilight Sparkle. I watched them as they battled against one another. Even in their dreams they were never alone in their own heads.” Luna closed her eyes and shivered. “It was horrifying.”

“It was more than that, Twilight. It got to the point where they couldn’t handle being away from one another… They found a spell created by dark magic; something that to this day I cannot understand. Their only desire was to be as one, and this magic granted it.” Celestia looked down at Twilight, her crackling mane seemingly limp, almost as if the fire within was dying. “They became Discord, Twilight.”

Twilight stared up into Celestia’s eyes, gaping in shock as she tried to process what she was just told. “Y-you mean you created Discord, Princess Celestia?”

“Yes, and that is why Luna and I are ponies. First, we were born to stop Discord, but also as a punishment. I was being punished for creating Discord in the first place, and Luna… Luna was punished for not stopping me. The universe thought that after a few millennia as ponies we would be crying out for forgiveness.” Celestia smiled and wrapped her wing tighter around Twilight before nuzzling her cheek. “I no longer see it as a punishment. I am happy as a pony, happy to be Princess Celestia.”

“I feel the same, Twilight Sparkle. Yes, I tantrumed for a bit, not understanding the wonder of the gift I was given, but I have put that behind me now.” Luna smiled before trotting back to sit with them. “It seems the Universe is not as all-seeing as Celestia and I believed it to be.”

Twilight closed her eyes as she was embraced by two ponies she loved and who loved her back. “Princess Celestia is… are you wanting to use the same spell on me?”

Celestia nodded. “Yes, but don’t worry, Twilight. See, the difference between those three stallions and you and I is simple: we already trust and love one another. This is just a backup in case one of us isn’t acting as we normally do.” She placed a black hoof on her chest with a smile. “Case and point.”

“I-I think I understand, but what will this mean for me and for you?” Twilight asked as she left the comfort of Celestia’s wing so to more easily look up at her.

“Well, first and foremost, if we wish to we’ll be able to sense one another’s thoughts, though if at all possible I ask that you not speak within my mind. Luna and I have both had some bad experiences with voices in our heads.” Celestia grinned a bit cheekily as Luna rolled her eyes.

Twilight managed to contain the giggles threatening to escape as she nodded. “Alright, noted: no speaking in your mind unless it’s an emergency. What else?”

“Well, you and I will be drawn together as, how do I put this... more than friends.” Celestia blushed as Twilight’s eyes widened.

“You mean I’ll see you as a l-lover?”

Celestia shrugged. “It is entirely possible, but only if the feelings were there prior to this. Otherwise, our bond would be more akin to sisters.”

Twilight thought for a few moments. Do I feel that way for Celestia? I know I have admiration for her. I trust and love her, but do I love her like that? I’m just not sure... “Is there anything else?”

Celestia gazed at the floor, not able to even look at Twilight. “As I mentioned, the stallions under this bond were able to use one anothers’ talents. There is a high probability that you may find yourself as an alicorn, Twilight.”

Luna watched as Twilight’s eyes widened to a degree Luna would of thought impossible before witnessing it for herself.

“An alicorn? Me? Princess, I love you, but I don’t think…” Twilight stopped, feeling a bit tongue tied as she saw Celestia looking down at her with a slightly guilty expression on her face.

“Truthfully, Twilight, I’ve long hoped that you would be able to become an alicorn. I believe this would only amount in speeding up the inevitable.”

“She has told me many times, Twilight Sparkle, and I must agree that it does appear entirely likely that you would prove yourself to walk upon the celestial path. This is just a... ah, how you say... a kick to your bottom?” Luna tried to look serious even as a smile tugged at her lips. “Not that we would be unhappy to have you join us. I quite believe that you would breathe a breath of fresh air into some of these stuffy meetings Celestia and I must attend.”

Twilight simply stared into the fire. An alicorn? Me? And Princess Celestia felt it was going to happen anyways?

“It’s even more than that, Twilight. You see, until we can either change me back to me or come up with a reason for why I look like this, I’m going to need a regent to take over both my duties as Princess of the Day but also the guiding of the sun. Luna can do it temporarily, of course, but she has her own duties and responsibilities, and... well, Twilight, it comes down to this: there are only three ponies alive who are allowed to be regent to me. The first is Princess Cadance, but seeing as she is on her honeymoon and has a destiny of her own, I am loathe to recall her. The second is my only living blood relative other than Luna: my nephew, Blueblood. However, you’ve seen enough of his antics to understand why I cringe at having to choose him. My final choice is you, Twilight, my beloved personal and most faithful student. Not only do I hold you in the highest regards and trust you, but I also know you are capable enough and strong enough to survive this without going mad.”

Twilight closed her eyes as her ears pinned back. “Princess, I won’t pretend to deny that I, like all other fillies, have had dreams and fantasies of being a princess. In fact, I may have had those thoughts far more often than most, what with both my teacher and foal sitter being princesses. And I will never deny that my dream has always to be by your side, but I always felt it would be as your assistant, like Raven, or in my greatest dreams, your arch mage… This, what you are asking of me, goes so far beyond anything I even thought could be true. M-may I have just a few moments to think alone? Or as alone as I can be, that is,” she finished a bit lamely, glancing down at the still-visible gold chain connecting her to Celestia.

“Oh yes, of course, Twilight. Let's see... Luna, can you help me move the couch about thirty feet away from the balcony? Twilight can go and sit out there while I stay in here with the door closed. Will that be enough privacy, my faithful student?” Celestia smiled before nuzzling her cheek.

“It will suffice nicely. Thank you, Princess.” Twilight smiled, returning the nuzzle as Luna carefully moved the couch into position. Celestia clamored onto it then nodded to Twilight.

“Alright go on outside take as long as you need Twilight.” With that said Celestia laid her head down closing her eyes as Twilight trotted outside closing the door behind her.

Twilight sat down once the door was closed; if she hadn’t she was certain she would’ve fallen.

“An alicorn… like Princess Celestia, and Luna and Cadance.” She shook her head. “Alright, Twilight, get it together. Pros and cons. Pro: as an alicorn I'd have access to unlimited magic. Con: alicorns have a very long life span; some even speculate they are immortal… Pro: Rainbow Dash will have a new flying buddy; con: I’ll see her and all the rest of my friends die. Pro: I’ll be able to help Applejack without my unicorn magic. Pro: I’ll be able to take over some of the paperwork which keeps Luna so busy; I know Pip would love to see her again. Pro: I’ll be with Princess Celestia; con: I… I’ll have to leave Ponyville.” Twilight sighed, rubbing her temples.

“More pros than cons, but are the cons still outweighing the pros?”

Twilight looked out over the city, able to just see Ponyville in the distance. “I’ll be able to always be with Princess Celestia and make sure she's not alone. She's done so much for me... I can do this for her. I can be by her side as a sister.” Twilight smiled to herself at an errant thought. “Besides, whom better than me to keep the memories of my friends alive for generations to come?” With that final thought, Twilight opened the door and walked back in.

“Alright, Princess Celestia, I’ll do it.”

Celestia lifted her head in surprise and smiled. “You will? Oh, Twilight, you don’t know what this means to me.”

Luna shook her head with a small chuckle. “I am not at all surprised that you decided to do this, Twilight, especially knowing how close you are to my sister. All I can say is that I look forward to calling you ‘Sister’ as well.”

Twilight licked her lips and smiled nervously up at Celestia. “Alright... w-what happens now?”

“Well, for now, my dear Twilight Sparkle, I’d prefer to just rest. This spell is better cast upon the rising of the sun, and I must admit my horn is still aching from that… Queen.” Celestia snorted, her mane crackling more fiercely around her head.

Luna placed a hoof on Celestia’s back. “Calm down, Celestia, calm down. Getting angry will do nothing to help you regain your power.”

Celestia snorted again, but her ears pinned back as if she had been chastised. “I know, Luna, but I am unable to do anything else. If I were not in this body or under this house arrest, I...I’d—”

“Go out looking for her? Celestia, listen to yourself; that doesn’t sound like the big sister I have always looked up to.” Luna frowned. “Tia, what is wrong?”

“I-I’m not sure... I just feel like it's more difficult to control my emotions as I normally do. I suspect it is another parting gift from the Nightmare.” Celestia laid her head down on her front leg and closed her eyes.

“Twilight, I’m going to go check on things. If you have need of me send a guard, alright?” Luna brushed Celestia’s mane from her eyes with a gentle hoof while looking into Twilight’s eyes for confirmation. Twilight nodded in reply. “Sister, I’ll return after setting the sun and raising the moon, alright?”

Celestia gave a small nod. “I understand.”

Luna hesitated a brief moment, then left the room after giving Twilight a comforting smile. The door clicked closed behind her.

Twilight looked down at Celestia and smiled. “Princess, I’m angry too, you know?”

Celestia opened a single glowing eye and peered up. “Well, I’m not exactly surprised. I mean, she did kidnap you and make us all think you were jealous…”

“Yes, that’s true... but do you know why I’m most angry, Princess?” Twilight asked, climbing onto the couch to snuggle up to Celestia.

“Why are you most angry, Twilight?” Celestia smiled softly while draping a wing around Twilight’s back. I bet it’s because I was hurt. Oh, Twilight…

“I’m most angry, Princess, because instead of coming to you or even Luna for help to plead their case when we might have been able to figure out a compromise of some type between our species, they instead treated us like non-sentient food sources and attacked!” Twilight closed her eyes tight. “And because of that, I have trouble feeling sorry for the fact they were starving, even though I know I should be.”

Celestia opened her eyes and looked at Twilight. “That… is amazingly insightful, Twilight. Why didn’t the queen come to us first? There's something that we’re missing here. First thing to do, I think, is figure out exactly where the changelings came from and then find out where they landed after Cadance and Shining Armor’s spell kicked them out of the city.” Celestia got off the couch and walked halfway across the room before she stopped. “And I can’t do any of that.” She sat down hard. “I can’t do anything to help my country nor anypony else. Oh, Twilight…”

Twilight quickly crossed the room and nuzzled up to Celestia’s chest. “Oh, Princess, i-it’s not forever, I’m sure! Working together we’ll get you back to your old self!”

Celestia held Twilight close to her and slowly ran her hoof through Twilight’s mane, silent tears running down her cheek.

Luna's Day At Court

Author's Notes:

No Twilight or Celestia in this chapter. This is all Luna.

Luna settled into Celestia’s throne and sighed as she tried to get comfortable. “Attention, everypony. My dear elder sister, Princess Celestia, has taken ill, and until she is well I shall be acting as a temporary regent to the day. With that said, I call this Court of the Day to open.”

A nervous looking green stallion stepped forward and bowed deeply. “Your Highness, the great and luminous Princess Luna.”

Luna waved a hoof at him. “Princess Luna is fine, my little pony. Now what is your petition?”

“Ah, well, that is... i-it’s a silly little thing…” He kept his eyes on the floor.

Luna smiled. “Come now, no petition is silly to myself or my sister.”

“Well, Princess Luna, I was hoping to get a loan. You see, I’m just starting out and my friend and I are trying to start a company.” He finally looked up.

“Oh, what type of company are you hoping to receive a loan to start?” Luna asked, curiously glancing at his cutie mark; it seemed to be an apple with a bite taken out of it.

“Well, you’ve seen the arcade cabinets around, haven’t you?” he asked, feeling a bit braver.

Luna nodded. “Indeed. In fact, I have one within my bedroom for my own personal use. Go on.”

“Well, we want to manufacture something like that, but to be used for more than just a single video game which any pony would be able to use. Such ideas we had include a hoof writing program and even an electrical abacus for computing. We call our idea a ‘computer.’”

Luna tapped her chin. “Well, now I am intrigued... How much of a loan are you young stallions hoping for?”

He coughed delicately. “Twenty two hundred bits, Your Highness.”

Luna cocked her head in consideration. “I will give you a loan of one hundred thousand bits if I receive twenty percent ownership. Is that fair, my good colt?”

The stallion suddenly froze and then nodded slowly, coming to grips with the reality that the offer was actually happening. “O-of course, Princess Luna... Thank you, thank you!”

Luna smiled. “Honed Edge, please make a receipt for the colt. Er, what is your name, my little pony?”

The stallion blinked. “Oh, I almost completely forgot! My name is Apple Chip.”

“Very well, Apple Chip. Honed Edge, please write a receipt for Apple Chip to take down to the treasury. I greatly look forward to seeing what you and your friend can do.”

Apple Chip bowed deeply and beamed. “Thank you, Princess Luna, thank you so very much!” He took the piece of parchment from the guard and practically skipped from the throne room.

Luna couldn’t help but give a small smile. “That was quite enjoyable. What is next?”

“Next is a young couple with their newborn filly. They were actually wanting to speak with you anyways so this works out well, Your Highness.”

“Wonderful, have them enter.” Luna smiled as the couple came in pushing a carriage.

“Your Highness, Princess Luna. I am Willow and this is my husband, Orion. We were hoping you would bless our first born filly; her name is Nightshade.”

Luna got up and slowly crept over to the carriage and peeked into it to see the dark blue filly peering up with big blue eyes and a stuck up dark green mane. “She's wide awake.”

“Oh yes, normally she's only up when the moon is. I think she sensed we were coming to see you, Your Highness.” Willow smiled gently. “We feel she's destined to be part of the night.”

Luna blinked at that and gave a warm smile. “May I hold her?”

Willow nodded. “Oh yes, of course, Princess Luna! We’d be honored, right, Orion?”

The stallion smiled. “We would, yes.”

Luna carefully lifted Nightshade into her hooves. “Hello, Nightshade. I am Princess Luna, and in the name of the night I wish to bless you, my little filly. May you shine as bright as the moon and may your intelligence be as vast as the stars in the sky. May every one of your dreams come true.” With that, Luna kissed both of Nightshade’s cheeks, hearing the filly’s happy burbles before laying her back in her carriage.

Nightshade looked up and her lip trembled. “Ah… Ah!”

Luna placed her hoof on her nose. “Relax, child, I have a gift for you.” Luna ran a hoof through her mane, capturing a single star and placing the star in her green mane. “Have no fear; it won’t hurt your dear filly.”

Willow blushed and bowed before receiving her daughter once more. “Thank you! Oh, thank you, Princess Luna!”

Luna smiled and waved as the new family walked out. Luna continued to smile as she returned to her throne. “So far this has been wonderful! Who is next?”

The crier hesitated, not wanting to ruin Luna’s streak of positive petitions but having no choice. “Announcing Prince Blueblood!”

The corners of Luna’s lips twitched as her nephew trotted into the throne room, not even bothering to bow. “Yes, nephew? What is it?” Celestia had told her once how Blueblood was the ancestor of their brother who had been a mortal earth pony, though Luna sometimes wondered what happened to her brother’s charity; he was well known for it, but looking at his many-greats grandson that was obviously not an inherited trait.

“Auntie Luna, I was informed that the Nightmare which took you from us so long ago was spotted again!” Blueblood modeled his face to look worried, though Luna could see the gleam in his eyes.

“Yes, Blueblood, that is true, but the situation has been taken care of.” Luna forced herself to keep her wings folded against her sides. Calm down, Luna, he is only trying to give reason why you should not be regent. Just breathe...

“Then the Nightmare has once again been chained and banished?” Blueblood perked his head just so.

“The Nightmare has been dealt with, Blueblood, that is all I can tell you at this time.” Luna breathed through her nostrils, slowly keeping her voice even.

“Oh? Well, my friend from colthood, he was the prosecutor in the case against Nightmare. He stated that Auntie Celestia was taken by the Nightmare, is that not true?” Blueblood allowed a bit of satisfaction to show on his face as Luna flexed her wings.

“Yes, that is true, Blueblood. Your aunt was damaged due to the changelings attacking, though she is not being controlled by the Nightmare.” Luna gritted her teeth but managed to speak cordially with her nephew.

“Oh dear! Poor Auntie! Can anything be done for her appearance?” Blueblood brought a hoof to his mouth in mock concern.

“We are doing all we can to help Celestia through this, I have no doubt this will be a temporary thing.”

“Oh, then you mean to act as regent until Auntie Celestia is well again?” Blueblood smiled with an almost hidden sneer.

“Nephew, I will fill in for Celestia until I am no longer needed.” Luna briefly closed her eyes.

“I see... and what of your duties to the night?” Blueblood smiled, his eyes staring straight into Luna’s.

“This will be very temporary, Blueblood; a new temporary day regent has been found. It should only be a day or two until I am able to return to my own duties.” Luna smiled at him. Oh, I am going to enjoy this!

“A n-new regent? I thought cousin Mi Amore Cadenza was still enjoying her honeymoon?”

“I believe she prefers to be called ‘Cadance,’ and yes: she is still on her honeymoon and Celestia refuses to recall her.”

“Well then, who will be taking Auntie Celestia’s spot? Er, temporarily, I mean?” Blueblood caught himself before his fur began to stand up.

“Oh, the choice was simple: her most faithful and beloved student and personal protege, Twilight Sparkle, will be taking over.” Luna smiled in satisfaction.

Blueblood’s ear flicked a bit as he gained a barely noticeable twitch to his right eye. “T-twilight Spackle, you say?”

“Sparkle. And yes, Celestia is quite certain she is right for the job, and I must agree. After all, without Twilight I never would have been reunited with my dear sister or regained my sanity. She is truly my savior, now was there anything else?” Luna smiled cocking her head.

“Ah, yes... Well, I would like to receive my weekly allowance?” Blueblood hesitantly asked.

Luna nodded. “Of course. Honed Edge, please give my nephew a receipt to take to the treasury so he may withdraw his allowance.”

Blueblood took the slip of paper and walked out his tail between his legs.

Luna beamed over at Celestia’s guard captain. “That was far more enjoyable than I initially thought! Now, who is next?”

Chapter 5

Celestia watched the sunset with her ears pinned back against her head. “I haven’t watched the sun go down since I was just a little filly, Twilight. To know I am not the one setting it... It’s harder than I ever thought it would be. I don’t think I can even describe it.”

Twilight smiled up at Celestia. “Princess, just think of it this way: Luna is only doing for you what you willingly did for her the entire thousand years you were apart. When we get this figured out you will herald the sun once more, I promise.”

“I only hope that when that time comes, the sun will still recognize who I am.” Celestia rubbed her left foreleg above the barely visible chain with her right forehoof.

“Even if you are still like this, Princess, I’m certain the sun will not only recognize you but eagerly welcome you back.” Twilight nosed into Celestia’s coat softly.

The door opened and shut, admitting a very worn looking Luna who wiped a bit of sweat from her brow. “Your student speaks truth, Tia. Even as he was setting, he cried out for you to put him to bed. Convincing him took a bit more power than I’m used to... So what has been happening while I was tending your court?”

Celestia smiled. “My very inquisitive student asked me to write out the spell I’ll be using to bond the two of us. I think she's studied it long enough that she could cast it backwards while standing on her head, all while blindfolded.”

Twilight blushed and scuffed her hoof against the floor. “Oh, well I just wanted to understand how this spell worked, that's all. I mean, it is going to be cast on me. So, what happens now that it’s night?”

Luna yawned. “This night? Nothing, tonight we sleep. Celestia needs all her magic to cast this at dawn and I need all my energy to raise the sun tomorrow morning. I am sure it will be pinning for Tia just as much tomorrow as it has today, if not more.”

“Luna, you're being awful to Helios; I do not speak that way of Diana.” Celestia snorted before moving over to make room for Luna on the couch.

“Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry, Tia, he is just a bit more fussy than I’m used to. Come, Twilight Sparkle, lay between us in slumber.” Luna plopped down but left enough room for Twilight.

Twilight briefly hesitated before climbing in between them. “Alright. But, um... Who are Helios and Diana?”

Celestia grinned, her teeth gleaming a bit off of the fire. “The sun and the moon of course, Twilight. Although the sun isn’t truly a male as much as Luna claims otherwise. She named both of them when she was a foal, before we regained the memories of who we were.”

Twilight’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean you haven’t always known who you were?”

Celestia looked at Luna and both began laughing. Celestia got a hold of her giggles, answering Twilight first. “Oh my, imagine how that would have been for our parents; two foals demanding to be worshiped as the sun and moon… Oh no, Twilight, we were normal children until I was fourteen and Luna was twelve. That was when we began to have dreams of our past, and I must admit we did not react well.”

“What do you mean, Princess?” Twilight asked, rolling onto her back to see both of them better.

Luna shamefully looked away, causing Celestia to sigh before she began her explanation. “Well, Twilight, in our pasts we weren’t exactly the nicest of… well, anything. In fact, I’d give and even bet that windigos were nicer than Luna and I once were, so when we started seeing what we were, who we were, we rejected it. I went deeper into my work as a farmer, hoping to find a husband, and Luna began writing stories about her dreams. I must say, though: being a farmer during the Discordian Era was a fascinating—if not aggravating—experience. I’d go to bed having planted tomatoes and wake up to fully grown kiwi trees. It was… odd, to say the very least.

“Eventually, though, we came to the realization we could run no more, and at nineteen and seventeen years old we took control of the sun and moon and earned our cutie marks, and... well, you know the rest.” Celestia looked down to see Twilight’s eyes closed. Her fore legs were folded up to her chest, which was rising slowly. Celestia shook her head at Luna and smiled. “A good bedtime story always did put her right to sleep. Maybe I should let her read some of the stories you wrote, Lulu.”

“You still have them even after all this time?” Luna asked as Celestia nodded. Luna shook her head and smiled. “Hmm… Well, maybe, but I think I’ll make copies for her. Goodnight, Tia.”

“Goodnight, Lulu.” Celestia closed her eyes, falling into a deep and peaceful sleep. She felt safe being surrounded by her faithful student and beloved little sister.

---

Twilight murmured as Celestia lightly prodded her. “Come on, Twilight. I need you to wake up now, my faithful student.”

“Dun wanna... still night time... dark...” Twilight mumbled, turning onto her side and snuggling closer to the warm figure lying next to her.

Celestia rolled her eyes before glancing over at Luna, who was standing at the window while patiently waiting to raise the sun and set the moon. “Sorry, she's always been a bit difficult to wake up.”

Luna shook her head before rolling eyes. “Yes, it appears so. Is there anything you can do to more easily rouse her?”

“Yes, there is one thing... though I am loathe to employ it; she never reacts very well to it.” Celestia smirked while stroking Twilight’s mane. “Oh well, it can’t be helped. We need her awake for the bond to take place properly.” Celestia slowly bent her head down until her muzzle was right beside Twilight’s ear. “Twilight Sparkle, class started five minutes ago.”

With that simple statement, Twilight's eyes popped open and she jumped from the couch. “Oh no oh no oh no, I can’t be late, I just can’t! If I’m late then my homework won’t be on time and it'll be marked tardy! And if my homework is marked tardy then Princess Celestia will be disappointed with me and she’ll send me back a grade! Or worse yet, all the way back to…”

Twilight froze, her ear twitching as Luna watched her, not certain whether to be amused or frightened. “Magic kindergarten…”

Celestia quickly trotted over to her most beloved student, who was dancing in place with her mane already beginning to stick up in places. She gently placed a hoof on Twilight’s withers. “It's alright, Twilight, you aren’t late. I only said that to wake you up, now relax, dear. Come on, take a deep breath and release.”

It took a few moments, but Twilight finally calmed down enough to look up at Celestia, whose mane was actually normal hair for once. It was red and orange like the flames that now made up its crackling beauty; she was calmly running a brush through it. “I… I wasn’t aware you were able to turn your mane into hair like that, Princess.”

“Of course, Twilight. All I did was cut off the magic going to it, much like how when Luna was freed, her mane was normal, though with beautiful blue curls. Normally my non-powered mane is a delicate pink, though I shouldn’t find myself surprised that even non-powered, my mane mimics fire. What do you think of the idea of using fur dye to make my coat white again?” Celestia mused as she put her brush down and looked in the mirror to examine her work. Satisfied, she levitated her tooth brush to carefully brush her new, much sharper teeth.

Twilight took the hairbrush in her aura and passed it through her own unwieldy mane. “I suppose you could try. Rarity has told me she's seen quite a few ponies make use of it, especially models hoping to get a job modeling a certain fashionista's works.”

Celestia nodded. “I do suppose that makes sense.” She then blinked and glanced over to Luna. “Oh! Luna, I’m so sorry, my deepest apologies.”

“Oh no, don’t worry about me. You two just chat, I can keep it night until the guards come, at least.” Luna stated dryly, crossing her fore legs and looking directly in Celestia’s direction with her eyebrow raised.

Celestia glanced down at her black body and swallowed. “Right, I forgot... Alright, Luna, raise the sun. I’m ready.” Walking ever so slowly, Celestia led Twilight back over to the balcony door. “It’ll work best if we are outside where the sun can touch us.”

Twilight nodded, opening the door as the moon drifted below the horizon. Just as the sun was about to rise, Celestia placed her horn against Twilight’s and captured her lips in a kiss as her horn steadily glowed. Twilight’s eyes widened as she felt the magic being forced into her body; it almost hurt, there was so much of it. She felt a slight itching on her back before she heard a sound she hoped to never encounter again. It sounded like a balloon filled with jelly or custard was split open, but even as Twilight tried to figure out what the sound was, Celestia refused to release her. If anything, the magic being transferred to her became stronger and more painful, causing Twilight to force her eyes closed and scream.

The pain... Oh, Celestia, it hurts! Make it stop, make it st—

Author's Notes:

Yes, I know leaving it here is awful... but I can't help myself it screams cliffhanger!

Chapter 6

Twilight groaned and wrinkled her muzzle. “She's waking up, Luna. I told you she’d handle it far better than the other three did.”

“It seems you were right, Celestia. Still, I think she should be seen by one of the doctors.”

“Not until she's fully awake. Otherwise, imagine what they might think.”

Twilight heard the sound of hoof steps coming closer. “Twilight? Twilight, can you open your eyes?” Twilight’s eyes slowly fluttered a bit before finally opening to see Celestia smiling down at her. “Good morning! I was starting to get worried, how do you feel?”

“S-sore...” Twilight answered. Honestly, there wasn’t a spot on her body that did not feel like it was in agony.

“That’s understandable. Luna, do you have the aspirin?” Celestia asked, turning to where her sister was resting near the fireplace.

Luna nodded, floating the small white bottle over with a glass of water. Celestia removed a few pills and held them out. “Open your mouth, Twilight.” Once Twilight’s mouth was open, Celestia placed the pills on her tongue and helped her sit up enough to drink the water.

Twilight lay back down with a moan. “Ugh… Why do I hurt so much?”

Celestia blushed while looking down at her hooves. “Ah, well, I may have given you a bit too much of my power; your mortal body was having a bit of trouble accepting it.”

Twilight nodded the smallest amount she was able to without causing her head to feel even more like it was about to shatter. “Kay, I get that. So what happened?”

“Well, to put it simply, it seems that the spell caused all of your nerves to misfire and your blood to boil. It, in lay-pony terms, killed you then brought you back as an immortal. Your body is still healing, though it’s gone through a lot to throw off the mortal coil, so to speak.” Celestia grinned nervously.

Twilight simply looked up at Celestia, her mouth opening and closing a few times. “Can I go see the doctor? Something tells me that these two aspirins is not going to be enough…”

Luna shook her head. “Of course, Twilight. Just relax here and I’ll go fetch a doctor to take a look at you.” Luna’s horn glowed and she turned to a starry mist before flowing under the door of the room Twilight quickly realized she and Celestia were being held in.

“Don’t worry, Twilight, it’s not as bad as you are thinking. And the spell did work.” Celestia smiled, laying down on the floor beside her head, down on her forelegs. “The pain will go away quickly, just give it time.”

Twilight closed her eyes with a quiet moan. Several minutes of just laying there and Twilight had to admit that she was indeed starting to feel better, though her legs and back continued to pain her and her head felt as if it was attempting to split in two. “Ugh…”

“Right in here, doctor, just don’t be surprised.” Twilight opened her eyes as she heard Luna’s voice right before the door opened. Following after Luna was a young unicorn mare wearing a white coat and levitating a medical bag along with her.

“O-oh my, what on Equestria happened?” She hurried over to where Twilight was laying on her belly. “I’ve never seen anything like this!”

Luna rubbed her foreleg. “Ah, yes... well, since Celestia’s magic has been permanently changed, the sun deigned it upon itself to find another to assist in guiding the day, and since young Twilight Sparkle was already so close to my sister as well as myself, along with how very powerful she is… well, she was the ideal choice, you understand?”

“Ah, I see... I think? Anyway, it appears that Twilight Sparkle is in massive amounts of pain. I can’t imagine that she wouldn’t have been, though seeing what her body has been through... Twilight? Are you allergic to any kinds of medicine?” the doctor kindly asked while taking a small bottle and syringe from her bag.

“Huh? Uh, no, I don’t believe so. I mean, it’s never come up before. Why?” Twilight cocked her head and hissed in pain.

“Well, I’m going to give you a small dose of morphine until I can get you connected to an I.V. Is there anything I should be aware of?” the doctor asked, carefully withdrawing the right amount from the small bottle.

“Uh huh. I’m bound to Princess Celestia by court order, so I can’t go more than thirty feet from her.” Twilight winced a bit as the needle was injected into her back leg.

“Well, that is a bit of a problem, but not something that is impossible to deal with.” The doctor pulled out the syringe, applying gentle pressure to the injection site. As her eyes took in the image of the worried Nightmare, she smiled. “Not a worry, Princess Celestia. Twilight Sparkle will be fine. I wonder, though...” She considered, tapping her chin.

Celestia placed her full attention on the doctor. “What is it, Doctor Red Mane?”

“Well, I was just wondering if the court may revisit its findings if you were to meet with Doctor True Thought under the effect of a Truth Stone. Mind you, Princess Luna would have to sign off on it, but from what I remember due my residency in psych, Truth Stone findings are still admissible in court?” Doctor Red Mane shrugged while packing up her medical bag. “Are you up to carrying Twilight Sparkle? We need to get her to the medical wing and onto an I.V.”

Celestia nodded, gently levitating Twilight onto her back and placing a blanket on her to keep her comfortable. “As for the truth stone, what do you think, Luna? It’s your decision after all.”

Luna watched Twilight wince as she attempted to get comfortable on Celestia’s back. “If this Truth Stone will indeed make it easier to free you from this bond the judge had placed upon you and Twilight Sparkle, I will agree to it in a second.”

Doctor Red Mane nodded as she opened the door. “I’ll have Doctor True Thought fetched at once, then.” She stood back and allowed Celestia to walk into the hallway as Twilight snuggled into her fiery mane. “No need for you to fret, gentle guards. All four of us are headed directly to the medical wing; Twilight Sparkle has need of treatment.”

One of the guards moved in front of Celestia, his eyes narrowed .“Treatment of what kind? Did the Nightmare injure her, cause her pain?”

Celestia shook her head. “Hurt Twilight? I would never hurt Twilight! Please just let us get her to the medical wing. You can even follow us if you must.”

The pegasus guard looked to his partner, who shrugged. “Understand this: Twilight Sparkle is the little sister of my Captain and friend. I just want to make sure she’s alright.”

Celestia smiled softly at him. “Feather Free, I feel the very same way. I would never wish pain upon any of my little ponies, but especially never my dear little Twilight Sparkle.”

Feather Free stared up at her and blinked. The glowing eyes looking down at him were so familiar, so… Oh no! We’ve all made a horrible, dreadful mistake… His knees trembled as he fell to the ground, prostrating himself before her. “Oh, Princess Celestia, please forgive me. I was a fool not to see this sooner!”

Celestia found herself taking a step back in surprise. “See what, my faithful guard? I don’t understand...”

“Your eyes! Your eyes, Princess. While they may glow with a golden light, they share none of the hate and evil that the Nightmare cannot hide, they only show your kindness and worry! You have not meant any of us harm; you surrendered to Pussywillow and Starshine so that no pony would be harmed! Forgive us, for we are all fools.”

Celestia smiled gently before lifting his chin with her hoof. “All is forgiven, I promise, my dear faithful Feather Free. Now, stand up so you can accompany us to the hospital wing?”

Feather Free smiled and stood at attention, giving a firm salute before looking over to his partner. “White Noise, you see it, don’t you?”

The unicorn walked over and looked up into Celestia’s eyes as she smiled down at him. He took a deep trembling breath and nodded. “Y-yes, I see it, Feather. Please, Your Highness, forgive us and allow us to accompany you to the medical wing. We’ll keep you and Twilight Sparkle safe for however long you are both there.”’

Celestia nodded and followed after Doctor Red Mane with Feather Free and White Noise on opposite sides of her. Everything feels back to normal… She felt Twilight squirm on her back, a shiver running down her spine as her heart jumped into her throat. Almost, anyway. Is it true that I already harbored “those” feelings for Twilight?

Doctor Red Mane opened the door to a room with two beds. “Lay her on the one next to the I.V. pole, please, Princess. Gentlecolts, if you wish to stand guard, I ask you stay near the door; I need room for my nurse to assist me.”

The two guards nodded and stood on either side of the door, watching as Celestia levitated the blanket off of Twilight Sparkle, revealing the whimpering pony. Feather Free gasped before remembering his place as Doctor Red Mane poked her head out the door. “Strong Heart, I need you in here. Please bring an I.V. bag of saline with you!”

“Of course, Doctor, I’ll be right in!” A masculine voice called from a room down the hall.

Red Mane helped Twilight sit up via raising the head of the bed. “Twilight Sparkle, can you hear me?”

Twilight stared blankly at Red Mane and nodded. “Yes... can hear.”

Red Mane sighed in relief. “Good, the fact she's speaking is encouraging, but I still think a few days rest and some morphine will truly help her. In fact, I’d like to sedate her. I don’t feel comfortable with her being in that much pain. Princess Celestia?”

Celestia slowly stroked Twilight’s bangs while thinking, then looked down into Twilight's eyes and shivered; they were looking up at her but were glazed over in pain. “Yes, you have my permission. She must be in so much pain…”

Twilight felt a mild pin prick before her eyes fluttered closed and she remembered no more.

---

Doctor Red Mane sighed as she hooked up Twilight’s I.V. while trying to be careful of her new appendages. “I must admit, Princess Celestia: I half expected to see Twilight Sparkle as an alicorn but I never thought it would be due to this much pain. What on Equestria happened to her? I don’t remember reading any notes about Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s transformation being so painful or traumatic.” She slowly gave a dose of ten milligrams of morphine into Twilight’s I.V., carefully monitoring her as she waited for a reply.

Celestia chewed her lip for a few moments; there was only so much she wanted known to anypony other than herself, Luna, and Twilight, and how alicorns were created was definitely one of these things. “There isn’t too much I can tell you, other than the fact their ascensions were vastly different. Cadance became an alicorn once she used her special talent in such a manner that it made the universe weep with joy. Twilight was made an alicorn because the sun was panicked; it is still a bit distrustful of Luna, and if any unicorn were to feel my new magic upon the sun... well, I think we both know how that would go.”

Red Mane sighed, gently pulling a blanket up over Twilight. “Yes, of course I understand, but Twilight is not going to be in any condition to wake up, much less raise the sun for at least a few days. What are we going to do?”

Celestia tapped her hoof against the floor and glanced out the window. Noon... I have roughly six hours to get myself cleared and set the sun.

“You mentioned my talking to the psychiatrist we have on staff. Is he available today?”

Red Mane nodded. “Yes, Doctor True Thought. I’ll have a runner sent to fetch him from his home immediately. Is there anything I can get you while you wait for him?”

Celestia considered for a moment before her stomach growled. “Some breakfast would be lovely, er... well, lunch now.” Her black cheeks seemed to lighten a bit from the light blush she had developed.

If Doctor Red Mane had any feeling she was being duped, they quickly fled at the image of her mildly embarrassed Princess. “Of course. How about grilled cheese and tomato soup?”

Celestia perked up. “I haven’t been allowed something like that since Twilight was younger; my chefs say it's far too undignified for my palate.”

“One of the nice things about working here in the hospital wing, Princess Celestia, is that we have our own kitchen. Give me about ten minutes to get it ready, okay?” Red Mane grinned up at her with a wink as she saw Celestia lick her lips, though being very careful of her sharp teeth. Red Mane frowned. “After you are cleared, Princess, I’d like to give you a full physical. Those look to be the teeth of a carnivore, and the last thing I think any of us want is for you to fall ill, Princess.”

Celestia hesitated, opening her mouth to tell Red Mane not to bother and that she’d be her old self in no time, when she recalled the Nightmare’s final words. It is possible I may be stuck this way for quite some time... She's probably right; the best thing is to get a checkup. “Of course. As soon as I’m cleared you may give me a full physical.”

Doctor Red Mane smiled at the two guards. “You heard her, gentlecolts: as soon as she is cleared I have permission to give her her first complete physical in over five hundred years.”

Celestia blinked at the grins covering her guards’ muzzles as Doctor Red Mane shut the door behind her to send a runner to True Thought and make her dear Princess lunch. Celestia gulped. “Why do I have a feeling I may regret giving that promise?” She shook her head and sat down on her haunches next to Twilight’s bed, carefully tucking her new wing under the blanket.

---

Doctor True Thought walked into the hospital wing, yawning a bit and stretching out his leathery wings. “What's going on, Red Mane? You said I could take today off! I was all nice and toasty in bed when I hear a colt yelling and repeatedly knocking. Kid wouldn’t even tell me what I was needed for, just that it was an emergency.” Doctor True Thought took a sip of his coffee as Red Mane smiled, calming her heart. True Thought’s Trotsylovanian accent always made her feel weak at the knees. She turned and smiled at the thestral.

“It is important, I promise. Tell me, do you have a Truth Stone in your office?” She poured him a larger cup of coffee, realizing he was likely to need it.

Doctor True Thought took the larger cup of coffee in his hooves with a smile of gratitude. “Yes, I do, but you know I cannot use it without permission of either Princess Luna or Princess Celestia or both. Why? What is going on?”

Red Mane sighed as she gathered the soup onto a tray, along with a toasted cheese sandwich which was cut in half. “Well, you’ve heard about what happened to Princess Celestia, haven’t you?”

True Thought snorted as he shook his head. “By now I think all of Equestria has heard, thanks to that nephew of hers and that so called ‘foalhood friend’ who acted as prosecutor. It is embarrassing and sickening how fast and far they were willing and able to spread what supposedly happened. I myself have heard at least five different retellings, from Princess Celestia being tricked into sending herself to the sun and allowing the Nightmare to take her body to Princess Luna having never been cured and getting tired of playing nice and turning her sister into a puppet. Ridiculous, all of it.”

Red Mane smiled. “I’m glad to hear you say that. Permission to use the Truth Stone was vocally given to me by Princess Luna, though if you need it in writing I’m sure she’d oblige.” She placed a small glass of milk on the tray and lifted it into the air with a flare of her horn.

“No, I do not believe a written permission is necessary. Do you have a patient who is that hungry, Red Mane?” he asked, following after her after having set his coffee down.

“Oh, it’s all related, True Thought. You see, I need you to do a session with Princess Celestia and prove that she is not Nightmare Moon.” Red Mane opened the door with a winning smile.

Chapter 7

Celestia looked up as the door opened to see Doctor Red Mane holding a tray in her magic—a large bowl of soup and a grilled cheese sandwich perched upon it along with a small glass of milk. She licked her lips as she took the tray in her own magic. “Thank you so much for fixing this meal for me, Doctor.” Celestia set the tray down to see the large thestral stallion standing just behind Red Mane. A large cup of coffee held in one hoof as he looked right at her.

Red Mane smiled at True Thought’s reaction. “True Thought, you know Princess Celestia. Princess?”

“Ah, yes, of course, Princess Celestia. I’m glad to see you are well. Well, as well as you could be in this situation. Has Doctor Red Mane told you why I was called?” True Thought lifted his coffee to his muzzle and drank it down. For this job, he needed to be as focused as possible.

“Yes. As I understand it, you have a truth stone in your possession?” Celestia glanced at her meal, trying to calm her growling belly.

“Ah, please eat, Princess. This will take me about twenty minutes or so to get ready; plus, seeing what may be at stake, I have some paperwork which needs to be filled out by you, Princess Luna. And witnessed by an attorney. Is there anypony in particular you’d like me to call?” Doctor True Thought glanced over to where Luna was standing out of the way.

“An attorney, that would most likely be the best course of action. Though my sister has yet to be charged with a crime, I do realize that—unless we can prove that she is not the Nightmare—she could be charged with any of the crimes I was cleared of once the Nightmare was cleared from me. The worst of them, of course, being attempted regicide, and even property damage of the Everfree Castle would easily result in jail time. Alas, as to the question of an attorney, I come up blank. It has always been Celestia who has handled most of the legality issues of Equestria.” Luna shrugged before looking over to where Celestia was slowly taking a bite of her sandwich, being careful not to bite through her tongue.

“An attorney… Well, there are many to chose from, but I think I know just the one. He is recently out of law school, but while in school, he did a mock trial in which he defended and won the case of a pony who was being controlled by an entity. I think that he would be the best to call. His name is—let me think… Foggy Notion… Yes, that was it. Feather, would you locate him and request his assistance in this case? Assure him that he will be paid handsomely for his services.” Celestia smiled at her guard before taking a long sip of her tomato soup, which morphed into a slurp as she giggled with a blush. “Ah, I guess I’m still learning how to use these new teeth.”

“I’ll leave right away to fetch this stallion, Your Highnesses.” Feather saluted both Luna and Celestia before walking out the door, leaving White Noise on the other side of the door.

After watching him go, True Thought turned to Luna. “Your Highness, while I was informed that you gave verbal permission for me to use the truth stone in regard to clearing your elder sister, Princess Celestia, of any wrongdoings up to and including her being under the Nightmare’s thrall, I think that—no, I know that the court will demand the permission be in writing. So I’m requesting you prepare a written permission while I ready my truth stone.” He turned to leave the room and paused. “Before I go, though, would anypony like to explain to me just why Twilight Sparkle appears to be an alicorn?”

Celestia choked a bit on her milk before looking over to Luna her glowing eyes begging for assistance.

“Ah, well, you must understand that a pony can become an alicorn in times of great need, such as how my sister and I ascended to defeat Discord. Since my sister is unable to rule and perform her celestial duties at this time the Sun chose to turn Twilight Sparkle into an alicorn and—” Luna paused, blushing “—bonded her with Celestia.”

True Thought blinked once, then twice, before shaking his head. “Magical alicorn reasons, got it. Princess Celestia, finish eating and then come meet me in my office. Hopefully we can get this taken care of before court ends today, though it may take some time to actually get our case seen depending on… well, several reasons. Princess Luna, do you think you can set the sun tonight?”

Luna sighed before nodding. “Yes, though if I must also raise it tomorrow morning, I will be fairly drained. Hopefully, Twilight will recover enough from her abrupt transformation to bring the dawn.”

“I agree. Well, then it seems that is our plan. Princess Celestia, I’ll see you shortly.” With that said, True Thought bowed to both his Princesses and headed towards his office, grabbing a larger cup of coffee on the way. He was going to be needing it before the day was over he was certain. Of all the ponies I could be asked to use the truth stone upon, the very last would’ve been Princess Celestia.

---

Shining Armor sighed happily as he lounged on the beach, sipping some kind of fruity tropical drink with a swirly straw as he watched Cadance play in the waves. “This… this is wonderful. After that whole thing with the changelings and being brainwashed, being here on this tropical beach with my new wife… Everything is just perfect.” His ear flicked as he heard the hooves of some pony walking very quickly through the sand. He looked up to see one of the two guards Princess Luna insisted accompany them standing just a few feet from where he was laying down. The guard, a unicorn mare Shining Armor knew quite well, was clutching several newspapers in her magic.

“Captain, sorry to disturb you, but I think that you and the princess really need to take a look at what’s going on in Canterlot right now.” The mare caught her breath and tried to look serious and dignified, but Shining Armor could easily see her worry.

Shining Armor nodded and stood up, waving a hoof to where Cadance was frolicking. He truly hated to interrupt her, especially when she waved back with a huge smile covering her muzzle, but he shook his head and gestured for her to come over.

Cadance frowned, but nodded, leaving the water and galloping over with salt water dripping from her coat, mane, and tail. “What is it, Shiny? Oh! Heather?” She smiled at the young guard. “Is something the matter?”

“You—you could definitely say that, Princess. News from Canterlot has reached us even here in the tropics.” Heather gave the newspapers to Cadance and Shining Armor with a bow of her head.

Cadance frowned. “Well, it’s easy to understand that news of our wedding and the invasion would reach here, but I don’t understand what you…” Cadance trailed off as she took a look at the headline of the newspaper she was holding before glancing over to where Shining Armor was staring in shock.

“I think… we may need to cut our honeymoon short, Cadance,” Shining Armor said after a moment, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I, yeah, I think you’re right.” Cadance nuzzled her husband’s side before kissing his cheek. “Besides, I think they need us.”

“Yeah, hang on Twily; BBBFF is coming.” Shining Armor galloped to their hut on the beach and began to pack while Cadance took one final look at the paper’s headline.

Twilight Sparkle declared acting regent to the sun by Princess Luna

“Yeah, We’re coming…” Cadance shook her head pushing back her worries for her aunt and her favorite foal and raced after her husband to help pack.

We’ll be there soon.

Chapter 8

Celestia lay beside Twilight’s bed every so often glancing up to check that she was still sleeping fitfully. She glanced over to see Luna covered in sweat, her head resting upon the window. Celestia frowned at her poor baby sister. She had thrown up once the sun had been set. Oh Luna, another thing I will somehow repay you for… if only it wasn’t taking so long to get everything set up.

Celestia’s ear flicked at the sound of hooves rushing toward the door and stood up casting a glamor over Luna to make her vanish from sight. She stared at her remaining guard who opened the door before the pony opened it themselves. She frowned to see it was Feather.

“Feather? What is it that had you galloping here?” Celestia frowned.

“We have a mole somewhere in the Guard Princess.” He swallowed back the deep breaths he was taking as he levitated a newspaper over to her.

Celestia took it instantly within her magic and frowned. Luna hasn’t left mine nor Twilight’s side since the spell was cast this morning. And I highly doubt she would have… She trailed off as she read the full article. “No, no mole in the guard, just an idiot nephew who is incapable of keeping his muzzle shut it seems.” She shook her head, the newspaper going up into a controlled flame falling to the floor nothing but cool ashes.

“Alright, how is the populace reacting?”

“It uh, could be worse? I mean luckily no pony believes the world is ending or anything?” He paused “well, at least not that I saw. But, the sun setting at the right time likely helped with that. There is however a problem.” Feather mentally winced his Princess was going to be more than a little furious.

“Oh, and that is?” Celestia raised an eyebrow at the warning signs her guard was showing.

“We… er have received word that Captain Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza are on their way home after cutting their honeymoon short after seeing the article you just burned. They are expected within the hour.”

“Of course they are… What else could…” No, don’t even think it, Celestia, calm even breathes. She shook her head dismissing both guards to wait outside. Once she knew they were far enough away from the doorway she summoned a pillow and bit into it screaming.

“Nightmare is a bitch when it comes to controlling your emotions isn’t it?” Luna chuckled from where she was still glamoured.

Celestia snorted, undoing her spell. “It will take time to get used to that is for certain. How are you feeling?” She walked over touching her horn to Luna’s.

“Better, but I swear to the Moon above Celestia Twilight HAS to be well enough to raise the sun in the morning. Otherwise, Nightmare tinged magic or not you must!” Luna levitated a glass of water over and drained it in mere seconds.

“I understand Luna.” Celestia nuzzled her gently and smiled thankfully as Luna responded in kind. “Well, if Twilight isn’t up to it at least Cadance will be here.”

“Ah, yes… How are you planning to send them away to finish their Honeymoon?” Luna shook her head knowing that Celestia’s heart was in agony at the fact she was disturbing the two lovers.

“I’m hopeful that once the court rules that the Truth Stone is enough evidence that I am simply a differently shaped Celestia and…once he gets over Twilight Sparkle sprouting wings, that I’ll be able to order him back to that island with Cadance. He’s always good about following orders. Unless it involves Twilight Sparkle.” She shrugged her wings. “I’d say I have a fifty-fifty percent chance of convincing him without temporarily banishing him to that island.”

“That high?” Luna smirked before there was a knock on the door and Dr. True Thought poked his head in.

“We’re ready for the use of the Truth Stone Princesses. I’m aware that we must do it nearby Twi er Regent Twilight Sparkle due to the spell upon you both Princess Celestia. So I am going to round a hoofful of witnesses including the young lawyer who has been working on this case since he arrived three hours ago. He asked that you may excuse him for taking so long to introduce himself but he wanted to go over the facts before speaking with you. I’m certain you understand?”

“Yes, very understandable, as for witnesses may I suggest Both of my loyal guards Feather Fall and White Noise as well as Doctor Red Mane?” Celestia considered a moment debating with herself. “There is also a Lunar guard fresh out of the academy who treated me as a pony while I was in the dungeon A young Moonbeam. I think she would be excellent to round out the witnesses. Feather if you could retrieve her?” Celestia turned to the pegasus who saluted in response.

Luna smiled up at Celestia. “You realize what a kind word from you and being asked to bear witness to this will do for the young mare’s career?”

“Of course I do, if she was not already a lunar guard I assure you I would snatch her as one of my own.” She gave Luna a final nuzzle as her sister got back to her hooves. “I think she would be an excellent personal guard for you, Sun knows you could use one which doesn’t flinch when they see you.”

“I- yes you are right Tia, I’ll watch to see how she responds during the questioning and consider your suggestion.” She grinned as Celestia rolled her eyes “I promise, you worry far too much.”

A snort escaped Celestia’s muzzle as she shook her head as a knock was heard on the door. She stood straight and swallowed hard. “It’s time.”

---

Twilight blinked sleepily as she heard multiple voices around her she winced as Dr. Red Mane became visible. “I’m sorry Twilight Sparkle but I had to awaken you. Dr. True Thought is about to use the Truth Stone to clear Princess Celestia of being the Nightmare. We need you to be a witness. Once the questioning is complete I will send you back to sleep.”

“Anything for Celestia…” Twilight mumbled and smiled at the black blur she was certain was Celestia. “Pain and sleep can wait.”

“I don’t know if that is necessarily the best way to look at this but, ah he's here.” Red Mane glanced up as the glowing flat stone was placed in the middle of the room. She raised the head of Twilight’s bed allowing the mare to watch.

“Have all the witnesses been gathered?” True Thought turned his attention to Luna who nodded. “Please state your names for the record of the truth stone.”

“Foggy Notion, I am Princess Celestia’s attorney in this matter.”

“Dr. Red Mane, I am the Princesses’ personal physician.”

T-Twilight Sparkle Student of Princess Celestia and Regent to the Sun.” Twilight’s voice was barely more than a whisper due to the pain.

“Moonbeam, I am a Lunar Guard.”

“Feather Fall, I am a Solar Guard, one of Princess Celestia’s personal.”

“White Noise, I am a Solar Guard also one of Princess Celestia’s personal.”

“Who has requested the use of the Truth Stone?” True Thought kept to the script making certain there would be nothing that the prosecutor could object to.

“I Princess Luna Diarch to Equestria have requested it.”

“Will the pony who answers to the name Princess Celestia Invicta Everfree place their front right hoof upon the truth stone.” He paused as Celestia calmly placed her hoof onto the plate like stone. “I will begin the questioning at this time. Please be aware that from the moment that you placed your hoof upon the truth stone you will be forced to tell the truth.”

“I am aware,” Celestia responded her voice almost had a dreamy yet monotone to it. The sound caused Twilight and Luna’s ears to pin back.

The faster this is done the faster that I never ever have to hear Celestia sound like that.

“Are you Nightmare Moon or any such form of the Nightmare?”

“No, except in body.”

“Can you explain that statement?”

“I foolishly invited the Nightmare in, I was fooled as Luna was many years past. The creature told sweet lies when you are beyond the care of understanding what she truly meant.”

“You say told don’t you mean tells?”

“No, told I killed the beast within my own mind using the magic of friendship. As it died it cursed me.”

True Thought glanced over at Red Mane and mouthed ‘Magic of Friendship?’ The unicorn shrugged and True Thought rolled his eyes Put a horn on em and… I’ll never understand.

“Explain the curse.”

“As she died she cursed me that my ponies would always fear me as I would always look like her. That I would physically be her.”

“What are your plans?”

“To retake my proper throne, Assist Luna in ruling, date Twilight Sparkle, and marry her someday.”

Twilight squeaked from the bed and passed back out. Luna watched and cleared her throat. “Would it be possible to cut…that last little bit?”

“I, er Princess Celestia Invicta Everfree, please step off the truth stone.” He turned to the Princesses and winced “I’m afraid I can’t it would show tampering with the magi recording.”

“O-oh, dear…” Celestia whispered before her eyes also rolled back Luna, and Redmane barely caught her before she bonelessly dropped.

Author's Notes:

Hello, hello! Hope you enjoyed the new chapter. I really am trying to write more!