For the past week Celestia has been having terrible nightmares of her time spent in Tirek's capture during his escape, but one fateful night a voice intervenes, leaving Celestia to wonder the fate of Serenity, Princess of the Final Rest.
There is only one being that knows where Serenity is, and that is Tirek himself. Celestia must face the worst truths of her own existence to find closure.
The smell of brimstone assaulted Celestia's nostrils. Her coat flushed pink at the feeling of hot flames licking her at every part of her body. The heat was unbearable. She struggled to stand, but couldn't. Heavy chains weighed her down, ensuring that she could not escape.
The white alicorn looked across the platform. Laying at the far end was Princess Luna and Princess Cadance. They both appeared to be unconscious. Celestia struggled to remember what had happened and how she had gotten there. A single word formed in her mind.
Tirek. Yes... Tirek had banished them to this place. Celestia and the others had given their powers to Twilight, in hopes that the centaur would not find their alicorn magic and rule over Equestria. Twilight would prevail where they could not. Celestia knew it in her heart to be true.
At least... she hoped it to be true. She felt doubt creeping in where hope should have been, filling her up until she could no longer look up. The silhouette of Lord Tirek stood over her.
Celestia glanced down at her hooves in defeat. She could not defeat Tirek. She couldn't save her little ponies. She was a failure.
No. You aren't. Your faith is strong, Celestia.
Celestia's eyes darted upwards. The voice... it was familiar to her somehow. What was it? Who was it? The shadow of Tirek grew larger, the centaur's magical powers growing with each essence he consumed.
The Princess of the Sun grimaced and coughed as the heat intensified. The flames had reached her. She didn't have much time. She struggled to hear the voice again, but it had become lost over the crackling of the fire.
The flames grew hotter and hotter until finally... they consumed her entirely.
*****************************
Celestia awoke in a cold sweat. The Princess of the Sun shivered slightly as she realized that she had been dreaming. Not just dreaming, but having a nightmare.
Celestia frowned. She hadn't had any nightmares in a long time. And yet, in the past week alone she'd woken up screaming every night. While her sister usually acted as the steward of dreams, Celestia had always respectfully asked that Luna allow her to control her own dreamscape. In truth, Celestia didn't want her sister to know certain things. She hated to keep them from her, but Celestia had placed those truths in her past, and wanted them to stay there.
Dredging up the past always led to hurt feelings, and hurt feelings led to a lot of pain. It would do no practical good to bring those things up. They would only hurt Luna, and Luna needed to be surrounded by love and affection, not pain.
Like... Serenity. Celestia sighed. She had wondered why she had forgotten one of her own sisters. The Solar Princess grimaced as she remembered reading that book with Twilight. What she had failed to tell her former student is that she knew exactly what had happened between Tirek and Serenity, except for the minor fact that she didn't know where Serenity had gone afterwards.
Celestia stood, pushing herself out of her bed. It was late at night. Luna would still be up, watching over the dreams of the citizens of Equestria. Perhaps it was better that she was busy with her duty. She wouldn't notice Celestia when she left.
Celestia stepped towards her balcony. This particular dream had been a sign, she was sure of it. It was so vivid, reminding her of the agony she and the others had spent during their time in Tartarus. Only one creature in the world of Equestria was capable of such a feat as to give her visionary dreams, and that was Tirek. She'd experienced visions of him when he returned, before Twilight had defeated him.
She pushed open the balcony door and walked calmly out into the cold night air. Breathing deeply, she looked up at the moon. It was fuller and brighter than she had ever seen it. Luna’s reborn passion for Equestria showed in it’s incredible presence.
Celestia returned her focus to the city below her. Canterlot had fully embraced the idea that there was beauty in the night more so than any other city in Equestria, save Manehattan. Past the mountain range, Celestia's eyes drifted to the hamlet of Ponyville, where the crystal towers of her former student's castle could be seen glittering in the moonlight.
“Twilight, Luna, Cadance,” she said softly to nopony in particular. “I'm sorry for this. But I must do this on my own. There are bigger things at work here, things that even I do not understand. Please don't look for me.”
The ancient mare's horn glowed softly, turning her words into a written message. It flittered into the Princess's bed room and sealed itself inside an envelope bearing the cutie marks of Equestria's three other Princesses. They would understand, even if they didn't quite know it yet.
Celestia paused, considering the vision she'd had. The voice had told her that her faith was strong. Could it have possibly been her? Was Serenity trying to reach out to her from wherever she ended up? Or was it a trap, one that she was doomed to fall into?
Celestia sighed and made her decision. Her horn blazed with golden light and with a faint *pop* she disappeared from Canterlot Castle.
She reappeared in the middle of an old and forgotten glade. In the center of the glade sat a set of gates, a portal that led to a place that Celestia hated. A place that was necessary for the purposes of maintaining a balanced world... Tartarus. The place where the souls of the damned ended up, and where the most heinous of Equestrian villains had been sent to burn for eternity.
Celestia trotted up to the gate and stopped. Her horn glowed softly, pulling it open. She stepped inside and closed the gates behind her, locking them tight. She shivered at the chill that ran up her spine. The upper layer of Tartarus was a frozen and barren wasteland. The chambers that she sought were deeper, further inside the fiendish realm.
The Princess of the Sun took a few steps forward before being forced to stop by a loud and overpowering growling noise. Celestia turned to see the black form of Tartarus' ever-present guardian, Cerberus. The massive three headed dog sniffed the air and finally caught sight of the alicorn. It's three heads growled as one.
“Now, now, Cerberus,” Celestia said softly. “I'm merely here to check on something. Will you permit my passage into the lower layers?”
Cerberus growled again.
“I'm aware that you are attempting to make up for deserting your post last year, but honestly... what reasoning would I have to make trouble in Tartarus of all places?” Celestia replied.
Cerberus growled questioningly.
“That's correct. I'm here to see him,” Celestia said. “And I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else that I was here.”
Cerberus stayed silent, and only nodded. The three-headed dog grunted and turned. It pointed to a set of stairs in the center of the frozen wasteland that would allow Celestia to descend to the lower levels. Cerberus growled again.
“You have my word as a Princess of Equestria,” Celestia said. She started walked past Cerberus towards the staircase. Her coat shivered as the winds of Tartarus' top layer assaulted her. Finally she made it to the massive set of stairs. Heat radiated from the lower levels below her.
Celestia paused for a moment to regard Cerberus. The great beast had kept pace behind her, watching her every step.
“Thank you, Cerberus,” she said, spreading her wings and bowing her long neck gracefully.
Cerberus huffed and bowed in return, settling to the ground watchfully as Celestia started to descend into the furthest reaches of the pit.
*********************************
Elsewhere, in the shining heart of the town of Ponyville, another Princess lay restless. Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, lay in her bed looking up at the crystal ceiling of her new abode. She sighed, rolling over on her side to try and find the rest she was missing.
“Ugh... why can't I get to sleep?” Twilight said to the otherwise empty room.
Twilight had still been trying to get used to the castle. In many ways it was an incredible place, but at the same time it wasn't home the way her library had been. And with her friends only there during the day, and Spike away at a Cutie Mark Crusaders Sleepout, the castle felt... lonely. Empty.
“Don't dwell on it, Twilight,” the purple mare said to herself. “You'll see the others tomorrow. You just need to calm down. It's not like there's anything in the castle that's going to get you.”
A faint glow at the door to her bedroom caught her eye. Twilight blinked and stared at the glow before lighting her horn and throwing her covers back, ready for whatever resulted.
“Okay, maybe there is something that's going to get you,” she said, chuckling nervously.
The glow brightened, a stream of magic twisting through the keyhole and winding its way to Twilight’s desk, where it popped into the shape of a scroll. It bore the seal of Celestia’s cutie mark on the wax seal adorning it.
“Oh, it's a letter from the Princess. That's weird, she never sends letters this late,” she said.
Twilight made her way over to the desk and picked up the letter. It was sealed, and the magic surrounding the seal suggested that the letter was only intended for a Princess to open. She grimaced. That meant the letter required alicorn magic to read. Twilight's horn sparked, bubbling forth magic until a bolt of pure purple surrounded the letter.
The letter exploded in a burst of golden fire, startling Twilight. After a few seconds, Celestia's voice lingered in the air.
“Twilight... Luna... Cadance. I'm so sorry for this. But I must do this on my own. There are bigger things at work here, things that even I do not understand. Please don't look for me.”
Twilight's eyes widened. Celestia was... gone? What had happened to her? Was it Discord? Did Tirek return? Nightmare Moon?
Twilight put out her front hoof and took a deep breath, calming herself down.
“No, this must be something else,” she said aloud. “Discord's reformed and living in Ponyville with Fluttershy. Tirek is in Tartarus. And it couldn't possibly be Nightmare Moon, since she mentions Luna by name. She didn't sound distressed so it's likely it's not an external threat...”
Twilight grimaced. She couldn't wait until the morning to act on this. Wherever Celestia had gone, it was likely because she was in some form of danger, and Twilight owed it to her former mentor to save her.
Twilight made her way out of her bedroom and down to the throne room, where the seven thrones of the Friendship Council lay dormant in their circle. Each of them bore the cutie mark of either herself or one of her friends, save the smallest one closest to her own. That one belonged to Spike. Twilight sat down on her own throne and focused her magic on the star in the center of the circle.
“Girls... I need your help!”
************************************
Celestia coughed. The deeper she had gone, the fouler the air had become. Tartarus was an unforgiving place to any being. Celestia remembered well the time she had spent here during Tirek's rampage across Equestria. The dreams had freshened her memories of the event greatly.
Celestia continued deeper until she reached the very end of the stairs. The lowest layer of Tartarus was boiling hot, reserved for the most heinous of villains and evils. Some of these evils ran freely amok in the lowest layer, the magic of the place keeping them in check as each tried to rule the rest of Tartarus from their seats of power. Celestia was going to have to be vigilant.
The Princess of the Sun started forward, heading towards the prison area. The ground beneath her hooves was molten to the core, singing her with every step. Celestia paid no attention to it. It had nothing to do with her target. The alicorn marched forward, her attention all around her even as her posture remained focused on her goal.
“Pray tell pony, where are you going?” a hissing voice said.
Celestia stopped and looked to the side. A winged bat-like creature commonly known as an imp was lazily flapping alongside her. Celestia grimaced. She had no time for distractions. She had to accomplish her goal here and then leave this accursed place.
“Nowhere that concerns you, imp,” Celestia said harshly. “Begone from my sight before I send you away myself.”
“Now, now, that's no way to speak to a native,” the imp casually replied. “You should really watch your tongue. You're speaking to an important representative of the great lord Daxis.”
“I see. Well, then... oh great representative,” Celestia replied, rolling her eyes. “Please leave me alone. I am on an important mission here, and do not wish to be disturbed. I hold sovereign rule over your lord as Princess of Equestria.”
“A Princess? No wonder you looked important,” the imp said. “We don't get many of your type down here. What you in for?”
“I'm not...!” Celestia said indignantly, her cheeks flushed. “I'm not here because I was exiled here. I'm here to see a specific prisoner.”
“Oh, a visitor. We don't get many of those down here either,” the imp replied lazily. “So, who you here to see? Maybe I can take you to them.”
“I do not believe you will wish to follow me,” Celestia said. “From what I've heard, not even the dregs of Tartarus will go near him.”
The imp's red eyes widened slightly. “You don't mean...?”
“Yes, I do. I am here to see Tirek,” Celestia said.
*****************************************
“So... you're sayin' that Princess Celestia just... up and left?” Applejack said.
The others murmured at the thought of it. They were all sitting around the Council of Friendship, even Spike who had been overjoyed at the thought of escaping a Cutie Mark Crusaders Sleepover.
“That appears to be the case,” Twilight said.
“Why would Princess Celestia do such a thing, darling?” Rarity asked. The white mare appeared very distraught.
“I'm not quite sure,” Twilight said. “All she said in her message was that she was sorry and had to do something on her own.”
“Well, why don't we just go and find her and ask her why she ran away?” Pinkie interjected. “Then she can tell us, and we'll know why she did what she did before she knew what she did.”
“Huh?” Rainbow Dash said from her own throne. “Pinkie, we don't even know where she went in the first place! She could be miles away by now!”
“Rainbow is right,” Twilight said. “We don't know where Celestia has gone. That's why we've gathered here. I've contacted Princess Luna and Princess Cadance as well. They should be arriving any --”
*pop* *pop*
The double flash of magic that heralded the arrival of Equestria’s other two Princesses was no less bright for being expected. Princess Luna appeared fraught with worry, bags under her normally bright eyes. Princess Cadance appeared much the same.
“Princess Twilight,” Luna said sharply. “I certainly hope that you can shed some light on this most befuddling situation, and help us understand where my dearest sister has gone.”
“Luna, Cadance,” Twilight said calmly. “I trust both of you received the same message that I did?”
“We did, but I didn't quite understand what was going on until you contacted me,” Cadance said. “Is Auntie Celestia really gone?”
“I'm afraid so,” Luna interjected. “Celestia is no longer present in Canterlot Castle, or indeed in the city as a whole.”
“I've asked you all here so that we can try to find Princess Celestia,” Twilight announced. “With the magic of the Tree of Harmony, we should be able to tap into the primal magic belonging to every pony in their hearts, and use that force to locate the Princess.”
“Are you certain that this will work?” Princess Luna said, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, Twi. I mean, we know this is the Friendship Council and all but I thought this thing only helped us find friendship problems, not lost Princesses,” Rainbow Dash said. She motioned at the star in the center of the floor.
“I'm afraid I must concur with Rainbow, darling. I thought that the Princesses were no longer connected to the Elements of Harmony due to that nasty business with Nightmare Moon,” Rarity replied. She glanced over at Luna. “No offense of course.”
“None taken,” Luna replied, not shifting her intent gaze from Twilight.
Twilight smiled. “Just because the Princess can no longer wield the Elements doesn't mean they're no longer a part of her. The magic of Harmony is something that's inside us all. All we're doing is picking out her magical signature and finding out where it is.”
“For what it's worth, I believe you can do it, Twilight,” Fluttershy uttered.
“Thank you, Fluttershy,” Twilight said, beaming. “Now... if you'll all gather around, we can begin the ritual...”
**************************************
“Well, this is it,” the imp said, a sharp grimace on his face. “I don't know why you want to see the likes of him, but here you are.”
Celestia looked up the set of stairs. They jagged every which way, leading ever upwards to a massive stone platform that stood out above the fire and brimstone of this level of Tartarus. The Princess of the Sun knew this place well. This same prison had been where Tirek had imprisoned her and the others during his escape. At the top of this rocky spire, Tirek alone remained.
“Thank you,” Celestia said coldly. “You may go now, imp.”
“Hey, I got a name you know,” the imp replied indignantly. “They don't call me Pixalagoricax for nothing, you know. But you? You can just call me Pix for short. If you need anything, just call my name.” The imp said shot a look at the top of the spire. “Just... be careful. I’ve heard that guy’s real dangerous.”
“I will take that under consideration,” Celestia replied. She grimaced, steeling herself for the climb. Pulling away from the imp, she started her way up the jagged stairs.
The climb felt like it took forever. Several times, the alicorn felt as though she would fall into the fires below, but she pressed onwards. Celestia was panting by the time she reached the top of the stairs.
The Sun Princess's eyes drifted to the center of the stone platform. It was no regal affair, just a simple cage made of enchanted metals. The cage itself was bound to the platform by magic, and could not be removed without the use of alicorn powers. Sitting calmly in the center of the cage, bound by chains made of the same metal, was a frail and old looking centaur. His eyes glinted black in the darkness that surrounded them both.
Celestia took a few steps forward, her hooves clipping softly on the stonework. Tirek shifted in his cage.
“Do my eyes deceive me? Has my most hated enemy come finally to gloat over her victory?” the centaur uttered.
Celestia pressed on, saying nothing as she made her way in full view of Tirek. She slumped to her haunches and regarded the centaur.
“Well? Nothing to say for yourself?” Tirek said. “You must be very proud of yourself for defeating me, even if you weren’t the one to make the final blow. I must admit I wasn't expecting the rainbow cannon at the end.”
Celestia continued to say nothing. She grimaced. Here was the one who would know why she was here. Here was the one who would know where Serenity was. She hated him for what he had done to ponykind, and yet she needed his knowledge. She hated that too.
“Where is she?” Celestia finally said, her calm voice belying the rage underneath.
“Where is who?” Tirek said. “I'm afraid that I simply don't know what you are talking about, Princess Celestia.”
Celestia stood angrily and stomped a hoof. “Where is she?! You know where she is. You must tell me!”
Tirek frowned. “If you are referring to Princess Twilight, she's probably living it up in Ponyville with her friends. But... I have a feeling that's not who you're talking about.”
“Please... I must... I must know,” Celestia said, her anger once again rising. The Solar Princess was furious with the centaur. He knew where Serenity was, he just had to know. Celestia steeled herself and set her gaze upon Tirek. She spoke with a calm clear voice so that Tirek could never mistake why she was here.
Celestia grimaced, her eyes blazing with rage. She stomped her forehoof again, causing a crack in the stones below her. “Where is Serenity?”
“Serenity?” Tirek mused. The centaur reached up and began to stroke his beard with one of his hands. “I'm afraid I don't recall that particular name, dearest Celestia. Even if I did, why would I be inclined to tell you? It's not in my best interests after all. I'm already imprisoned.”
Celestia snorted. “Liar!” she shouted. “You know where she is. I read your brother's diary. You were there.”
“My brother? My brother was a traitor and a liar,” Tirek replied casually. “He followed me faithfully until he was infected by the so-called 'friendship' that you ponies tout.”
“Regardless, his word was considered trustworthy,” Celestia said. “I read the book myself. You and Serenity fought. She defeated you, and disappeared in the process. You are the only one around that would know what really happened. Your brother is unfortunately unreachable.”
Tirek grinned widely. “Yes. I'm fully aware of that. Again, what reason do I have to help you? What are you going to do if I don't tell you?”
Celestia paused for a moment. She hadn't considered what she might do if Tirek had been resistant. She had been so focused on learning where Serenity was that he hadn't fully planned around the centaur's wiles.
“You will tell me where she is,” she finally said. “I've heard that the lords of this lower realm are highly skilled in the art of torture. If you don't cooperate...”
Tirek raised an eyebrow. “I must admit, you surprise me. That's dark, even for you, Celestia. Given how you banished your own sister to the moon and all.”
Celestia glanced away, trying to not let Tirek see the anger in her eyes. She was letting her emotions get the best of her again. She was letting the anger seep in, like she had done when she'd used the Elements on Luna. The alicorn breathed out deeply before returning her attention to Tirek.
“I'm serious,” she said. “Tell me where Serenity is, or else you shall face my wrath.”
“Your wrath? Are you joking?” Tirek said. The centaur snorted. “Do you even know how cliché you sound? Even I was never that bad.” Tirek grimaced. “Fine. I can tell you where you can find a clue to the location of your precious Serenity, but that's all I can do. The Princess of the Final Rest banished me from her realm, but I secreted away a piece of her power in those final moments.”
Celestia's eyes widened, her anger deflated by Tirek's sudden reply. “A piece... of her power?”
Tirek's grin turned wicked. “Yes. Her crown.”
********************************************
Princess Twilight glanced down at the markings on the floor. Everything was perfectly in order. They would be able to find Celestia before anypony else realized that she was gone. Celestia would be safe and sound. She would make sure of that.
“Alright girls. It's time to get ready,” she said to the others standing around the circle.
“Ready whenever you are, Twi,” Rainbow Dash said. “Let's get our Princess back.”
Twilight nodded, lifting her hoof and placing it out towards the center of the circle. The others followed suit, their hooves forming a smaller circle inside the larger one. Beyond the ritual area, Princess Luna and Princess Cadance stood watch.
“Once we're connected to the flow, we won't be able to disconnect until we've found her,” Twilight said. “The spatial properties of the harmonic convergence will prevent that from happening.”
“The what now?” Applejack replied.
“She means the big spinning rainbow thing,” Pinkie Pie casually interjected.
Twilight let out a gruff sigh. “Yes, Pinkie. The big spinning rainbow thing.”
Twilight's horn began to glow softly, the magic traveling down to her hoof from her horn. Once the magic reached there it sat and waited as the chain reaction began to start in the others. From each pony an aura of magical power made its way from the heart to the hoof. The magic began to intermingle, coalescing into one giant raging funnel of power that expanded to encompass the entire ritual circle. The storm of magic raged around the six friends, nearly knocking them off their hooves.
“Everypony hold on!” Twilight shouted. “The convergence is beginning!”
The magic began to spin around the circle, increasing in speed with every rotation. It engulfed the six ponies, shining brighter and brighter. Finally, everything stopped in a sudden flash of blinding white light that seeped into every inch of the room. The six opened their eyes, in awe of the magic around them.
“Where... where are we?” Rarity said after several long moments.
“I told you, this is the convergence created by the power of the Tree of Harmony,” Twilight said.
“Yes, darling. But... where is that? Are we even in Equestria anymore?” Rarity asked.
“And how do we find the Princess?” Rainbow Dash interjected.
“I... I don't know yet,” Twilight replied. “This is all very new to me as well. Let's take it one step at a time.”
“How about that step?” Pinkie Pie said, pointing at a large set of glowing stairs going upwards. “Maybe the Princess ran that way!” The energetic mare bounced up and down towards the stairs.
“Pinkie, wait! We don't know what dangers this place might --” Twilight started to say.
Pinkie Pie landed on the first step and stopped suddenly, her eyes wide as she looked up the colossal staircase. “Guys... you'd better see this.”
The other five ventured over to where Pinkie stood. Twilight grumbled, but came along as well. She too stopped on a dime as she looked up the stairs to nowhere.
“Celestia?” she said.
********************************************
“You say you took my sister's crown, and hid it?” Celestia said, grimacing.
“Yes... I had hoped that someday it's power would give me the ability to leave this forsaken prison you put me in,” Tirek said, sighing. “I never would have thought it would have taken an inept guard dog instead.”
“Never mind how you planned to escape. You will tell me where the crown is hidden,” Celestia said, narrowing her eyes at the centaur.
Tirek grinned slightly. “Indeed, I shall tell you. It is of no matter to me any longer, after all. I cannot access it, and neither will you be able to.”
“Enough games, Tirek. Where is it?” Celestia said angrily.
“It is here, in Tartarus. I hid it here, on the lowest layer. I daresay that one of the other desolate creatures of this place have found it, but they would not know it for what it is,” Tirek said. “I placed a spell on it to disguise it's true nature, only to be revealed to beings such as you and I. Deities.”
“Do not compare yourself to me,” Celestia fumed.
“Such anger, Princess. Such beautiful anger. It's no wonder you don't let anypony see the real you. The real you is far more of a real pony than you pretend to be,” Tirek said.
“You know nothing of me!” Celestia said, stomping a hoof. “Now stop with these games, and tell me what the crown looks like.”
“Fine,” Tirek replied. He sighed loudly. “The crown and the first piece of Serenity's power appear to be as simple as a rock engraved with the symbol of her cutie mark.”
Celestia grimaced and looked away. Tirek grinned deeply and leaned forward.
“You don't remember what her cutie mark looks like, do you?” he said.
Celestia frowned. “Of course I do.”
“Well, then what is it?”
“I don't have to answer to the likes of you,” Celestia snapped. She stood calmly. “We are done here.”
“Ahh... you don't then. Well, then this shall be fun... for me at least,” Tirek said, chuckling softly. “Good luck then, Princess. I hope you find what it is you are looking for.”
Celestia glanced away and then back at Tirek. With a powerful flap of her wings she made her way to the base of the stairs, leaving the centaur behind. She touched the ground softly and let out a deep sigh. Tirek was right. She didn't remember what Serenity's cutie mark looked like. She barely remembered what the mare herself looked like.
Celestia sighed again. What in the world was she doing here? Serenity was dead. There was no reason to be on this fool's errand, to leave the citizens of Equestria without their beloved Princess of the Sun. Tirek's taunts nagged at her confidence. She wondered if she would even be able to find the crown in the first place. Tirek had said he had disguised it so that only those of sufficient power could see its true form.
Celestia hardly felt like a deity. Instead, she felt more like an old mare who had turned her back on family when it mattered the most. Still... maybe if she found Serenity, she could make the things she had done right. She could make up for her mistakes. She could atone...
“Pix!” the mare shouted in the bleakness of the Tartaran wastes. “I know you're out there!”
A soft *pop* alerted the alicorn mare to the presence of the imp, who floated lazily along on an invisible breeze. “Hello, Princess Pony. I see that you returned safely from your trip up to see the Dark Lord himself.”
“Yes... and I need your assistance with something, if you think that you can handle it,” Celestia said.
Pix's red eyes widened. He straightened up immediately. “There is no task that Pixalagoricax cannot handle, dear pony. What can I do for you?”
“I want you to take me to your lord... Daxis was it?” Celestia asked.
Pix choked loudly. He glanced up at the alicorn with fear in his eyes. “I'm sorry, what did you just say?”
“I said that I would like to meet your lord, Daxis,” Celestia replied. She stamped her hoof in place. “This is urgent, Pix. I have something I must discuss with him.”
“I understand your urgency, pony, but Daxis would kill me if I showed my face around his realm of influence,” Pix said, scratching the back of his head. “Why do you think I'm all the way out here in the middle of nowhere?”
“I thought you said that you were the great messenger of Daxis?” Celestia said, narrowing her gaze at the imp. If he wouldn't be able to help her, she was going to have to find this Daxis on her own. An idea formed in her mind.
“Well you see... I...” Pix stammered.
“I see. You can't help me then. And I was going to reward you for your assistance, too. Shoot, I guess I'll have to find another guide then,” Celestia said, smiling wryly at the tiny imp. She moved to turn away from him.
Pix shot up into the air and stopped squarely in front of Celestia's face. “No no no no, I can do it, I can do it!” The imp had a pleasing toothy grin plastered on his. He nodded excitedly. “I can take you to Daxis. You failed to mention a reward, after all,” he said.
“Excellent,” Celestia said. “Lead the way, then. We don't have much time, after all.”
“But... what is my reward? Is it gold? Silver? Gems? What?” Pix cried out emphatically.
Celestia tittered. “Dearest Pix, your reward shall come when I speak with your master, and only then. Now, show me the way to his domain.”
“Fine. Follow me,” Pix said, scowling deeply. He motioned with a claw.
Celestia grimaced, but followed behind the imp deeper into the wasteland that was Tartarus.
******************************
“Celestia?” Twilight Sparkle said, blinking.
The scene laid out before the young princess confused her greatly. It technically was Princess Celestia standing there, but she looked... young. Too young, almost the same height as Twilight herself. Her mane was more pinkish in nature and she had a wry smile on her face. She appeared to not notice the six Elements of Harmony as she fluttered about with...
“Luna?” Twilight continued, feeling even more confused. Running alongside her older sister was a much younger version of Princess Luna. Twilight blinked again, clearing her eyes.
“Twilight,” Applejack said from next to her. “What in the world is going on here?”
“I... I don't know,” Twilight said frankly. The alicorn grimaced. She didn't know what to make of the two alicorns running and laughing in front of her. Were they witnessing some memory of Celestia's? Was that what the convergence was supposed to do?
“Tag! You're it, Tia!” Luna shouted playfully, interrupting Twilight's thought process.
The younger version of Celestia laughed gently, giving chase after her sister. She jumped into the air and flew over Luna, landing next to the dark alicorn. She booped Luna on the nose, grinning widely.
“Gotcha,” she said.
Luna frowned. “No fair! You can fly better than I can.”
“You never said no wings,” Celestia replied casually, giving her snowy wings a light flap to emphasize her point. “Besides, I'm kind of bored. Isn't there anything better to do than play tag?”
“Mom said we had to wait until she got home,” Luna said. “I don't see you coming up with anything fun to do.”
Celestia sighed, looking exasperated. “Mom said this, Mom said that. Jeez, you're such a Momma's girl, Lulu.”
“Am not!” Luna protested. “Besides, you promised to play with me!”
“Well I kind of thought you meant that we'd play chess or something like that,” Celestia said, frowning.
“Now that's boring,” Luna said. “Why would I want to play some old board game?”
Celestia's eyes flared. “Chess is not a boring game! It's full of very intricate little details and can be quite complex, I'll have you know!”
“Is that why you play it? Or does it have to do with that new boy at school that likes it?” Luna teased.
Celestia faltered. “That... that has nothing to do with it!” she said, her face flushing pink.
“Uh huh. I bet it doesn't.”
“That's not funny, Luna.”
“Celly and... wait, what's his name again?”
“D-D-Discordant Noise,” Celestia muttered under her breath.
Luna's eyes widened. “Hah! I knew it! You do like him!”
“And I said, that's not funny!” Celestia replied, her horn glowing fiercely. “Now cut it out!”
“Nope! Not until you admit that you like him!” Luna said angrily.
“It's not like that!” Celestia shouted.
“GIRLS!” a voice came from above the two young alicorns. Celestia and Luna both stopped immediately and looked up, their eyes shrinking.
The mare standing above the two was a beautiful snowy white alicorn, far whiter than even Celestia herself. Her mane was spun out of strands of golden rays of light mixed with twinkling motes of black stars. She wore a stern expression on her face.
“Wait... who is that?” Rainbow asked from beyond the scene.
“I think... I think it's their mother,” Twilight uttered back.
“Their mother?” Rarity echoed. “But I thought... I thought alicorns were created, not born.”
“I... I don't know, Rarity. It's true that I was elevated to this status, but Celestia and Luna have been around for... well, for ages. It's possible that they were born this way,” Twilight said.
The mare standing above the two alicorns began to speak. “Now, what am I going to have to do with both of you girls? Why must you fight so vehemently?”
“Sorry, Mom...” both younger alicorns said in unison. “We're sorry.”
“Don't be sorry to me, say sorry to each other,” the older mare replied in kind. “After all, you were the two fighting.”
Luna sighed and looked over at Celestia. “I'm sorry, big Sister.”
“Celestia...” the older mare said. “Be nice to Luna. You two are going to have a lot of responsibility to take on when you are older, and you're going to need each other to get through it.”
Celestia rolled her eyes. “I know, Mom. Sorry, Lulu.”
The older mare frowned. “Fine. I have a surprise for you both. Come, I want you to meet somepony.” She motioned for the young princesses to follow behind her.
“Should we follow?” Applejack said.
“I'd prefer not to,” Fluttershy squeaked. “I don't like this place.”
“I think we have to. There's a reason we're seeing this, I just don't know why yet,” Twilight said. She started walking after the trio of alicorns.
The others nodded, following closely behind Twilight, even Fluttershy. They walked until they found themselves at the base of a quaint little cottage on the side of a dirt path. The older mare and the young Celestia and Luna stood on the path up to the house.
“We're home!” the older mare cried out. “You can come out now!”
The door to the house creaked open, revealing a young unicorn filly. She wore an expression of fear, her eyes darting back to the door as if it held some sort of safety for her.
“It's alright, my dear, you can come down and say hello,” the older mare said. “Girls, I want you to meet somepony. This here is Serenity. She's going to be living with us from now on.”
“I am most certainly not,” the older mare said. “I found young Serenity here just outside of town. It seems that her parents died a most tragic death when she was younger, and she has been living by herself for a long time.”
“Does this mean I'm going to have to give up my room?” Celestia replied.
The older mare chuckled. “I'm afraid so. You're going to have to share a room with Luna. Serenity will be taking Luna's room for the time being until she's a little older.”
“Oh pony, I gotta share a room with her?” Luna said, pointing at her older sister. “She's gross, always talking about boys and reading those magazines of hers.”
“Magazines?” the older mare said, raising an eyebrow.
Celestia chuckled slightly. “Oh you know, teenager stuff, Mom. Besides, Luna's a whiny little crybaby at night. She's gonna keep me from getting my beauty sleep.”
“Am not!” Luna shouted.
“Are too.”
“Am not!”
“Are too.”
“Girls!” the older mare shouted, stopping them instantly. “I will not stand for this kind of arguing in this house. You're scaring poor Serenity.” She pointed a hoof.
Celestia's eyes followed her mother's indication and found that Serenity had indeed retreated back to the door of the house. She sighed deeply and started trotting up the path. Serenity recoiled when the younger mare reached out her hoof.
“Hey... I'm Celestia. It's alright, kid. I guess you're part of the family now, right? So... sisters?” she said.
************************************
“Are you certain you know the way to your master's lair?” Celestia said, glancing about the dark cave that Pix had led them into. Her horn blazed a brilliant gold, illuminating what she could of the path ahead of them.
“It is not far, pony,” Pix said, rolling his red eyes. He flapped his wings lazily as he wafted down the path.
“I have a name, you know,” Celestia replied.
“I do not believe the pony ever gave it,” Pix said.
Celestia grimaced. “If you had cared to know, my name is Celestia du Sol, daughter of the wise Queen Bright Star, Crown Princess of Equestria, the Solar Regent.”
“That's a mouthful, whaddya expect me to call you that all the time?” Pix said, his expression one of confusion.
“Err... no,” Celestia said, realizing what she had done. “The rest of that is my title. I am the Crown Princess of Equestria, but you may simply call me Celestia.”
Pix nodded, saying nothing. His batlike ears suddenly perked up.
“Is something wrong?” Celestia asked.
“Yes... we're here,” Pix said, pointing up ahead.
Celestia followed the imp's claw, her eyes widening at the scene before her. In the cavern beyond the tunnel they were in, hundreds of beasts gathered in a macabre mockery of a normal town. They moved to and fro, growling and snapping at each other. Celestia blinked. They even had houses! Her eyes drifted to the center of the town, where a massive beast lay curled up on a mound of what appeared to be bones. Boils popped on its leathery skin, spraying pus down its bloated body. It's red eyes, all six of them, closely watched the smaller creatures milling about it.
“Is... is that...?” Celestia uttered, more to herself than to her companion.
Twilight blinked. What in the world was she seeing? A young Celestia and young Luna? Their mother? Serenity? What did all of this mean? What was the Tree of Harmony trying to tell her?
“Twilight, darling,” Rarity said from beside her. “What is the meaning of all of this? I thought this spell was supposed to tell us where Celestia had gone.”
Twilight opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out. Her eyes drew back to the alicorns and unicorn standing in front of them. She blinked again. It was clear that Celestia and Luna couldn't see her or her friends. It reminded her of the potion that Zecora had created, the one that had shown her Celestia and Luna's fight, Discord's rule, and the Tree itself. Something in her mind clicked.
“The past,” she said softly. “The Tree is showing us the past. In this case, Celestia's past.”
“But why? Why does it want us to see that?” Applejack replied.
“And who the hay is this Serenity pony?” Rainbow Dash said. “I've never even heard of her.”
“You most likely wouldn't have,” Twilight said. “Serenity has been long gone for some time. She... she was a princess, much like Celestia and Luna.”
“But she didn't have wings? How could she be a princess without wings or a horn?” Pinkie Pie said.
“We must be seeing her before she became an alicorn,” Twilight said. “Serenity... her job as a princess was to judge the souls of ponies when they passed on.”
“You mean, she told them where they would go when they...” Fluttershy whispered.
Twilight nodded. “Serenity took care of the ponies and every other race that passed into her realm, judging them and sending them to either the Summer Lands or to Tartarus. But when Tirek appeared the first time, he attacked Serenity and she disappeared. Or so said the diary.”
“Diary?” Rarity said. “What diary?”
“Something I found in Celestia and Luna's old castle a while ago. I was there reading by myself and Celestia came by. She claimed the diary had been written by Scorpan, Tirek's brother, detailing an account where Tirek tried to trick Serenity into failing at her post as Princess of the Final Rest,” Twilight explained. “Personally, I thought it was quite rushed as a story, but Celestia claimed that Scorpan was factual, even if she couldn't remember it herself.”
“Do you think that maybe wherever Princess Celestia went, it has something to do with her?” Rarity said.
Twilight grimaced. “It's possible. That could be why the Tree is showing us these old memories. We know something prompted Celestia to leave. Perhaps watching and learning from the magic of Harmony will give us some clue as to where she went and why.”
“Boring!” Rainbow exclaimed loudly. “When do we get to the part where we blast the bad guy with rainbow lasers for kidnapping the Princess?”
“Now, Rainbow. We don't know what happened to the Princess. But this particular memory did give us one very important clue that one of our close friends will know something about,” Twilight said, smirking. “You are here aren't you, Discord?”
Twilight's crown shimmered and disappeared, transforming into a tiny golden draconequus studded with rubies all over. Everypony around gasped. Discord grinned widely.
“Of course I am, my dear Twilight. Once I got wind you six were going on an adventure, I just had to join in,” he said. “Sorry for the deception of course, but I think you knew I was here the whole time.”
“I had my suspicions,” Twilight said. “We'll have a long talk about that once this is all said and done. Right now, we have a problem. I trust you saw that memory?”
“Indeed. I remember well those days of yonder,” Discord replied casually, snapping a claw and reappearing next to Fluttershy. “Celestia was far more fun in those days.”
“Wait, does that mean that you were Discordant Noise?” Applejack asked.
Discord grimaced. “Indeed, that was my name when I was still a pony. That was before I became the devastatingly handsome fellow you see before you today.”
“So you knew Princess Serenity then,” Twilight said, interrupting the draconequus's tirade before he could get started.
“In a manner of speaking. She and I... well, we were more than what you would call close friends,” Discord said wistfully. His eyes transformed into tiny little hearts.
“Ugh, gag me with a spoon,” Rainbow Dash said. “You? In love? I don't even know how to process that one.”
“I'm sorry you don't believe me, Rainbow. I was a very different sort those days. I had yet to discover my own path at the time, and Serenity was very alluring. Very shy, but alluring all the same,” Discord said. “Much like my dear friend Fluttershy, actually.”
Fluttershy meeped softly, her cheeks reddening. Discord blinked, picking up on what he'd just said.
“Oh, dear. I'm terribly sorry, Fluttershy. That isn't what I meant at all,” he said, glancing away.
“I... I know,” Fluttershy said.
“Enough,” Twilight interrupted. “Is there any reason that Celestia would be looking for Serenity?”
“I assume out of guilt,” Discord mused. “As you saw in the memory, Celestia herself was quite smitten with yours truly. That led to a bit of a falling out, as it were, between the two sisters. When Celestia took over as Crown Princess, she relegated Serenity to be the bridge between the world of the living and the realms of the dead.”
“Celestia did it to separate you two, didn't she?” Twilight said.
Discord nodded solemnly. “I couldn't reach her, except by my own death. That was when... well, you know.”
“Became Discord, the evil and scary lord of all Chaos and Disharmony?” Pinkie chimed in. “No offense, of course.”
“Interesting,” Twilight said. “I believe then, our course is clear. Somewhere in these old memories are more clues as to where Celestia currently is, and why she's doing this. Our best bet is to split up and research this thoroughly.”
“Research, Twi? Come on, let's just comb the country until we find her,” Rainbow said, flaring her wings. “We'll find her in no time.”
“I don't think will help, Rainbow,” Twilight answered. “This spell was designed to find her, and it only found these old memories of her, which means that Celestia can't be found.” She sighed. “Celestia... she's not even in Equestria at the moment, which means there's only a few potential places she could be, and none of us can go there.”
“And why's that, Twi?” Applejack said, cocking her head.
“Because we'd have to die first,” Twilight replied, grimacing.
*******************************************
Celestia's eyes widened. Daxis, the lord of this section of Tartarus, was disgusting and vile in every possible way she could have imagined. Could a being so visibly cruel and evil even be bartered with, let alone talk to? Her eyes narrowed at the task. She had to do so, in order to find Serenity's crown.
“Pix,” she said, grabbing the imp's attention. “How do we speak to this lord of yours?”
“I... uh... I don't know, actually,” Pix said. “I was sort of... kicked out. Exiled, you know... the whole 'if you come back we'll eat your heart for dinner and roast your skin for the kiddies' kind of exiled.”
Celestia frowned. “What did you do to deserve such a fate?”
“I may have been involved in an unforeseen sequence of events that led to the escape of Tartarus' most dangerous villain,” Pix said, wincing. “Turns out, even Tartarans don't like that guy, so I got in really big trouble once Daxis found out about it.”
“Wait... do you mean to tell me that you were involved in...” Celestia said, putting together the pieces in her head. “You were involved in Tirek's escape?”
Pix turned away for a second before being a golden glow surrounded him, forcing his eyes back to Celestia.
“Pix... tell me,” Celestia said, glaring at him.
“Alright... I may have been the one responsible for letting Cerberus out of his cage...” Pix said. “But I swear I didn't know that it was going to let Tirek get out! I was doing it as a prank, that's what imps do. We prank and play tricks. Daxis didn't like the fact that Tirek could get out, but he couldn't. Nobody likes Tirek down here anyways, so I got punished for it.”
Celestia's gaze softened. “I see. I'm sorry that you had to go through that, Pix. But I do need your help, and I promise that if you'll help me, I'll do what I can for you.”
“I... alright. I'll try to get an audience with Daxis for us,” Pix said, glancing down at the town below.
“I do not think you will have to wait long,” a harsh and heavy voice said from the shadows.
Celestia's eyes widened as several large bat-winged monsters appeared out of the darkness. Each one of them held a trident that flickered with demonic magicks. Their red eyes were trained immediately onto the white alicorn.
“Apprehend them and bring them before Lord Daxis the Unfathomable,” the demon at the front of the pack said.
Celestia growled under her breath. “Stand down, creatures of Tartarus. I am Celestia, Solar Princess of Equestria. I wish an audience with your Lord Daxis.”
“Daxis will have an audience with you pony, before he devours you,” the lead demon replied. It lifted its trident, snarling.
Celestia's horn blazed brilliantly, sending a blast of golden light at the demon's chest. It crumpled to the ground in a burning heap. The other demons hesitated at the easy defeat of their apparent leader.
“Does anyone else wish to be next? I can oblige if you so desire,” the Solar Princess said, a smirk on her face. None of the demons moved. “Good. If you would be so kind then, take us to see Daxis. Now.”
The demons gulped audibly, motioning down a path leading from the tunnel into the main cavern. They turned, flapping softly down it as Celestia and Pix followed.
“Wow... you just... you just killed one of them demon guards,” the imp muttered under his breath to the mare.
Celestia scowled. “He made to attack me. I felt it was wise to demonstrate my power here. I am a Princess of Equestria, after all.”
The demon guards led the pair down into the cavern, where many of the mock-town's residents looked on in awe at the brilliant white alicorn stalking through their streets. They eventually stopped in the center of the town before the massive beast known as Daxis.
“Guards, prepare Daxis's meal... oh. It's you,” the great demon rumbled as all of its eyes locked with Celestia's.
“Hello, Daxis. I would say it is good to see you again, but we both know that would be a lie,” Celestia said. She grinned.
Pix blinked. “Wait wait wait. You know Lord Daxis?” he said, attempting to interrupt the alicorn mare.
“Ah, it is Pix as well,” Daxis rumbled. “Daxis thought he told the little worm never to show its scaly little face here ever again. And yet, here it is again. It must have a death wish.”
“Pix is none of your concern, Daxis. I am your audience. You know who I am,” Celestia said angrily. “And you must know why I am here.”
“Daxis knows why you are here, Princess of the Sun,” Daxis said. Pus popped from one of its boils on its leathery skin, filling the air with rancid stink. “You seek things that do not belong to you. Daxis can taste the stink of regret all around you. It is... invigorating to say the least.”
“You're wrong, Daxis. I regret nothing,” Celestia said. “I'm here searching for something very dear to me. You would not know it by its appearance, however. It is a simple rock, its true form only known to one such as myself.”
“Ponies always regret something. Daxis has feasted on many of your kind, Princess of the Sun. He knows the stinking regret of a pony quite well,” Daxis said, his body shuddering loudly. His eyes shifted to the cavern above. “As for what you seek, the rock is no longer here. One came and took the item some time ago.”
Celestia's eyes widened. Someone else knew about the crown? Had Tirek managed to trick her? Did he take it during his escape, or did he have someone else do it for him? Celestia grimaced. “Pray tell then, Lord Daxis the Unfathomable. Who took this item that I seek?”
“It was an alicorn, much like yourself. Except much darker,” Daxis rumbled. “She was quite forceful. Daxis thought to eat her, but she was far too quick for him.”
“An... an alicorn?” Celestia stammered. Her eyes narrowed at the demon. Was it Luna? Did she know about the crown too? How did she know? Celestia racked her brain, trying to reach her memories of Serenity and Luna. She had known that her two sisters had been close, but she couldn't remember how close. “What was this alicorn's name?”
“Daxis does not know, Daxis does not ask for names of intruder ponies in his realm. Daxis prefers to eat them first, ask questions never,” the massive slug demon said.
“Do you know where the alicorn went?” Celestia pressed on. She had to know where the crown went. If Luna had it, she had to know why. Why she couldn't remember everything about Serenity.
“Daxis saw the alicorn. It left this realm for another. Daxis not see beyond the portal,” the demon replied.
“I see,” Celestia said. “Well, then I shall take my leave of you. I must go in search of this mystery alicorn.”
Daxis' red eyes narrowed. The slug demon began to rumble loudly. “Daxis thinks not, Princess. Daxis remembers that it was you who sealed away Daxis in this place, who made Daxis into what Daxis is today. Daxis will not let you leave. No, Daxis will devour you whole!”
The slug demon arched up and lunged forward, it's maw gaping as it reached out for Celestia. The alicorn lit her horn, enveloping herself and Pix in a shield of golden power. Daxis' jaws latched onto the shield, causing him to recoil in pain.
“I do not know what you are talking about,” Celestia said angrily. “I only remember you were imprisoned for crimes against Equestria here. I did my duty as a Princess to stop you.”
“You turned Daxis into a monster!” the slug demon roared, lunging forward again.
Celestia grimaced and flicked the magic with her horn, causing both herself and Pix to disappear into nothingness. Daxis slammed into the hard Tartaran rock and snarled loudly. None of his guards dared to move, lest they be devoured by their lord. Daxis recoiled and roared.
“What are you all doing? Find her! Find them both! Daxis wants to devour her!”
**********************************************
“I am so glad you've given me this opportunity to bond with you, Twilight,” Discord said as he floated lazily along in the air beside the mare in question.
Twilight smiled softly. “I admit that we've not gotten much time to spend together since Tirek was defeated. Also, I have some ideas on why you may be the best lead we have on finding Celestia.”
The two were making their way along one of the many pathways that had led from the first memory of Serenity. Twilight briefly wondered how the others were doing in their search. So far, Discord and herself had found nothing of any interest.
“Life would be so terribly droll without old Sun Butt, wouldn't it?” Discord mused. His eyes lit up. “Maybe I could become the new Princess Celestia! I would be so good at it, wouldn't I?” He snapped his claws, transforming himself into a mockup of Celestia.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Discord. We've got work to do. Besides, Princess Celestia isn't bright pink.”
Discord glanced down at his new form and grinned sheepishly. He stomped his fake hoof and transformed back into himself.
“That's better,” Twilight said. “Now let's keep going, I don't want to be here any longer than anypony else does, but this is the only chance we have of finding Celestia.”
The two rounded the next corner, blinking as they found themselves on a field of open grass. Sitting upon it at the far end were two young mares. One was Celestia, the other... Serenity. Twilight narrowed her gaze as the memory began to play out.
“So you see, someday Luna and I will be in charge of all the other ponies in the land,” Celestia said, smiling. “Mom's always said that there will be a day when she's not around anymore to help us, but I doubt that. Mom's always been there for us.”
“That... that sounds a little scary, not having Mom around,” Serenity said softly. “I hope that doesn't happen too soon.”
Celestia rolled her eyes and chuckled. “You gotta stop being so gloomy, Sis. I mean, look at Lulu. She's all blue, and she's nowhere near as gloom and doom as you are.”
“I know. I just...” Serenity said. “I guess I just don't feel like I'm fitting in very well here.”
“Don't worry about it,” Celestia said. “That'll change when you become a princess.”
Serenity's eyes widened. “What? What do you mean?”
“Oh come on. Mom's not very subtle. She obviously intends to turn you into an alicorn at some point,” Celestia said. Noting her sister's surprised face, she continued on. “It is possible for non-alicorns to ascend and become one, but it's very rare. Both Lulu and I are natural born alicorns, which are even more rare. Mom is too. Only natural born alicorns have the ability to raise a normal pony to alicorn status.”
“But... why would she...?” Serenity stammered.
“Who knows? Maybe Mom sees something in you that you don't,” Celestia said. “To be honest, it's kind of nice having somepony to hang out with that's closer to my age. I love Lulu to death and all, but she's a typical little sister.”
“I... I've noticed,” Serenity said. “Where is she today anyways?”
“I dunno,” Celestia said. “Don't really care either. I'm just here to enjoy the view.” She motioned across the field.
Twilight's gaze followed the motion, seeing the field end at a road side. Beyond the road the rest of the town hustled and bustled about their day, paying no attention to the two mares watching them. Trotting along town square was a young gray earth stallion. A cutie mark of disjointed musical notes rested on his flank. He toted along a large horn-shaped instrument in a case behind him.
“Who... who's that?” Serenity said.
“Discordant Noise,” Celestia said dreamily. “He's kind of new around here too. You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but he's very sweet. Kind of silly, but sweet. I come out here to watch him play sometimes.”
The stallion pulled the large horn instrument out of its case and sat down on a bench. He began to play the horn, emitting all sorts of sounds and squawks from it as he blew hard into the mouthpiece. Ponies within earshot held their ears and yelled at the young stallion.
“He doesn't sound very good,” Serenity said, chuckling.
“No, you're right. But he is cute, and that's all that matters,” Celestia said. She sighed loudly.
Twilight raised an eyebrow and glanced at Discord.
“I cannot be held responsible for anything she says, Twilight. I give you my word that I am not interfering with this memory,” Discord replied. He held up three claws. “Scout's honor.”
“You're not a scout,” Twilight replied casually.
“But I am an honorary Cutie Mark Crusader, doesn't that count for something?” Discord said, snapping his claws and causing the familiar red and blue cape of the CMC to appear tied around his neck.
“I suppose,” Twilight said, smiling. “Let's keep watching. There's something we're not seeing here.” She returned her attention to the memory.
“Why don't you say hi to him?” Serenity said. “I mean, if you like him so much...”
“I don't know,” Celestia said. “I feel like I'd just goof it up somehow.”
“Really? You're a princess. How are you going to goof up asking a guy out on a date?” Serenity said. “It's not hard.”
“I know, I know. I just... with him it's different. I don't want him looking at me like a princess, you know?” Celestia said, glancing down at her hooves.
Serenity rolled her eyes and stood. “Come on, let's go down there.”
“You can't be serious,” Celestia said.
Serenity grinned slyly. Celestia sighed and grumbled loudly.
“Fine,” she said.
Celestia stood, following her sister down across the road. Naturally, the presence of an alicorn turned all eyes onto them. Celestia tried to hide her anxiety as they neared closer to where Discordant Noise was sitting. The stallion was engrossed in his instrument, and barely noticed the two mares as they watched him play. When he was finished, he set down his instrument and his eyes widened.
“P-P-P-P...” he started to stammer.
“Uh...” Celestia managed to say. “I uh...”
“Oh for Moon's sake,” Serenity said. She waved at the stallion. “Hi, I'm Serenity and this is my sister, Celestia. We wanted to tell you we really liked your music.”
“You... you did?” the stallion said softly.
“Uh...” Celestia continued to utter. “Uh... yeah. Yeah, I really like you. I mean, I like your music. Yeah, your music.”
“Nopony ever likes my music,” Discordant replied. “Let alone a Princess.”
“Well that's because Celestia is pretty cool like that, right Sis?” Serenity said, smiling.
Celestia attempted to grin. “Yeah... I like stuff like that, you know...”
“Well... I... I thank you. I have to get going now, my parents are probably wondering where I'm at. They didn't know I was coming out to practice,” Discordant said, packing up his instrument. He started to walk away from the two mares.
“W-W-Wait,” Celestia stuttered.
Discordant stopped, looking back at her.
“Would you maybe want to have a bite to eat sometime?” Celestia said, blushing. “Like, with me and my sister here?”
Serenity frowned. “I thought this was about you,” she mouthed at the white alicorn.
“Sure,” Discordant said. “I'd... I'd like that. Tomorrow night?”
“Y-Y-Yeah,” Celestia said. “Just... come by the castle. We'll be ready.”
The memory faded away, leaving only silvery dust as Discordant walked away. Twilight grimaced as she tried to analyze what she had seen.
“I assume this was your first time meeting Serenity?” she asked Discord.
“Of course,” the spirit of Chaos responded. He yawned loudly. “How much longer do we have to take these little jaunts back in time?”
“Until we figure out what happened to Celestia. We've already established a brief timeline here already. At some point in her youth, Celestia's mother adopted the unicorn named Serenity. We can see from this memory that Celestia and her sister were far closer to each other than even she and Luna were, due to being closer in age. I'm not sure how that works given that the current belief is that Celestia and Luna are effectively immortal, given their alicorn status.”
“Quite right,” Discord said.
“So, I'm missing something here. Celestia was clearly... in love with you,” Twilight said, grimacing. “Or at the very least infatuated.”
“Correct again,” Discord replied. He twirled around Twilight, grinning widely. “So what do you think?”
“I'm not sure what to think. I think I need some more information to form a valid hypothesis,” Twilight said, frowning. “What I can't piece together is why Celestia never mentioned that Serenity and you were together. In fact, she seemed to not remember much at all about her. Do you have any idea why that would be?”
“To be honest I don't remember much at all myself, Twilight,” Discord said. “After all, beings like myself have lived a very long time. Most likely I'd drive myself mad if I remembered every little thing.”
Discord gave her a blank stare. “Oh, a joke! This is riveting. I'm experiencing a joke with a friend! I think I deserve a gold star for that!” He snapped his claws and a gold star appeared on his chest.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Come on then, top student. We'd better keep moving. We have lots of ground to cover. I just hope the others are having as much luck as we are.”
Celestia opened her eyes to brimstone and steam, her nostrils smelling sulfur and her coat feeling the intense heat of Tartarus. She glanced around, taking in her surroundings. She was laying out in the open upon the very burning embers of the dark realm. Lying a few feet away was Pix. The imp appeared to be unconscious. Celestia grimaced, pushing to all four hooves. They'd managed to escape Daxis, but only just so. The slug lord's minions would be on the lookout for them, and they needed to move.
“Pix,” Celestia said softly. “Pix, wake up.”
No response. Celestia walked over to the imp and stomped her hoof on the ground.
“Pix,” Celestia repeated. Still, the imp did not stir. The Princess of the Sun's eyes widened. Could Pix have perished in the escape? Was it even possible for the denizens of this foul place to even die? Celestia was unsure. She knew that powerful demons like Daxis were effectively immortal, but lesser beings such as Pix? She didn't know.
“Hnnng.”
Celestia shook herself from her thoughts and looked down. Pix's eyes fluttered open.
“It's... it's bright,” the imp managed to utter.
Celestia cocked her head in confusion. “Pix? What do you mean, it's bright?”
“It's bright, hurts...” Pix said. The imp lifted a clawed finger weakly, pointing off in the distance.
Celestia followed the imp's claw, her eyes widening again. Beyond the haze of the Tartaran soil she was standing on was a luminescent field of green grass, set under the loving rays of an ever present sun. Celestia gulped loudly, realizing what she had done. Instead of teleporting to another section of Tartarus, in her haste she had teleported a section of Tartarus to somewhere else. It was a realm she knew all too well.
“The Summer Lands,” Celestia said, blinking. She glanced back at Pix. It was no wonder that things were too bright for him. In fact, it was possible that the section of Tartarus she'd taken with her was the only thing keeping a Tartaran being like him alive in this realm. She looked again at the border of her blackened, burning soil. It was receding. No wonder she hadn't noticed it when she awoke at first.
“Bright...” Pix uttered again.
“Don't worry, Pix. It's going to be alright,” Celestia said quickly. Her eyes darted back and forth between the imp and the receding burnt soil. She had to move fast.
Despite the fact that Pix was just an imp, a dark creature of Tartarus, Celestia knew that she could never live with herself if she were the one who allowed him to die. She had brought him here. He had never asked to be brought along. Granted, he could have died back with Daxis, but she didn't know she'd end up teleporting all the way to the Summer Lands. Besides, she had grown accustomed to his company, no matter what his origins were.
Celestia grimaced, returning to the task at hand. She concentrated, bringing her magic to bear across the imp's body. The simplest thing to do was to send him back to Tartarus. It would save his life, and leave her alone once more.
Pix glanced up at Celestia and tried to say something. Celestia shook her head and released her magic, causing the imp to disappear in a flash of white light. The rest of the Tartaran soil burned away underneath her, leaving nothing more than luscious green grass. Celestia sighed.
“I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you,” she said softly. She turned away from the spot where the imp had been and looked out upon the Summer Lands. It had been a long time since she had set eyes on the realm. The cool winds brushed against her coat, reminding her how much cooler it was here than it had been in Tartarus.
“I wonder why I ended up here,” she said aloud. “The crown. Am I subconsciously following it's path? Daxis did say that whoever took it left Tartarus. Maybe they came here, to the Summer Lands. Looks like I'm going to have to look around and see.”
Celestia started forward, making her way down the hill she'd teleported onto. The green lush grass of the Summer Lands extended as far as she could see, but it was dotted here and there with tiny hamlets where the souls of good ponies lived. Celestia decided upon the closest of these was the best to start searching for her sister's lost crown.
As the alicorn neared the hamlet, she noted that there was a distinct lack of ponies around. In fact, she hadn't seen any of the pony souls that inhabited this realm since she'd come down from the hill. Her interest piqued, Celestia made her way into the town proper.
It was a quaint village, filled with thatched huts and even a little fountain in the center plaza. It reminded Celestia greatly of Ponyville, where her former student Twilight lived. And yet, something was off. Something in the air didn't feel right. Celestia felt as if though she were being watched.
“Hello?” she called out. “Is anypony out there?”
No response. Celestia grimaced.
Having a bit of trouble, are we? a voice echoed inside of her head.
Celestia turned about, looking for the source of the voice. “Who's there?” she asked anxiously.
Tsk. Dear Celestia, you know who this is, the voice replied casually.
“Tirek,” Celestia said, recognizing the voice. “How did...?”
How did I end up being able to talk inside your mind? I think we both know, Tirek said.
“I'm afraid I don't,” Celestia said angrily. “I do not have time for this.”
Oh but I think you do. You were so kind to my little messenger, sending him back here to me. His mission was ultimately successful, however, and now I'm afraid I simply have no use for him any longer, Tirek said.
Celestia's teeth gritted together. “Pix,” she said. “Pix was one of your spies.”
Yes...not that he had any choice in the matter. That is the nature of how things work in Tartarus. I had the imp plant a magical device that would allow me to psychically link with your mind, Tirek said. I must admit, I had not expected the crown to be missing.
Celestia mulled over the centaur's choice of words. “You don't know where it is now, either, do you?” she finally said.
No. I'm afraid not, Tirek said. If I did, I wouldn't be stuck in this infernal prison, would I? No... the removal of it is as just a mystery to me as it is to you.
“So why reveal yourself now? Why not wait until I have the crown?” Celestia said. Her eyes drifted towards several of the buildings across the plaza. She thought she'd seen movement there.
Because as much as I loathe to admit it, you would have found out about the link sooner or later. My powers are not as great as yours are in my weakened state, Tirek replied.
“And if I choose to cut off this link?” Celestia said, walking towards the building she'd seen shadows coming from.
Then I suppose that would be your prerogative. There would be no reason for you to continue talking to me, after all. But you won't. Face it, we're more alike than you realize, Celestia, Tirek said. I only told you where the crown was because I wanted you to see it too.
“I'm afraid you're wrong. We are nothing alike,” Celestia said aloud. “As for this conversation, it is over.” Her horn twitched, and she heard Tirek's voice no longer. Satisfied that she had eliminated the link, she trotted right up to the front door of the building. She knocked loudly on it.
“Hello? Is anypony in there?” she called out. No response. Celestia grimaced again. “Listen, if anypony is there, please answer me.”
Again there was no response. Celestia turned around back towards the town, not hearing the door open behind her. Before she could react, Celestia dropped to the ground, yelping loudly as something struck her in the back of the head. She passed out before she could see the two shadowy figures dragging her inside the house.
**************************************
“I still don't quite understand why we had to split up,” Rarity said as she trotted along a pathway made of dirt.
“So we could cover more ground easier, Rares,” Applejack said, trotting beside her. “You trust Twilight's judgment, right?”
“Well yes, I do,” Rarity said. “I just wonder if we could have accomplished more together, as opposed to being separated.”
“Listen, Twilight's got a lot on her mind right now. Princess Celestia gone and all,” Applejack replied. “We've all gotta do our best to help find out where she went.”
Rarity nodded. Her companion was right. Twilight was noticeably stressed by Princess Celestia's disappearance. They all were. Celestia was more than just their Princess, she had been each of the Elements of Harmony's friend as well.
“Still, I don't suppose you have some idea of where to start looking?” the alabaster mare imposed on her friend.
“That's a good question,” Applejack said, stopping to put her hoof to her chin. “Twilight said that we'll run into rogue memories here and there, so it's best to assume that if we just keep moving, eventually we'll run into one.”
Rarity grimaced, but kept moving forward. The path they were on eventually coalesced into a large field set next to a grand castle. Several ponies stood upon it, chief of which Rarity recognized as Celestia, Luna, and Serenity. Celestia appeared to be performing some magic with her horn.
“You mean like that?” Rarity said as she and the other mare approached the memories.
“Exactly like that,” Applejack said.
The young Celestia stepped forward, her horn blazing as it lifted a large shining orb in front of her. She appeared to be struggling with the orb, gritting her teeth as she attempted to lift it with her magic. Eventually she dropped it, gasping for air.
“Again,” a voice said from next to the three mares.
“But, Mother... it's too heavy,” Celestia whined. “Why do I have to do this anyways?”
“Because, my dear. Eventually, you will be responsible for lifting the Sun. And that, I think we can both agree is a much larger burden than this simple orb,” Celestia's mother replied, stepping out into view. “Now, do it again. And pay attention to the amount of force you are exerting on the orb. You must not place too much on it, otherwise it will reject you. It is not a matter of power, it is a matter of finesse.”
Celestia rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
“Don't roll your eyes at me, young lady. I know you may not understand the point of this training now, but you will someday when I am gone and you rule the Everfree,” Celestia's mother said.
Celestia grimaced, averting her eyes from her mother's cold gaze. She stepped forward, re-igniting her horn. Her golden magic wrapped around the orb once more and she began to pull on it. The orb responded by beginning to float into the air. Celestia grinned widely as she lifted the orb.
“I got it!” she shouted. “Look! I did it!” Her joy quickly turned to disappointment when the orb stopped floating immediately and dropped to the ground. It rolled around in place for a second before stopping at her hooves.
“I think that's enough for one day,” Celestia's mother replied. “It's clear that you're not focused on this task, Celestia.”
“But... but I had it in the air,” Celestia said.
Celestia's mother grimaced. “You were supposed to hold it there, not break your focus once you lifted it. Now, put the things away and go back up to the castle. Dinner will be served soon. After dinner, I will see you in my study.” She turned and took off into the air towards the castle.
Celestia sighed, hanging her head.
“Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it,” Serenity said, smiling as she trotted up to her sister. Luna followed behind her.
“Yeah, it's just a stupid orb, Tia,” Luna said. “You can do it!”
Celestia smiled softly. “Thanks... I just wish Mother would see that I am trying. It is harder than it looks.”
“Really? Can I try?” Serenity said. She was glancing at the orb resting on the ground. “What makes it so hard to lift anyways? It doesn't look that heavy.”
“Mother told me that it was infused with the essence of the Sun, so it would respond magically the same way it would to me,” Celestia recited. “Heavy.”
Serenity trotted around the golden orb. “Fascinating. So, do you mind?”
“Mind what?” Celestia said before realizing what her sister was talking about. “Oh. Sure, go ahead and give it a shot.”
Serenity grinned widely and took a step back. Her horn began to glow softly, reaching out to the orb with her magic. The sphere began to wobble. Eventually, it started to rise slowly. It stopped at eye level, hovering silently.
Celestia's eyes widened. “How...? How are you...?”
Serenity grimaced, sticking her tongue out to the side as she lowered the orb. She took a deep breath and exhaled just as deeply. “Wow... you aren't kidding. It's really heavy.”
“But... but you lifted it,” Celestia said. “How in the Sun's name were you able to do that?”
“I don't know,” Serenity said. “I just did what Mother said. Finesse, not power.”
Celestia scowled, turning away from her sister. From their vantage point looking in on the memory, both Rarity and Applejack could see that she was... angry?
Rarity blinked. She'd never seen Princess Celestia truly angry before. It appeared almost as if...
“She's jealous,” she said softly.
“Say what?” Applejack said.
“She's jealous. Serenity was able to do very easily what she struggled to do,” Rarity pointed out. “That's quite odd, if you think about it.
“Why? Everypony gets a little jealous sometimes,” Applejack replied.
“Fair enough, but have you ever seen Princess Celestia act jealous of somepony?” Rarity asked.
Applejack thought for a moment. “I suppose you're right. It looks like that's the end of that memory, too. C'mon. We'd better keep moving.”
Rarity nodded. The two ponies stood and continued on down the path.
******************************************
Celestia's eyes fluttered open to darkness. She grunted, trying to move and finding that she couldn't. What happened? she thought. She had only turned away from the door for a moment. Something had come out of it and attacked her.
The Solar Princess craned her neck, trying to see where she was. The room was very dark, and she couldn't see much of anything at all.
“Hello?” she called out, realizing that she was only bound by her legs and body, and not her mouth. “Is anypony there?”
“The Princess, she awakens,” a dark voice said from somewhere within the room.
“Who's there? I can't see you,” Celestia said.
A lantern ignited in the room, illuminating a small portion of the dark space. Standing next to it was a simple earth pony stallion. He had a grin plastered on his face. “Forgive us, Princess. I am used to the darkness.”
Celestia grimaced. “Why can't I move? What have you done to me?”
“You were attacked,” the stallion said softly. “I'm afraid I had to restrain you while you recovered.”
“I feel much better now,” Celestia lied. She didn't. Her head ached heavily and so did the rest of her body. “Can you please untie me? I am on a very important mission.”
“I am sorry, Princess. But I cannot do that,” the stallion replied. “There is too much to do, you see. Too much, indeed.”
Celestia frowned. It was time to get serious. “Pony, I am the sovereign ruler of Equestria. You will abide by my command, or I shall be required to free myself through force.”
“Oh, you don't rule here,” the stallion said. “Not in the Summer Lands.”
“Of couse I do. I am the arbiter who decides what ponies get to enter the Summer Lands,” Celestia said angrily. She was beginning to get frustrated.
“So I was right,” the stallion said. “It was you. I must thank you, Princess Celestia. You are the entire reason I am here in the first place.”
Celestia's gaze narrowed on the pony. “Who are you, pony? Do I know you? I have judged many souls to this place, and I remember them all.”
“Do you remember me then? My name was Generous Soul, but now it is Nothing,” the pony said, setting his lamp on a nearby table.
Celestia searched her memory, trying to remember a pony with a name, but she was unable to specifically remember judging anypony with that name. Her eyes widened as she realized where she'd heard the name from.
“My sister. Serenity. She's the one who judged your soul. She let you in to the Summer Lands. You're the pony Tirek tried to corrupt,” she said.
The stallion chuckled slightly and put his hoof to his chin. “Oh my, it seems you don't remember do you? All in due time, I suppose. It's not my place to tell you, no it is not. But what to do with you then? I suppose I could I could add you to my collection.”
“Collection...? And what am I supposed to remember?” Celestia questioned.
“Yes, my collection...” the pony said softly, almost as if he had not heard Celestia's question in the first place. The stallion walked calmly over to the wall and brought the lamp to bear.
Celestia's eyes widened. Strewn along the wall were the souls of the ponies who had lived in this town in the Summer Lands, or at the very least the physical manifestation of those souls as they appeared in life. Each one was carefully posed and displayed, and very noticeably not moving. It was as if the soul itself had been cut off. The alicorn averted her eyes from the gruesome display.
The pony once known as Generous Soul cackled wildly. “Yes... my dear Princess Celestia, we're going to have a lot of fun together, you and I. Oh yes, we will.”
Celestia struggled against her bonds. She tried to access her magic, attempting to free herself from the restraints, but found she was unable to conjure even a single spark.
“I am afraid that will do you no good,” the stallion said. “These bonds are meant to sever your connection to magic, rendering you, well... helpless.” He giggled. “They were a gift, intended solely for you, Princess.”
“Release me!” Celestia shouted in anger. “I have a very important mission to accomplish!”
“I think not. No, I most definitely do not think releasing you is in my best interests at all,” the stallion said. “We have so very much to do, after all. So much to do indeed...” He turned to the wall and lifted a hoof. “You see, these are my gifts. All for me, Princess. I'm very generous though. I gave them something equally lovely back.”
“What did you do to them?” Celestia snarled through her teeth.
“I made them perfect,” the stallion uttered. “They weren't perfect before. They were... flawed. I made them better.”
“By killing them?” Celestia replied.
The stallion cackled. “Killing? Oh dear me, no. You can't kill the dead, Princess. No... I've trapped their souls here in the wall. They feel nothing, but they are perfect beyond measure.”
“But you've opened them up,” Celestia noted. She grimaced, averting her eyes from the disgusting display. “You... you're sick. Why would such a soul be here of all places? Why are you in the Summer Lands?”
The stallion paused and thought for a moment. “You would really have to ask yourself that. After all, you put me here.”
“I am afraid you are mistaken, pony. It was my sister, Serenity, who allowed you access to this realm, but now I am not sure why,” Celestia said. She struggled against the magic sapping bonds, feeling her strength waning. She had to figure out a way to free herself, but how? She stopped struggling and tried to calm her mind. The stallion was too busy giddily admiring his... collection to notice that his tools were just within reach. But she couldn't move a muscle, how could she grab them?
Her answer came in the form of two red eyes gleaming in the rafters. A lithe body descended from above on two tiny wings. Celestia nearly gasped.
“Pix?” she whispered. What was the imp doing here? How was he surviving in the Summer Lands?
The imp looked over at the crazed stallion and down at the tools on the table. He picked a particularly nasty bladed one up and turned towards her captor. A sharp grin emerged on his lips, showing rows of shiny teeth. Celestia's eyes widened as she realized the imp's intent.
“Pix, no--!” she started to shout as the imp lunged at the stallion.
Within mere seconds, it was over and the stallion lay twitching on the ground. Pix stood and turned to regard Celestia.
“We don't have much time before he wakes back up,” he said, bringing the blade to bear over Celestia's bonds. He moved quickly, severing each bond in turn.
Celestia began to feel her magic return, little by little. Once she was free, she angrily picked up Pix with a flare of her horn. “What have you done, imp?”
“Saving your life. An eye for an eye. You saved me, I save you. Now we're even,” Pix said.
“Why did you do that to him?” Celestia said angrily.
“Because he was going to hurt you,” Pix replied. “The ponies on his wall, they're just like every other resident of this place. They're not alive, they're dead already. You can't kill a soul. He was just torturing them.”
Celestia grimaced, standing. She released her magic, allowing the imp to go free. She glanced down at the stallion's twitching body. “If you can't kill a soul...” Her eyes widened. “It would seem that you are correct, we don't have much time. We must be free of this place. But first, I must perform some housekeeping.”
The Princess of the Sun's horn glowed brightly, wrapping the stallion in a metallic box that held him firmly in place. She turned her attention to the wall and began attacking it vigorously, exercising her power as ruler of the Summer Lands to return each soul to its place. The stallion's collection began to disappear, one by one.
“The box will not hold him for long once he has awoken,” she said to herself. “I will have to seek out a more permanent method later. Right now, the item I seek is drifting further out of my hooves. I have no time to ponder on this pony's existence here.” Her horn glowed again and she disappeared, taking Pix with her.
They reappeared outside in the town. Celestia turned her head towards the everlasting sun above the Summer Lands, noting that it was now a very deep red. She looked down at Pix.
“Do you know what to make of that?” she asked.
The imp shrugged. “Not sure. It was like that when I got here,” he said.
Celestia grimaced. Something was wrong with the Summer Lands. Something very wrong. How had she never noticed it? She had always been so careful to make sure everything was in order.
“Pix, what are you doing here? Why did your master send you?” she said.
Pix's eyes widened. “You know about that,” he said.
“He told me himself. Through the spell you planted on me,” Celestia said. “I do not care for being spied upon.”
“Tirek can't do much from where he's at,” Pix replied. “No... someone else sent me back here. Told me you might be in trouble.”
Celestia arched an eyebrow. “Who sent you then?”
Pix shrugged. “I don't know. Didn't see their face. Do you really care? I just saved you from being shish-kebabed back there.”
Celestia grimaced. Something wasn't right. Whoever she was following was several steps ahead of her. The appearance of Generous Soul had not been a coincidence, she'd decided. It had been intentional to waylay her and to try and lay some sort of fault upon her. The Solar Princess closed her eyes, racking her brain to try and remember anything, but she couldn't. As far as she knew, Generous Soul had been admitted to the Summer Lands by Serenity. So then, why had he said she had done it herself? Nothing added up correctly.
“Princess, if I might be so bold,” Pix said softly. “But we should be moving on.”
“I'm thinking, Pix. There is much that does not make sense to me,” Celestia replied. “The crown, Tirek, Serenity. This mysterious alicorn who has the crown. There has be some sense to it all, but I cannot find it.”
“Well, that's good and all, but you might want to find it before they find us,” Pix said hesitantly. He pointed a claw back towards the center of the village.
Celestia craned her neck, following the imp's pointing. Her eyes widened. Several large shadowy beasts milled about the town square, sniffing the air. Their red eyes marked them as Tartaran beasts. Celestia wondered if she had accidentally brought more of that realm to the Summer Lands than she had thought, but dismissed the notion. She would have noticed something like that. Still then, what were these monsters doing there?
Almost in unison, the beasts turned their heads and looked directly at Pix and Celestia. They began to ululate loudly.
“We've been walking for hours and we still haven't seen a single thing,” Rainbow Dash lamented. “Weren't there supposed to be like, memories and stuff? None of this is helping us find the Princess.”
“Um... it's only been ten minutes,” Fluttershy said softly.
“And another thing, why in the heck did the Princess run off in the first place? It doesn't make any sense!” Dash continued loudly.
Fluttershy sighed and glanced over at Pinkie Pie, who seemed intent on something up ahead. “Pinkie? Is everything alright?”
Pinkie turned and smiled. “Yup! I think we're coming up on a memory. And by the twitchin' of my tail, it's gonna be a doozy!”
“Wait, a memory? Where?” Rainbow interrupted.
Pinkie rolled her eyes and pointed. “There, silly filly!”
Further up the path there had materialized what looked to be the insides of a castle. As the three ponies got closer and closer to it, the forms of the younger Celestia and Discordant Noise appeared. They were sitting together at a table. Dinner was spread out before them.
“I'm glad that you decided to accept my invitation,” Celestia said.
“Well, it's not every day that a Princess invites you to the castle. I do believe a pony would have to be mad to not accept,” Discordant Noise replied.
Celestia frowned. “Is that how you see this? A royal invitation?”
“Of course not. Please, excuse my poor choice of words,” the stallion said quickly. “I mean no disrespect. But you are indeed a Princess, and I only assumed...”
“You assumed that I had asked you here for some task of importance,” Celestia said flatly. “Does it surprise you that I asked you here because I enjoy your company?”
“Not at all. I am a very amicable stallion, after all, Princess,” Discordant replied, grinning widely.
Celestia cracked a tiny smile. “We should do this more often then.”
“Indeed.”
Celestia snickered and put her hooves on the table. “Oh, Cordy, must you always be so serious?”
Discordant grinned wider. “It's the game we play every time we meet. It's become a bit of a tradition, Tia.” He glanced down at the table. “Perhaps though, we should eat. Otherwise our food will get cold.”
Celestia sighed. “I suppose you're right,” she said. “I'm sorry, I had hoped for a bit of a better date than this. Mother has been on a bit of a war path lately, so getting out of the castle has been a headache.”
“She is upset with you still?” Discordant asked.
“She's upset with me all the time, Cordy,” Celestia said, rolling her eyes. “I just don't think she gets it, y'know? I don't want to be this big important Princess that takes care of all the ponies. Just not my style.”
“I know what you mean,” Discordant said. “My family doesn't understand my special talents either. They think I should stop the nonsense with music, and become a business pony like my father.”
“Ugh. So boring and serious,” Celestia said, sticking her tongue out. “I swear, what is it with parents?” She turned to her food and sighed loudly. “I'm not even really hungry.”
Discordant chuckled. “Me neither. They always bring us way too much food, those servants of yours.”
“Yes... I guess I'll have to let them take the rest of this home,” Celestia mused. “Mother won't like it. She's old-fashioned that way.” She pushed out from her chair and stood. “I'm really sorry, Cordy. I just... I should go. I'm not really feeling well, and if Mom finds you here...”
Discordant stood and made his way to Celestia's side. He pulled her close and hugged her. “It's okay, really. I know you try your best to make our little dinners special. When you can get out of the castle, we'll hang out, alright?”
“Okay,” Celestia said softly. “You... you're good to me, you know that right? I hope you know that. You really get me.”
“Of course I do,” Discordant replied. He leaned in and pecked the alicorn on her cheek. “Until next time, my Princess.”
Celestia nodded and walked away, disappearing into mists.
“Gag!” Rainbow interrupted.
“I think it's very sweet,” Fluttershy replied.
“You would,” Rainbow said.
“Shh! There's more!” Pinkie shouted, pointing at the memory.
Discordant stood there by himself for a few moments before the point of view shifted, showing him from the front. Celestia stood just outside the hall and watched him. The stallion moved to leave the room, but found himself joined by another mare.
“Serenity?” Celestia whispered to herself.
“Hello, Discordant,” Serenity said, smiling. She reached and kissed the stallion on the lips, much more forcefully than he had to Celestia. “Miss me?”
“Serenity, I told you already. Not inside the castle,” Discordant said.
“What's the matter, Cordy? Afraid my sister will find out?” Serenity said, rolling her eyes.
“Yes,” Discordant replied. “You know how I feel about this. I don't want to hurt her. I... I care for her.”
“But you love me, right?” Serenity said, batting her eyelashes.
“Yes, of course I do,” Discordant said. “But until we can tell her and make her understand that we are in love, I do not want to hurt her. So not in the castle, understand?”
“Don't you get it, Cordy? She won't understand. She's a Princess,” Serenity said. “You know what that means, right?”
“That she's used to getting things her way?” Discordant asked. “Or do you think she's too good for me?”
Serenity grimaced. “You don't actually know do you?” she said. She sighed loudly. “Look, being a Princess means that she's immortal, Cordy. She's never going to die. But you and I? We will. We'll pass on, and become a minor footnote in her long life.”
“So? Does that mean I should care less for her?” Discordant replied.
“No. It means that you and I are destined to be together. We're mortal, we can share our whole lives together. She can only share part of hers with you,” Serenity said.
Celestia's eyes burned with tears. She stepped into the room. Discordant's eyes widened as he noticed her.
“Celestia?” he said.
“Serenity,” Celestia said angrily. “You... you think to steal my love from me?”
“Celestia, wait. I can explain,” Discordant said.
“Be quiet,” Celestia said. “I wish for my sister to tell me the truth.”
Serenity grimaced and shook her head. “It's true. I love Discordant as well, but I never sought to steal him from you. It just... happened.”
Celestia growled under her breath. “Liar! You have cast some spell over him! I have seen you practicing your magic. Perhaps I will tell Mother that you have been tinkering with the minds of other ponies.”
“I did no such thing!” Serenity protested. “I am not toying with his mind, Celestia!”
“ENOUGH!” Discordant shouted, stopping both mares cold in their tracks. He turned to Celestia. “It is true that I led you on. For that, it is my fault alone. I promise you that I never intended for you to be hurt. You are one of the truest friends I've ever had. But I do love Serenity. And I should have told you. We should have told you.”
Celestia paused. “But... I... I love you.”
“I know,” Discordant said. “I... I love you too, just... not in that way. You are an amazing pony, Celestia, and a wonderful friend. One of my very few, really. I only hope that you can forgive me.” He stepped forward towards the alicorn mare.
Celestia took a step back. She shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. “No. I cannot. I... I have to go. Mother will be cross with me if I'm not studying. I... I'm sorry.” She turned and started running towards the end of the room.
“Wait!” Discordant called out after her.
“Just let her go, Cordy,” Serenity said softly. “I... I'll try to talk to her for you. I don't know if she'll listen to me, but I'll try.”
“You would do that? Knowing how she feels?” Discordant said.
Serenity nodded. “Just because you aren't romantically interested in her, doesn't mean she can't be your friend. Everypony needs a friend.”
The memory dissipated, leaving the three ponies watching it looking very confused.
“I don't get it,” Rainbow said. “Why in the hay did Discord lead her on like that?”
“Ponies have very complex feelings, Rainbow,” Pinkie replied, sighing. “He was probably feeling very confused. On one hoof, he still loved Celestia as a friend, and didn't want to see her hurt. On the other, he probably knew he had to tell her at some point.”
“We should keep moving,” Fluttershy said softly. “Find the other girls and tell them about this.”
“I agree with Shy,” Rainbow said. “This place is boring. Let's go, Pinkie.”
“Alright,” Pinkie said, smiling. She took one last look at where the memory had taken place and then started after her two friends.
Celestia ran. She ran harder than she had ever run in her entire life, feeling fire in her veins as she galloped. The beasts were still pursuing her and Pix. The imp had tried his best but in the end his wings couldn't keep pace with the monstrous hounds, forcing Celestia to grab him with her magic.
She couldn't fathom how beasts from Tartarus had gotten into the Summer Lands. Furthermore, what had happened with Generous Soul? The stallion was crazed and seemingly evil. How had he been allowed to enter into such a divine place? Why had he told her it was because of her? None of it made any sense.
The beasts snarled and snapped loudly at her heels, prompting the alicorn to abandon her thoughts and focus on the present situation. She jumped into the air, beating her wings to gain flight. One of the monsters jumped and bit down, tearing one of her back hooves in the process. Celestia cried out in pain as the beast let go. She kept flying upwards until she could no longer hear the snarling creatures.
“Um... Princess? You're bleeding,” Pix said.
Celestia looked down at her back leg. The imp was right about one thing, she was indeed bleeding from where the creature had bit her. Just looking at the wound dropped her adrenaline and caused the pain to start. Celestia bit down hard to hold her concentration. She was still rather high up and if she lost control... she didn't want to think about what would happen. With a quick flick of her horn and a searing pain that shot through her entire body, she cauterized the wound. At the very least she wouldn't bleed out.
“I'm painfully aware, Pix. We need to find some place to set down,” she said. Her eyes scanned the horizon for some place to go.
In the distance, she spotted a hill overlooking a grand castle. She flapped her wings hard, setting down on the hill. As she touched ground, she nearly collapsed. She pushed up, holding herself on the weight of her three good legs. She grimaced. She needed to treat the wound on her leg before it got worse. She glanced down at the castle.
“Wow,” Pix said.
“Yes... the castle is impressive. It is also empty,” Celestia said. “It has not been occupied since... well, since my mother occupied it.”
“Your mother?” Pix asked.
“Indeed. This castle used to be a part of Equestria. When my mother died, some part of her magic separated it from the rest of the realm, forming the Summer Lands around it. It is only half of the true thing. The other half became a part of Tartarus,” Celestia said. She grimaced. “We must get inside. I need to tend to my leg, and if the crown is in the Summer Lands, I suspect it will be here.”
Celestia's eyes panned down to the castle below. The pristine columns that lined the castle's courtyard gleamed in the bright red sun. The castle itself abruptly ended in the middle, almost as if it had been sliced neatly in half. The other half, Celestia knew, was sitting in Tartarus. Celestia couldn't remember how long ago it had been that the castle had been her home. Serenity had been there too, she could remember.
Her wings spread and she took off, Pix in tow. The two made their way down to the castle's courtyard, landing on the hard stonework leading up to the entrance. Celestia looked back. There was no sign of the Tartaran beasts that had followed them. Likely they had gotten bored with the chase and went back to whatever it was they were doing in the first place.
Celestia grunted and turned back to the castle. She stumbled forward, limping along as she made her way towards the entrance. Pix flapped along in the air beside her, his beady red eyes wide as he took in the castle's splendor.
“Once we're inside, I will need to spend some time fixing my leg,” Celestia said. “Do not wander off. I myself have not been here for a long time, so I do not know if there are any dangers that could present themselves.”
“Don't wander, got it. Are you going to be alright?” Pix said.
“I shall be just fine, Pix. Thank you for the concern,” Celestia replied.
“Believe me, I'm more concerned about those beasts finding us than anything,” Pix said.
Celestia smiled. “Don't worry about that. The castle is quite secure.”
The two kept moving closer to the entrance. As they walked, Celestia kept trying to piece together what had happened in her head. She tried hard to remember Serenity, but kept coming up blank. Why couldn't she remember her? She was certain that she knew exactly what had happened to her sister, that Tirek had been responsible for her disappearance. Tirek himself had all but admitted to it. So why couldn't she shake the feeling that it was a lie?
Celestia grimaced as Pix and she made their way inside the castle's main doors. Her hooves clicked and clacked on the cold marble. Her eyes scanned the main hall. There was nobody around. Most of the doors leading to the rest of the castle were closed, with the exception of the door to the throne room.
“Pix,” Celestia said as she found a spot to rest along the hall. “I must stop. I need to heal my leg.”
“Alright,” the imp said, glancing furtively at the throne room doors. “I'll just sit down over here.”
Celestia nodded before turning her attention to her leg. Her cauterization spell had stemmed the blood flow, but the injury was still quite bad. The beast had managed to cut through the muscle deep right to the bone. It was no wonder that she hadn't been able to walk on it. A golden glow wrapped itself around her leg as her magic began to take hold. Skin and muscle began to knit itself back together. Celestia concentrated hard, sending as much magic as she could through her horn to power the healing spell.
When she was finished, her leg looked as good as new. Better than new, actually, she thought. Celestia flexed the appendage a few times, feeling reasonably sure that it had been healed. She looked up to let Pix know that she was finished.
Pix was gone.
Celestia grimaced. “Pix? Where are you?” she called out as she stood. She scanned the hall for any sign of the imp, but there was nothing. The only difference was that one of the side hall doors had been opened.
“I told him to stay put,” Celestia said to herself. “Looks like I'm going to have to find him.”
****************************************
Elsewhere, six mares and a draconequus convened together. Each group had found a memory of Celestia's and had returned to share their findings.
“Alright, so we've established a basic timeline,” Twilight Sparkle said. “At some point, Celestia lived with her mother and Luna, welcoming a young unicorn named Serenity into their family. Celestia was affectionate towards Discordant Noise, but it seemed that Discordant and Serenity were together. Celestia was also jealous of Serenity's magical talent.”
“That still doesn't tell us where the Princess went to,” Rainbow Dash said.
“I agree with Rainbow. We're no closer to finding the Princess,” Rarity said.
Twilight smiled. “Actually, we're on the right track. You see, I'm convinced now that Celestia is trying to find Serenity. There's only a few places that she could go to do so, however. Tartarus, the Summer Lands, or the Realm of the Final Rest. The problem lies in getting to those places.”
“I believe that I may be able to be of some assistance in that regards,” Discord said. “As a being of chaos magic, I should be able to breach the walls of either of those realms.”
“You'd do that?” Fluttershy said.
“Of course, dear Fluttershy. Celestia and I may have had our differences in the past, but that is as they say... water under the bridge,” Discord said as he transformed into a bridge with eyes. A tiny river the color of Celestia's coat ran underneath it.
“There will be no need for that,” Twilight said.
“What?!” the other mares said.
“But, if Discord can find Celestia, then this can all be over,” Applejack said.
“Discord must stay here,” Twilight said. “We are not finished with Celestia's memories, and I have a feeling that Discord's presence will be required for the next ones. If we are following the timeline appropriately, then we should be arriving at one crucial memory.”
“Which memory is that?” Discord said, transforming back into his normal form.
“Celestia and Luna taking over for their mother. The ascendancy of Serenity. Your transformation into Discord. You said it yourself, there's a reason why you did what you did, but you don't remember it,” Twilight said. “Don't you want to find out the truth?”
Discord put a claw up to his chin for a moment. “You do have a very good point. But how does this help us find Celestia?”
“Because at the end of the road, there will be no secrets. Harmony will bring her to us,” Twilight said. “We'll finally know why she left, and in doing so, we'll be able to talk to her.”
“Are you sure about this?” Discord said.
“I am,” Twilight said. She pointed down the path. “I think if we head this way, we'll find what we're looking for. I've been going over the evidence, and it's the only likely conclusion to this.”
The others followed Twilight's hoof. Shapes began to form down the path, turning into the castle they'd seen before. In the center of the throne room, an older Celestia and Luna stood before two thrones. Serenity stood nearby with Discordant Noise. Celestia had a grim look on her face.
“Sisters. The event we have come to fear has come to pass. Mother is... is gone. We do not have long here,” she said. “Mother made a decree before she... she went. This castle is to house the creation of two realms. One will serve as a place for just and righteous when they pass on from life. The other, for the wicked and evil. This castle will cease to exist in Equestria as we know it. The process has already begun.”
“What will happen to us, dear sister?” Luna said.
“We must rejoin the world of Equestria. Mother was right. The ponies need our guidance,” Celestia said. “They need our help.”
“But, what about these two new realms? Who shall be the arbiter that decides what realm one ends up in?” Luna said. “Are we to undertake this in addition to our duties to the Sun and Moon?”
Celestia smiled, turning her attention to Serenity. “No, dear sister. I believe that this task is meant for another to carry upon. Serenity?”
Serenity looked up at her sister. “Yes, sister?”
Celestia strode down in front of the unicorn. She smiled softly. “Serenity, you have been a faithful sister of ours. I am sure Mother would be proud of you, for today you are to become more than just our sister. You are to become a Princess in your own right.”
“Wait... me? A Princess?” Serenity said, her eyes wide. “But... why?”
“The Summer Lands, Tartarus. These realms will require a Princess to steward them. To judge fairly the souls of those who pass on. This is a task I believe that you can take on,” Celestia said.
“I... I'm honored, sister,” Serenity said. She looked at Discordant. “But... will I still be able to see Discordant?”
Celestia's expression turned grim. “I am afraid not. “Acting as Princess of the Final Rest, as arbiter of the souls of the afterlife, will be a very taxing and time-consuming affair. You would have to give up all physical attachments.”
“That isn't fair,” Discordant said angrily. “Why should she have to do this? Why can't you handle this responsibility? If this is about what happened between us...”
“I'm afraid this has nothing to do with that,” Celestia said. “What I am asking is a large responsibility. Ultimately it is Serenity's choice. If she decides otherwise, we shall have to find somepony else to handle the role.”
“I... I'll do it,” Serenity said, interrupting. “I will shoulder this responsibility.”
“Serenity?” Discordant said. “Do you realize what you're saying?”
Serenity smiled and turned to her love. “I do. Celestia is right. This is important. Mother would have wanted me to do this. She took me in, made me part of her own family.”
“But... what about us? What about what we have?” Discordant said, anger rising in his voice.
“Cordie, you know how I feel about you,” Serenity said, placing a hoof on the other pony's shoulder. “But I cannot ignore my responsibilities. Just like you cannot ignore your music. I have to do this.”
“A wise decision, sister,” Celestia said. “Discordant, you must leave this place now. Once the castle has finished transitioning, if you are still inside you will never be able to go back to Equestria.”
“What if I want to stay here? What if I want to stay with her?” Discordant challenged.
“If you stay here, you will die. You will not see Serenity because you will force her to judge your soul for eternity,” Celestia said. “The magic in this place will rip you apart at the seams. Only those of alicorn status can remain.”
Discordant's eyes widened. He looked over at Serenity, who nodded solemnly. In frustrated anger he turned and walked towards the front door. He looked back one last time and then he was gone. Serenity glanced down, a tear forming in her eye.
“I'm sorry about this, little sister,” Celestia said, her eyes looking downward. “I do wish there was another way.”
“It... it doesn't matter,” Serenity said, sniffling. “I am ready to take on this role.”
“Excellent, now let us begin,” Celestia said. Her horn began to glow brilliantly, and light engulfed the memory, ending it.
“Celestia split you apart,” Twilight said softly.
Discord glanced away. “It would seem that is accurate. Serenity was tricked into accepting her position. Celestia and Luna were more than capable of handling the role of arbiters of souls themselves. Celestia even did so for years after banishing Luna all by herself. There was no reason for Serenity to do what she did.”
“But... why?” Fluttershy said. “Why would she... trick her own sister?”
“Because she still loved him,” Twilight said, her eyes widened. “She loved him enough that she did the only thing she could think of to keep him, even if it meant dooming her sister to an eternity of loneliness.”
***********************************
“Pix?” Celestia called out as she made her way down the old stone hallway. Her hooves made clacking sounds on the stone. She winced slightly with each step. Despite being healed, her leg still needed time to adjust to the magic holding it together.
“Pix?” she called out again. No response. Celestia frowned. She had told the imp to not wander off, and yet he hadn't listened.
As she made her way deeper into the castle, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Several times she saw shadows out of the corner of her eye, but saw nothing when she turned to confront them. She hadn't remembered her mother's castle being like this before. Just what had happened to the Summer Lands since the last time she'd been there? Furthermore, when was the last time she'd been there? She couldn't clearly remember.
She stopped at the end of the hallway. The hall opened up into a grand audience hall. Two long tables lined each side of the room. At the far end a grand throne sat upon a set of stairs. A figure sat on the throne, shrouded in darkness. Standing in front of the throne was... Pix?
“Pix?” Celestia said as she rushed towards the end of the hall. She reached the imp's side in no time. He appeared to be in a daze of sorts, staring up towards the throne.
“Celestia,” a voice said.
Celestia's eyes drifted up towards the throne. Seated on it was a dark alicorn mare. Her eyes glowed brightly as she regarded the Princess of the Sun. Resting upon her brow was the crown of the Final Rest. The crown that belonged to her sister. Celestia's eyes widened as she realized who was sitting before her.
“Hello, Celestia,” the figure on the throne said. “I see you've finally decided to come here.”
“Serenity? Is it... is it really you?” Celestia replied. Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Are you really here?”
“I've been here for quite some time,” the other alicorn said. Her dark eyes flashed. “Not that you would care.”
Celestia stared incredulously. “What do you mean? Of course I care. You're alive. I had feared you to be dead.”
Serenity narrowed her gaze at Celestia. Her expression was stony and cold. “I see. You don't remember.” She sighed. “You wouldn't remember. It would have been too painful for you.”
“What are you talking about?” Celestia said. “What am I supposed to remember?”
“Many things,” Serenity said, anger in her voice. “Things we must eventually air out. You will have to remember it all, Celestia. You will know what you did.”
Serenity waved a hoof. A portal opened out of nowhere in the wall. Pix started walking towards it, almost as if he were in a trance.
“What are you doing with him?” Celestia asked. “What is going on, sister? Why are you acting like this? I came in search of you.”
Serenity lifted a hoof, silencing the white alicorn. “Silence. We have some guests we have to retrieve first, and some memories that you need to regain. Only then will we speak. Pix, enter the portal and find them. Quickly!”
Pix nodded and turned towards the swirling portal. He leaped in without a thought to himself, disappearing into nothingness. Serenity grimaced.
“There. Now we wait. You have been doing much since I've been gone, Celestia,” she said. “Keeper of the Summer Lands, ruler of ponies. Tell me, how does it feel to be loved by so many?”
“I... I don't understand, sister,” Celestia said. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Oh... just some playful banter before the real fun begins,” Serenity replied wistfully. “Tell me... did it hurt to banish Luna? Did she cry? I'm surprised you remember it.”
Celestia's eyes widened. “How dare you? Banishing Luna was the worst thing I've ever had to do. I regret my decision, but there was no other way.”
“The worst thing you've ever had to do?” Serenity said with a grin. “Are you certain about that?”
“What are you talking about? What did I do to you?” Celestia said. “Tell me!”
The portal began to spark and pop, interrupting the two alicorns. Serenity grinned even wider.
“Ah ah ah,” she said. “Our guests are arriving...”
*****************************************
Twilight and the others kept moving forward, but no further memories presented themselves to them. Twilight began to feel frustrated.
“I don't understand. That can't be all there is,” she said.
“We've walked around this place like twenty times, Twilight,” Rainbow said. “No other crazy memories. So where's the Princess at?”
Twilight grimaced. “That's just it. If she's in the Summer Lands or Tartarus... we can't get to her. She could be in real danger, and we can't get there.”
“You can,” a new voice said.
Twilight's ears perked up as she turned towards where the new voice had come from. Standing in front of a swirling portal of magic was a small reddish creature. Twilight recognized it as an imp, a creature of Tartarus.
“Who are you?” Twilight said.
“Eww... what are you?” Rarity interjected.
“I think he's cute,” Fluttershy said.
“Is this really the time for that?” Rainbow replied.
“My name is Pix. I am here to take you to my master., and to the Princess of the Sun,” the imp said. His voice drawled on like he was in some form of trance. “Only the two with the power to enter may come.”
“Which two of us do ya mean?” Applejack said.
“I believe she means myself and Princess Twilight,” Discord said, glaring at the imp. “Who do you answer to, imp?”
“I answer to she who is the lord of all those who pass on,” the imp said in a monotone voice. “You will come with me.”
Twilight glanced up at Discord and nodded. She turned back to the imp. “Alright. We'll follow you. What about the rest of my friends?”
“They will be returned back where they came from after we leave,” the imp said. He turned and walked back into the portal.
“I guess... I guess we should follow,” Twilight said, turning to the others. “Don't worry, girls. I'll find the Princess.”
“Indeed. I am curious about this,” Discord said, glaring at the portal.
“Tell the Princesses that we are fine, and that will return soon with Celestia,” Twilight said.
The others nodded as a whole. Twilight turned back towards the portal and walked into it, Discord floating in the air behind her. The memory world faded into nothingness as the portal coalesced into that of a grand palace throne room.
Twilight stepped through after the imp, her eyes widening as she rested her gaze on the two other figures in the room. One was Princess Celestia, the other was a dark alicorn that sat on the throne.
“Our guests are arriving...” the dark alicorn said.
Twilight looked down at Celestia. “Princess? Is that you?”
“Twilight? What are you doing here?” Celestia said. “And... Discord? You as well?”
Discord's eyes burned at the mare on the throne. He remained silent as they smoldered into cinders. He nodded, not taking his gaze away from her.
“We're here to bring you home,” Twilight said. “We've been looking for you ever since I got your message.”
Celestia's eyes narrowed as she glanced up at the mare on the throne. “Why have you brought them here, Serenity?”
The alicorn on the throne chuckled softly. “Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. It is good to finally meet you. I've had my eye on you for a long time.”
“Serenity? As in, Princess Serenity?” Twilight said, cocking her head in confusion. “I don't understand. I thought you were...”
“Gone?” Serenity said. “Yes... I was gone. I have been here in this castle, waiting for the right time.”
“The right time for what?” Discord snarled.
“Ah, yes. Discord. I had hoped I was correct and that you would be among your new friends,” Serenity replied. “It is ever so good to see you. Have you missed me?”
“What are you playing at, Serenity?” Celestia said angrily. “Why are they here? Why are you acting this way?”
Serenity stood from the throne, rising to her full height. Her crown glimmered in the soft light of the throne room. She waved a hoof, causing another portal to open up beside her. A dark equine figure stepped out of it.
“Tirek?” Twilight said. Her horn began to ignite with powerful magic.
Serenity lifted her other hoof, dissipating Twilight's magic immediately. She motioned to the centaur beside her.
“Tirek agreed to come, only to dispel the truth of the matter. The truth that Celestia has forgotten. She is here to be judged, to pay for the crimes she has committed,” she said, her eyes flashing again.
Tirek remained silent, his yellow eyes narrowing. He presented his arms, showing that he was still in chains.
“What crimes? This doesn't make any sense,” Twilight said. “Celestia didn't do anything to you. It was Tirek. The book said so!”
“Ahh, so ignorant of the truth you are,” Tirek said. “Even you cannot see it, can you? After everything you've witnessed, you cannot see the truth. The truth that the Princess of the Sun would so readily deny.”
“Stop it,” Celestia said angrily. “Stop this, right now. I will hear this truth, if it will appease my sister so. I came looking for her, hoping that she was alive. I will do whatever it takes to reclaim her from your clutches, Tirek.”
“My clutches? Hah! I am bound in chains,” Tirek snorted.
“Tirek,” Serenity said simply. “Enough. She will see the pain she has caused. You will all see it.”
“Get on with it then,” Discord said as he slithered up into the air. “This waiting is ever so boring.”
Serenity smiled, a dark and terrible thing. She lifted a hoof and her horn glowed. “So be it. Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship. Discord, Lord of Chaos. You shall be the judges. You will both decide on her fate. Will you be able to forgive that which is unforgivable?”
“Whatever she did, you're the one who has to forgive her,” Twilight challenged. “Princess Celestia is my mentor, and even more than that, she is my friend. I would never judge her harshly.”
“We shall see,” Serenity said. Her horn exploded, bathing the room in soft light. The assembled creatures disappeared and reappeared in a flash, surrounded by swirls of color.
Twilight watched in awe as the swirls of color began to coalesce into several ponies. She recognized them as Luna, Celestia, and Serenity. They were in the same castle as they were now, but they were clearly younger. In fact, Twilight recognized the scene. It was just after they'd sent Discordant away. It was before Serenity's ascension. Why was Serenity showing them this?
“Now then. Let us begin the transference of power,” the young Celestia proclaimed. “Are you ready, dearest sister?”
“I am,” Serenity said, stepping forward.
Celestia and Luna's horns glowed in sync, sending waves of magic into the air. A swirling column of light wrapped around Serenity, lifting her into the air. Her eyes glowed with ferocious power, and when all was said and done, two elegant wings spread forth from her sides. Twilight recognized this as well, having undergone the transformation from unicorn to alicorn. It was Serenity's ascension.
“It is done,” Celestia said. “How do you feel, sister?”
“I... I don't know what to say,” Serenity said. “I can feel the magic here. It's everywhere. I can feel it's power.”
“Yes... the power of this place will give you the magic you need to form your realm. A realm that will sit apart from Tartarus and the Summer Lands, and control access to those realms,” Celestia said. “Your realm.”
“Mine? And what place do I have in this realm?” Serenity asked.
“You are the Princess of the Final Rest. The Arbiter of Souls,” Celestia said. “She who controls the flow of life. This is your duty.”
Serenity nodded. Her horn glowed fiercely and a crown appeared on her brow. It was made of black onyx and glimmered in the light. “So be it.”
The memory dissipated into nothingness. Twilight grimaced.
“So... Celestia made you into an alicorn,” she said. “I'm not sure how to break it to you, but that's not a bad thing.”
Serenity's eyes flared. “Celestia's reasons for doing so were flawed from the very first. You saw her other memories. The ones she'd forgotten. You knew how she felt for him. It was her way of separating us. To have her for himself. You will see.”
Celestia looked up at Serenity. “Him? I... I remember him... I'm starting to...” She glanced down at her hooves silently.
“Yes, you will remember everything,” Serenity said. “By the time this is over, you will know what you did.”
Her horn blazed once more, the memory space congealing and coalescing into another set of figures. This time it was Celestia and Discordant. They were sitting at a dining table together. The latter seemed to be pleading with the former.
“Please, Princess. You must tell me, is she alright?” Discordant said.
“Serenity is fine, dear Discordant,” the younger Celestia said. “Would you like some more tea?”
“No, I'm fine thank you. I would like to see her, if that's possible,” Discordant replied.
Celestia sighed. “Discordant... you know that isn't possible. Only a being such as myself can visit the realm of the Final Rest without being... well... dead.”
“But... you could take me there, right?” Discordant said.
“No. I cannot. I'm sorry,” Celestia said. “Now my dear, would you like something else to eat?”
“No, I don't want your food!” Discordant shouted angrily. “Why won't you let me see her?! You took her from me! You were jealous of us!”
Celestia smiled softly. “If you're going to shout at me, I will be very cross with you. As you will recall, Discordant, I have been very accommodating to you, given your behavior. It was you who went behind my back with her.”
“And I've tried to make it up to you by being a good friend,” Discordant said exasperatedly. “But you have taken every possible method to ensure that Serenity and I will never be together. I... I have to go. I'm sorry for wasting your time. I will find a way to see her. Mark my words, Celestia.”
The memory faded into nothingness once more. Discord's eyes drifted down to Celestia before falling onto the ground below her.
“I remember that conversation like it was yesterday,” he said. “You tried to keep Serenity and I apart. All because you couldn't forgive me. Because you still wanted... me.”
Celestia lowered her head. Tears streamed from her face. “No... that wasn't it! I never wanted to hurt you... I l-l-l-loved you! I loved you with everything I had! Then you went and...”
“Became me,” Discord finished for her.
“How?” Twilight said. “How did you become... well, you?”
Discord's eyes rolled back up into his head. He swirled around Twilight, coming face to face with her. “You must understand of course that being here is beginning to jog most of my memories of that day, but not all of them,” he said, turning so the purple mare could see inside his ears. Tiny versions of Discord were wearing jogging suits and getting ready to run some sort of race.
“So... what do you remember?” Twilight said.
“Swirling magical chaos,” Discord replied. “A treasure far greater than any being had ever attained. It didn't even have a name. Names were... boring for it. I found references to the treasure in the Everfree Library. One of the remnants of the old world that had left us behind. I may very well be the only being alive that knows anything about it.”
“And you just... became Discord?” Twilight said, cocking her head in confusion.
“He sacrificed his life. His old life,” Serenity said, anger in her voice. “I was so angry when I'd found out what he'd done. He gave his life to try and find me, and it turned him into a monster.”
“Discord is no monster,” Twilight said. “He's a little misunderstood sometimes, but he is my friend. He did what he did because he loved you.”
“I did what I did because she made me do it,” Discord said, sneering at Celestia. “She is ultimately responsible, Twilight. No matter how she tries to spin it, it was her jealousy that caused my existence.”
Twilight frowned, trying to piece together everything in her mind. Celestia couldn't have had the intent to separate the two from the beginning, could she? She couldn't readily imagine her mentor behaving in such a manner. And yet, all the memories she'd seen, every little piece had suggested that Celestia's jealousy had led her down a darker path. A path she wasn't sure she would like when she'd seen the whole picture.
She glanced up at Serenity and grimaced. “Continue on, then. What happened next?”
Twilight's gaze hardened at the alicorn on the throne. She spent several minutes analyzing the mare and her presence here. There had to be something she was missing.
“Well? What happened after that?” she asked.
Serenity flared her wings. “The journal. All of what happened next is contained within the journal.”
“I read the journal,” Twilight said. “The journal says that Tirek attacked you and caused your disappearance, and that Prince Scorpan stopped him.”
Tirek snorted loudly. “My brother and I were part of no such thing. It was only after I'd stolen much of Equestria's magic that my brother betrayed me. The journal is a lie.”
Twilight's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized the centaur. Tirek had every bit of motivation to lie, to save his own skin. And yet, Twilight believed him. Certainly, Tirek held no remorse for his actions, but when it came to his brother it seemed that his words betrayed his feelings. The truth was, Tirek still held some amount of love for his brother. Twilight could feel it in his words.
“Alright then. If the journal is a lie, what really happened then?”
Serenity grinned widely. “I thought you'd never ask. I've been waiting a long time for this.” Her horn glowed softly, bathing the room in a white light again. The memory spell took place as the assembled set foot on hard rock. A flowing stream drifted into nowhere in the middle of the rock.
Twilight glanced upwards to see Serenity as she had been described in the journal. It was a far cry from the dark alicorn she had just met. This Serenity was regal, elegant, and beautiful. Her mane flowed in an endless wind. Her eyes glowed with certainty. This was the Princess of the Final Rest, and she had been doing this job for eternity.
A tiny boat appeared on the horizon, drifting slowly down the waters. It stopped short of the alicorn, bobbing slightly in the waters.
“Halt! Ferry, usher out the next one. Who seeks to be judged?” she bellowed.
“Mistress,” the ferry pony said. “Just one this time. A unicorn by the name of Generous Soul.”
The unicorn named Generous Soul stepped forward onto the bow of the boat. Celestia's eyes widened as her memories started flooding back. She remembered this pony, and not just from her encounter earlier in the Summer Lands. This pony was special to her. She had... done things to him. An experiment? She couldn't remember exactly.
“Generous Soul, stand still. Let us see where you stand,” Serenity said. Her horn began to glow as she bathed the unicorn in her magic. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the unicorn's lifespan for anything that suggested that the pony should be sent to Tartarus. “Your life has been fraught with much strife, but through it all you seemed to have persevered. Your honor is commended, pony.”
The pony merely nodded in reply.
“I hereby decree that your soul shall be placed in the Summer Lands, forever more,” Serenity said. “Your friends and family are waiting for you there.”
The ferry pony nodded. “Excellent, my Princess. I shall make haste to the Summer Lands immediately.”
“Away with you. I wish to be in peace,” Serenity said. Her horn glowed softly and she disappeared from the scene, reappearing in what could only be her palace of rest. The alicorn dropped down and sighed loudly. A picture of a pony rested in her hooves.
“Why?” she said to herself. “Why did you have to go and do what you did, Discordant? Why couldn't you move on?” A tear dropped from her face. “I... I loved you, but it was never meant for us to be.”
The door opened quickly. Serenity looked up immediately, noticing one of her skeletal guards.
“My Princess. There is a problem with the ferry boat to the Summer Lands. You must go there immediately,” it said.
“What is wrong?” Serenity asked.
“The ferry boat has veered off course and crashed onto the side of the river,” the guard replied. “I do not know what has happened to cause this.”
Serenity grimaced, but nodded. Her horn glowed again and within an instant she was outside, floating over the river that led to the Summer Lands. As the guard had said, the ferry boat was laying on its side, broken in two pieces. The ferry pony lay a short feet away, gasping for breath.
“What has happened here?” Serenity said as she touched down next to him.
“The... the unicorn... attacked... he ran off... towards the portal...” the ferry pony managed to choke out before he slipped into unconsciousness.
Serenity grimaced, scanning the bleak horizon of her realm for the lost pony named Generous Soul. She spotted the unicorn walking towards the end of the river where the portals to the Summer Lands and Tartarus were. Serenity's horn flared and she cast another teleportation spell, bringing her face to face with him. The alicorn's eyes widened as she noted that changes in the pony's appearance.
His eyes were gaunt and bloodshot, a madness lying just underneath them. His horn was cracked and the grin on his face was absolutely chilling. This wasn't the same pony she had judged for entry to the Summer Lands. What had happened in the few seconds that she had left the ferry?
“Generous Soul. Explain yourself,” Serenity said. “Why did you attack the ferry pony? What is wrong with you?”
“What is wrong indeed? I do not know,” the pony before her uttered. “Perhaps I am merely seeing myself in a brand new light, or perhaps you are not as good at your job as you thought you were.”
“What do you mean?” Serenity said. Her magic quickly reached out and scanned the pony again. Everything still looked the same, except there was a distortion in the pony's memories. Something had changed them, stitched them together.
“I mean, here you are scanning me again and you are only just realizing the mistake you have made,” the pony said. “There is a measure of hilarity in the lie you have perpetrated.”
“No...” Serenity said. “Somepony has done something to you to cause this. Who was it? Was it Discord? Did he do this to you and send you to me as a cruel joke?”
“Oh no. Discord has been trapped in stone for years now, or didn't you know that?” the pony said. His eyes shimmered with madness as realization dawned on him. “I see. You do not know at all. Poor little Serenity, kept in the dark about everything.”
“Who are you?” Serenity said angrily, her magic reaching out and tearing away the stitched together memories, to reveal the truth behind the truth.
This pony was not a saint. He was a monster, a murderer, a criminal. He had killed innocents, his name taken from the generous gift of death that he bestowed upon others. Something had tried to hide the truth from her. Something had changed this pony to try and what? Get her to make a mistake? It didn't make sense. It smelled deeply of Discord's betrayal, but the pony claimed that Discord was gone.
“I repeat again, who are you?” Serenity said, her voice quivering. “Who sent you here?”
“I am no one,” the pony replied. “I have killed. I have loved. Who am I? I am no one and everyone. I am your failure. The truth behind the shadow of lies. I am her instrument, to show you the error of your ways.”
“Her instrument?” Serenity said, cocking her head in confusion. The mare tried to rack her brain for who the crazed pony could be referring to. Her mind unfortunately kept coming back to one frightening conclusion. The magic surrounding the pony was familiar to her in many ways, because it had been a magic she had known for ages.
“Yes,” a new voice said from behind her. “I am afraid that you are correct, dearest Sister.”
Serenity spun about, her eyes widening as she took in the other alicorn's presence. Princess Celestia stood tall, her eyes cold and hard.
“Sister? What are you doing here? What is the meaning of this?” Serenity said.
“Doing what should have been done too long ago,” Celestia said. Her magic reached out and grabbed Generous Soul, encasing him in a golden shield to keep him in place. “You have grown lax in your duties, Sister. This pony, you were going to allow him access to the Summer Lands.”
“He has been tampered with,” Serenity said. “I will not permit him to go now that I know the truth of the matter.”
“The truth? And what is the truth?” Celestia said, her gaze narrowing.
“You did something to this poor pony,” Serenity said angrily. “You turned him into some kind of monster.”
Celestia's eyes widened for a brief moment before settling on the ground below. Her lips curled into a smile. “You wound me, Sister. You really believe that I would do such a thing?”
“He reeks of your magic,” Serenity said. “I must ask you, why would you do this? Why would you subject this pony to dark magic?”
“I must protest. I am afraid I do not know what you are talking about,” Celestia said. “As it stands, you were going to allow this pony to spread his disease into the Summer Lands. Your judgment was faulty.”
“I was tricked,” Serenity growled. “You think that you wish to depose me of my position because of your trickery? Let us call Luna and see what she thinks of this!”
“Luna can't come,” Celestia said simply. “You have been away for too long, Sister. You have become disconnected from the world of ponies. Luna is gone.”
“Gone?” Serenity said, cocking her head in confusion. “What have you done to her?”
“What I had to,” Celestia said. “She sought to turn the Moon against us. She turned a temper tantrum into a grab for power, all because she believed that ponies did not appreciate her night sky. I was forced to use the Elements of Harmony to banish her.”
“What? You... you banished her?” Serenity said, her eyes wide. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
The memory faded away into nothingness as the Court reappeared. Twilight grimaced as she turned to where Celestia stood.
“So you see,” Tirek said from his position next to Serenity. “I could not have been the one to have attacked Serenity. When I attacked Equestria the first time, both Luna and Celestia were ruling side-by-side. Luna wasn't banished until after I was sent to Tartarus.”
“Why did the memory stop? There's more to this story,” Twilight said.
“No...” Celestia muttered. She was staring at her hooves. The memories were rushing back, things were beginning to make sense. She lifted her head. “No, please. Don't show it. I'm so sorry, Serenity. Please don't.”
“I'm afraid that I have no recourse,” Serenity said. “Twilight Sparkle is correct. There is more to this memory that remains to be seen.” Her horn glowed brightly, returning the memory back to the place where it had left off.
“Yes. I'm sorry I didn't come tell you, Serenity, but I have been rather busy dealing with Equestria,” Celestia said, frowning. “Things have been chaotic, to say the very least.”
Serenity glared at her. “And now you're going to banish me too. Just so you can have it all to yourself.”
“I'm going to do no such thing,” Celestia replied. “Quite frankly, I'm shocked that you would say such a thing. I did what I had to with Luna. She was unable to be reasoned with. You are an intelligent enough mare to know that Luna could be especially hard-headed.”
“Luna was younger than both of us, this is true,” Serenity said. “But she was far more mature than you are. I cannot believe this. If Mother were here...”
“Mother's not here!” Celestia barked. “She left! She left this world to us to care for, and that is what I intend to do! Your failure to perform your royal duties has made you weak. I fear what other darkness has already entered the Summer Lands under your stewardship.”
“My failure? I have not failed in my duties. By my decree, this pony shall forever burn in the fires of Tartarus for his crimes,” Serenity proclaimed. “The situation has been remedied. If you had nothing else to discuss, you can leave now. Leave, and never come back to my realm again.”
“Oh, I'm afraid it's not quite that simple,” Celestia replied. “You see... I never said anything about allowing you to continue to rule. This lapse in judgment has only proved one thing to me, that you are incapable.” Her horn began to glow.
“So that's it, then? You are going to use the Elements to banish me?” Serenity said. “Tell me. Did it hurt that Discord loved me and not you? Isn't that what this is really about?”
Celestia glowered. “Do not bring him into this.”
“Oh, but we must. We must air all our dirty laundry, Sister. If I'm to spend an eternity locked up inside some celestial body, I'd prefer to know the truth.”
“You want the truth? The truth is...” Celestia said, pausing for a moment. Her eyes narrowed at the other alicorn. “The truth is I hate you.”
“Wait a minute,” Twilight said. “None of this seems right at all. Celestia wouldn't say those things. It's completely out of character for her. Even if she were jealous of your relationship with Discord, she would try to understand, to empathize.”
Serenity coughed. “You didn't know her back then. How would you know how she would act?”
“Because, as the Princess of Friendship it is my duty to understand ponies and the magic that is created when we connect with them. And there is no other pony that is a greater friend to me than Celestia,” Twilight challenged. “She is my mentor, the one who showed me that there was more to life than dusty old books! I've seen enough of your lies, Serenity. Free her and leave in peace.”
“Who says I am lying?” Serenity said. “These are not Celestia's memories. They are mine. I experienced this. And it shall continue!”
Serenity's horn glowed brightly and the memory returned to the forefront. The Celestia in the memory was staring hard at the younger Serenity.
“I hate you,” she continued. “I've always hated you. Perfect little Serenity. Able to do everything I couldn't. Mother even loved you more. She hated me.”
“The truth comes out,” Serenity said, glowering at Celestia. “You were jealous of me. Of my magic, of the fact that Discord loved me more than he did you.”
“I said to LEAVE HIM OUT OF THIS!” Celestia shouted angrily. The ground beneath her hooves shook.
“That's really what this is about isn't it? It was never about Mother, never about me. It was about him,” Serenity challenged. “Welcome to the real world, Celestia. I loved him. He loved me. We wanted to be together, but you couldn't handle that.”
“No... I couldn't,” Celestia said, her teeth gritting. “I couldn't handle watching my sister steal my love from behind my back. I loved him too, and we were just fine before YOU came along!”
“I never asked for Discord to love me!” Serenity shouted. “He approached me!”
“But you knew! You knew that we were together,” Celestia shouted back. “You could have said no! You could have refused!”
Serenity paused and looked down at her hooves. “I... I tried. I told him that he was crazy, that he could never... never want an outcast like me. I was abandoned by everypony but you. I looked up to you! I never wanted to hurt you!”
“It's too late for that,” Celestia said. “I am past hurt, Serenity. Discord is gone, sealed away forever. Every time I look out into the garden, I see him. I see his twisted face. I see what he did to himself, what he did because he wanted to be with you!”
Serenity grimaced and made her way forward, lifting a hoof. Celestia stepped back and swatted it away with a strike of magic. Serenity's eyes widened.
“I told you before. You are incapable of ruling this realm. It is time for your rule to end,” Celestia said, her horn glowing brightly.
“No...” Serenity said, moving back to fly away.
Celestia growled and lashed out with her magic, sending the dark alicorn mare back to the ground. Serenity tried to shuffle to her hooves, but stopped cold as bonds of golden magic held her firm. Celestia stepped forward, a wicked grin on her face. Her eyes glowed yellow. The memory stopped suddenly.
“Hold it,” Twilight interrupted. “Something doesn't add up. Why would she attack you? If the journal leads to your end, then how did you survive?”
“It's clear, Twilight. Celestia was driven by her rage over having just sealed her sister in the moon, and her loss of me to my current form,” Discord said. “Anypony in her state of mind would do anything.”
“Yes, but Discord, think for a second!” Twilight insisted. “This is Celestia you're talking about!”
“Do you always place ponies on a pedestal?” Serenity asked. “You are refusing to see that your precious Princess Celestia isn't the perfect pony you proclaim her to be.”
Twilight growled under her breath. “No. You don't understand! You've spent this whole time, locked in the memories of the past, when you can't see what's RIGHT in front of you! Look at her, Serenity! She's terrified, upset! She is remembering everything that happened between you!”
“That only strengthens my case!” Serenity argued.
“No. It doesn't. Because if Celestia was the mare in the memory, then she wouldn't be acting this way now! She would be confident that she was in the right!” Twilight shouted. “Instead, she's quivering with fear and guilt! She's showing you how much she cared for you! Why continue to punish her so?”
Serenity snarled. Her horn glowed, restarting the memory. “We shall see once it is done!”
Celestia in the memory stopped just in front of Serenity. She sighed.
“I am sorry about this, Serenity. But I am doing what I must to prevent this realm from falling, just like what I had to do with Luna,” she said.
“Stop... you have to stop... please...” Serenity pleaded. “What are you going to do to me?”
Celestia grinned. “What I should have done long ago. Remove you from the equation.”
The solar mare's horn glowed brightly, blinding even those watching the memory. It rushed over everything, and when it dissipated, Serenity was gone. The present Serenity stopped the memory.
“I still don't understand,” Twilight said. “What happened to you?”
“She tried to kill me,” Serenity said. “I reappeared in the Summer Lands, inside this castle. Much time had passed since, and my power had waned considerably.”
“No...” Celestia uttered.
“What's that, dear Sister? Have something to say?” Serenity said.
Celestia lifted her head. Tears streamed from her face. “That's not what happened!” she cried out.
“Don't try to patronize me. I know full well what happened,” Serenity spat. “Now silence, while I pass judgment on your own fate!”
“Stop!” Twilight shouted. “If this is truly a trial, as you claim it to be, then Celestia must be allowed to be speak in her own defense!”
Serenity glared at the other alicorn. “Fine. She may talk. But her words are like venom to me. The lies she has spun throughout the years, they build up. She may not even realize that she is telling them anymore.”
Celestia gritted her teeth through the tears. She had to end this. “Serenity... I confess, I was jealous of you. I was... stupid. I saw the signs. I saw how Discord loved you, and I confess I wished I had that.”
She grimaced and continued as best as she could. The memories were jumbled but there was one truth she still held close to her heart.
“It's true that I intentionally gave you the role of Princess of the Final Rest to separate you,” she said. “Mother had said I had the choice. However, I gave you the choice as well. You chose to become the Arbiter on your own. I will admit, I was gratified. It meant that I could spend time with Discord, and hopefully sway him to my own.”
“Princess...” Twilight breathed.
“I'm sorry you have to hear this, Twilight,” Celestia said. “You are a far better mare than I when it comes to love and friendship. But hear this, I did not kill Serenity. I did not confront her that day. I was going to confess. To confess what I had done, to give her a chance... a chance to be free of her obligation. I had hoped that Serenity could calm Discord, reform him as he is now.”
“Lies!” Serenity shouted. “You attacked me!”
“Memory over eons is a funny thing,” Celestia said. “As I live in the past, my memory becomes clearer. It strips away the falsehoods. The truth that you deny is that I am not responsible for your demise. He is!” She pointed at Tirek.
“Me? Dear, sweet Celestia, I think you have me confused with someone else. I was imprisoned at the time these events took place,” Tirek said. He jangled his chains for effect.
“Wrong!” Celestia exclaimed. “It was a clever ruse, Tirek. One that I would not have seen through had I not been paying attention to these memories closely. The journal was false, yes. Scorpan never witnessed any such event of you attacking Serenity, because you placed the memory there. Serenity was gone when I went to the Realm of the Final Rest, because you had achieved your goal in making her believe I was the one who had done the deed.”
“More lies,” Serenity growled. “It was your jealousy that drove you to attack me. Just like it was your pride that drove Luna to become Nightmare Moon. Luna was gone by the time you came to me!”
“Not quite,” Celestia said, her horn glowing. She reached out and activated the memories once more, showing a very specific memory.
Celestia and Luna appeared in what looked to be the Realm of the Final Rest. Celestia appeared apprehensive.
“Are you alright, Sister?” Luna said.
“I'm worried. What if Scorpan was right? What if Serenity is gone?” Celestia said.
“Do not worry, Sister. If she is here, we will find her,” Luna said calmly. “I am not certain I trust this Scorpan character, myself.”
“He warned us about Tirek,” Celestia pointed out. “He could have allowed Tirek to take over Equestria, but he chose to warn us before his brother could become more powerful.”
“You have a point,” Luna said. “Perhaps it is in my nature to be paranoid. I am the defender of the dream world, after all.”
Celestia nodded, striding forward. She stopped at the base of the river. The ferry boat lay overturned next to it. The entrance to the Summer Lands shimmered at the far end. There was no sign of Serenity, nor any sign of a battle.
“Nothing,” she muttered. “Where could she have gone?”
“Perhaps we can glean some knowledge by invoking the Elements of Harmony,” Luna said. “They may be able to help us ascertain what happened here.”
Celestia grimaced. “The Elements are not a toy to use at our whim, Sister. They are forces of magic in their own right. Who are we to ask them for a simple soothsaying spell? Nay, there is enough magic here that you and I should be able to view the events that transpired.”
Luna nodded and her horn began to glow a subtle blue. Celestia's light joined hers, a blazing yellow in the darkness. The magic intertwined, coursing through the air around them before finally displaying the images of two ponies. One of them was Celestia, the other...
“Serenity?” Celestia said, her ears pinning back. “I don't understand. What is this?”
The two mares watched as the events that Serenity showed occurred. Celestia's face contorted as she witnessed herself utterly destroying Serenity. Luna turned to her.
“I do not believe that this is you in this image,” she said calmly. “We must watch further.”
Celestia nodded. The dust cleared in the wake of her mirror image's spell. The other Celestia's eyes glowed softly as the form of her body reverted to a very familiar shape.
“Tirek!” Twilight shouted. “It was him all along! He used his magic to deceive you, Serenity! He made you think that Celestia killed you!”
Serenity's eyes widened. “No... it can't... It was Celestia! She was jealous and angry, so angry...”
Celestia stomped a hoof. “Of course I was jealous and angry! I was forced to watch as the stallion I loved became a monster to be with you! But I would never kill you! I loved you, Sister! I was going to come and tell you that I forgave you for what happened! That I wanted you to be free, to help reform Discord! Tirek stole that from me!”
Serenity stared at Tirek, her gaze wide with fear. She looked back at Celestia. “I don't understand...”
“I'm confused on just one tiny little piece,” Discord interrupted. “If Tirek falsified Scorpan's memories about what happened, why did he have Scorpan tell Celestia and Luna about himself? It seems to me that he just hastened his capture.”
“That is a very good question,” Tirek spoke. He lifted his arms, snapping the chains that bound him into two pieces. “It was necessary in order to study the power of both Tartarus and the Summer Lands. As it turns out, I was successful in achieving that goal.”
“Stand down, Tirek!” Celestia shouted. “You will pay for your crimes. I will see to it myself.”
Tirek snorted. His eyes glowed and he waved his hands. The chains reappeared around Celestia's front hooves, rooting her in place.
“I think not,” he said. “This little ruse of mine has finally given me the strength I need to resist you. Once I am finished devouring the magic off of Serenity, I will control both the Summer Lands and Tartarus. Imagine, an army of the dead and demonic overturning not just Equestria, but all worlds!”
“I won't allow that,” Twilight said angrily. “My friends and I will stop you.”
Tirek lifted his hand. “Ah yes. Your friends. The so-called Elements of Harmony. I do not think you will be able to stop me this time. Last time your power was too great for me, because it was rooted in stolen Equestrian magic, but this time... the magic is of the things that entire realms are made of! Serenity, dispose of our guests.”
Serenity growled, turning. “What? I thought this was about Celestia? You said... You said she was the one who tried to kill me!”
“What I said is nothing of consequence. Your power is mine, now. You will do as I ask!” Tirek shouted angrily. “Destroy these fools!”
“No. I won't do it,” Serenity said. “If what Celestia remembers is correct, you are the one who attacked me! It was your doing all along! I won't do your dirty work!”
“You don't have a choice!” Tirek said, lifting his hand. Dark magic erupted from his claws, worming its way into Serenity's body. The dark alicorn struggled against the magic.
“No!” Celestia roared. “Let her go, Tirek! It's me, you want!”
Tirek cackled madly. “Yes, and I shall have you! Destroy them!”
Serenity stood, her eyes glowing. “Yes... my Lord.”
“Serenity! You can fight this!” Twilight shouted. “Discord, you have to do something! Try and get through to her!”
Discord sputtered. His eyes were wide. “I... What should I do?”
“Talk to her, keep her busy while I try to free the Princess!” Twilight said.
Discord nodded, slithering directly in between Serenity and Celestia. “Now now, my dear. Let's not get too hasty. Tirek has got his little wormies in your brain. This isn't you.”
“Kill him,” Tirek said angrily. “Fulfill your purpose to me!”
Serenity snarled and her horn blazed, firing a blast of dark energy at Discord. The spirit of Chaos snapped his claws, catching the magic in a U-shaped tube that sent it flying back at the alicorn. It dissipated as it washed over her.
“You'll have to do better than that,” he said. “Please don't make me fight you. You can't beat me.”
Serenity stomped her hoof and fired again. Discord dodged and moved, redirecting the dark magic away from where Twilight and Celestia stood.
Twilight's horn glowed fiercely as she tried to remove the bonds from the other Princess’s hooves.
“Come on!” she shouted.
“Twilight, you have to leave me,” Celestia said. “I can hold Tirek off. You have to get your friends. Stop him.”
“I'm not leaving you!” Twilight said, her eyes wide. “We have to stop this here and now!”
“Twilight! I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth. I knew all along that I could have been the one who...” Celestia said, hanging her head.
“But it wasn't you! You loved her, because she was your sister!” Twilight countered. “I'm not letting you die here!”
“I'm afraid you have no choice,” Celestia said. “Discord! Please ensure that my student... nay, my friend... is safe. I will hold off Tirek and Serenity.”
“What? But you can't...” Discord said as he redirected another blaze of dark magic back at the alicorn and centaur.
“You can and you will!” Celestia said as her horn glowed brightly. “Promise me that you will do this for me!”
“I... I promise,” Discord said. “For you.”\
“No!” Twilight shouted.
Celestia reached deep inside for the magic, wrapping the spirit of Chaos and Twilight in it. She enveloped them in light and when she was done, they were gone, leaving only her, Tirek, Serenity, and the entranced Pix.
“What have you done?” Tirek said. “You have sealed your own fate, it seems.”
“I did what I must,” Celestia panted. “I did it because she has the best chance at stopping you.”
Tirek snorted. “There is no stopping me this time. The more I feed upon the magic of the Summer Lands and Tartarus, the stronger I become,” he said. “You are a fool, and you will pay for your actions.”
“So be it,” Celestia said, leveling her gaze at Serenity.
The dark alicorn made no move, nothing that indicated that she recognized her sister. Her eyes merely glowed, soulless orbs of pure power. Her horn brightened.
Celestia closed her eyes and waited for the end.
* * *
Twilight and Discord reappeared in a flash of blazing light, dropping to the ground in front of Twilight's castle. Twilight stood, realizing where she was.
“No! Why did she...?” she shouted weakly, tears forming in her eyes.
“Twilight Sparkle,” Discord said. “We must get inside. I made a promise to keep you safe. Tirek will be coming soon, and we must be prepared.”
Twilight nodded, following behind the spirit of Chaos. She couldn't get back to the Summer Lands, not on her own. She was going to need Cadance and Luna. They made their way to the room with the map, where the others were apparently still waiting. Their eyes widened as they saw them.
“Princess Twilight,” Luna said. “Where is my sister?”
“What happened to you both?” Rarity said. “You look terrible.”
“What? What do you mean, 'gone'?” Luna said angrily. “What happened?”
“It was Tirek. He's controlling Serenity. He's free,” Twilight said, tears streaming down her face. “Celestia sent us away, teleported us back here to hold... hold them off.”
“Tirek? But he was locked away!” Rainbow Dash said.
“He used Serenity, used her to gain access to the magic of both the Summer Lands and Tartarus,” Discord explained, a solemn expression on his face.
“Oh no...” Fluttershy said. “What do we do?”
“We have... have to get back to the Summer Lands,” Twilight said. “Princess Luna, can you take me there?”
Luna grimaced. “I am afraid that I cannot, Twilight Sparkle. Ever since my return, I have been cut off from those realms. The magic simply does not recognize my presence any longer.”
Twilight hung her head. She sighed. “There has to be a way,” she said.
“There is,” a voice said from behind the group.
Twilight turned. It was the imp from the castle. He stood, fidgeting.
“You're... the imp. Pix, was it?” she said.
“Yes,” the imp replied. “Your Princess.... Celestia... she's alive. Tirek wants her for something. You still have time to save her. There's a way back into the Summer Lands, but it's... it's not easy.”
“How?” Twilight said.
“Through Tartarus,” Pix said.
* * *
Celestia groaned as she opened her eyes. Was this what death felt like? She had always pondered death, and whether it would actually happen. When you lived as long as she had, one had to have a hobby after all.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness as they found Serenity, standing outside of caged bars that held her. She appeared to be in some sort of dank dungeon.
“Serenity?” she asked softly.
“Serenity is no more,” a voice said.
Celestia's eyes drifted to see Tirek, standing at the top of the stairs leading out of the dungeon. He grinned wickedly.
“Serenity is gone, dear Celestia,” Tirek said. “And soon, you will join her. With two of Equestria's most powerful alicorns under my control, this world and all the worlds that follow will know the might of Tirek!”
“Twilight will stop you,” Celestia spat.
“Princess Twilight cannot even come here,” Tirek said. “You sent her away from this realm, the so-called Summer Lands.”
“What have you done, Tirek?” Celestia asked.
“I've made some improvements. The Summer Lands are no more. From now on, this realm is the Nightmare Realm! From now on, this place shall forever be known as Midnight Castle!”
