Prologue - A Tale of Two Sisters
Prologue
A Tale of Two Sisters
“Luna, are you okay?”
My head jerked up from the table in an instant, only to bang against the low-hanging roof with a loud thunk. Hissing out in pain as stray pieces of parchment flew away, I scrambled to grab everything as ink spilled all over the desk, my mane become a tangled mess of stars in front of me. Still blinking away sleepiness, I levitated anything I could grab, including the desk. I watched as ink dripped down to the marble below me. Laughing ensued from behind me.
Letting out a disgruntled groan, I slouched over in my stool as I dropped it all to the floor, putting my face in my hooves. It crashed down with a bang. I rubbed my eyes until they burned. Celestia would’ve killed me for all the damage I was doing to her old workshop.
Cadence walked up beside me.
“You’ve had a long day, haven’t you?” she asked quietly as I craned my neck over to her, her pink hoof brushing away my hair. I saw her eyes dart away from mine to a second to scan the table, and I closed my eyes as I braced for her words. “Again?” she asked breathily.
Cadence didn’t need to say anything else for me to know what she meant.
“Yes,” I said with a deep breath,“I can feel it. We need the alicorn of magic now. Distress amongst the kingdom will only grow without one.” I saw her eyes narrow with disapproval. I growled back.
“Remember who taught you how to do the simple task of levitating a quill before you judge me,” I spat at her. Her eyes widened a bit as I continued, looking away.“Don’t think I’m oblivious to your… perceptions of me.”
“I still think the story of the four alicorns is an old pony’s tail,” Cadence chided back, letting out a forced snort. I chuckled a bit too, but nothing about the statement was anything I’d find humorous. She could sense my dry laughter, drawing in a breath sharply. “How will these ‘alicorns of race’ help us solve Equestria’s current issues anyways?”
I brightened up a bit. This was the first time she’d taken any interest in my studies. “As embodiments of all three races, we would be able to demonstrate all the ways each pony race is equal. The earth alicorn would show their connection to nature, pegasi their flight and weather, unicorns their magic and innovative technology! We just need Equestria’s ponies to know everyone’s equal. But it’s not just that- we have the ultimate power of each race, we’re protectors of Equestria,” I continued, remembering the recent bombing on a unicorn-exclusive hotel. I closed my eyes. Celestia would’ve handled this right.
I slammed a hoof against my stool, causing Cadence to back up a bit.
“Ugh, but what about the others? The new magic creatures wandering in our kingdoms? Griffons, zebras, manticore, deer- they are now ours to take care of just as a unicorn or pegasus would be! They bring foreign magic, things I cannot understand. We need the fourth one, but will they even understand what we, three age old alicorns, can’t?” I began my usual rant, once more hoping to drive my message into her. “We were messiahs of equality among races, and supposed to protect the kingdom from both magic threats and internal ones. We needed to figure things out.”
But all she did was her usually half-hearted nodding and responses, and I paused half way through.
“What’s the use?” I hissed out, turning back to my desk. “You think I’m a crazy old mare rambling about nothing.”
I could hear her rapid breathing as she stood there for a second, about to come up with another generic excuse. I closed my eyes again, before opening them again. I looked at her, seeing a paper in her aura. She was shaking her head.
“Luna, this will never work. Alicorns for certain races? We are embodiments of all three, how could we only show one? Besides, we don’t need magical connections to solve political issues. I think you’re just stressed out.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but closed it again. In a sense, she was right. But I still fought back.
“If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times. Ponies will forever judge those different from themselves, no matter what we do. So if we have three alicorns that each represent one of the races, and one to show how they all work harmoniously together, we can at least have them understand one another,” I said slowly, hoping for her to get it this time.
“Not only this, but we have magical capabilities far beyond the average citizen,” I said, “We moved the sun and the moon! This gives us much responsibility to not only Equestria, but the entire world. Racial understanding is not our only problem to face. War, disease- just as Celestia would say…” I paused. “My sister. I haven’t said her name out loud in a while.”
I could feel the shift of moods as Cadence’s frustration with me went away.
“W-what? Celestia is an old legend!” she stammered out in disbelief. I pushed myself away from the desk, and turned around. Bounding off of it, I trotted steadily over to the door of the small room, closing it with a click of all the locks. I took a deep breath, bracing myself for an onslaught of memories. I hated talking about this.
“Everybody thought my sister was crazy,” I began, remembering things that seemed too old to even be true. “I was an alicorn, and she was a unicorn. Naturally, subjects would think of her to be jealous. Surely she was working with magic to simply one up me. But it was the opposite; she was always more gifted at magic than I. She was always absorbed in learning anything about magic and ended up discovering so many things. She was kind, gentle, and smart. And she supported me. I loved her, and she loved me. No envy there.”
“This is not the point though. I was the only alicorn. The legend stated there should be three more. My subjects grew worried; where were the others? The protectors?”
I sighed. “My sister; she was so obsessed with magic. She invented spells to move the sun and moon after Discord took them over and messed up their cycles! That’s how I move them today… But things changed. War happened. Desperate times mean desperate measures.”
I looked her dead in the eyes. “Ever heard of black magic?”
***
“This with that? No, no, no, that won't work! Maybe if I mix these two instead…” I watched my sister with a frown, completely at loss with what she was trying to say as she muttered to herself. There she was, a lanky white unicorn with long, wavy pink hair. While her tail dragged against the ground, her mane was secured in a tight bun, her bangs waving out in front of her face. She’d always wanted me to grow my hair out like hers, but I kept it in a short cut. With the tips beginning to flow, I decided against having it blow into my face.
But these things weren’t important right now. I looked down to her cutie mark. It was a sun, showing how she brought light to the world with her knowledge and magic. I sighed. It was me holding her back from being a teacher…
I saw chemicals mixed together in a frenzy as Celestia levitated parchment all around her, scribbling down notes. I shook my head and sucked in my teeth, a tsk noise sounding out. What was she trying to accomplish?
The yelling outside grew louder, and I shook my head again. As much as I loved her and knew how much smarter she was than I, I could tell when things were failing when she couldn’t. I cleared my throat.
“They need me out there, Tia. I can’t stay here while they discuss my country’s fate,” I said quietly, pushing myself up. Celestia turned over to me, her glasses sliding down her snout as her pupils dilated. Bottles of… whatever were hovering all around her, papers and quills in the mix. I giggled a little, walking up to her to push the glasses back up with a hoof. “I can’t believe you let that stupid spell do that to your eyes. Now I have to keep your dorky glasses from falling off.” I saw a smile spread on her face, and I smiled back too. I turned to leave, seeing it twist into a frown in the corners of my eyes.
“You know we’re losing?” Celestia whispered, a harsh silence encaping the room as I stood there, facing away from her. I closed my eyes as my throat grew sore, blocking out the thoughts of changelings killing my guards. Mares. Stallions. Foals. Ponies. Enslaving others as nothing but food sources. Why did she have to make everything so difficult? “But if this spell works, we’ll be able to turn the tides! Alicorn mercenaries! Think about it-”
“I’m one of the current alicorns. I don’t need others putting themselves in danger doing my job. This is my duty. If I…” Celestia knew where I was going to with this.
“If you use that extremely dangerous spell to kill them and yourself in the process?” she finished for me, growing defensive. “Homes. Places we’ve grown- it’s all done for if I can’t do this. I can do this. I just have to figure out the rest of the potion and I’ll do it!” I could sense something disturbing in her voice though. I couldn’t put my hoof on it, but it seemed… unsure.
“Do what?” I growled back, before shaking my head. I did a lot of that these days. “They need me. I can’t sit in here like some damsel princess who can’t fend for her country. I need to give them my final verdict for this war.” I began my walk to the door, feeling my legs grow stiff with each movement. I could sense her disapproving eyes piercing the back of my neck. I looked over my shoulder as I reached the end of the room, seeing her levitating a book. She was looking at it with a deep scowl, eyes darting between it and the array of chemicals scattered across her little, rickety wooden desk.
She turned towards me, and I quickly looked away. I reached to the handle.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you from suggesting something radical to those blood thirsty war horses out there!” Celestia suddenly snarled, teleporting in front of me. I scowled.
“This is absurd, Celestia,” I started, “We are in the middle of war. Do I value my own, one life, or thousands of others that could die? Not to mention what you plan with hurt more of our own!”
“I can’t see you die when I can fix it!” she yelled back. “I can do it!”
“Do what?” I raised my voice to match hers, jabbing a hoof into her chest. “I’m tired of seeing a child playing with toys!”
“These are not toys, they are solutions I am trying to get through your pig-headed self!”
“Oh, throwing around insults, are we? That’s why everyone loves me more than you!”
Silence. She looked me up and down, her jaw slightly agape. I could see her eyes start to glisten before she looked down to the flower, lowering her eyelids. I turned back to the door and slammed my head against it. I hated this all. I just wanted the stupid changelings to die. And never have I wished nothing but death on anything. Die, die, die. I heard shuffling behind me, and I turned ever so slightly to the side. She was holding a book.
The book.
My eyes widened.
“Black magic is forbidden!” I whispered breathlessly.
“So is the spell you planned it used,” she retorted, flipping it open with a spell and browsing through the pages. “You know what, you were right.” She scoffed. “My hopes were childish. Therefore, I am creating a backup for you if you’ll listen.”
“What kind?”
Silence.
“Celestia-”
She slammed the book. Loudly.
“I don’t know, go ask the ponies that love you more than me.”
I shut my mouth, a tense quiet forming between us. She was acting as petty as I was feeling- no, as I was acting too. My mouth was dry, and any words I tried to form fell flat in my throat as I choked on them. All that was to be heard was the fizzing of magic and turning of pages, alongside a gentle hum Celestia made as she weaved her way through bottle and papers. She was tuning me out too.
Pressing my ears against the door as I decidedly left her be, I could still hear diplomats and royals’ angry screams as they heatedly debated Equestria’s state. While muffled, I could hear traces of words.
“A union with the zebras…”
“Griffons are the only way…”
“...burly unicorn army…”
“Our country is struggling…”
Each one led to useless bloodshed.
“We’re losing!”
“Extreme measures must be taken!”
“We could test out those new ‘bombs’...”
Suddenly I heard a slam as Celestia pushed the book down.
“I think I have something, but it’ll take some time to make. Give me a week.”
I knew better than to push when my sister was upset. I made a swift exit from the room, sure to check the disguise spell which kept the room hidden under the staircase. I turned to the hallway that led down to the throne room, where the looming doors burst open to reveal a furious group of zebras and a pleading unicorn trailing behind. The zebras paused before me, calming down a bit as I straightened my posture and turned my countenance blank.
“Princess Luna,” one began, whom I recognized as their leader Queen Equiferus, “We have… agreed to a union.” She shot an angry glare to the unicorn and trail of ponies behind him. “But these ruffians refuse to accept our terms for doing so.”
General Garrison, a large, purple, unicorn noble with a silver mane, clambered up beside me.
“They request we don’t use the weapons we have planned! Sure, casualties will be experienced, but would you rather have a few hundred die or thousands more? The changelings are handing us our as-”
Equiferus cut him off, shouting, “You expect a princess to respond to such foul language and tactics?”
They both looked at me for a response.
I was at a loss, almost more so than with my sister. Even after being a princess for years now, I had no idea how to handle these situations. I was simply thrown a title and told to use it wisely. I took a deep breath. I had to do something as their princess. Act wisely, as I was told.
Or just make up something that sounded wise.
“Well, I think-”
Celestia suddenly appeared beside me, tapping my shoulder. I look over to her, startled, but calmed down when I recognized her ‘I’ll handle this’ look.
Puffing out my chest a bit, I announced, “My sister and I have discussed such… methods. I will let her sum up my thinkings, for I have much to do.”
I tried to sneak a smile at her, but all I got was a glare. I slinked back. She wasn’t doing this to help me at all, but rather herself. I began to tune them out myself as I trotted back to my room, though words of a ‘spell’ hit my ears. She was including her spell, causing me to snort at myself. I could’ve solved this, why did she have to solve everything for me? The alicorn spell, and now this.
I felt indignant. She became mad at me for doing the same things she did. She was trying to change my mind and force me into doing something I didn’t want to. I suddenly turned back and walked up to her. “Meet me in my chambers after this, we have much to discuss...” I then headed off to my room, preparing to discuss my use of the forbidden spell. I knew what was best for me.
And I could use any spell I wanted.
***
“What now, Luna? Want to chastise me for saving your sorry flank again?” Celestia spat out into the room, opening it brashly as she stormed into the room. “I say, I am sick of being your little savior with no thanks whatsoever!”
She took a deep breath. “It has been settled. Bombs and other heavy weaponry will only be used if Canterlot is besieged, which is honestly a possibility. Zebras aren’t known for their extraordinary battle tactics, and Equiferus is young and inexperienced.”
I watched her from the corners of my eye, my head still burning as the world spun in circles. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Celestia’s smarter than me, she’s the one who solves everything.
But why?
I gnashed my teeth together, trying to stand up to meet her. But a stab of pain forced me down to the ground. It drew her attention to me. Her pupils instantly dilated, eyes darting around the room before landing on the book beside me.
“You took the book!?” she shrieked out, galloping over to my side. She did a quick examination of me before backing away. I saw her shaking.“You idiot, what spell did you use?” Her eyes then met mine.
“Your eyes...” she whispered solemnly, backing away from me. Her own eyes were beginning to water, and she shook her head back and forth. “You idiot… you…”
“What about my eyes?” I snarled. She’s one to cry when I’m the pony who will quite possibly die from her dumb spell book. I used what she wrote, to prove her dumb spell wouldn’t do anything… Dumb, dumb, dumb. I banged my hooves against my head.
“They’re like a snake’s! Oh, Luna…” She reached a hoof to me and I jerked away, collapsing aside the wall. My head began to throb with each word, and soon all I processed was
Celestia’s lips moving, and her horn flaring to life. She brought the book to herself, flipping through hastily. I rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling as my whole body ached. There was a voice whispering in my head.
“She doesn’t trust you,” it hissed, guiding my head over to my crying sister. “She wants to steal your spotlight, she thinks she needs to baby you… She’s nothing but jealous, always trying to butt into whatever you’re doing! See how she ‘saved’ you out there?” While I knew what it said was nothing but lies, something about them felt… right. I stood up. Something made me want to yell these lies out. Something. The voice.
The pain faded as the voice grew stronger, pushing me towards my sister and inner anger.
“Y-You…” I stammered, shakily climbing up. I felt taller. “I don’t need you to come to my rescue all the time!” I slapped the book out of her hooves as she picked it up, watching her cower before me. But I still saw anger in her eyes, and she brought a hoof to her eyes to wipe away something.
“I help you because I care,” she started, backing me into the corner. “Something you’ve never done, no matter how many hours I put into one spell for you.”
I grunted and pushed her aside.
“I never asked for that! Why should I care when you absolutely never did?” I said.
“I never cared, huh?” she took a step towards me, “Are you really trying to say that? Even after you’re nasty to me, I still go out of my way to help you with things. Even when I have no place in them! If it weren’t for me, your stupid wings and horn wouldn’t mean anything to ponies.”
Fuck you, I don’t need you. I’m doing just fine. The thoughts raced through my head, but were they my own? I never used such… no, I did. Or did I?
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. I backed away, my back pressing against the wall. “N-No…” I shook my head. I didn’t mean any of this, or… did I? Did I, did I, did I?
“When’s the last time you helped me? When all those ponies call me insane? They worship you and treat me like trash! Love works both ways, Luna, I can’t just be the only one who tries between the two of us-”
“Shut up!” the words left my mouth before I even processed them, my horn spuming out magic. The whole room lit up with green, hovering around like smog as flashes of electricity went through it. Celestia furrowed her eyebrows as she reared up, a flash of gold clearing the room. We both stood there, breathing heavily before she spoke up.
“The black magic,” she started, “is going to your brain faster than it should be.” She stepped down and looked at me disapprovingly. I recoiled. “You used an experimental spell, didn’t you? I have to go find out which one-”
Stop rescuing me, I thought as I said, “I can be just fine without you here.” I turned to the wall, rubbing my head. It was infecting my mind. “Before this spell takes me… go. Find a cure. I used the alicorn spell you had drafted on the sides of the pages in there. Leave me alone before I start using real magic.”
I wanted to cry, and I would be crying if I hadn’t used this stupid spell. Watching her scramble out of the room and place a bunch of enchantments on the door, I stumbled back against the wall, feeling a pressure in my chest as I heaved for air. Celestia couldn’t find a cure in the few minutes I’d given her. I was just so dumb and rash I had to try to be a hero, didn’t I? And now I wanted to blame my sister for being too heroic...
All I could do was bang my head against the wall and bring a hoof to my mouth to bite on it. It was coercing me to agree, and I needed to do something to alleviate the stress.
I ended up biting too far up, and drew blood on my ankle. I looked at my hoof, it was shaking. Something was wrong.
There were two little holes.
That’s when I noticed my hoof was pitch black.
I let out a scream, only for it to reach my ears as an insane cackle. Laughing, almost joyously sounding. At my own self-inflicted pain. Feeling unstable as I stood up, I closed my eyes and thought. It wanted me to enjoy the pain. But I could still think that I shouldn’t.
There was a voice in my head, and at best I had a day to control it if it kept coming on at this rate. And it was reported Chrysalis was planning a siege...
“Tomorrow,” I said, my voice sounding a bit deeper than usual. I slapped a hoof against my head. Stupid, that’s why the debate was so heated today. Today, today, today.
Equiferus had her troops ready to defend us so long as we agreed to her terms, which Celestia did. And that meant I would have to lead both pony and zebra troops out to defend the city as soon as possible. My head was spinning, until one thought popped up in my head.
“If I can grab a hold of this form, I could use it to defeat the changelings!” I called out excitedly, looking at my blackened form with purpose. Whilst warping my thoughts, it gave me more magical abilities. I simpered.
“Then I could frame myself to have died in combat, while leaving to let my insane self be as far away from Equestria as possible...” I wasn’t so excited about that. A part of me urged to stay, but I knew what it was no matter how tempting. My chest tightened when I ignored it, and beads of sweat formed on my forehead.
“Just a little bit longer…”
Celestia burst into the room. I looked up with panic, feeling my heart climb to my throat as her horn sparkled up. She tackled me to the ground, my hindlegs springing out to throw her off as she pinned my forelegs with magic.
I felt something compress my horn. Slamming my eyes shut I let out a howl of pain, my horn ready to snap. That’s when another voice shrieked inside my head, fading out in seconds as I felt a sudden tiredness overwhelming me. My eyes rolled to the back of my head, and the world blacked out.
***
“You’re saying two changeling impersonators attacked her?”
The voice hit my ears with a blistering pain, causing me to roll over.
Wait.
I was in a bed I soon found out, feeling the comfort of a thick blanket and sheets as I let out a content sigh. I couldn’t remember much of what happened before, with only a vague memory of arguing with my sister. I could care less, I was too exhausted to move.
But something about her name sparked fear in me, and I felt my hooves begin to shake as I darted up at the sound of my sister’s name again. I looked around to see Queen Equiferus standing before me, alongside Garrison and a mix of zebra, thestral and pony guards. They looked at me with relief. I would later have to questions why they were in here, in my room.
Yet my eyes were locked with Celestia, who was hovering around the back of the crowd. Why was she hiding? And why was everyone here, in my room.
Garrison’s voice drew me back to him. I listened impatiently.
“Princess, we are relieved to see you awake. Celestia caught two changelings in your chambers! Somehow they slipped by the detection spell… Anyways, apparently one of them was Chrysalis herself and, well… see how Celestia harvested her magic for yourself!”
All the ponies stepped aside to reveal my sister, who instantly avoided my gaze. The first thing I noticed was her hair; it was an array of different colors, flowing like mine.
Mine.
Since when did all of my hair flow?
I watched in horror as strands of sparkly-blue hair blew before me, in a non-existent wind.
I turned away from Celestia for a second, ignoring the other blatant change on my sister as I focused on what changed with me.
“Guards, bring me a mirror from my bathroom,” I said with all the might I could muster.
Within seconds I was levitating one before me, staring agape at my body. My fur was darker, and my mane was a spiral of stars, much longer than before. I was definitely larger in a lot of areas, with my eyes…
My eyes.
I remembered everything in an instant, feeling my head grow dizzy at the sudden array of different memories. My magical grasp began to falter, and one of the guards took it away from me with a curt nod. Stomach twisting, I looked over to Celestia. I wanted to be angry, but all I felt was regret as I looked over her. The only pony I should be angry at was me.
The black magic; it affected both of us. The black magic I had created. If I felt anything right now, it was the feeling of wanting to throw up.
“Celestia also says some of her magic affected you,” Garrison continued. I wanted to smack him upside his head just for how stupid he was believing in my sister’s asinine story. I lifted a forehoof up, steadying my voice as I swallowed bile.
“Leave me and my sister alone for a moment,” I started, struggling to keep it from wavering. “Then I want to be updated on what has happened during my absence.”
Garrison nodded, and I felt my muscles relax a bit as he shooed the crowd of mixed people out of my room. Well, all except for Celestia, who bowed down and turned from me. The door shut with the last of them, and I narrowed my eyes. She was trying to avoid this.
I took some time to look over her, seeing how tall she had gotten, possibly as tall as me by now. My alicornhood had always given me some inches above her. Her mane and tail were both considerably longer, with many more colors swirling through them. Her wings were huge, some feathers nearly touching her cutiemark as she ruffled them and folded them back. Her horn had become very elongated, with a bit of a curve to it too.
I scoffed, for I knew no changeling magic did this to her.
“What did you do?” I asked slowly. My voice was calm, but Celestia knew better than to trust it. She turned to face me, still lowered and avoiding my gaze.
“Get on with it!”
She closed her eyes, muscles tensing.
“I harnessed the black magic from you into me, and used a spell to delay the effects. I have about a month until I… turn. I’m sorry I had to hurt you, but I knew you wouldn’t agree… I’m sorry...”
My mind was blank. I wanted to be upset. I wanted to start crying for her, start being angry at myself, start… feeling anything. I didn’t, though. Nothing happened. Everything was just too much at once. I looked down.
“I need a few moments alone.”
Celestia nodded, and quickly slinked out of my room. I leaned against the headboard of my bed. I closed my eyes, sitting in the silence for what could’ve been a few minutes or a few days. I felt alone. I felt scared. I felt… confused. Why had I taken that book? Why did I need to prove myself when I was basically born proved to all?
I knew the answer, but I didn’t want to accept it. I was jealous of my sister’s wit and how she always was a step before me. I wanted to do things for myself that I couldn’t.
Clearing my mind, I called out for everyone to come back in, my sister nowhere in sight amongst the crowd. We discussed strategies and plans for attack, like it was nothing but child’s play at this point. With a new alicorn that easily rivaled my own magic abilities.
We decided to leave the zebras here to defend Canterlot alongside our guards while I, Celestia, and a specialized group, infiltrated the hive using information a spy recently brought in.
We would confront the Queen in her throne room and swiftly assassinate her, or at least capture her, before teleporting out of the hive and fleeing back to Canterlot. If anything went wrong, the team would defend me and my sister and give us time to escape.
A quick, simple plan. Years of fighting, for it to end quickly like this. Like we could’ve had spies get in sooner, ended this sooner. Saved lives… saved Celestia.
I wanted to scream. I’d done enough of that today, though.
My sister was going to die because of my own selfish thinking, or worse, fall to the demons in her mind.
So for the rest of that day, until I had to lower the sun and raise the moon, I cried into my pillows like a little foal throwing a tantrum. Because that’s what I was; a foal.
***
“And we introduce our newest princess and alicorn of Equestria, Princess Celestia!” I said cheerily to the crowd using the Royal Canterlot Voice, feigning a smile as the crowd below went wild. The only thing I was truly happy about was the fact the Changeling War was over, with Chrysalis waiting for her trial and possible execution.
I had hated doing this, but my advisers said this was a good way to boost morality and to quickly give Celestia acceptance and get word out.
What I couldn’t say was that we were two weeks into Celestia’s downfall.
I stood on the balcony towering in the front of the castle, right beside my sister and other nobles as they waved to ponies below. Celestia walked up ahead of me when I gestured a hoof to the edge of the platform, already noticing she stood much taller than me.
I shuffled beside the others, ignoring their whispers of congratulations as I watched my sister. Posthaste, I tuned out the rest of the world as my eyes locked on my sister. Her mane, her stance, her wings… it wasn’t the Celestia I knew.
While she spoke formally and talked as any princess would, her usual kindness and kindred self showing, I could tell something was off. The way she’d twitch her ears, or pause during a sentence and turn her eyes back in my direction. I knew what she was doing. Or rather, the magic in her. It was talking to her, trying to pressure her into bending to its will.
Suddenly, her words hit me.
“...And I am proud to announce I will be taking control of the sun and the new Princess of Day, my sister Princess of Night!” she said, a smug smile taking over her face as the ponies cheered. She then started mumbling about how her cutie mark had showed her destiny all along, and other things as I pressed my ears back. She was using the dumb sun on her flanks as an excuse to gain more power. The black magic was manipulating her. We had never discussed this at all.
“And now I will demonstrate my new powers with the sun itself!”
My pupils dilated.
“What!?” I called out, the ponies’ enthusiastic screams overpowering my voice. I watched in horror as she closed her eyes, feeling out for the sun in the sky. The sun jerked suddenly when I looked up, before steadily climbing forward in the sky. The ponies ate it up, and Celestia broke out into a grin, before dipping it below the horizon and bringing up the moon. I felt the magic touch it in an instant, shivers crawling down my spine. That magic wasn’t right.
I trotted up beside her, jabbing her side. She stumbled back in shock, cutting her spell off. I quickly set the sun and moon back in their place, raising my voice.
“Sorry to cut the show, but an urgent matter has forced us to cancel it.”
I turned back to the castle, my sister following with a disgruntled sigh. The ponies showed their disdain with loud boos, but I ignored them as the ponies followed me indoors with confused shrugs. I dragged Celestia aside as the others went downstairs for the celebration.
“You can’t keep this up,” I stated.
“I’m just having fun before you banish me or whatever. What is your plan, anyways? Once I go crazy?” She swirled her hooves around her temples to emphasize it.
I opened my mouth to rebuttal, only to close it as panic set in. I buried my face in my hooves. I had no plan whatsoever. I was just...
“I’ve been hoping for the best,” I croaked out, suddenly staring at the floor as her expression went sullen. “I have no plan Celestia, because I’m hoping I won’t have to see you crazy.”
I looked up at her.
But I think I already have.
“Oh no, what am I doing?” she abruptly whispered, crestfallen as she put a hoof on my shoulder.“Oh Lulu, I just can’t think straight anymore. I think I’m going to be more insane than dangerous by the time this... this thing infects me. I’m forgetting a lot.”
Celestia touched a hoof to my chin, pulling my head up as I held back tears.
“While I can still form a cohesive sentence, please know that I love you.”
I wanted to say the same, but she bounded off in an instant, back to her cheery, crazy self.
***
Six and a half weeks in. Maybe today’s the day.
That was the first thought that hit my head as I blinked away dreariness, letting out a yawn. Rolling over in my bed, I pushed my heavy blankets off, hopping to the floor with a soft thud. I slipped on my newly-fitted shoes and chest plate, levitating the tiara off my nightstand and onto my head. I opened the drawer to it and pulled out a brush, half-heartedly dragging it through my mane in order to get all the hairs flowing in the same direction.
I turned to my chamber door, and walked out slowly. I gave my usual thanks to the guards positioned there before making my walk to… wherever. I squinted as rays of sunlight shone through the towering glass windows, letting out a groan. I still wasn’t use to waking up during the day, but I could never be sure with my sister… at least she set the moon for me this morning. Without any gimmicks.
I still had guards watching her every move, ordered to report to me if anything unusual happens.
I wandered into the kitchen, where, thankfully, nopony was. I walked over to the cabinets on the right side, opening them with a spell. I was going to reach for oatmeal when I felt something hard hit my head and thud to the ground. Looking down, I saw an apple rolling across the floor.
“Sorry,” a voice above me said. I looked up.
There was Celestia, sitting on top of the cabinets. Instead of my usual scolding whenever she did something like this, I felt myself slide down onto my stomach as I looked up at her dejectedly.
“It didn’t hurt that bad, did it?” she continued as she pulled out another apple, nonchalantly taking a bite out of it. But I ignored her as I flipped onto my back, looking at the ceiling.
“You’re pitiful thing,” I breathed out as she began her usual insane droning. While she would have brief moments of clarity, she’d also have times where I wondered how she hadn’t ended up in an asylum. I had to hide her from the public under the excuse of her being sick from the overdose of magic. I was baffled at how little our subjects looked into things I said.
Suddenly, I saw Celestia peek down at me, a paper airplane levitating beside her.
“Wanna see something I wrote?”
“No-”
She didn’t wait for my response as she let it go, the paper flipping from side to side before it gently landed on my chest. Curious, I climbed into a sitting position as I unfolded it, reading the sloppy words as Celestia loomed overhead.
“I’m trapped in this crazy head, and the only way I can get to you while I’m crazy is through writing, Luna. I’m afraid the time is coming soon where I’ll be too far gone to talk to you ever again. It feels like you and me in the end of the world, and I know this must be confusing for you to grasp. But I’m sorry for whatever I do when I don’t remember you. I love you.”
I felt my cheeks grow wet.
“Ooh, was it good?” Celestia inquired from overhead. I turned to her and scowled.
“You’re so annoying!” I snarled back at her. “One day you’ll claim to be fine and the next you’re…” I paused, struggling to find words. “You’re like this! And… and I’m just glad you’re still here.”
I didn’t even try to hide my tears as I cried, my shell of a sister too lost to even react as she flew down and stared at me. This was my fault. This was my fault. This was my fault.
***
I woke up to a loud crash. Springing up from my bed, I clambered over to my wardrobe in the far left corner, opening it to reveal silver armor on a pony mannequin. I didn’t hesitate to slip it on, starting with the helmet before moving to the chestplate and shoes. It was tight on my bigger body, but it still fit. I then saw the box in the corner, bringing it towards me. I opened the lid and slid the contents into one of the secret pockets fitted into my chestplate.
I knew what was happening as I prepared for action, though I tried to push it out of my mind. I galloped over to the door, only for it to burst open as two of my night guards stood before me.
“Princess Celestia has gone mad!” One of them shouted, gesturing down the hallways to where the staircase lay. I gave him a curt nod, sprinting downstairs and down the hall. I watched as the moonlight faded into sunlight, loud guffaws echoing through. I approached the throne room where its door lay open, and skidded in to see my throne smashed to pieces as Celestia sat in the rubble.
“Sissy, where’s my throne?” she said in a babyish voice, puffing out her lower lip before she broke into roars of laughter. My heart dropped into what felt like an endless pit of fear. There she was, with a fiery red coat and and an ethereal mane like fire. All around the room, I saw windows smashed to bits and things such as the flag of me shredded into bits. My breathing was heavy, though I made sure to hide it as I straightened up, my mane blowing in front of me.
“Celestia, stop this at once!” I commanded, though I knew it would be of no use.
“Oh, and why should I?” she questioned, slowly climbing down the stairs to meet me. “It is you who has done this to me, after all. I feel you deserve punishment.” Her muzzle was inches from mine, and she lowered her eyelids. “Do you deny this?”
I spat in her face. This wasn’t my sister, just some angry magic inside her. She didn’t even flinch.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not a way to treat your big sister.”
I barely managed to cast a shield in time as she reared and blasted a wave of magic at me, the golden beam bouncing off and hitting the wall. I watched as the stone crumbled into pieces, part of the roof falling in. I flew to the side to dodge debris, only for Celestia to come crashing into me. Her eyes were glossy as she came atop of me, shoving a foreleg onto my throat.
“You did this to me!” she screamed out, pressing down as I coughed up blood, gasping for air. “You caused all of this!”
I bucked at her stomach, catching her off guard as she wheezed. I took this time to push her off of me, flying above her as she clambered back onto all fours.
“I’ll show you by taking your precious little night away!” she shrieked before sparkles of gold surrounded her horn. I watched through the hole in the ceiling as the sun completely obscured the moon.
“You don’t have to do this!” I cried out weakly, watching as her face twisted into hatred. “Don’t you remember how close we were?”
Celestia shook her head. “What do you mean? I don’t know you!”
I was taken aback. “What? Stop playing games with me!”
She grimaced in turn, lowering her head as her horn flared to life. Lowering her voice she said,“All I know is that I want you to die.”
With that, Celestia charged forward, spreading her wings out to collide with me mid-air. I spiraled downward to meet her, and ended up thrusting her into the ground as I towered over her. She writhed and screamed, but I stayed atop.
“Tia, don’t you remember me?” I whispered, seeing her switch from angry to confused then angry again.
“How do you know that nickname?” she hissed, attempting to squirm free from my grasp.
“Because I’m your sister. Please remember.”
Suddenly, I saw something floating in the corner of my eye. I turned towards it, eyes widening when I realized what it was. A picture of us as foals. Teleporting it in front of my sister, I looked back at her, jerking it around with my magic.
“Don’t you remember this?” I said, voice cracking. Celestia looked at it, puzzled.
“W-What?”
“You drew this, a picture of us!”
It began wavering in my magic.
“Tia…”
I saw her, looking for any signs of remembrance. But all I saw was vexation as she grit her teeth.
“I don’t know that name.”
I didn’t even fight back as Celestia kicked me off of her, flying straight into me with her forehooves as we both crashed through one of the towering windows, meeting in the grass kicking and screaming. I wouldn’t even call it a battle, but rather two savage animals fighting for survival. She bucked me, bit me, showered me with magic rays. I can’t say I didn’t do the same, struggling to get her off of me.
Suddenly, I managed to get a hit straight into her muzzle, blood spraying across me and the ground as she backed up in shock and pain. I took advantage of the moment, retrieving the elements from my armour. Swirling them around me, I saw her knocked back to the ground by the gusts of wind. Every instinct told me to go help her, but I fought with all I could.
Smells of dust and burnt flesh swirled into my nose as my whole body tightened. I channeled my magic through each gem, feeling the magic lift me up as I locked eyes with my sister. Fighting back tears as they flowed down my cheeks, I let out a feral scream, a ray of white striking my sister.