An ancient power lurks within the innermost depths of Canterlot Mountain, found recently by Princess Celestia, although awakened by Nightmare Moon. The battle between pony and warframe begins.
An ancient power lurks within the innermost depths of Canterlot Mountain, found recently by Princess Celestia, although awakened by Nightmare Moon. The battle between pony and warframe begins.
Celestia couldn't remember the last time she fell soundly asleep. It must have been months or maybe years ago. Problems rose but never went away, set to always linger in the back of her mind. Dread as it was called. It'd become the bane of her existence.
Hope appeared in the form of Twilight Sparkle, a filly powerful, too powerful for her own good, though given time—no more than a decade, give or take—would be able to confront her sister. And not only that. But to perform the act in a way that would benefit them both.
They both had a lesson to learn from the exchange, and the solution to that, despite the years required, would be to lay the proper path. Whether it would work or not only the future could then tell. And for now, dread will nestle itself within her heart.
That was until the catacombs beneath the castle had been found, quite by mistake, by a squad of guards prepared for Nightmare Moon. Everything needed to be right before the youngest sister made her return. Hope of revenge caused the moon to grow brighter.
Hope.
Even evil had hope.
Princess Celestia walked through the tunnel, one dim and in the middle of a cave, something great lodged deep within the depths of the mountain. Its strange structure had drawn her here, so many years ago. A decision made on a sensation. One that seemed ready to now bite her on the flank.
“This isn't good,” Celestia whispered to herself as the tone beneath her hooves transitioned into something new. Cold and almost made of metal. The rock of the cave gave way to something else. A material akin to steel—but radiating to the inner-pulsation of a foreign power. “After all these years... now this place begins to fester?”
She shook her head. Not once had she dared to enter the place. The power of the mountain, one distant but raw, severed to deter others from approaching. Maybe even attacking. Celestia liked to think that the sleeping threat of the place was what deterred so many from malicious intent.
But she hoped whatever power that resided here, a path now paved to the heart of it, didn't have malicious intent. It was strong. Strong enough to be felt without magic—nor it bearing any of that quality at all.
Something that could be felt by its presence alone, although it slumbered, obscured by mile after dense rock and layer? To have a whole mountain set around it to contain it. To be so strong, so feared, its aroma palpable to those who drew near.
Celestia didn't want to dare think about what such a creature, so power despite being so nothing, would be upon awakening. In anticipation of everything that was to come, she had already sent her student away on her lesson. Hopefully, Twilight was having better luck than Celestia currently was.
Now she entered the deepest confines of the mountain.
It amazed her of the new world within this place. That tight tunnel expanding into the vast chamber of something not of this world. Technology. Ancient and dormant. There was a power to it, not magical but something close, a different aura ruminating from it all. The ground was some kind of gold, a translucent glow below the floor. It fluctuated. Slowly but consistently.
More than anything else, it had felt like a heartbeat.
Everything felt that way. All connected, expressing something. This open chamber was not of this world, either left here from a time before, or brought here a different way beyond pony comprehension. It didn't matter so much to Celestia. Not when the present was currently in more danger than the past.
Finally. It revealed itself ahead. A group of ponies had ascended a small set of steps, each angled toward a center, a small flooring connecting to more steps, a set removed each time as it went up, continuing and raising, leading to the purpose of this chamber, of this mountain... maybe of this world.
“Princess Celestia! Thank goodness you are here! Being in such a place without your light... well, it certainly rids the heart of hope—does it not?” The leader turned to the others dressed in gold. Although they'd been trained to rid themselves of expression... dread had pulled their faces rather taut. “We've never seen such a place before. In no other kingdom and within no books upon history.”
Princess Celestia upon keeping on the level below them, allowing her gaze to wander around, the light pulsating through the chamber reminding her of the power of the sun—and then some. Something so powerful yet passively contained. It drew shudders. It evoked dread.
“That, unfortunately, was my suspicion as well.” Princess Celestia cast her gaze back to the crew, who gave salute after appearing to have forgotten. It warmed the icicles that had encrusted around her heart. But it didn't quite do the trick. “I have lived longer than I remember and seen beyond the celestial. And yet, everything here poses a most sinister mystery.”
“So even you are bearing such a feeling, princess?”
“Fear is known to all with emotions.” Princess Celestia knew that now was the time to pretend to be something more, the mask of a princess set tightly to her face to bring hope to those beneath her, to give power back to those who so easily lost it... but even here, in such a terrible place, she could not bear herself to be dishonest just this once. How ironic. “Restless dreams have caused my mind to ponder about here. To leave such a place unattended... at least keeping here kept me aware of all that occurred here.”
“And the quakes threatening the castle lately?”
“I'd much rather have the castle be safe and go on blissfully unaware something so awfully abnormal such as here did not exist... but the harm that would bring, the potential harm, all of that coming to suddenly upon my kingdom?” Celestia shook her head. Every exhale taking parts of her should with it. “Being a princess means taking the care for them all upon your shoulders. The purpose of bearing the crown is to endure many sleepless nights. Maybe that's what all this comes to.”
“Um, princess?”
“One mare gives up her will to sleep peacefully so the rest may can.”
None decided to make any mention of the princess's strange behaviour. That's the way how this place made them all feel. Like the world had been poised in a dream-like state, an otherworldly feeling to it all. Such a time made all feel ethereal, but also vulnerable. It was now that nightmares so easily struck.
And their nightmare was the one currently dreaming.
“Princess Celestia, if you may, we would like to show you our findings of this place?” The leader waited for a response and, when a short nod was his return, he decided to go on. Turning around, he gestured to the chamber. “The markings are here are not of any language. If you gaze upon the walls, there is a power to them, one fulled by an unknown source.”
Celestia sighed. “Like the surface of the sun contained within veins.”
“Certainly a way of putting it, princess.” The leader let his shoulders drop, though they kept slightly up due to the general sense of unease. “Perhaps there is something here we can find that will aid you? The... return of your sister soon approaches, c-correct?”
Princess Celestia smiled upon casting her one eye upon the stallion. “So you are apt to reading fables as well?”
“Everyone has heard the stories,” the leader continued, “just not everyone believes them.”
The shivering mountain rained rocks against the paved groundings. Earthquakes that spanned no greater than the chamber itself. Power rested here. Tension and pressure compressing and condensing to a singular location. The air, precious oxygen swirled and pulled toward the coffin.
Awakening was nigh.
Princess Celestia bowed her head in spite of the chaos around her. The first lesson a princess learns. Your crown is everything. Shaking and uncontrolled movements caused it to slip. Sharp and decisive ones, calculated movements and momentum would keep it still atop the head.
Chaos approacheth.
“You've all done well to stay with me this far,” Celestia nearly whispered the words beneath the rumbling of the world, and yet, the majesty of her voice drew the ears of the stallions. “But I'm afraid there's no further reason in keeping you all in danger. Flee at once. Seek home and advise yourselves from then on.”
The guards paused in their stumbling, slowing despite the shaking of the world, coming to stand rather still. The falling rocks smashed and crashed into the ground, blowing up into chunks from the impact—leaving no scratch on the metallic flooring. Only pebbles and such things littered across it. But never against or to it.
“Princess Celestia... with all due respect.” The guards had formed a line across the platform a step above, one of then, the one in the middle, stepping forward. The rest looked equally unsure. But to him, they looked and nodded. “No self-respecting guard could dare to flee from your side in terms of peril.”
“Despite the obvious danger?”
“Reason for our existence, is it not? Our use is only found in confronting danger.” The guard shook his head. He exhaled slowly, doing something more, at that moment, than mere breathing. “Times of peace put us on appearance. But our true purpose comes from putting our lives on the line for your sake. Some may mourn for us.”
Princess Celestia stepped before the captain, despite the difference of levels, their eyes coming to meet. She watched him as he gave his final breath—the kind before a grand decision. In their minds and hearts, at least, they believed in their cause. “But if you were to pass, then the world would be lost. Without light to guide us... all of us might as well take the plunge into eternal darkness.”
It wasn't like her to do so.
But Princess Celestia smiled. “Certainly a noble sentiment, captain.”
“One I've staked my life upon, princess.”
“And the rest of your guard feel the same?”
Stutter, but unison nods followed.
“I suppose my guard is filled with noble hearts after all.” Princess Celestia gazed up at the ceiling, cracks and fissures deepening in the rocks above. Everything not the strange metal torn and ground from merely existing close to it. “But sadly, there is no purpose in your staying. My sister has chosen this place as the first to return. What happens between family should stay between family.”
The stallion gazed to one another. It was common for guilt to spring now. Everyone feared to lose their lives. Great willpower—and perhaps suppression—was required to dull their urge to live and strength their desire to die with a cause. One offered a disguised coward's way to live may detest themselves for taking it so easily.
Their conviction weak after all.
“We've already agreed to die, princess.”
“You agreed to die should it serve a grander cause.” Princess Celestia stepped back while boulder crashed into the ground, left and right and behind her. Blasts coming close, some of them inches close. But not a pebble touched her coat nor legs. “There isn't enough time to understand this place. And none of you will be effective against my sister. Regardless of whatever may happen to me—your being here makes no difference.”
She bowed her head. “Except in whether you live or die.”
“At least we'll die with the honour of being a proper guard.”
“And what will your families and friends and other duties of the world think of dying for honour alone? When you can live to tend to other things?” Princess Celestia gestured a hoof down the steps of the structure. Boulders blocking the path were lifted up due to the power of her magic. “Because you are weak and useless here does not signify the totality of your lives. The benefits of being a guard will apply to the coming times where others will not suffice for the task then.”
Princess Celestia did what was not encourage by other princesses.
She bowed to her guards. “Is there any shame in waiting to fight the battle you were equipped to face? Even this battle is not meant to be waged by me. But I must play my part in the grand scheme of it all—lest it all fails. Do not neglect your impact on the general course of fate.”
The guards gazed to another, not one wanting to shame the other, the quality that solidifies the feelings of cowardice in one. The logic wasn't superficial and given with the fullest sincerity a princess could dare to give.
“We'll ensure Canterlot is led properly while you are away,” the captain said upon stepping back, allowing his troops to walk through, ensuring they followed down the path. He was the last to follow—and the only one to turn around. “And we'll come before the sunrise with the entire guard if you do not surface from this place.”
Princess Celestia rose to her height once more. She gazed down the path down, on which, he stood in the middle with. Both of them smiled. She spoke her final words unto him. “Suppose we must take whatever deals we can strike when there is naught time to discuss. Persist well, captain.”
“And I don't need to say the same to you, princess.”
The guards left. The rocking of the chamber halted only for a moment. The guards disappeared into the tunnel just as the shaking resumed. Boulders crashed and pile before the opening, closing it, ensuring none could enter or leave from the passage never intended by the chamber.
Princess Celestia sighed. On legs that wobbled only on the second step, she ascended the steps, daring to approach the crypt not of this planet. The clear glass showed the figure on the other side. No face nor eyes or a mouth. Something living. But no living thing.
She laid her hoof on the glass of such a thing, frost consuming her limbs, dread overtaking her mind, despair laying claim on her heart. Though the return of Nightmare Moon had already left her hollow inside. Nothing changed despite the transition.
It was here the elder sister waited for the youngest.
The dark miasma flowed into the room, swirling and slow, composed and compounded with power. It flowed across the ground like a liquid-metal puddle, expanding across the flooring, enough to produce a pond. It bubbled, a rising beneath the surface, the composition of power infusing into a form.
Out from the depths of dark magic.
Nightmare Moon rose.
"Mmhmm-aahh!" Nightmare surfaced in a slow and continuous rise, rolling around her head, delighting at every kink that popped. Some caused her to moan; others to lick her lips. Drunken arousal coming from the drinking of power. "How sore and aching my body has been after decades neglected. Maybe I... should have stretched before finding you, dear sister."
Celestia only shook her muzzle. "Don't think I'll be calling you the same."
"That so? Well oh well! So much for family reunions." Nightmare strode out from her pond, though in every step, the waters followed. They darkened and thinned without losing their density. It became her shadow, fully formed, once she stepped out. "How long has it been exactly? If only we had a way of knowing."
The creature kept in-between them, within its coffin, asleep despite them.
Princess Celestia didn't have words. Nothing to be said or done to her sister. Thousand years had passed, thinking and reflecting, the time rendered into an opportunity for them both. Using harmony to advance all of their lives was her plan.
And yet, despite the years, not a shadow of doubt appeared, to Luna, in her feelings for revenge. If all the time locked away on the moon didn't give her cause to think twice on what occurred, those many seconds festering hate and rage... nothing said now, done now, would change a damn thing.
Maybe Nightmare Moon kept her from the insanity of pondering Celestia had found herself in throughout the years.
Or maybe it was Nightmare Moon causing it.
Never was an answer reached.
Only more pondering followed by added doubts.
"I think you and I, dear sister, have waited far too long for our rematch." Nightmare Moon strode forward while her miasma seeped across the floor. It was a living, sentient, and dangerous foe on its own. "Victory should have been mine the time before. But like the loser you are, in your defeat, you called for supernatural aid. But as far as I can see—"Nightmare's gaze swept across the room with assurance "—no such help will come to you now."
Nightmare strode right to Celestia, muzzle to muzzle, glare to glare, seconds ticking. "Unlike you, I've been training, waiting to enact this final plan. You hardly seem stronger since the last time." Nightmare's muzzle dipped upon checking Celestia out. "In fact. Weaker. You've gotten weaker... with intent?" She shook her head. "Don't let this fight down. Not after all these years of dreaming. You give it your all, or whomever your prized student is now will suffer worse than you."
Celestia hadn't expected herself to smile, but came to do so, the sweetness of the past, done just the same in the present. "Still worried about being stronger and beating your bigger sister? Won't be happy unless you truly best me? It might drive you crazy if I surrender now, won't it?"
"Don't you dare strip me of this!" Nightmare Moon stomped her hoof into the floor, the dark, ethereal puddle shooting up from behind. Seconds later, it pelted from the air, each striking with intensity. "Those years of teasing me, lording over me, demonstrating your superiority! I need to prove my betterment! To destroy your best and tower over the ashes!"
That's what you thought those years were about? Acts and words. They won't work now.
Princess Celestia offered a nod of acceptance, taking a few steps back, relaxing. Stiff muscles evened out and tensions of the chest carried out in a steady breath. Winning or losing was irrelevant. So long as it granted time for Twilight to learn her lesson.
And ascend.
I suppose it should be interesting to find out how rusty these last thousand years have left me.
Both alicorns kept several feet away, expressions uniquely determined, circling the other. Every loop saw to a step closer being taken, their horns consumed by surging magic, each powering up. Seconds passed. Then moments of silence, until, of course...
The sisters, and their sibling rivalry, renewed after a thousand years.
