Scorned Hope
The strange, mismatched alicorn stood tall, her wavy purple mane billowing angrily behind her. Even her fur wasn't immune to her rage, and the short white hairs danced on an unseen wind, embers dancing between the strands. Her blood red pupils bore into the shrinking blue alicorn, centuries of pain and regret now directed at the other mare.
And then she spoke.
“I am so disappointed in you Luna,” exclaimed Celestia.
“We tried to make it right,” Luna pleaded, her eyes flickering between their slitted and more rounded appearance. “We are so sorry Celestia.”
“To think you would make not only me suffer, but our people, and the whole world. All on the word of a demon born from your own twisted jealousy?” Celestia scoffed in disgust.
“Moon isn't- we aren't bad. We were just misguided,” Luna pleaded, back pedaling through a chair and nearly tripping over a table. “We didn't know that would happen.”
“What did you think would occur when you killed the only pony capable of speaking reason to Sol?” Celestia exclaimed, stomping up to the cowering pony. “Or perhaps you were planning on sacrificing hundreds just to move it through the sky like the unicorn barbarians of old?”
“I didn't… we werent…” Luna trailed off, tears flowing from her cheeks.
“Enough,” Moon exclaimed, stomping their hoof and dragging their body into a stand. “We will not grovel at the hooves of anyone and certainly not her. Celestia, we have larger concerns than our painful history.”
“I don't want to fight anyone,” Twilight whispered.
Celestia blinked, her scornful expression quickly falling away when she found tears staining her own cheeks. “I am sorry, dear one. Shh, it's okay. I promise we won't fight anymore.”
“If I knew it was so easy to disarm you perhaps I should have kept a few more foals around to sob on command,” Moon remarked, only for her eyes to shift and a frown to cross her face.
“You are not helping,” muttered Luna.
“Unlike you, and your demonic pet. I have always been moved by the suffering of others,” Celestia spat. “That and I have had a thousand years to rage at your evil. Now that anger has cooled into a quiet desire for justice, both for myself and for my ponies.”
“Your high and mighty tone wont work on us, our revolution was bloodless save for you. Furthermore, we didn't intend to harm so much as a single one of them!” Moon exclaimed.
“Intentions matter little when harm is done,” Celestia retorted.
“Let's just… hear them out, okay?” Twilight offered in a soft, quiet tone.
“I suppose I could do so. Though I do so only because of your urging,” Celestia quietly stated.
“Regardless of your reasons, we must focus on the problem at hoof. Namely that the sun has slowly retreated, growing more distant and cold since your passing,” Moon exclaimed, the alicorn striding out from behind the table, and into the center of the room. “I don't need to tell you that this is a bad thing.”
“We wouldn't…” Celestia bit her tongue, and closed her eyes, simply breathing for several seconds. “I can try, but even if we are able to connect to him, it will take months or even years for him to return in full.”
“Why do you say him when talking about the sun?” Twilight asked, the filly shrinking slightly when she spoke.
“All ancient bodies gain a sort of intelligence, and some may even choose genders,” Luna quietly exclaimed. “Our moon has chosen to remain neutral, and quiet for the most part while Equiss itself is… different.”
“That is a topic for another time,” Celestia declared.
“Of course. Please, make your attempt,” Moon exclaimed.
Celestia nodded, and bowed her head as she summoned her magic, slowly drawing it from deep down in her chest. The energy itself returned at a slow, almost sedentary pace, as if it were lethargic, or distant due to centuries of disuse. Regardless of the reason, Celestia was barely able to spark her horn before nearly collapsing, and having to be caught by a blue alicorn.
“Are you okay?” Luna Moon asked in her twinned voice.
“It is difficult. I can feel it but it's so far that just calling it is an effort I cannot manage,” Celestia muttered.
“It's like that time I got hay fever,” Twilight added.
Celestia nodded. “Indeed it does feel like that. The magical pathways of our body are damaged, and will require patient healing. I doubt we could even contact Sol unless we stood at the very top of the canterhorn.”
“That could be arranged,” Luna offered.
“Not yet. We require a moment to gather ourselves,” Twilight and Celestia stated.
Together the four of them sat in silence, waiting as the white alicorn slowly got her breathing under control. She then rose back to her full height, and gently trotted away from the darker mare, putting a respectful distance between them.
“Now then,” Celestia began. “I believe we were talking about what we planned on doing about you?”
“What do you mean?” Luna asked, cringing slightly.
“You have not only killed me, and innumerable foals, but also endangered the lives of every living being on the planet. This cannot go unpunished,” Celestia stated. “Justice demands it.”
“Who are you to speak in justice’s name when we have done so much for people?” Moon snarled, her eyes flashing dangerously. “We will not allow this farce. Not after we have sacrificed so much just to stop the world from teetering over the edge of oblivion.”
Before Celestia could reply, the dark alicorn shrunk down, her hair falling over her face as her pupils rounded once more. “We have to. Not only is it what we deserve, but it's what our ponies deserve.”
The mare snarled, but didn't speak, merely biting her tongue as she mulled over Celestia’s words.
“What…” Moon began. “What did you have in mind?”
“For one, you will step down from your position as head of the Equestrian government,” Celestia declared.
“We… accept this,” Luna exclaimed. “Though only after an orderly transfer of power is set forth. We will not create chaos for our little ponies.”
“That is acceptable,” Celestia replied. “We will speak more on this subject and further demands when destruction does not loom over Equestria.”
“That is also acceptable,” Moon stated.
“Maybe we should put this entire thing on hold, please?” Twilight whispered hesitantly, rubbing her forehooves together. “I feel like we should try talking to mister Sol again.”
“That is an excellent idea,” Celestia agreed. “Perhaps with a direct line of sight we can more easily establish contact.”
“Allow me to cast a quick illusion on you both. We wouldn't want everyone panicking after all,” Moon offered.
“Can you disguise us as me?” Twilight nervously asked.
“We may. Though we will give you wings, in order to aid your assent,” Luna replied, while Celestia remained silent.
The dark alicorn then closed her eyes and began to focus, pushing magic towards her horn. Slowly she weaved the dark energy into an illusion spell capable of completely altering the white alicorn’s physical form. Then with a flash, it was complete, and Twilight the young purple filly once again walked the earth, only this time she was a pegasus.
“Interesting,” remarked Celestia as she gazed down on her new tiny body. “I assume you altered our perceptions as well?”
“Indeed,” replied Moon.
“This is awesome,” Twilight exclaimed, jumping up and down in her now small hooves. “Come on, we better… wait a second. Where's Sunset?”
Luna winced, and leaned down so that she was at Twilight’s height. “The process is usually fatal and does not leave behind a body. I’m afraid your friend is gone.”
“W-what? But I just saw her like five minutes ago!” Twilight shouted, only to immediately recoil as her body language shifted.
“There is a chance she is not gone,” Celestia began, her tone quiet, and patient. “But we will need our magic back.”
“R-really?” Twilight whispered back.
Celestia nodded their head.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!” Twilight shouted, the filly already sprinting towards the exit with all the haste she could muster.
“Wait, you don't know where your going!” Luna cried.
The dark alicorn sprinted after the fleeing filly, yet even her long legs could not match the rapid pace of the pint sized pony. In seconds they had both dashed down the hall, their hooves thundering against the floor and filling the hall with the sound of their impact. It wasn't long before they emerged out into the throne room, where Twilight stopped, and stared at one of the windows.
“Oh thank goodness. Please stay close to us, we-” Luna began, only to be cut off when Twilight teleported onto the other side of the pane of glass. “Oh come on.”
Moon sighed, and ran a hoof down her face. “Something tells us that we are going to have a hard time with this one.”
“It's like she's made Celestia even more impish,” Luna regretfully added.
Twilight grinned as she banked around a tower and began to ascend to ever greater heights. “This is amazing,” she murmured.
“I’m glad you are enjoying the gift of flight,” Celestia exclaimed. “Showing you the wonders of the heavens is the least I could do.”
“Were so strong. I was never able to teleport before,” Twilight murmured.
Celestia smiled. “I may not be able to reconnect with the sun, but I can at least manage a short hop. Just don't ask me to do that again anytime soon.”
“Do you really think we can bring back Sunset?” Twilight whispered.
“I’m not one hundred percent certain, but I feel like there is a good chance of it,” Celestia replied.
Twilight hummed softly to herself as they flew upwards, angling their wings towards the tallest tower they could see. For several minutes the only sound was the cool breeze whipping past Twilight’s ears, and the steady flap of her new wings. The cold wind didn't bother her in the slightest, nor the scattered snowflakes that drifted downward.
There was only her, the air she flew through, and the city spread out all around her. Yet she didn't focus on the many snow covered structures, or the fantastic view she had just been granted. Rather Twilight felt her gaze pulled up towards the dark clouds that smothered the sky of the sun’s light.
The sight didn't bother Twilight, though she could tell Celestia was irritated by the darkness of their presence. A conflict which resolved itself when they had landed atop the tallest battlement in the entire city. There they stood in silence, staring up at the sky, as if waiting for something to happen.
Then, Celestia lit their invisible horn, and attempted to reconnect with the sun once more. This time the magic more readily came to her call, though it was still not enough to accomplish what Celestia wanted it to. The alicorn grunted and strained, yet her golden energy was barely more energetic than the flickering of a small candle.
“This is harder than I thought,” Celestia muttered.
“Maybe we have to do it together?” Twilight offered.
Celestia paused, a soft smile crossing her face. “That is an excellent idea. Ready?”
“Ready,” Twilight replied.
The pair closed their eyes, and summoned their combined magic, the flickering purplish gold light growing stronger by the second. Building at the base of their horn as little more than a group of embers that quickly climbed up the length of the spiralled appendage. The illusion flickered, and faltered, but ultimately held while the pair continued to channel more magic.
It wasn't until their horn was glowing like a miniature sun that their spell was complete and with a grunt of exertion, they released it into the world. Where it took the form of a lance of swirling purple and gold energy that shot straight up into the sky. The thin shaft pierced the clouds, shattering the heavy cover and allowing the sun to peek through the hole they had created.
It didn't stop there though, as the magic continued to travel higher and higher until it was no longer even visible to the naked eye. In its wake the alicorn stood in silence, mouth agape as they stared at the slowly widening space they had created in the clouds. The snow had stopped, the temperature slowly rose, and after several quiet seconds the small, distant yellow star flickered.
Rays of light more powerful than what Equestria had seen for centuries burst through the remaining cloud cover like divine arrows raining down from heaven. In seconds the entire sky was clear of the dark splotches, and the citizens of Canterlot were graced with the first truly clear day in a very long time. It was in that moment that even the dull roar of the city quieted, as its inhabitants collectively stared upwards in wonder and admiration.
“It worked… right?” Twilight whispered.
Celestia nodded their head. “Indeed it did, dear one. Sol has seen me and has chosen to return to us, though it will take time before he resumes the position he had a millennia ago.”
“It's so beautiful,” added a strange, and familiar voice.
The disguised alicorn blinked, and looked down to find a small, flaming filly standing mere feet away. After a half second of panic they were able to discern that she was not on fire, but rather was made of the stuff. This small realization was the only thing that stopped Twilight from leaping out and hugging her.
“Sunset!” Twilight shouted, jumping for joy.
“Hello Twilight, Tia,” Sunset greated, the fiery filly nodding to the alicorn. “I see you have established a stable bond.”
“That we have,” Celestia declared. “I know not how, or why, but young Twilight’s body was somehow able to contain the entirety of my power, and even yours it seems.”
“Maybe it's because I didn't eat anything this morning,” Twilight muttered.
Sunset Shimmer chuckled, the sound coming out like the crackling of a low fire. “That's probably it.”
“Regardless of the reason I have been given a second lease on life, and I intend on repaying young Twilight for her sacrifice,” Celestia exclaimed.
“Oh you don't have to do that. It was the right thing to do,” Twilight replied.
Celestia smiled. “And rewarding selflessness is the right thing to do.”
“That's great and all, but I don't suppose you could tell me I am made of fire by chance?” Sunset interjected, waving a flaming gold red limb around in emphasis.
“I don't know,” Celestia admitted. “Though I can feel a connection between us, much like the one Twilight and I share, though not quite so intimate.”
“Who cares why or how, you’re back!” Twilight happily exclaimed. “Wait, can you still do magic and stuff like that?”
Sunset blinked. “I don't know. Let me try.”
The living ball of fire sparked her horn, and though it did alight with a unique crimson aura, nothing else happened. Each time she released the magic, it turned into a shower of multicolored embers that quickly flickered out. That was until she conjured forth an orb of fire which shot up into the air more than a dozen meters before exploding violently.
“Well at least I can still cast fire spells,” Sunset muttered.
“Woah. That was huge,” Twilight gawked, watching as sparks continued to rain down all around them.
“Perhaps in time we can create several alternative spells that can replace the ones you can no longer cast,” Celestia offered.
“That would be nice. Maybe we can even figure out how to get me a body that isn't on fire all the time,” Sunset declared.
“Good thinking. Cus I really want to hug you right now,” Twilight offered.
Sunset giggled. “And I would really like a hug right about now.”
“There you are,” Luna exclaimed, the alicorn awkwardly landing behind the small group. “We must return to the throne room. We will have very little time to speak before we will need to put out a public statement.”
“That is acceptable,” Celestia declared. “Now that immediate destruction has been warded off, we need to discuss what we plan on spending our time on, and the fate of you, as well as your pet demon.”
“She isn't-” Luna began.
“It doesn't matter what she thinks. We must move quickly in order to get ahead of the potential chaos this little show has likely caused,” Moon finished.
“Right, of course,” Luna acquessed. “Oh my goodness. Sunset, is that you?”
The flaming filly grinned from ear to ear. “I’m just fine, you two. Though something tells me we are going to need to fireproof the palace.”
“This is going to be so fun,” Twilight gushed. “It's like a sleep over, every night!”
“We will have a lot of work ahead of us,” Celestia warned.
“But we must start by returning to the throne room,” Moon exclaimed.
“Of course. You may teleport us there now,” Celestia declared.
“That seems a little needless. We are not far, and you need not even flap your wings,” Moon replied.
“Yes, simply follow us,” Luna added, taking flight before anyone could offer a word in edgewise.
“What was that about?” Twilight asked when the other alicorn had disappeared over the lip.
“I think they are weaker than they seem,” Celestia remarked.
“They have been fighting the griffons for a very long time. Cut them some slack,” Sunset offered.
“Either way I want to fly again, so let's go!” Twilight shouted, jumping off the building.
“Wait Twilight you have to warn me before you do that!” Celestia yelled.
“Weee,” cried the filly.
Sunset chuckled as she watched the pair plummet down the side of the building before quickly righting themselves and gliding at a more gentle pace. “Those two make for a good match. I just hope they can work with Luna and Moony,” Sunset remarked to no one in particular. “I suppose only time will tell.”
The fiery young pony then quickly flickered, and faded away, her body disappearing on a cool northern wind.
“So. What is it you wished to discuss with us?” Celestia stated, the alicorn dispelling the illusion and striding confidently into the throne room.
“We just wish to know what you plan to do, as we would very much appreciate a helping hoof in dealing with all of Equestria’s problems,” Luna stated, only to quickly shake her head, her eyes becoming slitted.
“We can handle Equestria just fine. Celestia needs to rest, and regain her strength before she can be useful to anyone,” Moon declared.
“For once I agree with your demon, Luna,” Celestia replied.
“Tia,” Twilight hissed. “Don't be mean.”
Celestia sighed. “I am sorry, dear one. I will more closely watch my tongue in the future.”
“Yes, well. Regardless of our opinions. It is ultimately your choice,” Luna exclaimed, the mare slumping in her throne. “We are no longer your jailors.”
“We need to figure out how to cast spells together, and how to get Twilight, and Sunset their own bodies,” Celestia declared. “I will not shackle an innocent for any longer than necessary.”
“It's no rush,” Twilight quickly retorted. “You should focus on Sunset first.”
“Focus on me for what?” asked Sunset Shimmer, the filly appearing on a patch of bare marble.
“We need to make you a body so you may return to your old life,” Celestia replied.
“That would be nice, but I wouldn't want to prioritize my own comfort over the needs of Equestria,” Sunset cautioned.
“Constructing these new bodies will likely help to aid in the recovery of your magic,” Moon offered. “Though it will not be easy. We have looked into the subject extensively and can tell you that the process is not a simple one.”
“Nothing easy was ever worth doing,” Celestia declared.
“What would you do after you have recovered your strength?” Luna inquired. “I would have you aid me in governing Equestria, if at all possible, as I mentioned earlier.”
“After I have regained my full magic I will take your place and you will be punished for your actions,” Celestia stated, jabbing a hoof at her sister.
Moon scowled. “That is-”
“Not up for debate,” Celestia interrupted.
“Remember, you must give us time,” Luna pleaded. “We will not have you throw Equestria into chaos, or a civil war, even if it is for justice’s sake.”
“You will have a year and a day,” Celestia replied before turning and trotting out of the door, startling the guards that stood on the other side.
Leaving Sunset, Luna, and Moon sitting in the throne room, their expressions a mixture of indignation as well as disappointment.
“That could have gone better,” Luna muttered.
“The arrogance of that mare,” Moon cursed. “She will doom the nation all for her twisted idea of justice.”
“She is right though,” Sunset cautioned. “You have committed grave crimes.”
“They were necessary,” Moon declared.
“Necessary or not, you cannot argue that you are guilty,” Sunset retorted.
“We are just glad that you are okay,” Luna murmured. “We don't know if we could have kept going if you had perished as well.”
“Don't worry Luna, Moony. I’ll make sure Celestia isn't too hasty,” Sunset offered.
“Thank you,” Moon offered. “Hopefully our dear sister will hear reason if it comes from your lips.”
“Perhaps. Either way it seems as though I’ve reached the edge of how far I can stray from them,” Sunset remarked, raising a hoof which had already begun to fade away.
“Enjoy your newfound freedom Sunset. You, at least, have definitely earned it,” Luna whispered with a smile.
“I will, and for what it's worth. I forgive you both,” Sunset whispered before disappearing completely.
Luna sighed, and stared down at her hooves. “Oh Moony. What are we going to do?”