//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: The Stars of Darkness // by D4ftP0ny //------------------------------// “I don’t understand it, Spike,” Twilight Sparkle said, pacing in the main room of the library that served as her home. The sun was just starting to set, and the librarian couldn’t seem to get the events of earlier that day out of her mind. “I couldn’t even make myself step in to say anything! Applejack just… tore her apart! I’ve never heard AJ talk to anypony like that.” Spike, the baby dragon who helped Twilight with whatever she needed, nodded from his small bed. “Yeah… that does sound pretty harsh for Applejack…” He sniffed and pulled his blanket tighter around him. “But… well, let’s face it, she was telling the truth. Rainbow Dash does come off as pretty careless most of the time.” Twilight sighed. “That’s not the point, Spike. It doesn’t matter what Rainbow comes off like; we KNOW what she’s like, and we all know how much she cares about all of us, no matter what she forgets to do. Applejack should know that most of all.” She stomped a hoof. “Ugh! Those two are so stubborn though..! This was bound to happen eventually; AJ just can’t let things go sometimes, and Rainbow will never apologize, not now…” Her ears drooped. “You should have seen Rainbow, Spike… I’ve never seen her cry like that. It was awful.” “Wow… she was crying?” Spike sounded as surprised as Twilight felt. “Did you try to talk to her about it?” “I tried to follow her, but she and this other Pegasus took off into the air before I could get to her.” “Another Pegasus? From the weather team?” Twilight shook her head. “No, he wasn’t from the weather team.” “Was it one of the mail ponies?” “No. He’s not from around Ponyville; even I’ve lived here long enough to know a strange face when I see one.” Suddenly, she was stricken by a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Now that I think about it, Applejack was with a Pegasus, too; one I’ve never seen around.” She began pacing again, her eyes unfocused as she spoke. “And Rarity… she’s with that other unicorn, Morning Mist…” Spike perked up almost immediately at the mention of his crush. “Rarity?! You saw her today? How is she? Did she ask about me?” In spite of her serious mood, Twilight couldn’t help but smile and roll her eyes. “Yes, I saw her today Spike, but I didn’t get to talk to her. Sorry big guy.” But come to think of it, Rarity had been acting strangely today, as well… She’d heard second-hand from Roseluck at the café that some harsh words had been exchanged between Rainbow Dash and Rarity, but mostly from Rainbow’s side. Twilight Sparkle was no school-filly prone to believing whatever rumors floated her way, but after seeing Rarity’s face and watching Rainbow Dash cry… She was inclined to believe this particular rumor. “Something is very wrong with our friends, Spike,” she said sadly. “And honestly… I’m not sure I want to find out what it is.” Spike yawned loudly and nestled into his blankets. “Well, whatever it is, I hope they get over it soon… Pinkie Pie said she’s gonna throw a party for… the Whinnyapolians… tomorrow night…” Twilight smiled down at her assistant as he rolled over in his bed and fell asleep. She held a great deal of affection for the baby dragon, and oftentimes felt more like his mother than his friend. With her heart near to bursting with the cuteness of Spike when he was sleeping, she carefully leaned down and pulled the blanket around him snuggly with her teeth, giving him a nudge with her forehead as she did. “Good night, Spike,” she whispered. With one last fond smile, Twilight levitated Spike and his bed up from the floor; with a gentle magical touch she carried him up the library stairs and into her private quarters, setting him next to her own large bed. She blew out the candles that lit the room and shut the door silently behind her as she returned to the main library and her restless musings. The lavender unicorn glanced out the window as the last rays of the setting sun kissed the leaves of the library tree and found her thoughts drifting to the Princesses, and what they were doing. Whatever they’re doing, I’m sure they’re very, very busy, she thought. She hadn’t heard from either of the Princesses for two days now, and it was beginning to worry her. Combine that with this trouble among her friends… She sighed. She didn’t want to tell Spike her suspicions about why Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity were all acting differently, especially Rarity; if Spike thought she was in trouble, he would be out that door in a heartbeat, no matter if he was sick or still just a baby dragon. “But nothing else makes sense,” she muttered, walking slowly to a window and gazing out at the sunset. Ponyville was painted in deep reds and oranges tonight, giving the illusion that the whole town was ablaze. Twilight shuddered at the thought, and hoped beyond hope that this wasn’t a portent of things to come. “The only thing that’s different with those three is the company they’re keeping,” she said softly. “Morning Mist… and those two Pegasus ponies…” Luna said there were four generals. We know where Dark Star is… but the other three are gone. She shivered, in spite of the warmth of the air around her. “Ugh… I hate not knowing!” she said, stomping her front right hoof firmly to the floor. The unicorn sighed then raised her head to look up into the western sky, where she knew Canterlot lay. “Celestia… don’t leave us for too long. We need your guidance, Princess, now more than ever…” After a moment of indulging herself, Twilight Sparkle turned back towards the interior of the library, her eyes firm. “But the Princess would never want me to give up,” she said. “Never want us to give up; not now, not ever.” Her horn glowed, and from the shelf labeled “E” floated a familiar book; The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide. The book levitated to her, and Twilight settled herself down onto one of the many pillows that littered her floor. “Maybe, if Dark Star used the Elements of Harmony as a model for the Elements of Destruction… I’ll be able to find something in here to use against him.” Because deep in her heart Twilight knew that in the end, no matter what they did, they would have to face Dark Star himself- and she would need every weapon at her disposal to make sure her friends withstood that test. Her lavender eyes began to scan the pages, and soon she was lost in the ancient knowledge of the book. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The sun was just barely still visible over the horizon when Luna awoke in her bedchambers. For several moments the alicorn lay in her bed, unmoving; her eyes stared up at the last sunbeam in her room as it painted her wall bright orange. Soon moments turned into minutes, and minutes turned into an hour… and still the Moon Princess did not rise from her bed. Her teal eyes watched as the sunbeam slowly and inexorably climbed the wall until it touched the ceiling of her tower room and began to parade across it as the sun headed for its rest. Dust motes danced in the waning light as the Princess sighed and shifted in her bed, allowing her pillows to cradle her as she rolled onto her side, keeping her wings tucked securely against her body as she did so. Her sparkling, ethereal mane floated around her head, tickling her horn and her neck, but even the gentle tickles, which had in the past driven Luna to some very un-Princess-like giggling fits, weren’t enough to lift her spirits this evening. She closed her eyes and felt a strange heaviness about her; as if a whole extra pony had been slung across her back and then left there, unable to move and irremovable. She shuffled her legs beneath her silk sheets and sighed again; even the smooth, luxurious sheets of her bed failed to elicit any kind of emotion from the Princess, and she’d asked for the bed to be made up with these sheets specifically because she enjoyed them so. The feel of them was so nice, so cool and soft that Luna often would simply kick her legs beneath them and she would instantly feel better… but today it was as if she couldn’t feel them at all. The Princess sighed softly and let her head drop back to her pillows. She felt like she just didn’t want to get out of bed at all. Every time she thought about rising and going about her duties, the heaviness increased, as if something inside of her was weighing her down; she thought of what awaited her if she got out of her soft, warm bed… and every fiber of her body screamed at her to stay right where she was. And who am I to argue with my whole body? She thought. Unfortunately, outside forces seemed to be determined to override her body’s desires; a sharp tap tap tap on her door made her raise her head. “Who is it?” she asked loudly, not even bothering to open her eyes. Even doing that seemed like a chore… “Luna, it’s me,” Celestia’s voice came from the other side; she could hear the smile on her sister’s face. “Did you… forget that it’s time to raise the moon? Or are you playing Princess Lazy-hooves tonight?” The nickname the Princesses had exchanged as fillies got a smile onto Luna’s lips, but that’s as far as it went. “Come in,” she said, the brief smile melting away as quickly as it had arrived. The tall door opened and Celestia entered, her mane obscuring her face as she shut the door behind her. She turned her violet eyes on her sister, and her smile shrank just slightly. “Is everything alright, Luna?” she asked, taking a few steps closer to the bed. The dying rays of the sun touched her mane and burst into a myriad of colors, as if the light of the sun knew its mistress and was delighted to be with her; it sent sparkles around the room for a moment as she passed through it, and then as Celestia came to stand by Luna’s bedside the room returned to its previous light, which seemed to be almost dark after the dazzling display. The dark blue alicorn sighed and closed her eyes, leaning back against her pillows again. “I don’t know, Celestia… I’m not injured, if that’s what you’re asking.” Celestia had made quite a big deal out of the bruises Luna had received when her bookshelf had fallen on her (Luna had not been completely honest with her, but the last thing she had needed at that moment was a lecture), and had kept a close eye on her little sister the past two days. Luna suspected that Celestia had a much clearer idea of what had actually transpired than she was letting on, but her older sister seemed content to let Luna keep her secret for now and had not pressed her for answers. She certainly has changed, Luna thought. There had been a time when not knowing something that Luna knew would have driven a much younger Celestia completely up the palace walls, and she would have done anything to find out what it was… but that was, it seemed, a time long since passed. Luna nestled further into her blankets under Celestia’s inquisitive gaze. “I just… want to stay in bed,” she said softly. It was a surprising statement from the younger alicorn, and she knew just how strange it must sound; Luna rarely wanted to lounge around in bed, preferring to be active, even during the times when she was supposed to be sleeping. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected Celestia to do upon hearing the admission. On the one hoof, she half-expected a lecture like Mother used to give them; something long and wordy about responsibility, and that royalty had to put aside their feelings and carry out their duties no matter if they “felt like it” or not. On the other hoof, she could have seen a reaction more like Father- a kind smile, a quiet word hoping she felt better, and then peace and quiet as he left, even though she knew he would be watching her to make sure she was all right. Silence stretched for several moments, and Luna squeezed her eyes shut tighter. A lecture it is. Mother had always taken a few moments to collect her thoughts before her speeches. She felt a shift of the bed, and opened her eyes to see Celestia settling herself next to her, pulling her long, graceful legs up onto the blankets and scooting close enough to Luna that she could feel the warmth of her sister’s body even through the blankets between them. Celestia smiled down at her and laid her head across her sister’s shoulders. The white alicorn was silent for a long time, so long that Luna thought that she might have fallen asleep; but finally she felt her sister shift slightly. “Do you know what I did after you were banished, Luna?” Celestia asked quietly. “Not in the months or years afterwards, but directly after?” Luna blinked and lifted her head slightly to meet her sister’s gaze: this was not what she had expected, at all. “No, of course not,” she said, smiling wryly. “I was… occupied elsewhere, if you remember.” Celestia giggled. “Of course.” Her shimmering rainbow mane drifted around them, teasing against Luna’s own midnight blue mane, giving off the illusion of a rainbow in the vastness of space. “I’m almost ashamed to say it, but… I stayed in bed.” She sighed and shook her head slightly. “I locked myself in my chambers in the castle in Everfree, and I wanted nopony to disturb me. In fact, that was my explicit order, unless, and I quote, ‘The very fate of Equestria lies in the balance.’” She gave a very unladylike snort. “I’m fairly certain I banished the same servant two or three times when he tried to bring me food; luckily my Guards were very understanding and told the poor colt that he wasn’t going to have to go live with the griffons.” Luna frowned at her. She’d never heard Celestia talk about that before. “But… why, Tia?” The white alicorn’s smile became sad. “Why do you think, Luna?” She leaned forward and nuzzled her sister’s cheek affectionately. “I was heartsick.” “Heartsick? Is that some kind of disease?” Luna was puzzled. She’d never heard of such a thing before… Celestia giggled again and gave her a nudge with her hoof. “No, you silly thing; it’s not a disease, it’s more of a… a state of mind.” She sighed. “I had just banished my little sister, the only other alicorn in the world, my own flesh and blood, the filly I’d grown up with, to the Moon for a thousand years.” She extended a wing and touched Luna’s mane with it, sending a ripple through the stars that hung there, like the waves on the sea reflecting the endless night sky. “It felt like… I should just give up. There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t bring you back, I couldn’t go get you… and even if I went to visit you, who KNEW what you would try to do to me there.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she cleared her throat and continued. “I felt so alone, so completely hopeless… like I was carrying a weight around with me that could send me to the floor at any time.” “Like carrying another pony slung over your back?” Luna offered, lowering her eyes. “Exactly,” Celestia agreed with a smile. A tear glistened at the corner of her eye as she continued. “Like I was carrying you around with me, Luna; I hated myself for what I’d done, and lay in bed all day and night except when the sun and moon had to be taken care of. Nopony saw me for days and days on end as I lamented, wishing there was some way I could bring you back, praying to Mother and Father- may their souls find rest- that I could find some way to use this incredible power that I’d been given to bring you back.” She sighed. “But, in the end, I did the only thing that I knew I could.” Luna’s ears perked up. “And what was that?” Celestia smiled sadly. “I got up out of my very, very comfortable bed, walked to the door, and left my room.” The Princess of the Moon sighed and dropped her head back to her pillows dejectedly. “That doesn’t help me…” she said quietly. “Yes it does,” Celestia said, laying her head down next to her, just as they had done when they were fillies and a storm had scared them both into the same bed; her rainbow mane gathered up beneath her as she faced Luna nose-to nose, looking deep into her teal eyes as she smiled. “You’re heartsick, Lunabelle,” she said. “I can see it in your eyes, you know.” Luna’s eyes narrowed. “You promised you’d never call me Lunabelle ever again,” she huffed, but despite her protest, she couldn’t keep a smile from creeping onto her face. Celestia giggled. “Well, some promises are made to be broken,” she said with a wink. “But you didn’t deny that I’m right.” Luna glanced away from her sister, but she knew her face had colored; that was all the proof Celestia would need. “You’re heartsick,” Celestia continued, “Because you feel like this whole situation is your fault; that if only you’d done something differently, Dark Star would not be threatening to march on Canterlot, and that everything as a whole would be different… and because you feel like if you didn’t love him, everything would be much, much easier.” Now tears welled up in Luna’s eyes, and her throat closed as she nodded; somehow, admitting to Celestia how she felt made it that much more real. “Try… to prove me wrong,” she choked. Celestia smiled sadly. “I can’t, little sister. And you know why; because it’s true.” Luna made a sound halfway between a sob and a laugh. “You could at least pretend.” “But you need to remember something, Luna,” Celestia said, lifting her hoof to Luna’s face and turning her head so that she looked into her sister’s violet eyes. “The past is passed,” Celestia whispered. “You remember what I said in the throne room?” Luna nodded. “These feelings are a deeper manifestation of the unrest you feel.” Celestia smiled gently. “I’ll say it again: What is done cannot be undone, and all the sad feelings in the universe won’t change that.” Now Luna was in tears, and she could barely contain her sobs as heartache ripped away at her insides. “I know, Tia… but…” She tried to look away, but Celestia kept her hoof gently on Luna’s cheek, maintaining eye contact with her. “The only thing you can do, little sister, is exactly what I did: Try your best to fix the situation, and if it can’t be fixed, make sure it never happens again. You can’t fix the past, Luna, but you can learn from it. Remember?” Her mischievous smile returned. “And the very first thing you need to learn from your past is that you know I won’t let you stay in bed all night. After all, I can’t raise the moon anymore, remember? That power has been returned to you and you alone.” Luna sighed shakily, trying her best to regain her composure. “Yes… yes, that is true. Somepony has to make sure the moon gets put on its correct path tonight.” Even through her tears, the younger Princess managed to give her sister a very superior smile. “As I recall, a certain white alicorn sent my poor moon on a bit of a wild ride a few years ago...” Celestia snickered, but had the good graces to look slightly embarrassed. “Oh, come now, Luna… it was one time, and all it did was spiral around the sky-,” “-For the entire night,” Luna finished for her, poking her sister gently on the chest with a front hoof, her eyes lightening slightly. “I remember it vividly; I was on it, after all. Watching Equestria spin by was almost enough to make my eyes cross.” She wiped her tears away, and managed to find a little bit of a real smile as she hugged her sister close, pressing her cheek against Celestia’s soft neck. “I’ve often wondered if you did that on purpose,” she said. “If so, there’s a crater on the moon with a bit of sick in it that you can clean up someday.” Celestia was silent for the briefest of moments before she burst out into peals of musical laughter, and in spite of her inward conflict, Luna found herself warmed by the sound. Celestia pulled her into a tight embrace as her laughter dwindled to a chuckle. “Oh, Lunabelle… the things you say to get me to laugh. That is one of the things I missed most about you.” Luna pulled back and arched an eyebrow at her sister, the mischief back in her red-rimmed eyes. “Dost thou think we jest?” she asked haughtily. “We shall have thee know that it may have been our least favorite crater, but we art still royally miffed.” The white alicorn stared at her for a moment, both Princesses as serious as could be… but Luna couldn’t hold her composure for long, and her mask of seriousness slipped rapidly into giggles, sending Celestia sliding along with her into a fit of deep, beautiful laughter. Even though the world hadn’t changed, even though all the problems that had been there mere minutes before still existed… somehow, they didn’t seem so scary, anymore. Being with her sister, talking with her, laughing with her, made Luna believe that together, they really could do anything… and that as dark as things looked, there was something that could be done. After both Princesses calmed down slightly, wiping away tears of a completely different sort than before, Luna shifted out from under her blankets and gave Celestia a gentle prod with all four of her hooves. “And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a celestial body to raise into the sky, I believe?” Celestia smiled broadly and slid off of the bed, allowing Luna to get up. “You certainly do little sister.” As Luna rose, shaking her mane and tail out and stretching languorously, her smile dimmed a degree. “But be as quick about it as you can; I have something that needs attending to, and I want you there with me.” Luna arched an eyebrow at her, but Celestia just nodded. “It would mean more to me than I can say to have you at my side in this, Luna, and I shall explain everything when you return.” The Princess of the Moon returned Celestia’s smile, but it was clear how serious her sister was, so she nodded. “Of course, Tia; I’ll make quick work of it,” she promised. Luna started towards the door, but just before she left the room, as she passed by her sister, she turned and reared up on her hind legs, throwing her forelegs around Celestia’s neck and pulling her close against her. She heard Celestia gasp, but the larger alicorn didn’t move away. “Thank you so much, Tia,” Luna whispered, her eyes suddenly burning again with unshed tears. “Thank you.” She dropped all four hooves back to the floor and galloped from the room, her wings spreading slightly in anticipation of flight. As she raced down the hall, she felt suddenly, unabashedly free, as if talking to Celestia had stripped her of her troubles… but she knew that wasn’t the case. She just knew above all that she didn’t have to bear them alone anymore; and that made all the difference. Exiting the castle Luna took a mighty leap, clearing the ramparts and soaring into the dimming twilight, her horn sparking to life with magic almost immediately. She had promised a quick moon-raising, and she intended to keep her promise. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ An hour later, Luna came sailing back through the dark sky, the full moon glowing joyfully over the fields and plains of Equestria. Celestia smiled up at her sister as Luna flared her wings and flapped them furiously, bringing her smaller frame to a halt atop the castle wall next to her. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you raise the moon that fast,” Celestia admitted with a smile as Luna pulled her wings in against her body. “I guess now I’ll have to find out what you’ve been doing all the other nights, when it takes you easily three times as long…” Luna merely arched an eyebrow at her and smiled secretively. “That’s for certain Lunar Princesses to know and certain Solar Princesses to not,” she said lightly. Whatever had been weighing on her heart earlier that evening had obviously given her reprieve, and for that Celestia thanked the sun, the moon and the stars; it absolutely killed Celestia inside to see Luna sad, and always had. “But that’s not what you wanted to speak to me about,” she said matter-of-factly. “What is this matter that needs attending, Celestia?” The white alicorn chuckled lightly. “Princess Luna, for a young mare who can be distracted by the most trivial of things, you have a natural talent for cutting through nonsense.” But she was right; the matter Celestia had broached earlier did need to be taken care of, and the sooner the better. “Please follow me,” she said as she turned back towards the interior of the castle. “I have to show you something.” Luna looked at her quizzically, but followed. They passed through the cavernous halls of Canterlot Castle, through the throne room and into the main hall, all stark whites and brilliant golds beneath the hundreds of tapestries that adorned it. The cool light of the moon cast brilliant rectangles through the windows onto the darkened floor as the two sisters passed through; Celestia glanced back at Luna and could not help but feel her chest swell with pride. Just as the sun’s last rays had reacted to her in Luna’s bedchambers, so did the first rays of the moon react to Luna, recognizing her as the true Princess of the Moon; as the dark blue alicorn walked through each moonbeam, light gathered in her mane like dew on the flowers in the morning. Through two moonbeams, then three, then four Luna walked, and through each she collected the moondrops on her mane and tail, each glowing and shifting like liquid moonlight. Celestia stopped and smiled as Luna approached her, glistening gently from nose to rump. She looked up at Celestia and arched an eyebrow, but Celestia found herself unable to speak; instead, she leaned down and gently touched Luna’s mane with her horn, causing one of the drops to roll down Luna’s mane and drop onto her nose. The younger Princess crossed her teal eyes to look at it before giggling. “They have started doing that,” she said quietly, but to no avail; even her whisper echoed unnaturally in the cavernous room. Luna gave her sister a smile before spreading her hooves slightly and shaking her whole body, sending bursts of moonlight scattering around her; as soon as the drops left her body they turned back into pure light, shooting off into the dark corners of the room and briefly giving them light before they faded away. Now Celestia found herself giggling, and Luna joined her. “That was perhaps the most adorable thing I have ever seen moonlight do,” Celestia admitted. She smiled at her sister. “You have truly grown into your powers, Luna.” Luna blushed; Celestia could see it even in the shadows of the main hall. She never has been able to take a compliment, she thought. But perhaps that’s a good thing. “But the moonlight’s affection for you is not why we’ve come here tonight.” She turned with a flick of her tail and continued on their way, Luna close behind. They entered a smaller wing of the castle, taking several turns until they came to a long, bare hallway, devoid of any tapestries or statues or even candle sconces. Only the glancing moonlight from the south-facing windows allowed them to see where they were going, and Celestia wished that darkness was a valid reason for turning back. The two alicorn walked down the hall halfway before Celestia stopped and, with an inaudible sigh, her horn lit up with the soft pink glow of her magic. Before them on the wall there was a sharp ker-chunk, and then the soft whoooosh of air being released from something. She spared a glance over at Luna, who was staring in wonder at the hidden door, and before she could stop herself Celestia giggled at her expression. “I’m sorry, sister… but sometimes I forget that you were not here to help me build Canterlot Castle, and do not know it as I do.” She turned back to the door and applied a gentle touch with her magic yet again; the doors swung open with a gentle creak, revealing a pitch-black room beyond. Celestia shifted her wings uncomfortably before looking back to Luna. “This room hasn’t been opened for almost four hundred years,” she said. “I had hoped and prayed that I would never have to open it again… but with Dark Star’s march on Canterlot imminent, I feel that there is no other choice.” Luna cast a wary glance at the darkness beyond the door, but she stood up straighter and took a step towards Celestia, her eyes strong. “I trust your judgment, Celestia,” she said. “I believe in you.” Celestia felt her chest tighten at those very simple words, and she gave Luna a nod. “And that means more to me than anything,” she said softly. Then she turned, and together the two Princesses walked into the darkness. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The first thing Luna noticed was the smell of the room; it smelled old, and dusty, as if nopony had been in there in hundreds of years… which according to Celestia was the truth. The younger alicorn found her heart and her mind racing as she followed her sister into the darkness, wondering what Celestia could have wanted locked away forever. The sound of their hooves echoed in the room, telling Luna that it must be of decent size; from far, far above them, faint moonlight trickled in a dome of glass in the ceiling, but it was not enough to light up anything but the highest parts of the walls, which were the same color as the main hall- white with gold around the edges. Off to her left, she heard Celestia whisper, “Close your eyes for a minute, Luna; this could be a bit dusty.” Luna was about to ask what she was talking about when she saw Celestia’s horn glow, and heard a small click far above; a small window had opened at the very top of the dome, and she suddenly thought better of opening her mouth. She squeezed her eyes shut just as the wind started to tease the end of her tail, and in a matter of seconds the magical windstorm was swirling about the two alicorn like a hurricane. Luna felt her balance shift once or twice, but she knew she was in no danger of being swept off her hooves- Celestia was too in control for that to happen. The smell of dust grew incredible for a long moment, but soon it was gone, replaced by clean air from the still-open hallway door. The wind increased suddenly, whipping Luna’s ethereal mane about her face- then, just as suddenly as it had come up, the magical wind stopped completely, and far above, another small click told Luna that the window at the top of the dome was shut. “All right, it’s clear now,” Celestia said. “That’s one way to get rid of the dust,” Luna said as she opened her eyes. Celestia’s horn glowed yet again, and around the room a series of candle flames leaped into existence, illuminating the room for the first time; Luna felt her eyes widen and she gasped in spite of herself. She now stood in a place that few ponies had ever been, and a place few even knew existed: Princess Celestia’s War Room. The ceiling was high and vaulted but not very wide, as if it had been squeezed in as an afterthought; it was easily three times as high as it was wide. In each corner of the room reared a huge statue of an alicorn, and to her further surprise Luna realized that she recognized them; they were her family- Mother, Father, Celestia and herself, each holding a spear in their mouths, each with a look of grim determination on their faces. Between the statues on the walls hung four large tapestries- two bearing the blazing sun of Celestia, and two bearing the crescent moon and clouds of Luna. She turned to Celestia. “You said this room hasn’t been opened in four hundred years?” she asked. Celestia nodded, and Luna shook her head. “Then why do you fly my standard here? I was… the enemy, then.” Celestia stepped close to her yet again, and with her right wing she reached out and gently touched Luna’s left wing. “You were never an enemy to me,” she said softly. Then she walked past Luna towards a huge, central table, a table completely bare of any markings or contents. Luna found herself smiling as she followed, her eager teal eyes drinking in every detail of the room. There were no grand pillars here, although the statues seemed to be partially structural as well as decorative. She looked lower, and noticed two ponyquins standing off to the side, one slightly larger than the other. The larger one wore a suit of beautiful golden chainmail, the links so delicate and fine that it almost appeared as a golden sheen instead of armor. They were linked to a main breastplate bearing a sun on the chest and a solid midline down the back that attached to a hood of links that went over the ponyquin’s head and linked around its faux unicorn horn. There were two long slits down the back, obviously meant for wings, and a golden spear leaned against the left foreleg; a delicate golden staff traced with sun designs ending in a wide, leaf-shaped blade. The smaller ponyquin wore something similar to plate armor, with black armored plates overlapping on the chest and forelegs, wrapping around the head and between where the wings would be. Armored plates covered the flanks and shoulders, protecting any joints from attack. It bore a crescent moon on the chest and a helmet that was slimmed down so it could be worn easily with little restriction on movement. A spear also was propped against it; a black shafted weapon chased with silver scrollwork and ending in a long, thin blade. Luna recognized them, of course; they were the suits of armor that she and Celestia had worn during their war with Discord. What amazed her was that her suit of armor had survived for more than a thousand years undamaged. She turned to Celestia, who had stood watching her. “My armor…?” “Did you think I would throw it out with the recycling, Luna?” Celestia asked. “That battle showed just how good of a team we could be, little sister; and I always want to remember our victory that day.” The white alicorn turned to the table and motioned with her head that Luna should do the same. “There were many, many days during the Pony-Griffon War four hundred years ago that I wished you were here beside me, Luna,” she admitted. “That was when this room was built; and also when I made this.” She lowered her horn to the table and touched it to the side; there was a brief flash of magic, and suddenly the table wasn’t empty anymore. The top had been filled with a glowing representation of Equestria, all magically rendered to look perfectly real. Small wisps of cloud floated around the tips of the high mountains around Canterlot before her eyes, and far off to the south a storm covered the frontier town of Appleoosa. “Celestia…” she said in wonder. “This… this is incredible!” She stood on her hind legs and placed her hooves onto the edges of the table. Everything was perfect; she could see Canterlot on its lofty perch in the mountains, Manehatten off to the west with its tall buildings, and even Ponyville, nestled away in its valley. Above the scene, a small, translucent moon hovered, indicating that it was currently night. “The amount of magic in this table, Tia…” Luna could feel it coursing through the structure like a beacon, blazing with latent magical energy. “But why do you need so much magic to maintain a simple illusion?” she asked, glancing at Celestia. “It shouldn’t take nearly this much.” Celestia stepped up to the table, and looked at her sister. “Luna… name a place. Any place you can think of in Equestria, and ask the map to show it to you.” Luna blinked, and Celestia raised a hoof, indicating that she should try. With an arched eyebrow, Luna turned to the table and said, “Show me Ponyville.” The world on the table lurched forward, landscape flying by as the command brought the small town of Ponyville hurtling up close to Luna; within seconds the map settled, displaying Ponyville in perfect, exquisite detail- Luna swore she could see the leaves on the trees shifting in an unfelt breeze. Her eyes brightened and she leaned forward to examine it closer. “Amazing, Celestia… you really poured all of your memories of this place into the illusion. So detailed… almost as if I was-,” “-Seeing it as it is, right now?” Celestia finished softly. Luna glanced at her sister, and when she saw Celestia’s downcast eyes, she gasped. “Tia… you didn’t… Is this…?” Celestia nodded. “That is Ponyville, not a memory. It is Ponyville, exactly as it is tonight, right now.” She swallowed visibly, as if she didn’t want to say the next words but knew she had to. “Tell the map to find Twilight Sparkle.” Luna stared at her in disbelief, but Celestia nodded. “Go ahead, Luna. Try it.” Luna skeptically turned back to the map. “Show me Twilight Sparkle,” she said loudly. Again the map moved, though not as quickly as before, gliding gently through Ponyville until it reached a certain tree, containing a certain library and a certain young lavender unicorn. From where Luna was standing she could only see the tree, but at Celestia’s beckoning she walked over to look at it from another angle, and gasped at what she saw. Through one of the windows of the library she could see Twilight Sparkle, lying on a pillow with a book out. She could see her as clearly as she could see Celestia standing right next to her. “Tia.” Now Luna’s voice was tinged with accusation. “What did you do..?” Celestia laughed slightly. “You sounded just like Mother right then, you know that? She used to use that tone of voice whenever I made a new creature to play with.” She met Luna’s eyes, and the confusion and curiosity there were so intense that she sighed. “This is why I never wanted to open this room again, Luna,” she said softly. “I made this during the height of the Pony-Griffon War.” She sighed and turned away from the table, her wings shuffling irritably. She lifted a hoof and touched the table beneath the illusion; Luna could hear her hoof clicking slightly as it traced the hundreds of intricate lines carved into the tabletop that held in the magic that powered it. “Things were going poorly for us, Luna. You remember the problems the griffons gave us when you were still around?” Luna nodded. “Well, it was much, much worse. Not just border skirmishes; the griffons were threatening full-scale invasion, and we had no choice but to march to defend the borders.” Celestia shook her head. “The war wasn’t going very well, and no matter how fast our messengers were, I could never get the information needed fast enough.” She gestured to the table with her wing. “And that is when I made this. It allows me to see anywhere in Equestria, any pony in Equestria, whenever I ask.” Her expression hardened. “It allowed me to send reinforcements where they were needed before our troops even knew they needed them, and with it I saved many, many lives... but I know that doesn’t justify what this is.” “You can see their lives, Tia,” Luna said, knowing she spoke her sister’s mind as well. “With this you could… manipulate anypony, everypony…” “I know,” Celestia said solemnly. “And that was why this room has been sealed for four hundred years; I vowed that I would only use this in times of war, when Equestria was in desperate need.” She turned back to the table. “And unfortunately, Luna, desperate need is upon us. Show me Dark Star and his army.” The view on the table leaped backwards, leaving Ponyville far behind as it moved; the image on the table shifted, briefly showing Canterlot at the outer edges of the table before zooming in on a broad valley road through the mountains to the west. It was summertime in Equestria, so the valley was clear of snow; Luna knew from the past winter here that snow often clogged that particular valley and made it impassable during the colder months. The image halted while still showing a very wide view of the geography and out of the corner of her eye Luna saw Celestia frown. “Closer,” she told the table, but the image didn’t shift much; the valley grew larger, and at the bottom of it several small campfires came into view, but that was as close as they could get. “The blackness of the night take you, Dark Star,” Celestia cursed gravely. “He’s tried to block the table’s view of him. Not specifically; the table didn’t even exist in that time, but he’s put up protection spells strong enough that even the power of the table can’t penetrate it.” She sighed. “No matter; I wanted to see his army, not him personally.” But Luna didn’t hear her. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the twinkling campfires that the table showed her; the neat rows of tiny tents, barely visible in the moonlight. He was down there, somewhere… Her heart grew heavy, as it had earlier that night, and this time she knew it wasn’t just responsibility that weighed on her. She almost ordered the table to try harder; to force it to find Dark Star himself, so she could see him. She wanted to see him, even if she feared what she might find; she knew in her heart how she felt, how she truly felt about the black stallion, no matter what he’d done… and the guilt of her love weighed more heavily than the guilt she’d felt before. She could change her guilt by association, even mend her guilt by creation… but she knew she could not change her love for the stallion who now threatened her home. The corners of her eyes burned, and as snapped out of her trance to blink away the tears, she realized that Celestia had been speaking to her. “Luna…? Are you alright?” Tia’s voice was heavy with concern. “If… if this is too much for you, we can-,” “No, Celestia, no. I’m fine.” She cleared her throat quietly and turned to her sister. “Is this what you wanted to show me?” she managed. Celestia shook her head. “Only partially; the table plays a key role in what I needed to speak to you about.” She gestured with her hoof at the valley. “That is Dark Star’s army, Luna; my Pegasus scouts report that his numbers have grown to seven hundred since he left Whinnyapolis, and this seems to confirm it.” She sighed. “I still have a hard time believing that he could take this city with so few ponies.” Luna watched the camp for a long moment before raising her eyes to her old suit of armor in the corner. “You remember the war with Discord, don’t you, Celestia?” she asked softly. “Of course I do.” “You remember what it was like to lead our soldiers into battle personally?” Celestia nodded grimly. “I most certainly do.” Luna turned back and met her eyes. “Then do you remember what the biggest hindrance to a soldier is?” Now Celestia blinked in surprise. “The biggest… well, I’d have to say it was fear.” But she sounded unsure. Luna shook her head. “No, Tia, not fear. Fear can be overcome by bravery or stupidity.” She smirked. “And as I recall, we two had a good deal of both.” Celestia sniffed, but her eyes said she agreed. “No; the biggest obstacle to a soldier is a sense of compassion.” She dropped her eyes back to the floor. “Don’t you remember, Tia… a tear shed for every life lost?” She felt more than saw her sister nod. “I remember.” “That is what makes Dark Star’s army so dangerous,” Luna explained, bringing her eyes back to the table and the camp it showed. “Not only do they lack fear, they lack compassion, remorse, and regret. They will kill indiscriminately until Dark Star releases them.” Celestia nodded as she too gazed at the map. The two sisters were silent for a long while, each lost in her own thoughts. Finally, after more than an hour, moonlight began to creep down the walls from the dome at the top of the room and Celestia let out a huge yawn. “Ooh… I apologize, Luna. I have stayed up far later than I had intended.” The white alicorn turned to her. “Thank you for coming here with me, Luna; you have helped me make a difficult decision, but with your counsel I know I’ve made the right one. Tonight, if you have the time, start working on troop placements for our defense of Canterlot. I feel, deep in my heart, that Dark Star will not stop until he faces us in battle.” A spark of hope flitted across her eyes. “Unless you have something, something you’ve forgotten to mention, that could spare us this barbarity?” Luna met her sister’s gaze and shook her head ruefully. “I’m sorry, Tia, I truly am… but you are correct. Dark Star will not stop, and will settle for nothing less than combat.” Her heart twisted as she said it, and she knew the reason: this time, when they faced one another, she knew she would be forced to fight him herself. Celestia nodded before stepping towards Luna and laying her graceful neck across Luna’s own, hugging her close. Luna drew strength from her sister’s presence, and despite her fear knew that they could and would triumph… but even by winning with Celestia, she would lose something almost as precious to her; and that cut her as deeply as any slash with a sword. Without another word Celestia broke their embrace and walked slowly from the room, leaving Luna alone with her thoughts and the table that showed her both her greatest love and her most hated enemy.