1
The sound of pouring rain filled Princess Celestia's ears. Her eyes darted from side to side, trying to find the culprit. Her city was now in ruins, crumbs from once tall standing buildings were piled around her hooves, blazing fires filling the now empty streets, raging against the waters that tried to put them out. The perfectly smooth-paved roads now cracked and filled with craters from where her, the villain and Luna had all crashed due to their battle.
Celestia panted, her breath turning into mist from the cold Autumn night. She had been separated from Luna, who knows how long ago, she had lost track of time. She couldn't tell if it was time to raise the sun or not, but if she didn't stop this, then there wouldn't be a world to lift a sun for.
"She isn't here... I must find my sister..." Celestia mumbled to herself, and turned. She cried out in pain as her from right leg gave out, forcing her to lean down. Blood streamed from her wound, a deep gash that could render this leg forever useless if not treated Sun Ruler was covered in many other similar wounds all across her body and wings, also covered in many bruises. There was a scrape that went over her left eye, the blood seeping into it and making her half-blind until it was washed out. Her white coat was drenched in mud, and stained with the red fluid, which mixed with the rain water. Her mane and tail were soaked, matted and tangled, not flowing as elegantly as it usually did. Celestia clenched her teeth tightly. Groaning, she forced herself to stand despite the agony her body felt, which was screaming for her to stop, to lye down and rest. Determined, she limped on,the drive to find her sister making her move forward.
"Little Sister!? Sister..?! ...Luna!" Celestia cried out, getting more desperate with each call. Why was she not answering? Was she to expect the worse? Or did her sister flee when she found the chance? No, although Celestia would have preferred the latter, she knew Luna wouldn't have left her. She could feel her heart race pick up, adrenaline pumping through her veins. Desperation began to fall over her as she felt frantic and quickened her pace as much as her damaged body would allow. "LUNA!?" Celestia screamed out, hearing it echo into the empty skies. She waited and listened, yet was only answered by the rain. Her eyes began to heat up, closing them tightly. Yet her ear flickered when the sound of a rolling rock hit hear eardrum. She swiftly opened her eyes and jerked her head up, glancing around. A pile or rubble laid to her left, however it was moving up and down, as if something was inside. Going over to it, she tried hitting some of the rocks with her hoof. Irritated with this approach, she mustered up as much magic as she had left, and lifted the rocks with a levitation spell to clear her way. Undoing the spell, she panted. The battle had taken much of her magic and energy, she felt so exhausted. Shaking her head to try and remove the sleepiness from her eyes, she finally peered at what it was. Relief and misery washed over her. It was Luna. Thank heavens she found her, unfortunately though Luna was in much worse condition than even she. She had a deep, large gouge in her rib cage, still spewing out quite a bit of blood. Her wings were mangled so. Sadly that even if Luna was to survive, her wings would be deformed and she would not be able to fly. Her horn was cracked, looking as if anypony even thought about touching it, it would break.
Luna's midnight eyes looked up at her sister, though it was hard for Celestia to tell if she could see her, or just sense her presence. Folding her legs underneath her, besides the injured one, she sat beside her sister, nudging her head with her muzzle.
"I'm here sister..." Celestia told her softly, and saw Luna's lips twitch into the best smile she could manage.
"I have been waiting. You took a long time."
"Forgive me.. I'm so sorry." Celestia said, her eyes growing hot as tears started to flood in her eyes.
"No, do not royalty it is our job to protect Equestria at all costs. You have done the right thing going after her. Did you..?" Luna began to cough, adding more blood to puddle that already laid there before her.
"I'm afraid not. She seems to be quite elusive.. I lost her." Celestia began to grow angry at the thought, however turned her attention back to Luna.
"Her..Dark magic seems to be able to easily overpower ours.. Even, together.." Luna was beginning to have trouble speaking, her words quieter and putting forth more effort. Celestia nodded.
"That appears to be the case..We still have the Elements of Harmony."
"Dear sister.. You must go to them at once.. The longer.. You wait, the more.. More dama.." Celestia placed a hoof on her lips to hush her, tears streaking down her cheeks. Luna panted, eyes shut in pain.
"Yes, I know sister. I will go at once. I will not let her have Equestria. I promise." Celestia nuzzled Luna again.
"I hope.. To see you again soon." Luna said, looking at Celestia the best she could. The color faded from her eyes, and the last of the air within her lungs left her lips. Celestia felt a ball in her throat start to swell as her tears fell faster. Glancing up, a shadowed figure flew by. Knowing she was watching nearby, it made her sob loudly and scream to the sky as the sun began to rise.
"The Elements of Harmony? Elements, of Harmony?! How could I have forgotten about them!? They're all over the place! The rescued Princess Luna, stopped Discord, helped Cadence with her wedding, saved the Crystal Empire, not to mention little miss Twilight Sparkle has become a Princess!" Her vicious roar echoed within the empty, dark caves that dripped from the rain. Throwing her tan, soaking cloak off of her and to the side, the relatively injured mare limped over to a desk chipped away from a rock with sloppy magic. She wasn't nearly as bad off as Princess Celestia and Luna were, however, that was for sure. She had been preparing for centuries to wage war with the goody-four-hooves of Equestria, and every second of it was worthwhile. It wasn't long before Celestia would die from her blood loss if she didn't get treated, and by the looks of Canterlot, it wouldn't happen. She had expected this moment to be a joyous occasion however she was only met by fury.
Casting a simple levitation spell, she was bringing books to her and easily tossing them aside. They weren't what she wanted, and a mountain of pages began to pile up behind her. She groaned loudly in anger.
"Where is it!?" She yelled, her cave echoing the question right back at her. Casting her eyes back and forth, she spotted a book under her cloak she threw earlier. Lifting it, she peered at the title. "Ah-ha!" She chirped, pleased with herself. Opening it, the pages flipped upon command until she found the one she desired. Scanning the words on the page, a smile crept upon her face. She threw her head back in laughter. "Elements of Harmony this, Elements of Harmony that!" She said as she basically danced further into her cave, her book still with her. "Elements of Harmony, the saviors of Equestria!" She jumped in the air, spreading her wings and doing a flip. Narrowing her eyes, they began to glow a muggy yellow, the power leaking out of the sides and dancing in streams. The book then turned to ashes. "Not for long." She spoke to herself. Hopping into the back of her cave, she went to work.