"It was a little over thirty years ago I first met King Cumulus the tenth and his wife Queen Solar Breeze, the former rulers of the cloud city Cumulus." Celestia moved away from the bed a little starting to pace as she spoke.
"Wait… so the city and it's king are both named Cumulus?" Spitfire asked out loud though her question was rhetorical. "That's a bit confusing."
"Celestia not to interrupt but what does this have to do with Cielo and the amulet? I have never even heard of this king or his city." Luna added looking down at Cielo whom appeared to be resting peacefully.
"Yes the king was named after the city for generations and I can understand why you don't remember it since I don't recall you ever knowing of it my dear sister. I had heard of Cumulus well over nine-hundred years ago but the ponies of this cloud city kept to themselves. Even upon extending a hoof I was rejected, I had no reason to try and force my way into their society since they always seemed to be peaceful so I left them be. In time my patients and respect of their boundaries paid off in the form of King Cumulus the tenth, I was the first outsider to be allowed to set hoof in their city." Celestia continued to pace about while she spoke. "Why are the ponies I speak of important to Cielo and the Amulet's history, well to put it simply the amulet has always been passed down from father to the first born son when the son was old enough to take his father's place upon the throne. Cielo is the son of King Cumulus and Queen Solar Breeze… the amulet is rightfully his."
"Wait… Cielo's A Prince!?" Luna's gaze turned to Celestia surprised as did Spitfire's.
"Well… yes and no, Cielo would have been a prince or by now a king. If Cumulus was still around Cielo would had likely married and already taken the throne but seeing as how Cumulus is no more Cielo really has no title since his kingdom no longer exists." Celestia finally stopped pacing. "Abaddon saw to that…"
Luna and Spitfire looked at one another before looking back at Celestia. Luna's tears had since dried up, her mind being temporarily taken off her blunder and Cielo's condition. "What happened?" Luna asked.
"I will get to that a little later but first I will continue from where I left off, you wanted to know everything I know so I intend to share every bit of information I can with you both." Celestia sat back down at Luna's bedside. "I was admittedly amazed at the design of Cumulus. The name 'the cloud city' was a little misleading considering most of the city was comprised of stone. The one thing Cumulus was not short on was gifted enchanters, many ponies who worked on keeping the city elevated above the clouds were wise well beyond their years. I had hoped with enough time I would be able to recruit a few to come and work for me though I never really got that chance."
"I was also taken in by the amulet King Cumulus wore around his neck, it's quite fetching to the eye. When I inquired about it Cumulus told me it had been around for almost one-thousand years, he boasted of it's power and how it was handed down from father to son as a sign of leadership and responsibility. Being the inquisitive mare I was I asked if I might try the amulet for myself, not to my surprise Cumulus declined." Celestia looked at the amulet resting on Cielo's neck. "So I attempted to antagonise him a bit, told him such power was nothing more than a myth and how his amulet was a trinket, nothing more than shiny stones and a story to scare primitive ponies into submission. As you can guess he did not take to kindly to my statements, I watched as the amulet started to glow, all gems lighting up one by one. Cumulus them placed his hoof upon one of the pillars in his castles main hall and I watched as this pillar carved from marble crumbled to dust right before my eyes."
Celestia looked from the amulet up to Luna's eyes. "He then gave me a very stern warning, if I ever disrespected him or his ancestors like that again he promised he would show me what his power could do to living flesh and bone. Rather than instigate a fight I simply bit my tongue and appologised, Cumulus had always been a peaceful kingdom so I saw no need to risk causing any sort of tension between our kingdoms when a simple sorry would smooth things over. After that Cumulus gave me a lecture telling me how any pony not of his bloodline would likely not be able to control the amulet. Cumulus went on to tell me the strain it put on his body and mind to use such magic and the dangers it would pose to somepony not trained to handle it's influence."
Celestia looked back down at the amulet. "I took what Cumulus told me to be truth, I saw no reason to try to question him further though I wish now I had. Really aside from what Cumulus told me and seeing that one display of power I have no idea what the amulet can really do for myself. I thought about testing it but to be honest I was always a bit afraid, if what Cumulus said was true then I could very well lose control of myself if I was to put it on. I thought about testing it out on others but once again if they lost control not only would they lose their life but who knows how many ponies could suffer because of my curiosity."
Luna looked down at the amulet at well watching the outer green gems glowing softly. "Why did Cadance stop me from touching it earlier?" Luna inquired. "She made it sound like even handling it could prove disastrous."
"I was told it could." Celestia admitted. "I was told it would affect unicorns and alicorns much faster than a pegasus or earth pony. Cumulus was clear that even handling the amulet could have serious ramifications if the amulet itself was touched by somepony not of his royal bloodline."
"Sounds a little farfeched don't you think?" Luna tilted her head a little, her eyes still fixed on the amulet. Luna's hoof slowly started to travel up Cielo's chest towards the amulet. "There is no way such power could exist."
"Luna what are you doing?" Celestia asked grabbing Luna's hoof with her magic stopping her sister from progressing any further.
"I'm going to touch it." Luna replied softly. "Celestia I trust what you are telling us is true but I find it hard to believe." Luna glanced up at her sister. "You said yourself you do not really know much about it and it sounds like really the greatest weapon this King had against you was fear. Even if he did turn a pillar of granite to dust perhaps the amulet has the power to rapidly age none organic matter. Perhaps it was merely an illusion, both are far more viable than what you are describing. Sister… let go, trust me you will see. Nothing will happen."
Celestia reluctantly let go of Luna's hoof. "I hope you know what you're doing Luna."
"I do." Luna replied as her hoof touched the amulet. A moment passed, Celestia, Cadance and Spitfire all watching intently expecting something to happen. "See?" Luna picked her head up a little. "I feel just fine, nothing happened. King Cumulus likely made up quite a bit to deter thieves or would be usurper's to his throne while maintaining and commanding respect from any outside dignitaries via fear assuring his kingdom remains at peace."
A collective sigh of relief escaped the three onlooking mares.
"That would not explain how the kingdom fell then." Celestia pointed out. "Abaddon did not seem to fear the amulet at all nor did he seem to fear me for that matter. Abaddon kept attacking Equestria's borders at the time forcing me to up the number of troops posted in small villages and towns as well as implement patrols. With my resources stretched thin I had heard that there would be an assault against Cumulus. The King requested I send him some aid, though the amulet was powerful he did state fighting an army would be problematic. That coupled with the fact he had never once seen conflict or war did not aid the matter. I… I declined to send aid, my focus being on protecting my bordars and my kingdom, looking back now I know it was a mistake to do so." Celestia let out a little sigh. "I'm not sure what happened that day, all I have to go on is the last words Cielo's mother wrote."
"She had fled the city soon after the fighting started, sustaining an injury much like Cielo's. In her letter she said she looked back and saw a bright flash of light engulf the city then… then she saw it turned completely to stone, plummet from the sky and fall to the earth below." Celestia thought for a moment. "If the amulet does not have such power then what could have caused that?"
"I don't really know…" Luna moved her hoof off the amulet. "You… You really did not send any aid to a kingdom in need?" Luna was a bit appalled hearing her sister tell her that she did not send any help, not even a small contingent of troops.
"No… No I did not." Celestia's voice fell soft as she shook her head lightly. "I made a huge mistake on that day that cost the lives of many innocent ponies including Solar Breeze." Celestia's gaze turned to the floor. "I had become close to her over the four years I got to know Solar Breeze, I had never met such a kind soul before. I was admittedly a little jealous of her, Solar Breeze was so… approachable. She earned the respect of every pony through her kindness, many a times we would stay up late talking to one another over politics or something interesting that had happened to one of us since our last chat. We would laugh and just enjoy one anothers company… Then came the day when I was informed of a pony's body found on the side of the road leading up to Canterlot."
"I had to go have a look since nopony seemed to be able to identify who she was. I started to suspect whom the body belonged to the more the guard who found her described her looks to me. Reaching the morgue I…" Celestia's voice cracked a little, a wave of sorrow hitting her as she relived the feeling of seeing her friend laid out on the table. "I don't need to be reminded Luna, I know I fucked up… I had to look at my friend's lifeless body and come to grips with the fact that is was my actions that took her life." Celestia lifted her head, her eyes a little misty. "I don't need that tone from you… I know I made the wrong choice, I know I caused thousands to die, stallions, mares, fillies…"
"Celestia… I didn't…" Luna did not expect this reaction from Celestia, being the first time Celestia ever spoke of Cumulus Luna had no way of knowing how much Celestia held her mistake over her head all these years.
"It's fine… I can understand your disgust with my decision." Celestia sniffed a little rubbing her eyes. "Her body was not the only one found, during the night she passed away out in the cold trying to reach me she had with her a new born colt… Cielo. Solar Breeze must have known she was not going to make it, before laying down she covered the basket she carried Cielo in with her wing protecting him from the cold for as long as she could. Cielo was in surprisingly good health all things considered he only suffered a mild case of dehydration. From that day on I have done my best to protect Cielo… for Solar Breeze… For the kingdom I allowed to be destroyed… The only thing I could do was to take care of their prince and give him a proper chance at having a normal life."
"I couldn't take him in myself and I could not divulge his past to him or any pony for that matter. King Cumulus may not have caused any wars but he did not have many friends either. At the time I worried that if I put Cielo's name and past out there he might become a target, Abaddon's death was never confirmed seeing as how there was no way to discern the bodies from the rubble so I felt the best course of action would be to watch from afar and keep Cielo in the dark about his past."
"So that's what you let me take him?" Spitfire asked. "Because you knew I would work close to you so you would be able to keep an eye on him without arousing suspicion?"
"That is correct." Celestia replied.
"Kinda also explains why you let him talk to you the way you do." Cadance added having not really been filled in fully on the story before now, a lot of the information was new to her. "You have treated him like family in your own way."
"I guess I have… Though I have failed many times I hope I have done enough good to make Solar proud…" Celestia smiled a little. "I know it's silly but I like to think she is watching sometimes."
"It's not silly at all." Luna replied. "I don't know Solar Breeze but I know if I had a son and you were looking out for him I would be happy… but I know I would not be too pleased with you saying to kill him if the amulet glows to bight." Luna added still against her sister's initial order. "You admitted yourself you only know what you heard… so how would that be fair to Cielo, to end his life based on nothing but hearsay and a small display of magic that either one of us could duplicate. That to me sounds like another bad choice Celestia."
"I know… I let my fear get the best of me… i'm sorry." Celestia let out a little sigh. "How was I suppose to know? How did you know that you would not be harmed by touching that thing?"
Luna shrugged a little. "I just had a feeling, as I said the magic you described seems a bit farfetched even if some of the brightest ponies worked on it. It's a little odd but I feel I have seen this before… though I know it's not possible."
"Well… i'm glad I was wrong about what it could do but never the less I still think we should treat it as well as Cielo with caution until we know what it's capable of and how it will affect him." Celestia pointed out.
"I agree we should be careful." Luna agreed. "However we should not jump to any rash decisions until we know all the facts… this is my fiance you speak of." Luna added. "Even if he was not it would be wrong to deal out such an steep punishment to anypony when they have done nothing deserving of having their life taken."
Celestia nodded feeling slightly better that the amulet might not be as strong as she was led to believe however a bit of fear lingered due the Celestia realizing she was truly clueless on what it could or could not do. "You have a point Luna and I will take your words to heart, I have done what you asked, shared with you Cielo's past and all I know of the amulet. Will you now do as I wish and see the doctor?"
Luna looked down at Cielo. "Yes… I will do as you asked but I may have more questions later on." Luna leaned her muzzle down and kissed Cielo's cheek. "He looks so peaceful right now." Luna said softly slowly getting up and stepping off her bed. "Spitfire you're welcome to stay as long as you like, I shall not be away any longer than I must."
"Thank you Princess Luna." Spitfire said with gratitude.
"I hate to say it but I should be heading back to the Crystal Empire." Cadance turned towards Celestia. "Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need me Aunt Celestia."
"Thank you again Cadance, I know I keep pulling you away and for that i'm truly sorry." Celestia bowed her head a little feeling guilty for keeping Cadance from her own kingdom.
"Don't be sorry, that's what family is for. We look out for one another and always have each other's backs when one of us needs help." Cadance smiled a little. Walking past Celestia and Luna Cadance stopped at the door and looked back over her shoulder. "Take good care of him and look out for one another, I have an uneasy feeling that Abaddon is just getting started. We need to be better prepared for next time."
Celestia and Luna both nodded knowing Cadance was right about Abaddon. "And we will be." Celestia said with determination.
"He will pay for each and every life he has stolen on this day." Luna added sounding equally determined making Cadance smile.
"I'll be in touch once we are ready to discuss our next move Cadance, have a safe journey home and take some of our guards with you since you came with none of your own." Celestia was weary of Cadance traveling alone, if Abaddon got so far into Equestria before without being noticed he could easily do so again.
"Thank you, I will take you up on that offer." Cadance replied gratefully before bidding Luna and Celestia farewell one last time and exiting Luna's room.
"Walk with me sister." Luna requested heading towards her door.
Celestia followed as requested opening the door for Luna with her magic and following her out into the hall and closing Luna's door behind her. "What is on your mind Luna?"
"Many things Celestia and I doubt I will be relieved of their burden any time soon but I wished to talk to you more about this Abaddon." Luna said as the two worked their way down the hall. "You had a chance to take him out at Hollow Shades did you not? I was wondering why you did not go for him."
"If I had a shot at him I would have taken it Luna without hesitation." Celestia replied. "The problem is he chooses to remain hidden in that mist of his, if I could draw him out and get a shot at his physical body he would not be any threat at all. The danger he poses is we cannot see him nor can we take the fight directly to him, you have experienced first hand what that mist can do to our magic. We could send in an army but there is no telling his troops numbers and even if our troops did reach him then they would have to contest with Abaddon himself who is no push over."
"Is he an… alicorn?" Luna asked feeling she already knew the answer.
"Yes he is not not one like you and I, his magic has set uses. From what I understand of him he can manipulate that mist of his and has some power over water as well but it's mostly hearsay. I have also heard that using his magic he can create more of them… beasts you saw. It is said he uses volcanic ash, a few drops of blood and a toxin comprised from seventeen different flowers giving them their deadly poisonous claws. All that mixed with just a bit of his magic makes the perfect soldier. Mindless, fearless and ready to carry out their creators bidding." Celestia shook her head. "I had heard he could reanimate the dead if they were left in the mist too long while under the effects of one of his minion's poison but I don't think that to be true. However upon doing a body count nearly fifty ponies are unaccounted for in hollow Shades."
"You don't think he…?" Luna felt her stomach turn in disgust.
"As I said blood is needed for his little soldier making ritual. He likely took the bodies for that purpose while we were distracted. He did not put up much of a fight when I showed up, at first I thought he was trying to target you directly to get to me but now I'm not so sure. I can't pretend to know what is going through his deranged mind." Celestia admitted. "One thing I do know is he know's I have the Amulet of Cumulus, I don't think he knows yet that Cielo is King Cumulus's son but once he finds out Cielo will be a target. I will be upping the guard for you and him at least until you regain your power then i'll leave him under your protection."
"Really… You're going to actually trust me to look after him?" Luna asked stopping in front of the doctors office.
"Well ya, as you said he is your fiance and I also believe you once told me you don't need protection. I know you're a strong capable mare Luna and I know Cielo will be safer at your side than anywhere else." Celestia pointed to the door leading into the doctors office. "But first things first we need to find out what's keeping your powers from coming back so in you go, i'll be waiting right here for you to finish."
