Chapter 12
I gazed at the door, heavy heart sinking in. The fact that Twilight tried saving the ponies she once knew, although I knew they were gone, somehow, the feeling now feels like the death of a thousand family members, mine included. Princess Celestia saw through my stern look and knew how I felt.
"She doesn't like talking about them, you know," she told me, "it's...it's why she almost fell once before."
"Rarity told me about that," I replied, still looking at the door, "she almost gave in to her darkness."
"Has she ever told you how she overcame her fall?" Princess Celestia asked me.
I faced Celestia now. "No, she hasn't. Nor have any of her frriends. How did she do it?"
Princess Celestia pointed towards me, but I was just a bit confused. She began explaining. "She kept telling herself that you would return one day. That is how she overcame her dark past; because of you. You are the key to her happiness, Lunar. Before you came back, she was simply just a mask over boiling darkness. Now, she is the same happy pony I once knew." She started pacing around the room. "Lunar, it isn't like me to have a one-on-one conversation like this with anypony. Usually, a couple of ponies come to me seeking guidance in a fair trial, so I'm not the one usually giving a lecture such as this. I am always the one getting something as long as this, Lunar," she turned back towards me and stopped pacing around, "Lunar, you need to promise me that you won't hurt her. I fear that if you were to leave a second time, Equestria will not be able to withstand Princess Twilight falling like Princess Luna did...especially not without the Elements of Harmony...not anymore, that is..."
I grew more curious at the end of that spiel. "What do you mean, Princess?"
"Has she not told you what happened to them?" Princess Celestia responded.
"No," I answered, "she has not. What happened?"
"Have you heard that Lord Tirek returned, Lunar?"
"I have, Princess," I replied, "Rarity also told me about that."
"Well," continued Princess Celestia, "instead of going around and taking magic from everypony, he went straight to the Tree of Harmony and snatched the magic from the Elements of Harmony, leaving them in a much useless state."
"How is that even possible?" I questioned.
"That is a question even I don't know the answer to, Lunar," Princes Celestia responded, "bu because of this, it'll take something far more powerful than alicorn magic to restore them to their original functioning states. This is something that is still far out of reach, unfortunately."
"How does Equestria defend itself without the Elements of Harmony then?" I wondered.
"The same way as when Twilight defeated Lord Tirek the first time," answered the princess of the sun, "using the magic of friendship, although that hasn't technically worked yet."
"I remember a pony - I still believe it was Rarity - telling me that Queen Chrysalis also showed up once more," I told Celestia, "is that true?"
"That is true, Lunar," she confirmed, "and, just like before, she was defeated by the power of love."
"So she came before Shining Armor died, I assume?"
"Fortunately," Princess Celestia nodded, "and thankfully, she hasn't attacked since. Prior to you returning, Queen Chrysalis probably would have succeeded in taking over Equestria due to no love strong enough roaming around us."
I stood silent for a while, then remembered Princess Cadance. I was curious as to what she was doing now, so I asked Princess Celestia if she knew anything on Princess Cadance.
"Sadly, I do not," Princess Celestia told me, "even though she is my niece, she has not told me much about the Crystal Empire in a long, long time."
"Do you mind if I talk to her while you tend to Twilight?" I asked. "I want you to tend to Twilight before I do, that way I'm the last one to do so."
"I'll help you out, Lunar." Princess Celestia told me as we went in search for both Princess Cadance and Twilight.
"Princess Twilight?" Princess Celestia calmly and soothingly spoke.
Twilight was currently wrapped up in Princess Cadance's hooves as she wept in her chest. Princess Celestia dismissed Princess Cadance and overtook comforting Twilight from that moment onward. Not wanting things to feel awkward while I was there, I invited Princess Cadance into the other room while Princess Celestia engaged Twilight in a comforting conversation, telling her some soft, calm, collective, and mood-lifting words.
Once Princess Cadance took a seat in the next room over from Twilight, I closed the door gently behind us and took a seat across from her. Princess Celestia might not have been able to get anything heavy out of Princess Cadance, but maybe I can. I smiled at her, receiving a small smile back from her.
"You know, Lunar," Princess Cadance softly spoke, "you remind me an awful lot of him. The way you make Twilight happy is the same way he kept me happy."
"I'm sorry for your loss, Princess Cadance," I told her.
"Please, Lunar," Cadance smiled, "Cadance will do just fine."
"If you insist." I happily responded.
"Anyway," continued Princess Cadance, "you have her heart, you know that, right?"
"I most certainly do, Cadance." I told her.
"Please," she said, "for the sake of Equestria, you cannot allow that heart to grow dark. It doesn't sound like it makes sense, but you need to protect her happiness at all costs. Trust me...I know what it feels like to lose everything..."
"I express my deepest condolences, Cadance."
"It's fine, Lunar," Cadance replied, "but keep her happy for me. She means too much to me to have her turn the other way."
"I promise, Cadance," I smiled, "her happiness is my ever-living goal in life."
"I'm glad to hear that, Lunar." Cadance remarked.
For a little while longer, things stood quiet as I sat in the small room with Princess Cadance. I knew keeping Twilight as happy as possible was a number one priority to them, but her happiness is what I live for. I love Twilight Sparkle with all of my heart and I would just hate to see something awful happen to her. It's happened to me...I don't want to see her fall to that...
