My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro, The Hub and of course Lauren Faust who seems to have gone out of her way to make a show about pastel colored ponies with names like "Twilight Sparkle" completely awesome. This story is just for fun and no profit shall be made so please above mentioned people don't sue me. You're not gonna get much. Any OCs that pop up in this fic belong to me and can be used with permission. Please don't steal from me. Now with that out of the way, on with the show.
The Elements of Discord
Chapter 10: The Truth Behind The Truth
Princess Celestia stared sorrowfully at the moon. It had been weeks since the Nightmare Moon incident but the scars were still fresh. Primarily because she had not allowed herself proper time to grieve. Or more accurately she couldn't. She had to stay strong for her subjects in this turbulent time. The battle between harmony and discord had ravaged their old land and so they had to find another location in which to rebuild. To help accomplish this task, Celestia had to learn to lower and raise the moon in addition to the sun which only added to her burden physically and emotionally. But she could not let it overwhelm her in her front of her subjects. She had to be a pillar for them as they searched for their new home to let them know that all will be well. A feat she had accomplished surprisingly well as they set about creating the city of Canterlot in honor of the former castle grounds.
But in her private moments such as these she finally gave in to her emotions and allowed herself to weep for her sister and her fallen friends. These times usually came at night when the other ponies were asleep and so were less likely to see her cry. Which made her feel even worse as it proved Luna right and made Celestia wish she had listened to her sister's pleas even more so. Perhaps if she had been as attentive as a sister as she had been a ruler then none of this ever would have had happened. Worse still, the first night she had brought the moon up after the event she noticed a strange new shadow over it's surface that resembled a unicorn's head. A spectacle that other ponies noticed as well and had already dubbed it "The Mare in the Moon". Many wondered just where it had come from and how it got there but Celestia knew both of those answers all too well. Somehow the very essence of Nightmare Moon had fused with the moon when she banished her there and now glared down at her every night as a constant reminder of her greatest failures.
Celestia tore her guilt-ridden gaze away from the shadowy form on the moon only to hang her head and let more a few more tears run down her cheeks. Her legs began to shake as the crushing weight of her emotions began to press down on her again. She was about to give in and let herself crumble to the ground when a sudden voice behind her shocked her straight up again.
"The moon shines bright even in the darkest of nights."
She turned her head in the direction of the voice and found a charcoal colored Earth pony with a bright blond mane standing right next to her. She was surprised she hadn't heard him approach her but she assumed that was because she was too caught up in her own emotions. Still there seemed to be something...odd about him and she honestly couldn't remember seeing him before. While her growing court made it difficult for her to know all her subjects, she still tried her best and she felt she would remember him. Especially his rather peculiar Cutie Mark of an eye surrounded by five stars. While it was true most Cutie Marks were unique to an individual pony, there was something about this one that stood out to her and she knew she would remember seeing it. She scrambled to regain control of her emotions to ask him about it, or at least who he was, but before she could say anything he spoke up again.
"Though the stars shine just as brightly themselves. I never just looked before," he said in a rather wistful tone. "Those four around the moon seem to especially stand out."
Celestia cocked an eyebrow then looked back up into the sky and indeed there were four larger stars surrounding the moon that she hadn't noticed before. Another thing she found odd since she had just been starring at that portion of the sky a few seconds ago.
"How did...?" she wondered allowed.
"There are stranger things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy Celestia," the strange pony remarked. "Stars can wink in and out of existence in the time it takes you to blink. Occasionally they can move and cause the most amazing things to happen. What do you suppose would happen if those four stars moved? Perhaps they might be able to illuminate the moon enough to dispel that foreboding shadow on the moon."
Celestia's head snapped back towards the stranger with that statement, her look a combination of fear and anger.
"What do you know about that shadow?" she demanded of him, her eyes glowing ever so slightly.
Despite the rather fearsome look on The Princess' face, the mysterious pony remained calm and collected.
"Only that it will fade as suddenly as it appeared. That is the cylindrical nature of the universe. All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again," he replied in his still cryptic tone.
Celestia's expression quickly went from anger to confusion soon thereafter disbelief then finally ending up at absolute horror. She couldn't explain it, but she had this horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach that this strange pony spoke the truth. Maybe it was because she wasn't exactly sure herself what the Elements of Harmony had done to her sister and had no way of knowing if the impromptu spell she had created would last indefinitely. In fact if she were to be truly honest with herself she wasn't sure the spell would work in the first place as it was just something she came up with in the spur of the moment. So there was every chance it would fail someday. But that again raised the question just how did this pony know all this information?
"Who are you?" she asked pointedly.
"Me? I am merely a humble servant of your majesty's," he replied with a formal bow.
"Then how do you know all this?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing a bit.
"There are some mysteries best left unsolved," he remarked in a surprisingly apologetic tone before he turned to leave. He did pause to look over his shoulder at her though. "But we can never be sure what answers the next thousand years might bring. Perhaps you will learn what you need to then. Or perhaps that shadow will merely disappear. Whatever the case may be Princess, always remember that balance between the day and the night is twilight."
With that he started to walk off. Celestia had thought about using her magic to pull him back and make him answer her questions but she realized that would be massive abuse of her powers. Instead she cast her glance back towards the ominous shadow on the moon and stared worriedly at it for a few more seconds. Another question for the unusually knowledgeable Earth pony crossed her mind but when she turned back to where he had just been she saw nothing but a dark, empty field. She stared in disbelief for a moment before she let out a soft, amused chuckle. Apparently there were things even she still needed to learn.
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
Twilight stared in completely shock as her mentor finished her story.
"That...that's impossible!" she gasped. "I met that very same pony today! He even said the whole 'this has happened before' thing!"
Celestia looked just as surprised as her student.
"But...that shouldn't be possible," she muttered, mostly to herself.
"I know!" Twilight shouted, throwing her front hooves up for emphasis. "And he lives right there in Ponyville! He calls himself Star Gazer!"
"This is...unexpected," the princess mused as she rubbed her chin with her right hoof. She then shook her head. "But that's a matter to look into later. Right now we should focus on the matter at hoof."
"Right, right..." Twilight nodded trying to regain her composure.
It didn't work.
"But I don't get it! How could he still be alive after all this time? I thought only you and your sister could live that long? And how did he know all that stuff about Nightmare Moon and what would happen in the next thousand years?" she paced around in a circle as she rambled but came to a sudden stop when she remembered something in particular about Celestia's tale. "And did he mention me?"
"Calm down Twilight Sparkle. Hysterics will do none of us good at the moment," Luna advised.
"Luna's right, Twilight," Celestia agreed as she placed a comforting hoof on the young unicorn's shoulder. "Getting this worked up won't help anypony. As for your name...well.." She hesitated, looking away sheepishly.
"Well what?" Twilight asked, anxiously.
The Princess looked away almost shamefully as she let out a deep sigh.
"At the time I hadn't given it much thought," she began, "but I found out that the very powerful young unicorn trying out for my school was named Twilight Sparkle...well I took that as an omen."
Twilight's face fell and her ears drooped as she processed that information.
"You mean...that's the only reason I got into you school? Why you made me your top student?" she asked on the verge of tears.
"What?" Celestia balked, genuinely surprised by the reaction.
She then lowered her head to gently nuzzle against Twilight's neck in comforting motion.
"No! Not at all," she whispered soothingly. "I chose you for my school, and to be my personal student, because I saw in you the potential to be amazing. And you are amazing Twilight, never doubt that for a moment."
"I won't. Thank you Princess," Twilight whispered back with a relieved smile.
"Good," Celestia sighed then stood up right away. "With that being said, it was that same potential that made me remember this 'Star Gazer's' words and that you just might be able to help my sister where I could not. But first you needed to know about Nightmare Moon and the prophecy and I thought simply telling you would lay too great a burden on your young shoulders."
"That's why you gave me the copy of Prophecies and Predictions!" Twilight exclaimed. "You knew I would read it and find out about the prophecy about Nightmare Moon!"
"Correct," the Princess smiled. "I also knew you would read about the Elements of Harmony and that would teach you how to stop her. But of course the hardest part was getting you to get your nose out of all those books and make some friends to activate the Elements."
"Which is why you sent me to Ponyville, I know that part already," Twilight mused with a smile. It faded slightly as she recounted the events of that day. "But how did you know I'd make friends at all? Or that the friends I did make would represent the Elements of Harmony?"
"The answers to both those question are actually the same. As mentioned in Star Swirl the Bearded's notes, the Elements have always been drawn to each other and work in a rather cylindrical fashion and once they are used by one generation they become stronger in the next. So by this point you and your friends are actually one with the Elements. That is how I knew you would find the friends you need."
"'Twas still a risky gamble sister," Luna noted. "What if Star Swirl's notes were wrong or you had misinterpreted them?"
"Or if the ponies of the Elements weren't in Ponyville at all?" Twilight added.
Celestia looked between the two of them and had to smile ever so slightly at just how alike they could be.
"Well I am in tune with the Elements so I could sense their presence in Ponyville just not which ponies exactly they were bonded with. As for if Twilight had not made any friends..." her expression grew grim as she trailed off. "Then I was prepared to do what I had to to free you from Discord's corrupting influence sister. Even if it meant my own life."
With that statement, an uneasy tension filled the room. Luna and Twilight spared worried glances at each other before fixing their gazes back on Celestia, the look of determination on her face telling them both that she wasn't exaggerating. It was a look that left a pit in both their stomachs, especially Luna's.
"Sister...Tia...if you had...if it had come to that..." she stammered, not really sure what to say.
"Let's just be thankful that it didn't come to that," Twilight quickly spoke up.
"Agreed," Luna nodded.
"Yes, I would say things worked out for the best," Celestia remarked, her usual cheerful smile returning to her face. "But now of course we must make sure that history doesn't repeat itself again and find a way to stop Dark Sky before she recovers the Elements of Discord."
"No. We must help her," Luna insisted. "Remember that she was corrupted as I was and whatever machinations she may have in mind are not her fault."
"Of course Luna," Celestia nodded. "I'm sorry I held a grudge against your friend for so long. I...I suppose I was merely shifting the blame." She lowered her head once again, unable to look her sister in the eye. "If only I had paid more attention to you back then. If only I-"
She stopped when she felt Luna placed a hoof on her shoulder and turned her head back to see her sister smiling softly at her.
"Do not blame yourself sister. 'Twas I who allowed my own pettiness to overcome me which led to myself and Sky to be influenced by Discord," she said reassuringly.
"I still wish I had been there for you more than I was," the elder sister confessed with a sorrowful sigh.
"How about we all agree that could have gone better back then?" Twilight suggested.
"Agreed," both princesses said with a nod.
"Good," the purple unicorn smiled. "Now we can focus on making sure this doesn't happen again."
"You're right Twilight, now is not the time to dwell on the past but rather focus on the future," Celestia declared. "Our first step should be to locate the Elements of Discord before Dark Sky does."
"That should be a simple task. We simply return to where you hide them after you banished Nightmare Moon," Luna remarked.
"Actually..." the white Alicorn hesitated, looking away sheepishly.
The younger sister blink a few times in confusion before she narrowed her eyes in understanding.
"You did not hide the Elements after the battle," she concluded then sighed. "Honestly sister. And you complain about me being irresponsible at times."
Celestia's brow furrowed a bit. "Well forgive me, if I let one thing slip my mind while trying to sooth my subjects' fears while also trying not to have a complete emotional breakdown."
"I understand that but 'tis not the first time you have...misplaced important items."
"That was a long time ago and I have more than apologized for it over the years."
"That still does not change the fact that-"
"PRINCESSES!" Twilight screamed, brining an unexpected stop to the sibling rivalry. "Once again we have more important things to worry about right now!"
"Of course, of course," Celestia muttered with a shake of her head. "Well since we left the ruins of the old castle in a hurry, I suppose the Elements could still be there."
"Just like the Elements of Harmony were there!" Twilight added.
"I do remember being compelled to return there as Nightmare Moon," Luna mused, rubbing her chin with her right front hoof. "I thought it was only because that was the last place I remember being but perhaps it was because the Elements of Discord were still there."
"That would make sense, since the castle is in the middle of the Everfree Forest and nopony in their right mind would want to go there!" Twilight remarked.
"But it is possible that Sky is still not in her right mind. And if her goal is to resurrect Nightmare Moon then it is likely that is where she would go," Luna surmised.
"Then that is where we shall begin the investigation," Celestia declared.
"Actually Princess, it might be best if you let me and my friends go to look," Twilight countered. "I mean no offense, I know you can take care of yourself, I mean you're the princess after all, but it might not be such a good idea for you or Luna to go alone in the Everfree Forest since somepony is obviously looking for you, well Luna. But you get what I mean, right?"
Celestia couldn't help but chuckle at her student's rather...unique way of describing the situation. "Of course I do Twilight. And you make a good point. You and your friends can go look for the Elements of Discord while we have the guards double their patrols and be on the look out for anything supscious."
"Good," she nodded but then looked a bit apprehensive. "Um...Princess. If I'm going to get my friends involved with this then...I don't feel right holding out on them so... can I... maybe... possibly...?"
"You may tell them whatever you feel you must Twilight," the elder Princess said softly.
"Indeed, it is only fair they know the whole story as well," Luna agreed.
Twilight smiled up at them. "Thank you both."
With the plan decided, the three left the secret chamber, which Celestia was quick to close, then made their way out of the throne room proper. When the large double doors were pull opened, however, they were all surprised to see a small contingent of guards standing there including the Captain of the Guard himself. There was a brief moment where both groups where stunned into silence but it was quickly cut short but a loud, squealing proclamation.
"Shiney!" Twilight cried happily as she ran forward and hugged her brother.
"Twilight?" Shining Armor asked in confusion even as he awkwardly returned the hug. "What are you doing here?"
"The Princess invited me," she explained as she pulled back then gave him a questioning look. "What are you doing here?"
"I would like to know that as well," Celestia remarked in a slightly annoyed tone.
"Well, your majesty," Shining started a bit nervously, "a few of my guards mentioned how both you and Princess Luna had been in the throne room for quite awhile and I was concerned something might be up and wanted to check in. When I didn't get any responses I grew concerned."
Celestia's expression softened into an appreciative smile.
"Well I can't fault you for doing your job and I do thank you for your concern," she said. "It's actually quite fortuitous that you showed up because we do have a building emergency that will require you and your guards to increase their presence."
"What is it your majesty?" he asked as he stood at attention, the guards surrounding him doing the same.
"I shall explain in a bit but first Twilight must be escorted back to the chariot and I'm sure she'd be more than happy to have her big brother do that job, wouldn't you Twilight?"
The unicorn's face lit up brighter than her horn ever did.
"Of course I would!" she beamed before she looked at her brother. "That is if you wouldn't mind having your little sister bug you at work."
Shining chuckled as he brought his right front hoof up to gently ruffle her hair. "Course not Twily, you know I always have time for my favorite little sister."
"I'm your only little sister! Unless there's something mom and dad haven't told us," she countered.
"Don't think so. And just because you're my only sister doesn't mean you can't be my favorite sister."
The display of sibling affection caused Celestia to smile slightly and cast a look at her own younger sister. It quickly faded, however, when she remembered the more important matter at hoof.
"I'm also going to need some of your guards to escort Luna back to her chambers," she requested.
"Celestia! I am more than capable of returning to my room by myself!" Luna protested.
"I know that Luna, but as Twilight pointed out we're both likely to be targeted and you more so given your connection to Dark Sky. I mean no offense I just...want to make sure you're going to be as safe as possible."
"Tia..." the dark princess said softly, a bit moved by the statement. "Very well, I will go along with your advice."
"Thank you," Celestia said in return, stretching a wing across her sister in the form of a hug.
"Right," Shining Armor nodded, then looked towards two of the Pegasus guards near him. "You two, please escort the Princess back to her room."
"Oh I can escort her all kinds of places," the teal colored guard remarked, earning him quite a few less than friendly looks from those around him. Especially Celestia.
"Idiot," his light blue comrade muttered before he walked over to Luna. "Don't mind him he's just...well stupid."
"So I've gathered," Luna muttered then started to walk off.
The two guards quickly followed behind her with the teal one seeming rather fascinated with her Cutie Mark. The other guards started to wander back to their posts as well while Shining Armor and Twilight made their way towards the balcony where the air chariot awaited. As they walked, Shining's curiosity quickly got the better of him.
"So what exactly is going on?" he asked.
"I'm sure the Princess will tell you Shiney," Twilight remarked to not-so-graciously deflect the question.
"Twily I'm the Captain of the Guard, I need to know what's going on!" he insisted.
"And I told you the princess will tell you what's going on!" she shot back then quickly sighed. "Look, Shiny, I'm sorry but things are probably going to get really hectic here soon and this whole thing is rather personal for Princess Luna so I don't know much I should tell! But then again I'm going to have to tell my friends since we're going to be involved and they have a right know who and/or what we're fighting and the potential consequences. But then again you're right you kinda need to know since it's your job and all but then again like I said I'm sure Celestia will tell you eventually do and-"
"Okay, okay! Twily take a moment to breath!" Shining suggested, knowing his sister's tendency to ramble when she gets excited or nervous. Or even both. Especially both. "I'll make sure to ask the Princesses once you're gone."
"Thank you," she sighed.
"Although now I'm worried about there being 'consequences'? Are you in some kind of danger Twily?"
"Actually it seems like I'm in danger every other week!" Twilight muttered with a roll of her eyes. "But this time does feel different." She shook her head. "I don't know, I just feel like something bad is about to happen."
"You're not doing much to reassure your B.B.B.F.F. here," Shiny tried to joke.
"I know and I'm sorry," she sigh again as she nuzzled his neck in apology. "Just promise me you'll be safe and watch over the Princesses."
"Only if you promise me the same thing," he replied, returning the nuzzle.
"Deal," she smiled.
When they were finished with their bout of sibling affection they found they had already made their way to the balcony. The two Pegasus guards there quickly greeted them before strapping themselves into the chariot's harness. Twilight paused long enough to give her brother one last hug before she boarded the flying vehicle. He waved to her as it flew away, but couldn't shake the feeling that she had been right and something bad was coming. He'd have to remember to double the patrols and increase the guards around the princesses. Maybe even ask Celestia if she wanted him to put his protection spell up around the city. Of course that would leave him a bit vulnerable since it took an incredible amount of effort to maintain it but he knew there was a certain princess that would be more than happy to help him with it.
"ARGH!" he suddenly screamed and started banging a hoof against his forehead. "I completely forgot to tell Twily Cadence and I were engaged now! Stupid, stupid, stupid!" He sighed and relaxed a bit. "Oh well, hopefully she won't be too mad when she finds out."
( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )
In another part of the castle, Luna let out her own sigh as she felt the eyes of one of her supposed bodyguards clued right on her flank. With everything that was weighing down on her today she was even less in the mood to deal with this unwanted attention than she normally would be. She gave great thought to simply "correcting" him with the Traditional Royal Canterlot Voice, but per her sister's request she was trying not to become too reliant on it. Apparently it was considered "outdated" and "terrifying" now. Which would be called for in this situation but for now she would try it her sister's way.
And if that didn't solve the problem then she would try it her way.
"You do know you are supposed to be protecting my entire body and not just my flank, correct?" she asked in a rather snide voice.
"Huh? What? Oh I mean what are you talking about? I'm totally watching your whole body!" the teal Pegasus stammered.
"Real smooth," the other guard mumbled.
"Dude chill out, you're gonna ruin my game here," he whispered.
"What game? You're just ogling the Princess' backside!"
"That's just step one. Step two is where the real magic happens."
"You do know I can hear you, yes?" Luna asked again, casting an even more annoyed glance as the overly amorous guard.
"I told you just to ignore him your majesty. He just thinks he's Celestia's gift to mares," the more rational guard remarked.
"Hey I'd be more than happy to be your gift to anything," the teal one joked again with a rather flirtatious smile.
"Do you even know how to stop?"
"Hey don't get made at me just because the only mare you ever loved broke up with you after she totally handed you your flank."
The blue Pegasus gaffed then glared angrily at his supposed friend.
"She did not kick my flank! It was just a lucky kick!" he protested.
"Yeah more like a lucky fifteen kicks. She's not even a Pegasus! You have no excuse for getting hit as much as you did!" the teal Pegasus scoffed.
The other guard looked desperately at Luna.
"Don't believe him! That was just an off day! And she was a Prestige Class! So that shouldn't even count! I'm actually a really good fighter!" he pleaded.
"I am sure you are," Luna remarked with a roll of her eyes. "But we are back at my room so am I no longer in need of your services. Thank you both for the...unique way you watched over me."
Before they could say anymore she used her magic to open her door then backed into it as quickly as she could before she slammed it shut. She let out another sigh but this time it was one of relief to be away from the two bickering guards. She also hoped she would have a few minutes alone process everything that was happening. First and foremost was the fact that Sky had apparently returned and still might be under Discord's control. She knew her sister and her student meant well but she still wasn't sure they would know how to handle Sky if either of them ran into her. How could they know? Neither of them had been brainwashed by that monster like she and Sky so they had no idea how it could distort one's thinking. The best scenario for everypony involved would be for her to find her friend first. But of course the question remained, where was she?
"Hello Luna. Long time."
Luna's eyes nearly popped out of her head in surprise as the familiar voice that suddenly filled her ears. She spun around as quickly as she could and was indeed greeted with a face she hadn't seen in a thousand years.
"Sky!" she cried out.
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: Yes I know, evil, evil cliffhanger! And I know this chapter is a bit short given the long wait for it and I do feel bad about that but this ending just feels right thematically. Like a perfect episode ending moment or something. So I'm sticking with this one and I hope you guys won't be too mad at me! Just think of what you get to look forward to next chapter! Which of course might take awhile given how much trouble this thing has been giving me lately. To make matters worse that's the last chapter I have a clear vision of so the ones after that might be even longer as they start to get a bit...hazy after that. I know the big points I want to hit just gotta figure out how to get there.
So yeah this story has definitely gotten a bit away from me. I always knew it'd be a long one but I never imagined it'd take this long! Honestly at the pace I'm going I might not be done with this thing until the end of season three! So once again I have to deeply thank everyone here who's kept with the story so far and I hope you'll all be there until the end of this thing. Whenever that may be.
Thought I had more to say but I can't remember right now. Again I know this was a short, mostly expository chapter but I needed something to transition back into the main storyline from the flashbacks. It also allowed me to add a little more levity back into this thing as the last few chapters were rather dark but...well given their subject matter that couldn't be helped. So have a breather before we start getting back into the action of it and things really start to ramp!
See ya next time folks!