LEGEND OF THE GODDESSES
Clovenshire, 1,012 years ago
Celestia and Luna walked out the front gates of Clovenshire Castle, taking one last look over their shoulders at the magnificent fortress.
"Wait!" called a voice.
They turned around to see a small black unicorn in spectacles standing in the castle's immense front doorway.
"Have you done this?" Sickle Stick asked them breathlessly.
"Yes, we have," said Luna. "We have toppled Discord from power, good citizen."
Other ponies gathered around curiously, members of the castle staff as well as outsiders.
"Who are you?" Sickle Stick asked excitedly.
"My sister Luna, I'm called Celestia," Celestia said proudly, straightening up and sticking out her chest in a deliberate effort to be taller than Luna.
"Oh, thank you!" Sickle Stick said with wonder. "Wondrous heroes of amazing might… how was this accomplished?"
"With heart and with scars, and much struggling," Luna said quietly.
"But mostly these," said Celestia, opening her saddlebag and displaying the inactive Elements of Harmony.
"Yes of course, and those," Luna grumbled.
"Ooh," Sickle Stick commented. "Well, all of Equestria is in your debt, fair ladies. What can we do for you?"
"Service is its own reward," said Luna. "I merely wanted to do some good for my fellow ponies." She turned and made to exit the castle grounds.
"Now hang on just a moment…" Celestia said slyly.
Luna sighed.
"Fine, yes," Celestia said hastily at Luna's reaction. "We'll be on our way."
"Wait," Sickle Stick said again, approaching them. "Listen… there's no sign of Princess Bubbles, nor of her cousin and heir, Prince Dragonglass. It was their downfall that led to Discord's takeover… they were the first casualty. And now, it would seem, they are gone. We have no other royalty or nobility. Would you two, our saviors, be willing to step up and lead us as you have saved us?"
Luna and Celestia glanced at each other in astonishment. "…Both of us?" Luna demanded.
"Two heroes should wear two crowns," Sickle Stick said solemnly.
"Indeed they should," Celestia said instantly. "We accept."
"We…" Luna muttered, then considered for a second. Her face brightened. "Yes, we accept very much."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Behold!" Sickle Stick declared to a banquet hall full of well-dressed ponies. "I present to you now, those who defeated Discord and liberated Equestria from his reign of terror, the Queens Celestia and Luna!"
The two of them stepped out of a pair of huge double-doors, to the sounds of rolling and thundering applause. They bowed their heads and waved to the crowds for a few minutes, until Celestia made a slicing gesture in the air with her hoof, and the stomping hastily died down.
"Make it 'Princesses'," she said. "Isn't that traditional here in Equestria?"
"Tradition?" Luna inquired.
"Tradition is an important thing, Luna," Celestia said haughtily. "I don't like 'Queen'."
"Really?" Luna said skeptically.
"Certainly," Celestia said under her breath, so only Luna could hear. "Citizens relate far more easily to a princess than they do to a queen. And being relatable is important."
"Yes, I suppose it is," Luna said thoughtfully.
"It's far easier to control all the rabble when they think they can relate to you," Celestia whispered smugly.
Luna sighed in exhaustion, and Celestia beamed at Sickle Stick.
"Very well then," he said. "Princesses Celestia and Luna!"
Several tiny pegasus fillies flew out from the crowd, presenting the newly-dubbed princesses with collars, shoes, and crowns—Celestia's were entirely golden and gem-studded; Luna's shoes were glass, and her collar and crown were pure black.
Celestia grinned gleefully and squealed in excitement, then projected a magically booming voice that shook the courtroom. "THANK YOU, KIND CITIZENS OF CLOVENSHIRE, FOR THIS GREAT HONOR! I AM PLEASED TO BASK IN THE ADORATION OF MY SUBJECTS!"
Luna flinched. "Really?" she muttered. "'The Voice'?"
"Let's call it the 'royal Clovenshire voice', shall we?" Celestia said brightly. "We'll make it a new tradition. You are taking notes, aren't you?" She winked at Luna.
"I am," Luna admitted grudgingly as she looked away, too quietly for Celestia to hear. "I have the desire for ponies to like me and approve of me, and for some reason you seem to know how to get that, so I'll accept any premise you pose to me."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
The two princesses walked down a hall together, stopping when they came across a pair of doors, facing each other on opposite walls of the corridor.
"Well, these are our private quarters," said Luna.
"Goodnight then," said Celestia. "You've done good today, Princess Luna. I'll see you in the morning."
Luna beamed at her.
"Tomorrow, I think I'll start sending for all of our relatives," Celestia said conversationally.
"Oh?"
"Yes. If we're going to be royalty, we should be surrounding ourselves with ponies of the appropriate… stock."
Luna blinked. "…That being our stock."
"Uh-huh."
She shrugged. "Summoning our relatives here, having them serve as a royal family… I approve."
"Oh, that's a relief," said Celestia. "Because I simply don't know what I would ever do if you didn't approve of me."
Her sarcasm stung Luna deeply, and the younger sister glared, growled, and ground her teeth before slipping into her own room.
Unbothered, Celestia went to her quarters, bypassing the grandiose four-poster bed to stand upon the balcony and look out upon the city. She sighed contentedly.
So… calling in all the relatives?
Celestia crouched in a battle-ready stance, looking around for the source of the voice.
Bringing the family closer together just to lord over them with that humongous voice? You know, I approve as well. That is exactly my style.
Celestia's blood started to run cold as she realized the voice was nowhere but in her mind.
All you truly seek is to be in control. That's what I want too. That's the reason I'm here.
"Discord?" she whispered.
No, I'm the ghost of that fly that was in your soup. Yes, it's Discord.
"Where are you?" Celestia growled ferociously, her eyes glowing yellow.
Freezing me in stone may have restored Equestria's old-fashioned mediocrity, but it did not sever the connection forged between you and I.
"By the stars…" Celestia peeped, breathless in fear.
By the stars indeed, Discord said jovially. I took a liking to you from the very first minute, Celestia. I saw a kindred spirit, the kind who enjoys lording themselves over others, never takes anything too seriously, doesn't care at all what anypony thinks. Yes, I liked you all the way to your core.
Celestia suddenly saw Discord appear, reclining on her balcony railing at peering at her through sleepy eyes. He was somewhat transparent, and Celestia had trouble focusing on him, as if she was only seeing him in a vivid daydream.
And look at you now! the apparition said. All serious-faced, treating me like the plague. Well, they say ponies change after they fall in love. I guess that's true! But you know, I like it, actually, better than what I said before. This, this will make our extensive interactions even more fun!
"Fall in love?" Celestia demanded. "What are you talking about?"
Discord didn't respond, instead floating around her. She realized that his tail was nothing but a long and skinny wisp of smoke, which was connected to the back of her head. Wherever he went, the tail remained connected, as if it was a chain that shackled him to her.
You had me beaten, Celestia, Discord said solemnly. You didn't think I'd let you do that without enforcing a punishment upon you, did you? Look at me, and look into your heart, and you'll see what I'm talking about. You'll see the answer.
He floated directly in front of her face, grinning expectantly. She furrowed her brow in thought, and slowly her face began to display comprehension, then horror.
"No," she gasped. "No…" Tears started streaming down her face.
You love me, Celestia, Discord said tenderly. I made it so. You will always love me. All my traits and quirks, all my perfections and imperfections, they will be heaven in your eyes. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. You'll love me forever.
"This trick won't work," Celestia said stiffly. "They're just… feelings. I still have my rational thoughts. I will never want to be with you, and I'm not going to set you free."
I know, said Discord, following Celestia's gaze as it was drawn to the statue of him, which had been placed in the castle courtyard far below. I would never force you to act on it. Giving you an obsession with being with me that would lead you to release me, that would just be straight-up mind control, and that's… it's no fun. No fun at all. No, no, I'll stick with just giving you the feelings, thank you, an emotion that never goes away, one that eats at you. And me, I'm just going to watch.
Have you ever found out that someone you love is a loathsome, conniving lowlife who cares nothing for you? I have. And if you have, you know the kind of irrationality and nonsense that I'm talking about. You realize that this is not an individual who was ever worthy of your love: this is a traitor. Rationally, one would think that all emotion you had for this creature would go away. But it doesn't, does it? Cutting things off with them… it aches. Knowing you can't be with them anymore, it makes you realize that having your heart torn in two isn't nearly as figurative as it sounds. It makes no damn sense, but that's what happens. There's no relief at a truth being discovered. There's just sadness.
This happened to you? Celestia thought, not bothering to speak aloud. She realized that his story was provoking sympathy from her, and attempted to force herself to feel otherwise.
A thousand years or so ago, he said. A little more, I think. Despite the betrayal changing everything I thought I knew, I still felt sorrow for what I had lost. The ache faded after a while, and I became content. That's how it works, right? Everypony gets over it eventually. But what if somepony didn't? What if the wound never went away? Why, it could send a heart spiraling down into madness. You're going to feel this way about me forever, and I will live inside your head, watching.
The visual representation of him vanished.
Pleasant dreams, Celestia, said his voice with a loving caress.
Celestia's eyes and lips trembled, and her legs went shaky and weak. Shattered and broken, the new princess fell to her knees and broke down weeping.