Chapter 3:
The Celestial Palace and Celestia's Vision
In the gardens of the Celestial Palace, Master Luna sat crossed-legged next to a tree as she played a soft melody on a flute. As her eyes shut, apparently lost in the music, five figures moved within the shadows.
The first to charge was a pink mare with a poofy cotton candy-like mane and tail coming from behind with a cheerful, "Surprise!"
As her cry broke the still peacefulness of the melody, four others launched for the Master; blurs of white, cyan, orange, and yellow shot for the Master.
Yet even with their skill, they were not good enough. Practically becoming a blur herself, Master Luna deflected their strikes, her flute turning from a simple musical instrument to an arc of pure deflection.
In seconds, the five younger masters were left panting, having surrounded the master but failing to land even a single scratch on her. Luna spun her flute and planted it into the ground like a sword.
"Well done, students. If you were trying to disappoint me!" Luna commented coldly.
She spun to the cyan Element of Loyalty, "Rainbow Dash, you need more ferocity," Luna declared, eliciting a grim nod.
She spun to the white Element of Generosity, "Rarity, greater speed," Luna demanded, eliciting a soft groan.
She spun to the yellow Element of Kindness, "Fluttershy, height," Luna declared, eliciting a moan of sadness.
She spun to the pink Element of Laughter, "Pinkie Pie… subtly," Luna grumbled, eliciting a nervous giggle from the mare.
She spun to the orange Element of Honesty. "Applejack…" she began before a voice cut her off.
"Master Luna!"
"What?!" Luna barked, whirling on a gray pony with cross eyes, who grinned despite the flute being pointed at her like a sword.
"Master Celestia wishes to see you." the gray pony said happily.
The cold look faded from Luna's eyes before practically teleporting to the Moon Pool of the Celestial Palace. Though it was really a quick run as she no longer could do magic.
Celestia was waiting for her, balanced perfectly on top of her staff as she gazed wistfully into the shimmering waters. Luna took a moment to calm herself, bowing with her fist placed into her palm. She was trying to be respectful of Celestia's title even though the two of them were sisters. She learned the hard way what happened if she let her emotions get the better of her.
"Master Celestia, you have summoned me. Is something wrong?" Luna declared.
Celestia smiled softly, climbing down from her staff. She was older than her sister, more of a mother figure really, and her age slightly showed, but Luna didn't think much of it.
"Why must something be wrong for me to want to see my younger sister?" She asked, striding over to the dozens of candles lit around the mirror pool.
"So… nothing is wrong?" Luna asked curiously.
Celestia chuckled, "Now who said that?" She asked coyly.
Luna attempted to wait patiently as Celestia carefully blew out one of the candles. Then another. Then another. Luna's ears began to twitch with agitation. Celestia noticed her sister's irritation and moved to speak… before blowing out another candle.
Luna's wings flared with her anger, and with a quick flap, she extinguished the remaining candles, plunging them into soft darkness.
"You were saying?" Luna said, as her wings folded against her back once more.
Celestia stared at the extinguished candles, the coy grin fading from her features.
"Luna. I wished this couldn't be happening. Especially with everything you've gone through. My fame prevented me from seeing what I was doing to you. You were imprisoned for a thousand years before I freed you at the cost of your magical ability. You've loved and lost your only son. So, with a heavy heart, it pains me to tell you this...," Celestia began.
"Sister, please. What is it?!" Luna said impatiently.
Celestia sighed, unable to hide the truth anymore.
"I have had a vision. Tai Lung will return." She said, turning to Luna sadly.
Luna's breath caught in her throat.
The night came back to her. The fury that had taken love. The damage to her heart made the physical blows seem like nothing.
"Impossible! He is in prison!" Luna declared before she could stop herself.
Celestia shook her head in defeat, "Nothing is impossible, little sister."
But Luna refused to listen.
"Derpy!" Luna yelled as the gray pony reappeared.
"Muffins?" Derpy asked.
"Fly to Tartarus Prison and tell them to double the guards, double the weapons, double EVERYTHING! Tai Lung does NOT leave that prison!" Luna ordered.
Luna practically screamed the last line, but Derpy simply smiled and nodded.
"Okie-Dokie, Master Luna." She declared… before promptly flying into one of the pillars.
"Huh?" Derpy commented, gazing at the pillar, like it had appeared from nowhere, "I just don't know what went wrong."
Shaking her head she flew out of the Celestial Palace and out of sight.
Celestia sighed at her sister's impulsiveness.
"One often meets his destiny on the road they take to avoid it." She warned.
"But, Sister. We have to do something. We can't just let Tai Lung march upon Ponyville and take his revenge. He'll… He…"
Luna protested for she couldn't bring herself to say more. Couldn't stand to refer to her old student – no, she couldn't deny, her own son – as the monster he had become.
Celestia's softly touched Luna's shoulder, pulling her from the bad memories.
"Your mind is like this water, Luna…" Celestia said, motioning towards the rippling water of the Moon pool.
"When it is agitated, it becomes difficult to see. But, if you allow it to settle…The answer becomes clear."
Celestia grinned and lowered her staff towards the pool. She touched the pool softly, sending a soothing ripple through the agitated waters.
Indeed, it did. As the water settled, Luna saw the reflection of the golden dragon above, holding the very thing that had triggered Tai Lung's descent into madness.
"The Celestial Scroll?" Luna asked, gazing upon the scroll with a hint of resentment.
But when Celestia turned to her, her face became grim.
"Now, my dear sister. It is finally time." Celestia admitted.
"But who?" Luna asked, resisting the urge to demand why her son had not been good enough. If not Tai Lung then who? She couldn't resist thinking before saying the rest out loud:
"Who is worthy to be trusted with the secret to limitless power? To become...The Celestial Warrior?".
Celestia's grin returned.
"I don't know." She replied coyly.