Hey! It looks like you're new here. You might want to check out the introduction.
Organised by
RogerDodger
Word limit
400–750
A Simple Model
Princess Celestia raced down the corridors of Canterlot Castle. The hallway rang with the haunting melody of her golden slippers as they struck the stone floor in a syncopated rhythm. She would have prayed that she was not too late, but when one is already worshiped as an immortal godhead, to whom could one pray?
A tremendous crash shook the room as she bucked down the doors to the royal chambers. Though the noonday sun was high in the cloudless sky, the room was painted in pulsating darkness, more ultraviolet than black. As she expected, the source of the night energy stood in the center of the room, twitching in ecstasy. “Luna!” Her sharp voice sounded muffled by the dark fog of the room. “Stop this at once.”
“Ah, dearest sister.” Princess Luna turned around to face her elder. Her jaw was locked into the steepest of grins, cruelly at odds with the direness of the situation. Her eyes glistened with hope, ambition, and insanity. “Thou art just in time for the show to begin.”
Celestia swallowed. “No, my Luna. I cannot allow you to proceed. For the sake of all of Equestria, I must put a stop to your plans, here and now.”
She scoffed. “The sake of Equestria. Of course. It is always the Princess of the Day who knows what is best for everypony, while We must play the fool. While We must kowtow to our infinite better. While We must be reminded time and again of Our eventide’s inferiority.” Her grin grew in intensity. “No longer. We shall save Equestria from its fate, with or without the blessings of the almighty Princess Celestia.”
“Can...” Celestia said as she staggered backwards. “Can you even hear yourself speak, sister? You talk of saving Equestria? Your plans show nothing but tyranny and greed!”
Luna’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldst advice thou,” she growled through clenched teeth, “to refrain from judging that which thou dost not fully comprehend.”
Celestia’s eyes danced to a window at the far corner of the room, through which stood a lone tower with majestic dressings. The Elements of Harmony lay within. If she could just get inside, she could leverage their power and... She closed her eyes. She knew full well what would come next—what must come next—but it felt too cruel to be real.
“Mmm, too rich,” chuckled Luna. “Thou wouldst consider turning the power of the Elements against thine only sister? Yet supposedly it is We who are the tyrant.”
“You are right.”
“Eh?”
“My words and actions have been hypocritical.” Celestia opened her eyes and forced the faintest of smiles onto her face. “I have scorned you and your plans without fully comprehending them. I am sorry, Luna. I shall give you one chance to explain yourself in full.” She pointed a hoof at her sister. “Though I warn you, if I do not like what I hear—”
“Huzzah!” cried Luna with glee. “Then let us begin!”
A flash of bright light blinded Celestia and forced a hoof to her eyes. Near instantly, she heard a sharp crack from the center of the room. She forced herself to lower her hoof and crane open her teary eyes.
“Two bits per month.”
“What?” asked Celestia.
As her eyes adjusted to the bright light in the center of the dim room, shapes began to take form. Colored rectangles of various sizes. A circle composed of multiple slices. A jagged line climbing ever upward.
“Thou were right, dear Celestia. Even one bit for a single dream was too steep of a tax.” Luna thwapped the projector screen once more with her pointer. “But as thou can see here, a nominal monthly tax upon Our subjects is within reason. Even accounting for those who opt out of dreaming, We shall raise enough funds to complete renovations upon Ponyville Hospital.”
“And what of dreams forgotten by morning?” Celestia stomped her hoof, sending a crisp echo through the room. “What of nightmares? You would charge our subjects for these as well?!”
“All part of the experience,” purred Luna. “Dreams of joy. Dreams of terror.” Her bared her toothy grin once more. “Perhaps... a student's sensual dreams of her dear teacher?”
“You monster!” snarled Celestia. The sound of her cry was drowned out as Princess Luna cackled and howled with glee.
A tremendous crash shook the room as she bucked down the doors to the royal chambers. Though the noonday sun was high in the cloudless sky, the room was painted in pulsating darkness, more ultraviolet than black. As she expected, the source of the night energy stood in the center of the room, twitching in ecstasy. “Luna!” Her sharp voice sounded muffled by the dark fog of the room. “Stop this at once.”
“Ah, dearest sister.” Princess Luna turned around to face her elder. Her jaw was locked into the steepest of grins, cruelly at odds with the direness of the situation. Her eyes glistened with hope, ambition, and insanity. “Thou art just in time for the show to begin.”
Celestia swallowed. “No, my Luna. I cannot allow you to proceed. For the sake of all of Equestria, I must put a stop to your plans, here and now.”
She scoffed. “The sake of Equestria. Of course. It is always the Princess of the Day who knows what is best for everypony, while We must play the fool. While We must kowtow to our infinite better. While We must be reminded time and again of Our eventide’s inferiority.” Her grin grew in intensity. “No longer. We shall save Equestria from its fate, with or without the blessings of the almighty Princess Celestia.”
“Can...” Celestia said as she staggered backwards. “Can you even hear yourself speak, sister? You talk of saving Equestria? Your plans show nothing but tyranny and greed!”
Luna’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldst advice thou,” she growled through clenched teeth, “to refrain from judging that which thou dost not fully comprehend.”
Celestia’s eyes danced to a window at the far corner of the room, through which stood a lone tower with majestic dressings. The Elements of Harmony lay within. If she could just get inside, she could leverage their power and... She closed her eyes. She knew full well what would come next—what must come next—but it felt too cruel to be real.
“Mmm, too rich,” chuckled Luna. “Thou wouldst consider turning the power of the Elements against thine only sister? Yet supposedly it is We who are the tyrant.”
“You are right.”
“Eh?”
“My words and actions have been hypocritical.” Celestia opened her eyes and forced the faintest of smiles onto her face. “I have scorned you and your plans without fully comprehending them. I am sorry, Luna. I shall give you one chance to explain yourself in full.” She pointed a hoof at her sister. “Though I warn you, if I do not like what I hear—”
“Huzzah!” cried Luna with glee. “Then let us begin!”
A flash of bright light blinded Celestia and forced a hoof to her eyes. Near instantly, she heard a sharp crack from the center of the room. She forced herself to lower her hoof and crane open her teary eyes.
“Two bits per month.”
“What?” asked Celestia.
As her eyes adjusted to the bright light in the center of the dim room, shapes began to take form. Colored rectangles of various sizes. A circle composed of multiple slices. A jagged line climbing ever upward.
“Thou were right, dear Celestia. Even one bit for a single dream was too steep of a tax.” Luna thwapped the projector screen once more with her pointer. “But as thou can see here, a nominal monthly tax upon Our subjects is within reason. Even accounting for those who opt out of dreaming, We shall raise enough funds to complete renovations upon Ponyville Hospital.”
“And what of dreams forgotten by morning?” Celestia stomped her hoof, sending a crisp echo through the room. “What of nightmares? You would charge our subjects for these as well?!”
“All part of the experience,” purred Luna. “Dreams of joy. Dreams of terror.” Her bared her toothy grin once more. “Perhaps... a student's sensual dreams of her dear teacher?”
“You monster!” snarled Celestia. The sound of her cry was drowned out as Princess Luna cackled and howled with glee.