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Organised by
RogerDodger
Word limit
400–750
A Princess, Penitent
The second day after Luna...after Nightmare Moon had been banished dawned with the last Princess secluded in her chambers. No matter how she tried to block it out, the celebration that had begun with the return of the day still reached her ears, yet each cheer only worsened the pain in her heart. She was their savior yet again, the Princess who had conquered her dark mirror, who had saved Equestria when Luna sought to destroy it.
She had been blind to her sister’s isolation. Time and again, Celestia had told herself that she would bring Luna with her to the next celebration, the next feast, and time and again she had allowed that promise to be forgotten, to let Luna languish in her shadow.
She should have known better. She should have seen the light within Luna’s heart flickering, turning into a roiling jealous darkness aided by the careless neglect of an older sister. A darkness that had consumed Luna, had transformed her into the cold and callous Nightmare Moon.
Celestia couldn’t find it within herself to blame her ponies for their celebration, just as she knew there was nothing else she could have done once Luna had revealed her plans. Celestia had pleaded, she had apologized, and when Nightmare Moon refused to yield to the dawn, Celestia had resorted to the only recourse available.
Nightmare Moon had been banished, and Celestia’s sister was lost to her.
Her ponies had come to her, beckoned her to join the celebration, for to them Luna had been the reclusive Princess. They did not know her laugh, know the joy that once burned in her heart, had never grown close for they had forsaken the night for the bright warmth of the day. Celestia declined, again and again, could not bear to reveal to them that the victory was ash in her mouth. She would let them have their parties. She knew she would be strong enough to join them in time.
But not today. Today, and tomorrow, and the next day, she would mourn for the little sister long lost. Luna deserved that much, now. Celestia would have to carry on, but not yet. She could not allow herself to wallow in sadness for long. Soon, too soon, she would have to leave the sadness behind.
It had been necessary, after all. She knew so. She knew the Elements were the only force she could bring to bear, that her own pain was nothing before the needs of Equestria.
And yet, the knowledge she had done what she must was little solace.
Celestia sits alone amidst the light of dawn, and in a too-large room now bereft of love and laughter, she weeps for the loss of the one she loves most.
She had been blind to her sister’s isolation. Time and again, Celestia had told herself that she would bring Luna with her to the next celebration, the next feast, and time and again she had allowed that promise to be forgotten, to let Luna languish in her shadow.
She should have known better. She should have seen the light within Luna’s heart flickering, turning into a roiling jealous darkness aided by the careless neglect of an older sister. A darkness that had consumed Luna, had transformed her into the cold and callous Nightmare Moon.
Celestia couldn’t find it within herself to blame her ponies for their celebration, just as she knew there was nothing else she could have done once Luna had revealed her plans. Celestia had pleaded, she had apologized, and when Nightmare Moon refused to yield to the dawn, Celestia had resorted to the only recourse available.
Nightmare Moon had been banished, and Celestia’s sister was lost to her.
Her ponies had come to her, beckoned her to join the celebration, for to them Luna had been the reclusive Princess. They did not know her laugh, know the joy that once burned in her heart, had never grown close for they had forsaken the night for the bright warmth of the day. Celestia declined, again and again, could not bear to reveal to them that the victory was ash in her mouth. She would let them have their parties. She knew she would be strong enough to join them in time.
But not today. Today, and tomorrow, and the next day, she would mourn for the little sister long lost. Luna deserved that much, now. Celestia would have to carry on, but not yet. She could not allow herself to wallow in sadness for long. Soon, too soon, she would have to leave the sadness behind.
It had been necessary, after all. She knew so. She knew the Elements were the only force she could bring to bear, that her own pain was nothing before the needs of Equestria.
And yet, the knowledge she had done what she must was little solace.
Celestia sits alone amidst the light of dawn, and in a too-large room now bereft of love and laughter, she weeps for the loss of the one she loves most.