Madness War Part 2

Love...

Love is both a beautiful and terrifying force. Love can inspire others to perform feats otherwise they are normally incapable of doing...

But it is also a fickle force...capable of destroying the very will of people.

Love that is lost...or abused, can lead someone down a very dark path. Where light and hope are far from view and reach.

Celestia found herself on this side of love for the past 30 years. Falling ever so slowly, into the darkness. Feeling despair and sadness filling her heart every day.

Today, however, today she was feeling joy and happiness.

Mostly by blasting Discord.

Don't get her wrong, she didn't enjoy hurting him. She was enjoying this cause this is the first time in 30 years that Discord actually stayed and talked to her, granted it was in battle, but you have to find the silver linings in some things.

All around them laid the ruins of Canterlot. A eerie view to those that survived 30 years ago. If there was any ponies actually in there.

"So..."

"Giving up Dis?"

"Ha! As if my dear. What do you hope to accomplish by this?"

"You know my reasons."

"I fail to see how this will 'cure' me."

"Give it time, my love. I will save you yet."

"Haha! By beating me into a pulp! That will surely cure my ways."

"There is a first time for everything."

Discord chuckled, shaking his head. "Come Tia, let us continue this fight. After all, you are the one who called the Royal Decreed."

"Yes...lets" Celestia wings flared, before rushing straight at him.

()()()()()()()()() Several Hours Earlier ()()()()()()()()()

"So...we have no choice then." Celestia spoke quietly as they walked towards the castle, which seem to change colors every 30 seconds...and had legs.

"I am sorry sister, but this may be the best choice." Luna said, looking at the castle with a flat stare. Starswirl, however, had a more pressing matter to address of the plan.

"No offense Princess...but how are you going to keep Lord Discord still long enough for you to use them."

This caused both Celestia and Luna to stop, eyes going wide. Apparently, they did not think this through quite that much. Luna began to mutter, plans racing through her mind at high speed, while Celestia simply sat down.

"Why can't any of this be easy."

"Its life Princess."

"Oh ho ho, quite the response Starswirl." a voice called out, at first, Celestia thought it was Discord himself. However, from the scowl on Starswirl's face, it far from that.

"Silver."

"That's King Silver to you, Starswirl." A Grey Unicorn wearing a rather elaborate set of robes stood behind them, along with a contingent of guards. "And the only Princess here is my daughter, Platinum."

King Silver? Celestia thought?

"I don't know what these...ponies are. Experiments, maybe?" Luna bristled and looked like she was about to show this 'King' an experiment in being a paste on the ground.

"Silence, Silver!" Starswirl whirled around and got into the pony's face. "You stand before Princess Celestia and Luna. Regents of the sun and moon! Show respect."

"You are a fool, Starswirl. Those two left us to the heavens after the Canterlot Massacre, letting the rest us ponies to wallow on the earth. As far as I am concern, they are no more."

Both Luna and Celestia winced, they only told the few survivors of the massacre. They believed that the survivors would be sufficient enough to inform the others. Apparently that was not enough.

"You disrespecting foal of a-"

"Watch your tone old mage." Growled Silver. "You are talking to the leader of all Unicorns and Ponies."

"That! That right there is why I refuse to follow your 'rule'." Starswirl got into his face, "You belief of the Unicorns being the true rulers of all ponies is foalish thinking."

"But it is true. We are masters of magic. No earth pony or pegasus can stand up to us. Its fact."

No...we need to stand united! Mother and Father would have been displeased to hear such division amongst ponies.

"You are a stupid fool is what you are. Why are you here anyways?"

"To outs the derange creature inside the castle obviously."

"Once again, your brilliant plan is going to go down in flames. Lord Discord is not to be trifled with. Turn back now, Silver. You are only going to get your stallions hurt or worse."

"Do not believe you can order me around old one. And 'Lord' Discord? HA! Lord of what?"

"He is King Discord, Master of Chaos and Order, Leader of the Griffons War! Caretaker of Equestria itself. Appointed by the Queen Solaris as heir to the throne!" Shouted Starswirl.

"I am not going to bowed down to some monster." growled Silver.

"You wont have to." Luna stated calmly, "You are hereby banished to the heartlands of Zebra Country, never to set foot in Equestria proper ever again."

"And some freak like you is going to make me? I like to see you try!" Roared Silver. His horn glowing, however, this show of power did not falter Luna, Celestia, or even Starswirl for that matter.

"Gladly." Luna said with a smile. Her horn blazed, punching through 'King' Silver defense like it was nothing more than paper. The shocked look on his face right before he was transported out was something Starswirl going to remember for a long time.

"Idiot..." Starswirl muttered, "Any of you lot want to have a go at the Princesses?" he looked at the rest of the contingent before them. All of them shaking their heads rapidly.

"Please...go in to the city and inform everypony to leave the city." Celestia asked them. Most looked to one another before nodding towards her. They then turned and ran back towards the city. Starswirl turned towards to his apprentice.

"You go as well, find Platinum, stick with her."

"But-" Clover attempted to speak, but got her mouth covered.

"No buts, please Clover. I survived the Canterlot Massacre, it may turn into that once again. I don't want to see you here. Got it?"

"I...yes Master." Clover said as she bowed her head.

"Go." Clover started to turn, before she rushed back and hug him. Starswirl smiled sadly before pushing her gently to get going.

"Will she be alright."

"Yes...besides, she and Platinum have been friends for years. Silver's family will take care of her."

"And what of her family?" Luna asked innocently, however, the grimace on Starswirl's face told her what she need to know. "I see..."

"I have taken care of her for the last 9 years, she is like a granddaughter to me. I found her family near the Everfree...or at least the remains of her family. She was hidden away in a basket, her mother's body near by." Starswirl stated as marched towards the castle. "Come, the past is already haunting us, no need to bring in anymore to our minds."

"We still haven't found a plan to keep Discord still long enough for us to use the Elements."

"I do." Celestia spoke up. "I will fight for the right to be leader of Equestria."

Silence echoed out around them, the walk towards the ever changing castle getting more and more tense.

"Are you sure sister?"

"Its the only way. Discord was always a prude when it came to Royal Conduct and Decrees."

"And in his state now?"

"Another is that he will never turn down a challenge." Celestia said with a smile.

"How does this help us with the Elements and getting Lord Discord to sit still long enough for us to use them?"

"The Royal decrees: That the losing opponent will stand down, and it is up to the new leader to appoint proper punishment. We will simple ask him to stand still."

"That...sounds like a bad idea."

"Its the only idea we have."

"We still need to get the elements from the Royal treasury."

"No need, they are in my old room in the castle." Celestia and Luna both stopped and looked at Starswirl.

"Why, pray tell, are they in your room?" Celestia ask, confusion on her face.

"When you were gone, I defend the castle almost daily with few remaining guards to keep looters and thieves out. However, one by one, the guards left. So I took the most important items in the castle and placed them into my room. And I sealed it up with various traps, curses, and spells. No one has tried to entire my room since then."

"I see. Well, change of the plan then. I will confront Discord, Luna will call the Royal Decree if I am to lose. You will go and gather the elements while we do so. Hopefully, no new surprises will be waiting for us."

"Sister, this is Brother we are talking about."

"Hmm...yes. True. I stand corrected. Expect anything Starswirl."

---

Sry about being some what late. I had to re write this several time. Its hard to piece together a history that no ones knows about, with the few info we have about the past.

I am thinking of turning this in the equestria daily. See if they will put up. Not really expecting them too of course. And there is about 3 to 5 chapters lefts. Depends on any changes that will come up.

Anyways, what you think?