Tough Love: Luna vs. Celestia
Part 11: Hatch and Blood

Satiated. That was a word Celestia didn’t often get to use on herself. When she awoke, the scene around her certainly telegraphed this. On her bedside table was a stack of dirty trays that had once contained the other eleven cheesecakes from a few days ago. To her left, Captain Grey snoozed idly. To her right, Striking Spear was looking very guiltily at the ceiling with the covers tucked up under his chin. Purring softly, Celestia turned on her side and lifted a sultry white wing to tickle his nose. He flinched a little, looking over at her with a troubled expression. “Why so blue, Captain Spear?” Celestia whispered, pushing her mane behind her ear and smiling.

“I-I don’t know what came over me.” He said in a shame-filled way. “I have a wife! A son!” he looked over at her with a terrified expression. “What am I supposed to tell them?!”

The Princess smirked just a little, remembering how easy it had been to seduce him. The mildest flick of solar magic could ignite a stallion’s feral passions like no other. “That you went to bed with a goddess that wanted you.” Celestia snickered just a little, leaning and licking a crumb of cheesecake off of his cheek. He flinched out of bed like she’d slapped him. She admired his white and naked body while he scrambled around the room to work his armor back on. He was such a delightful shade of crimson, it reminded her of the strawberry sauce she’d licked off of his chest and—elsewhere, the night before. Captain Grey was just one stallion, he had his limits, the poor thing. But BOTH Captains in her bed, ohhh, that was the ticket to satisfying her. She liked the attention, very much.

“I-I’ve gotta go.” Striking Spear said, his eyes troubled and distant as he rushed out of the room.

Celestia just shrugged a little, her eyes flickering with a golden light before turning back to purple. She sighed and laid on her back with her great wings open. Smiling over at the sleeping Captain Grey, she tickled his nose with some of her feathers. He sneezed violently, waking up with a bluster. The alicorn giggled while he turned on his side and looked at her uncomprehendingly for a few moments. “Welcome back to the land of the living, Captain Grey.” The Princess’ tinkling laughter made him blush.

“Er.” Was all he could seem to say, and he rose from the bed very sore. Like the other Captain, she watched him wander embarrassedly around the room to collect bits of his armor. Celestia’s nudity spell had separated all the parts out into bits all around the room. While he struggled into them, the alicorn rose at last and lazily stretched her wings and limbs. “That was…” the Pegasus tried to find words for it all, blushing and staring at the door more than Celestia.

“Heavenly?” Celestia offered, flopping onto her side to admire his masculine studliness and face. “Hmhmhm, Captain, you should be flattered. Whatever a Princess wants, she gets. I am an alicorn, after all.” She rose after praising her own species, pecking him on the cheek. “Doesn’t it feel good to be the object of my desires?” she saw him flush again, and made for her private bathroom to ready herself for the coming day. As she walked by the window, she heaved the sun rather ungracefully into the sky. Bam. Morning. No effort or grace. Captain Grey watched her go, gulping a little. “Go and groom for a bit, I must make ready for the Noonday Court.” She dismissed him. Very suddenly, the white Pegasus felt used.

The Noon Day court began an hour and a half later. Captain Striking Spear seemed to be missing, so Celestia replaced him with a random guard from a random post on her way to the throne room. Captain Grey kept his eyes downcast, unsure about what was even going on anymore. He glanced at his Princess, who walked with her chest thrust out and a grand smile plastered across her long face. She seemed happy, and all was right with the world… but he had the itching feeling it was not. She’d changed for the better, sure, but… she was stronger, livelier, more assertive against crime and stupid ponies that didn’t do their jobs right. As a military stallion, he liked that but… but she seemed… he didn’t have a word for it. Poisonous, perhaps.

Captain Grey saw servants scurry out of the Princess’ path. None of them stopped to speak with her, or do much more than bow as she passed. They were even cautious about stepping on her shadow, in case it drew her eye. They all hurried past her, or into side passages as she went. One poor maid accidently knocked over a vase when she saw the Princess coming. Celestia stopped to aide her and fix the vase with magic, but the little pony rushed away in a fright. The alicorn shrugged it off, placing the repaired vase back on its display pedestal. Captain Grey bit his lip a little. This wasn’t how walking about the palace usually went. The scent of fear was too thick. He found himself wishing that Princess Luna was there, for some reason.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

Ponyville quickly became aware of Princess Luna’s presence, and soon gifts and well wishes were pouring in. The moment it had been discovered she was injured, Twilight would often open the door of her tree home to find it surrounded with food baskets, get-well-soon items, and even things like flowers and candies.

It had been three days since the dark alicorn’s surprise arrival, and thankfully she was doing much better. The same could not be said for her Lunar Stallions, though, which she constantly crooned over like a mother hen. Aegis Shield and Stalwart Hide didn’t heal nearly as quickly as her Majesty, and were bedridden for the moment. Poor Luna, she worried so much about all of her subjects, despite her own injuries. She could often be found pacing, quietly thinking to herself. But, she used the rest of the time to speak with the Elements of Harmony.

Well, speak with is a relative term. Poison is probably the better word. In a well-practiced mannerism of worry and virginal distress, she laced all six mares with stories of how horrid Princess Celestia had become. All the events were true, of course, and the Lunar Stallions confirmed them as time went on. One by one, the six grew to despise Celestia. Sister-abusing, foal-terrifying, tyrannical Celestia. Even innocent little Fluttershy grew distressed and was often seen with a troubled frown on her face. Princess Luna spun a thick web indeed, and now they were all caught in it. The game was almost over.

Princess Luna leaned over Aegis Shield, one of her Lunar Stallions, with a tired pout on her lips. He looked up at her weakly, smiling with cracked lips. Leaning, she kissed his forehead and whispered encouraging things. Aegis nickered quietly before returning to sleep. Nurse Redheart’s potent medicines kept he and Stalwart Hide relaxed and comfortable. While they did refuse to leave Luna’s side, they’d obeyed when she’d told them to rest and take their meds. Just having her in sight was enough for them, for the moment.

Princess Luna looked over when Twilight Sparkle came in from outside. “Princess.” She said, bobbing her head a bit. “It’s time for us to go now.”

“Go?” Luna said, putting on a confused face.

“This can’t go on. We’ve decided that we have to go stop Princess Celestia.” Twilight’s face was a somber, almost angry one. “I know you’re injured, but we need you to come with us. With your help we can get past all the palace guards and right to her.”

“Twilight, what do you mean to do?” Luna asked, her face a mask of worry.

Twilight Sparkle sighed softly, looking troubled. “Whatever needs to be done. If she doesn’t surrender, we’ll have to make her.”

“Thou means to get into a hoof fight with a goddess?” Luna said incredulously.

“She’s not my goddess.” Twilight whispered. “Not anymore.” She turned around in the doorway, going outside. Luna could not have been more delighted.

The dark alicorn made sure her Lunar Stallions were okay for the moment, then tried not to skip outside to join the others. All six mares were all frowns, each having set her face in a determined sort of fearful expression. Rainbow Dash even had a splotch of spectra under both eyes, like a hoof-ball player. She was ready to go into battle. Luna opened her wings slowly to help announce her presence, and they all looked at her. “Once we go to do this… there’s no turning back.” Luna said with concern. “A-are you all sure you want to do this? If we fail, terrible things could happen to all of us. I might end up on the moon again!” she mewled softly, looking distantly at nothing with a rather terrified expression.
“Dun worry none, Princess.” said Applejack soberly, taking off her hat in an endearing way. “We won’t let that happen to ya.”

“We’ll show that big fat meanie face what for!” Pinkie Pie said, hopping up and down as though she were a pony made of rubber.

“Darling, if we didn’t step up to do such uncouth things now and then, we wouldn’t be the elements, now would we?” Rarity gave her mane a haughty toss.

“Time to put the tyrant down!” Rainbow Dash was getting way too into it all, and everypony present winced at her inappropriate air-boxing. “One-two! Bam bam!” she said to the invisible Celestia she saw in her mind’s eye.

“I-I’m sure things will work out…” Fluttershy said from behind her mane. “I hope, that is, that they do… uhm…” she wilted a little, looking down and to one side very shyly.

“Big Mac, you’ll take good care of the Lunar Stallions, right?” Twilight looked over at her coltfriend standing in the doorway (the past few days had helped them grow very close).

“Eyuup.” He said, bobbing his head a few times. Luna thanked him with a broad smile. Turning, he shut the door with his muzzle and locked it, peering at them from a window after that. When he was sure nopony was looking, he blew Twilight a kiss and she blushed a little.

“Ready Princess?” Twilight said, trying to sound leaderly and confident. Luna leaned down, stretching her great arms around all six of them and pulling them into embrace. They returned the hug, pressing up to the princess like the devoted herd of mares they were. They would sort all this out. For Princess Luna, for Equestria!

“Ready.” Luna said when she’d straightened herself. “Hold on, now.” Her brow furrowed as she concentrated. Her horn ignited with a bright light that swept beams back and forth around them. Everypony but Twilight stepped back a safe distance away, watching with interest. They’d only been vaguely told about what was happening, that Twilight’s magic had apparently been retarded as a foal. Now, her full potential was about to be brought out. “Here goes!” she said through gritted teeth, mane flapping wildly back and forth.

One the ethereal plain, the golden egg wrapped around Twilight Sparkle’s soul jarred, twitched, and crackled animatedly. Almost as though something were heaving from the inside. Little pillars of light were escaping through the cracks, pointed in all directions. Luna only wished that Twilight and her friends could see its powerful glory. Lunar magic slapped up against the container, over and over, spreading the cracks, teasing them to spiderweb further across the surface. For three days during various sessions of trying, the dark alicorn had been easing the egg to the fruition of breaking. Now was the time, and the glorious birth of whatever power Celestia had sealed away was about to be unleashed. Luna was panting in exhertion, sweating down the sides of her face. Open. Open! Break open, damn you! Truly, it took an alicorn’s effort to break an alicorn’s seal. It had just needed to be weakened over a period of time.

The egg suddenly burst, a great ring of wind and magic rushing away from Twilight Sparkle. Luna stepped back, peering at the true form of the purple mare’s soul with her jaw agape. She couldn’t believe it. Celestia you cheeky, brilliant little bitch. Twilight’s soul-- it was a perfectly contained star. A sun. Twilight Sparkle was a solar pony. A mortal alicorn. A mana battery. An incarnation of magic so pure, Luna had never seen one with her own eyes. They were the stuff of legends. Tears went down her cheeks as she stared at the fiery nexus. Glorious—simply glorious!

The perfect weapon of endless energy to take down her sister. Incarnate.

=-----=-----=-----=-----=

Celestia was a little disappointed when she saw the Noon Day court was deserted. Normally her schedule was packed to the gills with appointments, ponies rushing to and fro to have just a moment of the Princesses time and get her input on things. No, now the place was as quiet as a mausoleum. Groups of ponies were quietly writing at their desks, hunched over their work and not daring to look up at the throne. Squires rushed back and forth on their errands, ears turned back and eyes always shifty like they were expecting to be struck. Anypony’s hoof steps were like loud echoes in the quiet throne room, and if anyone so much as coughed, everypony knew it.

The Princess looked one way, then the other, wondering at all the strangeness. Things had been rather light lately, but then again it was fall right now. Ponies were busily harvesting their crops, planning festivals, tabulating their year’s work before winter was supposed to begin. Winter was vacation time, after all. Celestia chalked it up so a simple alignment of the stars. No and then perhaps there really wasn’t anything that needed her royal stamp of approval. If that was so, it obviously meant she was doing a good job! If nopony was coming to see her, they must’ve been very busy with their own productive lives. That filled her with joy.

Captain Grey looked over his shoulder at Celestia, who was up on the dais. They locked eyes for a moment, and he quickly turned his head back around again. She’d mentioned what had happened to Striking Spear. Poor guy. He hoped that his friend’s family wouldn’t cast him out into the gutter. Though, if he’d been seduced by the Princess maybe he couldn’t help it? HAD he been seduced by the Princess? The solar stallion felt stress rising up within him. Something was just wrong. Very very wrong. He shouldn’t be nervous and unhappy at his job. He couldn’t help but feel that some sort of line, somewhere, had been crossed. He was used to following the Princess of the day around everywhere, so he knew how her subjects looked at her. But, they didn’t look at her right anymore… it was just… just… CRACK! He startled, for a teleportation spell had gone off right outside the throne room. Celestia looked up from her thoughts, tilting her head curiously.

Princess Luna pushed one of the massive double doors open, one of her eyes still swollen shut . Servants and scribes gasped, every pony rising from his or her seat. Celestia lifted a hoof, looking concerned. “Luna! Did you not see to your wounds from the other night?” she leaned forward from the top of the dais, eyebrows bunching in the middle of her royal forehead.

“My pride goeth before a fall, sister. I bear this bruise with pride, knowing I stood up to you.” The dark alicorn crossed the threshold and into the room with a flick of her tail. Celestia frowned in confusion. What? There was murmuring amongst all the ponies in the room. Princess Luna stood up to Celestia, and got a black eye for it?

“Quiet now.” Celestia tapped her hoof none-too-gently on the platform, startling them into silence. “Sister what’s happened? You look… off.” she said.

“You’ve done enough, sister! It’s time for you,” Luna threw her chest out with a toss of her mane. “To step off of the throne!”

Dead silence reigned. Celestia stared at her. The servants and scribes looked back and forth. A small, curling and rather nasty smile started to work its way across the sun princess’ face. “Ohh, I see. This is another lesson of yours, is it?” she peered around. “Where are your two Lunar Stallions, ready to pounce on me?” she made a show of checking the ceiling, the columns, and the entryway of the balcony behind the throne. “What is today’s little test, Luna? I thought our lessons were over when I beat you?”

More troubled murmuring from the crowd. Celestia had beaten Princess Luna?! Luna heaved a breath, lifting her wing and drawing out a long whistle-like item. She blew on it, but it made no noise. For MILES AROUND, every single Lunar Stallion flinched and rushed his hooves over his ears. The Princess doth call! From all over Canterlot and in the palace, they launched into the air and rushed for the throne room. The moments of long silence while they waited were terrible, for the sisters stared at each other. Celestia with quiet bemusement and smiles, Luna with a defiant glare of righteousness.

Suddenly, side doors few open as Lunar Stallions began to fill the room. They swept in from the highest windows, shattering the ones that weren’t open. They poured in from the open main door, knocking over scribe desks and shoving past servants to rush to the Princess’ aide. The time was neigh!

“Oh.” said Celestia with a rather impressed face. “There they are.”

“More than them, Princess.” Applejack pushed open the second double door of the throne room with the crown of her head. “It’s us too. Y’all done wrong by Equestria, t’ain’t righ’ what you’ve been up to lately.” The group of five ponies stepped aside while the scribes and other civilians that worked in the throne room fled. This was heating up a bit too quickly for them, who knew what was about to happen.

“Twilight’s friends?” Celestia was genuinely confused now, and rose onto all fours. “But where is--!” she stopped when she felt it. A warmth touched her, magically. A warm, frothy feeling that one got right after emerging from a hot tub, or napped in the sun in spring. A lazy, curling, sensual warmth was stroking Celestia on the ethereal plain, the plain of magic. She squinted, peering at it instead of the physical world. Tendrils of white and orange were slowly filling the room from the hall outside. What was that?

“Sister!” Luna shouted up at her from across the throne room, over the heads of the Lunar Stallions. “You’ve fallen from grace! Step off the throne peacefully, and you shan’t be harmed! I swear it!” Luna extended her olive branch in front of everypony.

“I’ve done nothing wrong, sister.” Celestia scowled rather openly, returning her vision to the physical realm. The tendrils of magic would have to wait, Luna would be the more powerful adversary.

“You’ve done plenty of wrong, Princess!” shouted Rarity.

“Big mean, meany-face!” Pinkie Pie said, bouncing up and down and rearing to go.

“Y’all’ve turned into a tyrant, pushing yerself on ever’pony like you own the world and you can do whatever y’all want! T’ain’t right!” Applejack stomped a hoof angrily.

Celestia stared down at her subjects, wings slowly lifting to open in a threatening way. “I do own the world, my little ponies. I’m an alicorn. If I want something, I get it. I can do whatever I want,” her pearly chest suddenly inflated with all the power that nopony alive had ever seen before.

“BECAUSE I MOLDED THE FOUNDATIONS OF EQUESTRIA! IT IS MI-IIIIIIINE!”

Every single pony in the room except Luna fell to their knees in agony, blood spurting from their ears! Jagged, throaty cries brought even the gathered Lunar Stallions to their knees, and the roars of pain and confusion filled the air. The Royal Canterlot Voice— weaponized!? Celestia slowly worked her way down the stairs of the dais, stepping on Lunar Stallions as she crossed the carpet to stand in front of Luna. “Another coup, sister? Really?” she whispered, though nopony could hear her through the blood in their ears. Even Pinkie Pie was weeping at the pure, awesome power that had concussed her eardrums and made her bleed so fantastically. Writhing and misery all around them, the alicorns stared at each other. “We already proved I am more powerful than you, once more.” Celestia smiled just a little bit evilly, a lopsided grin of raw confidence.

“Perhaps, sister.” Luna whispered back, her eyes twinkling as she backed away in a rather submissive way, turning her ears back. All the ponies were watching. This was the most tender moment. It all had to go exactly right if this was to work. Celestia followed, lowering her brow into an under-the-eyebrows grin of devilish intent. Celestia's horn lit up with its white-gold magicks, ready to punish her very naughty little sister. Everypony seemed to think she was beating her sister... maybe just this once she could let them be right. The white alicorn grabbed Luna bodily with her magic, rushing her forward towards herself. Grabbing her by the shoulder, she back-hoof’d Luna so hard she cried out like a yelping puppy. Back-hoof’d her again. Back-hoof’d her again. She watched Luna’s face snap one way, then the other, then back again. A Lunar stallion sank his teeth into Celestia’s back right hoof, and she kicked him away without mercy. He died on the steps of the dais.

“You. Didn’t. Learn. The. First. Time?” Celestia’s eyes lit up like gold, oily cigar-like smoke rising slowly from her lids. The rush, the pure adrenaline-filled rush of the violence was glorious! Solar magic was brimming from her, smoking off her with all the bright aura of the sun itself. Luna yipped, yelped, put her hooves up over her face, only to be struck again and again. “Why? Not? Was a thousand years on the moon not enough to teach you a lesson?!” Celestia raised her hoof to knock her sister down, when something bright appeared in the doorway.

“Stop.” The voice was both male and female. Many voices. Celestia jerked her head to look. The power she'd sensed earlier was standing in the doorway. The mare was quite literally-- on fire.

End of Part 11