“It was an unwise move.” Stated the ancient, golden alicorn. He was as strong as ever, but his eyes betrayed the deep weariness within him.

“Do not question Our judgment.” Growled the younger one, white with a pink mane. She was Princess Celestia, Regent of the Sun, and now ruled Equestria.

“I'm not questioning your judgment, I'm telling you it was poor.” Shot back the ancient one. That was her granduncle, Aegis Vigil, who was over two thousand years old. Unnoticed to the two arguing alicorns was a third; small, with a coat of midnight blue. Princess Luna, Regent of the Moon. There are few who seek her opinion. Luna stared at the last two members of her family, who were too busy glaring at one another to even acknowledge her presence. They all stood in the throne room of Everfree Castle, devoid of everypony but them. Even the royal guard was dead.

“Your insinuations try Our patience greatly, granduncle.” Celestia said, gritting her teeth. There was a fire in her eyes, one Luna had only seen twice before: The final confrontation against Discord, and when Celestia had emerged from the Battle of Greatfall, after she given Maelstrom Blackwind the wound that would kill her. But in the past weeks, after their mother died, their father died, their uncles and aunts died, their cousins died, most of their race died, and for Celestia, after her Prince died, that fire had been lit, and it had not gone out.

“And your blindness tries mine, Celestia.” Replied Aegis. “You shouldn't have sent that letter, not with what was in it. You might as well have declared war on them! That's a war we cannot win!”

“I am the Regent of the Sun!” Celestia stomped the floor with a hoof, eyes narrowing and ears laying backward. She dropped out of the royal We, Luna noted. “I can burn them all into ashes!”

“How? By bringing the sun out of the sky?” Asked Aegis, looking indignantly skeptical.

“If I must.” Luna's elder sister declared, looking out one of the hall's great windows at the burning orb high above, now nearing the horizon. Soon, Celestia would need to re-adjust its course for the last time of the day.

“What do you tell everypony else in the world, then? What would you say to the griffon lords? What to the zebras, and the donkeys? What to the lesser ponies you're supposed to protect? And by my Father and Mother that made us all, what would you tell the dragons?” Aegis questioned, almost in a ranting manner. “They would see you bring down the source of all life, and then burning an entire continent into wasteland! What do you think happens after this? Does the world bow in fear, or do they all think to join forces and stop a remorseless killer of tens of millions?” The ancient alicorn walked around Celestia, to face her directly. “Do I need to remind you that the majority of dragons live in the Far West? The one race that was here before we were?”

“If not the sun, then something else!” Celestia yelled, scowling fiercely. “The humans did this!” She pointed around the deserted throne room. A month ago, it had been full of their kind. Now... Luna shivered, feeling very lonely. “Do I just let them live? After what they've done?!”

“You forget your place, child.” Sighed the golden alicorn.

“You forget yours!” Shouted Celestia, turning away again. “I stopped Discord, I stopped the Blackwinds-”

“Discord was you and your sister together.” Aegis interjected, acknowledging Luna's existence for the first time today.

“But it was I who crushed Maelstrom's rebellion.” Her sister was determined to win this argument, it seemed.

“Forgive me, I seem to forget burning the wings off a pegasus and skewering her as she lay writhing on the ground in agony makes you a great warrior.” Aegis's voice dripped with venom, holding a thinly-veiled taste of contempt. This was enough to get Celestia to wheel around and face him back. I wonder who would win in a fight, Luna thought, taking in the deliciously ironic possibility her last two family members might kill each other before her eyes over the matter of the death of everypony else. “What happened to you, Celestia? This isn't who your parents raised you to be!” The pink-maned alicorn had no answer for that. “Seriously considering the slaughter of an entire race? I can't begin to fathom how ashamed they'd be right now. We are the guardians of this world, not its overlords!” Celestia growled something unladylike, and stalked out of the throne room without a further word. When she had gone, Aegis bowed his head, and his shoulders sagged under an invisible load. After a minute of silence, Luna shuffled nervously.

“Are you alright, granduncle?” She asked quietly.

“The sad thing is, I know exactly how she feels.” Said Aegis, raising his head again. “But we cannot lower ourselves, Luna.” He looked at her sternly, opening his red eyes. “We must never become less than what we are. Do you understand that?”

“Of course.” The Regent of the Moon lied, not understanding, but not wanting to disappoint her granduncle either.

“I hope so. I know Celestia knows it, somewhere deep inside. She's just an adolescent, who's had almost everypony she's ever loved taken from her. There will be anger, there will be hate, there will be loathing. But in time, it will fade.” Aegis sighed. “Everything fades.”

“They didn't mean to do this, did they?” Questioned Luna, looking over her shoulder at the empty thrones, and then to the empty chamber. “Everypony is... Gone...” Once again, Luna felt her throat tighten at the realization she'd had many times in the past few days. They're all gone.

“Yes, they're gone.” Affirmed the golden alicorn, in a soft, somber tone.

“The plague- The Grey Shadow did this. The humans did this.” Luna said bleakly, moving to stand next to her.

“The humans did this.” Repeated Aegis.

“Did they mean to?” Asked Luna, looking up. This seemed to make Aegis look even sadder than normal.

“No.” The golden alicorn stared into the abyss of history, looking back over everything he witnessed in his long life. “The first time... They had no idea they carried it with them. The Grey Shadow spread like fire in a hayloft among us. Those who didn't die fled, either before catching it, or after recovering from it as I did. You know the story, Luna.”

“What about this time?” She questioned again, more urgently. “Were they trying to kill us this time?”

“It was completely by accident, just as before.” Aegis answered. “The wrong human, in the wrong ship, in the wrong port... Celestia didn't believe my findings. Even if she does, she isn't willing to face it. She might not even be capable of facing the fact that something on this scale of horror was unintended; very few of us were for years... But I didn't think she'd go and do this.” Luna wasn't concerned with what her sister had done. They're all gone... Facing that great unknown was something the young alicorn didn't wish to do.

“Aegis, what happens to us when we die?” Asked she, looking blankly ahead; though she already knew what Aegis would say.

“We were made from this world, dear Luna. And when our time is finished, we return to this world. We become everything that is, waiting to be made again into something new.” Explained the golden alicorn. Hearing it from him made it a little easier to bear; even if by a fraction.

“So mother, and father, and everpony else...” Began Luna, but she found herself unable to continue. Oh no, not again, the Regent of the Moon thought as she felt her eyes watering. I need to be stronger than this...

“They're with us in memory.” Said Aegis gently, taking her under one of his great wings. “As long as we do not forget, a part of them lives on, forever.” Luna nodded wordlessly, as she quietly mourned the loss of nearly everypony she had ever known.

The Regent of the Moon didn't recall going back to her room, but that was where she next found herself, as her mother's- Celestia's sun, now, began to rise. She must have raised and lowered the moon on for me. And for once, Luna found herself wishing it was still dark out. Another day, she sighed to herself. One of her servants, the unicorn Greenstone, knocked on the door. “Yes, Greenstone?” Asked Luna.

“How did you know it was me?” Answered Greenstone with a question of her own, as she walked in. Like her namesake, the unicorn was a pale green color, with a pink mane. She wore a servant's apron, a practical if not formal garment.

“You're the only one up at these hours, besides my sister and I.” The midnight alicorn said, as she rolled off her bed. Greenstone pulled the curtains of the room fully apart with her magic.

“I suppose you'd notice eventually, your highness.” Agreed the unicorn. “What could I get you for breakfast?”

“I'm not that hungry, Greenstone.” Said Luna, almost apologetically. Her servant looked at her worriedly.

“That's the third time you've refused breakfast this week.” She spoke in an anxious tone.

“I know, I know. Just...” The alicorn princess fumbled for words. What do I tell her? What can I tell her? She couldn't understand, she'll never be able to understand. “Not today, Greenstone. I'm fine.”

“You're not fooling anyone, least of all yourself.” The unicorn furrowed her brow. “I won't try to press it though, you'll come around in your own time.”

“Thank you.” Greenstone paid this no heed; instead, she levitated Luna's crown off it's resting pad, and produced a rag from her apron.

“Your sister is holding court today, she's requested your presence.” Reported her servant, dusting the crown before placing it on her head. “You ought to look your best. Everypony needs to see that you're still here, and worthy of their loyalty.”

“Why not just Celestia?” Asked Luna, as Greenstone fussed over her crown's position atop her head. “I don't matter to them.”

“Nonsense!” Declared the unicorn. “This is an uncertain time, ponies will be glad for whatever alicorns they can see. Before you came, things were a mess. At least that's what my great-grandfather always said...”

“How long ago was that?” The Regent of the Moon questioned. Perhaps I met him once. Maybe he was in our army at the defeat of Discord.

“Oh, he was born... Must have been a hundred and thirty eight years ago.” Said Greenstone.

“That was nine years after Discord was bound in stone by my sister and I.” Luna noted, skeptically.

“He must have heard stories from the elders of his own family, then. But, he told me, when I was a little filly, Greenstone, you thank the alicorns for everything. Before they came, nothing was sacred, nothing was certain, nothing was good. There was only chaos and fear.” Greenstone did her best imitation of what Luna could only assume had been her great-grandfather's voice.

“Things were bad back then.” Agreed Luna. “But that stallion lived in a time of legends. Starswirl the Bearded, Clover the Clever, Hurricane Whitewind, and so many more... Now who do we have? Goldleaf the Lame, Clearspring Swiftrain, Ember Platinum... Pale shadows of their forebears. Even a foal like me can see this.”

“Don't be so hard on them, Princess.” Greenstone replied calmly. “You're one hundred and sixty years old, that's ancient for the rest of us.”

“And yet, I am a filly to my own kind.” Shot back Luna. “In mind and body.”

“A filly that has seen more history than any of the rest of us ever will. Give us lesser ponies time, we won't disappoint you.” Her servant had a patient tone in her voice, almost a humorous chiding.

“I should hope not.” Luna stated, moving toward the door. “Let us see what my sister has planned for today. It'll be her first session of court since...” The princess shook the memories away. “Let's just go.”

“As you wish, your highness.” Nodded Greenstone, leading the way. Everfree was a relic of another time, when the desperate alicorns had fought tooth and hoof for every piece of land from Discord's forces. Hence the name Everfree. We'd never submit. It was a far cry from what the luxurious new city of Canterlot would be, once work was done. And how long will that be? Luna wondered. Five years? Ten? Fifty? Work was constantly fluctuating, there was no way to tell when the city would be ready for inhabitants. But one thing was for sure, Canterlot would have far nicer weather. Everfree was wild, untouchable by Discord's chaos, and untouchable by alicorn magic. Her father, the Nightlord, had said that this was what Old Alicornia was like now. The human magic was cold, weak, and dead. There was no power in it; thus, the land they had taken fell back into its natural patterns of storms and floods and fires and earthquakes and all manner of disasters. Yet, the humans survived. A continent of Everfree, how terrible.

Luna walked into the throne hall, where her sister was already on their mother's throne. Her father's throne was empty, the Regent of the Moon guessed that was for her. As if she could read minds, Celestia motioned Luna towards it. Greenstone nudged her forward, and stepped back into the crowd of assembled ponies. There was an uneasy muttering from them, but nopony dared raise their voice too loud; Celestia's gaze was enough to instill a sense of fear in anything lesser than an alicorn. They all look afraid... Luna took her seat by her sister, and the crowd fell quiet. They were from all over Equestria, dignitaries, ambassadors, and even state leaders, some of which Luna had not seen in decades.

“Many of you have heard rumors, as of late.” Celestia began in her royal voice, echoing into every corner of the room so that everypony could hear her loudly and clearly. “The presence of We and Our dear sister upon the thrones only lends them credence.” This drew more nervous mutterings. “You have heard that a terrible blight befell the alicorns of Everfree and the rest of the realm, you have heard that many are dead, even the Sun Queen and Nightlord. If you have heard these things, then you have heard correctly. The Grey Shadow crossed the sea one month prior, and has devastated Our kin. Only Princess Luna, Aegis Vigil, and We remain living in Everfree.” The room exploded into chaos; shouts and yells and questions rebounded off the hall's stone sides.

“Silence!” Ordered Aegis in a voice that could bring ponies to their knees if he so chose to. The assembly collectively fell quiet again, and stared wide-eyed to their nominal liege.

“Other alicorns survive beyond Everfree, Our kind is not yet finished. Have no fear of that, subjects.” Luna chose to speak now, seeing the true reason of their fear.

“The Grey Shadow has no affect on lesser ponies.” Declared the Regent of the Moon. “There is nothing for you to fear from that either.” Many of the assembly breathed a sigh of relief. How could they be so ignorant? Wondered the alicorn princess.

“Our sister speaks rightly.” Celestia affirmed, glancing at Luna briefly. “We all know where the Grey Shadow comes from.”

“The humans!” Shouted a unicorn from the crowd. Other nodded in agreement.

“Indeed.” Said the white alicorn. “We have sent them a condemnation of their plague, and let them know that this terrible attack will not go unpunished. There will be vengeance for the Sun Queen! There will be vengeance for the Nightlord! And there will be vengeance for everypony else who was murdered by this vile plague!” The assembled ponies voiced their approval. Not the old Blackwind crowd, though. A handful of pegasi looked to each other instead of Celestia, seeming none too comfortable about this new development. Why are they even alive? Wondered the Regent of the Moon; not because she thought they should be dead, but rather out of confusion that neither her mother nor her sister had punished them. They were offered a pardon, they didn't take it. Yet, they still sneaked back to us... Luna frowned at them, before reminding herself that she was supposed to keep a neutral expression at court. Another pony also didn't seem very enthusiastic. Goldleaf the Lame, the Princess thought with a silent sigh. The mahogany-coated, bright-maned unicorn with only three fully functional legs, yet another poor successor to such worthy names as Starswirl and Clover. Of course he'd be worried about this, the coward.

“Eastmarch is with you, Princess!” Declared General Longwing, representing his queen at court.

“Highcrest as well!” Affirmed Silver Farpeak, the ambassador of Clearspring Swiftrain. Of course the pegasi are first to jump at a chance for war. At least the two strongest kingdoms are with us.

“Unicornia will do its part.” Stated Splendor the Magnanimous, House Platinum's dignified envoy.

“I don't know about this...” Rye, the unlucky mare chosen to speak for all the disparate earth pony clans, said. “We all saw what the human's iron fire did in Maelstrom's Rebellion...” The entire court turned to look at her. The dark brown pony visibly wilted under the collective disapproving gaze. Typical earth pony attitude, the faces of the pegasi and unicorns seemed to say. “I mean, we'll help if you really need us, but...” Rye backed up a few steps, trembling.

“We understand your misgivings.” Spoke Luna, before Celestia could respond with something more harsh. “But Our sister needs all ponies to stand with her. Even you, honorable Rye.” Rye swalled nervously and nodded, looking like she was about to panic and flee the throne room.

“Well-said, sister.” Celestia acknowledged quietly, before addressing the whole assembly. “Though We appreciate Our loyal subjects, this is not the time to swear your realms to the cause. The news must be spread far and wide, to every corner of Equestria. We expect the leaders of all states to journey to the new capital of Canterlot, within three months time.”

“We only need a week.” General Longwing said.

“Be that as it may, not all ponies are as fast as you.” Replied Celestia. “Three months will be enough to marshal your armies, and make the journey north, south, and west, whichever way you may need to take to Canterlot. Until then, We will prepare there.” She looked over the crowd with a regal gaze, making eye contact with the most important ponies. “You have your work; be swift.” The buzzing murmur of the crown returned, as they shuffled out of the throne room. Celestia then motioned for Aegis and Luna to come closer. “Granduncle, what is the state of Our personal forces?”

“The royal guard? They're gone. Alicorn military strength is a thing of the past, now.” Aegis answered, looking at the empty posts where they once stood.

“Train new ones, then. Select the fastest and strongest pegasi, and the most powerful unicorns. They'll be enough.” The Regent of the Sun ordered. Aegis bowed, and exited the hall. “Luna, I have a job for you as well.” The royal plural is gone... Perhaps it is something personal?

“What is it?” She asked, curious as to what her sister needed of a foal.

“I need you to go to Canterlot at once. I've had the work accelerated, so the castle should be more or less inhabitable on the lower levels by now. From there, you will begin a survey of the land. Canterlot is inland, but a river goes right under it. If the humans were to sail up it and land an army... Well, it would not be good, would it?” Luna shook her head. “That is why I need to do this, so we know every detail of the surrounding area, details we can use against them.”

“I don't know how to survey, though.” Protested the midnight alicorn. “I'm not sure I even know what surveying is...”

“Goldleaf will accompany you. Your task will be overseeing it all, and making sure nothing goes wrong.” Said Celestia.

“Goldleaf?” Luna asked, indignantly. “But he's-”

“A craven, a cripple, and ultimately, loyal.” Interjected the Regent of the Sun.

“I was watching him though. He was like the pegasi who fought for Blackwind; he didn't seem very happy.” Luna continued to object.

“Goldleaf fears me too much to make any moves against me, that is why he will help you. If any pony betrays you, Luna, then they have betrayed me. And I will not suffer betrayal lightly.” Stated the white alicorn, steel in her voice. There's that fire again, noted Luna.

“Are you going to keep around the traitors, then?” Wondered she. Celestia took on a thoughtful expression.

“Mother didn't kill them, I'll honor her memory and keep them alive. If they show any sign of going over to the enemy, though...” Both knew how that sentence would end.

“This is all very sudden, sister.” The younger alicorn shifted the subject; she too had her doubts about all this. “I am with you in this, but I agree with our granduncle... This was not a deliberate attack.” Celestia narrowed her eyes, but showed no signs of anger other than that undying fire that dimly shined through her gaze. “I must question why we are going after them. Furthermore, how? Ponies aren't natural mariners, Celly. I don't see how we could retake Old Alicornia.”

“We will learn, Luna. There is nothing that is beyond us, if we keep at it.” Stated her sister.

“How do we remove the humans, though?” Luna pressed the issue. “They're not just going to leave their homes.”

“Our homes, Luna. That land is ours by right.”

“That doesn't change the fact they've lived there for fifteen hundred years.” The Regent of the Sun snorted dismissively. “Even if you do decide to kill every single one of them, it will take generations of lesser ponies to root them out. Can we do that?”

“Perhaps I was rather rash in sending such a bold letter.” Admitted she, in a rare display of humility. “What is done is done, though. I cannot let the deaths of our family go unavenged, you know that.”

“I guess...”

“Not to mention, there are still two Blackwinds out there.” Celestia continued. “Hearth is old, he'll drop dead soon enough, if he hasn't already. The bastard, though...” It was widely said that the daughter of Maelstrom had been born of an illicit affair between the rebel pegasus and some other Equestrian noble; no one was sure who. In any case, Maelstrom was not defended by the fact that she had never married, not even once. “She could be a problem.”

“Does she have an army?” Questioned the younger alicorn. If she had an army, yes, that would make her a threat...

“Not exactly...” Celestia trailed off, looking away. “She's got seven other ponies.”

“Seven?” Luna skeptically asked. “An illegitimate daughter of a rebel with seven other ponies is a threat?”

“It is better to be wary than to be taken by surprise.” Her sister stated firmly.

“So... What is our plan?” The white alicorn sighed; Luna could see that she was beginning to become weary of her questions.

“I'll tell you when it becomes relevant. In the meantime, you have work to do, as do I.” She attempted to end the conversation. I don't think so.

“Celly, what's the point of this? Why go through all this just to kill some folk a thousand miles away?”

“Look around you! Don't you see it, Luna?” The fire in Celestia's eyes was rising up again, as she moved a hoof across the throne hall.

“See what?” There's nothing to look at...

“Exactly! You don't see it because there is nothing to see. Where is our kin? Where is our family? Where is our parents? Where is-” She closed her eyes for a second, ceasing her barrage of questions. “They took everything from me. I will not sit idly as those who did this for this live free.” The midnight alicorn lowered her head at the insult Celestia had unwittingly made.

“You've still got me...” Luna said quietly, hoping that her sister really hadn't left her out on purpose.

“Yes.” Acknowledged Celestia, standing up. “I've still got you, Luna. But you and Aegis would have us roll over and accept this. Not I.”

“But-” Luna began to protest, but Celestia was already walking towards the main exit. She stopped suddenly, and looked back at Luna.

“Who is it you love most?” Celstia asked, in a cold tone.

“You, my sister...” It's an obvious answer, Luna thought.

“If I had died before your very eyes, and you knew who was responsible... What would you be doing right now?” The Regent of the Moon thought deeply, and did not like the answer she found.

Author's note: This was a hard chapter to write, the words just didn't flow. Writing the point of view for a pony who has an adult's knowledge and vocabulary, and who tries to have an adult perspective, but is still a child when you get down to it... Not the easiest thing. But, it's done, the plot is moving on both sides of the sea. Where will it go? Let's find out... Next week when I get back from vacation.