At the HMS Pinafore, Twilight was about to connect to Celestia for her third daily report. As Celestia appeared on the crystal orb, Twilight started, "I'm pleased to report that Rainbow Dash has infiltrated Spike's crew as a spy. With her relaying information to us, we can plan ahead and wait for the right moment to return the prince to Equestria, your Majesty." She gulped when she started to say, "Also, in Rainbow Dash's last report, she said one of Spike's crew members mentioned Luna's alleged pirate alter-ego, the Moon Lily. I hate to pry, but was Luna really a pirate in her youth and if so, it sounded like she may have encouraged Spike to pursue this path?" When she saw Celestia's figure momentarily set ablaze, she nervously said, "Well, I must be going, got to get some sleep to chase the prince down." before disconnecting.

Celestia yelled at the top of her lungs "LUNA!" before storming off to her sister's room.

As Luna heard her sister's scream, she realized that somehow, the HMS Pinafore must have realized that she encouraged Spike to flee and become a pirate. She picked up a book and pretended to be reading it as she entered. She looked up to her sister and asked, "Doesn't anyone knock anymore?"

Celestia angrily knocked on the door to her side, punching a hole through it with the second knock, and with a death glare asked her sister, "Did you tell Spike he should become a pirate?"

Luna went back to pretending to read her book saying, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Spike running away has nothing to do with me."

Celestia growled, "Don't play stupid with me! Twilight reported that one of Spike's crew members mentioned the Moon Lily, you!"

Luna raised an eyebrow and retorted, "And that proves what? That people remember my name nearly 20 years after I retired? That doesn't mean anything."

Celestia growled, but she was right, Luna was a well-known pirate, and Twilight had never mentioned what context the name Moon Lily was used, so while she may have suspicions, she has no concrete proof, but that didn't make her leave her sister alone. "Tell me this sister. If Spike did, hypothetically speaking, come to you with the suggestion that he wanted to be a pirate, would you have encouraged him?"

Luna's brow furrowed, but she kept her nose in her book, "Hypothetically you say, well sister the answer is yes."

"And why is that?" she seethed as the room got noticeably hotter.

"Because Spike was miserable here sister, you may not have seen it, but I did. I saw how unhappy Spike was being trapped virtually his whole life inside the palace walls, never being able to experience the outside world. Always being monitored by others because he is too important to be left to his own devices, etc. etc. sister. Need I go on."

"Spike is the heir to the Equestrian throne sister, it is his duty to one day lead this kingdom. Thus yes, certain things whether he likes them or not have to be the way they are, same with me. Do you think I was so blind as too not notice these things myself, because I did sister, and it tore me up inside seeing it every time I did."

"Well clearly you didn't notice how deep it went as Spike chose to run away rather than live one more day within these walls."

"Don't you dare lecture me Luna, you who never had to deal with the burden of leadership like I had too. You who shrugged off your responsibility for years and instead chose to be a self-serving pirate while I was left to carry the burden you left for me in your absence. And much more, you who have never known the love of a mate as I have, as well as a child," she spat.

"That's low, Celestia, and you know it," Luna whispered, deeply hurt.

"But it is the truth, and you know it," she shot back.

"No," she said as she shook her head. "What I know is that Spike's a grown adult who has never been able to experience the freedom he so rightfully deserves because you kept him locked away in here. You who out of love and fear, smothered him to the point of suffocation all because you were afraid of losing him like you did your husband."

This causing Celestia to run up to Luna and slap her across the face, "You do not get to speak of him," she cried. "You who were not even here for his funeral because you chose to play pirate rather than be with your family."

"And I will always regret I wasn't able to be here for you in your time of grief sister. I wished I had known what had transpired during my voyage, but you know as well as I that I only found out after the fact. That if I had known sooner that I would have come rushing home the moment it happened."

"And is that what it will take Luna, for me to die for my beloved son to return home? My death. Just as it did you," she hissed.

"That's not what I meant Celestia," she said shocked that her sister would even suggest such a thing.

"Then what did you mean? That Spike has no responsibility as the Prince of Equestria?"

"No! Would you shut up and listen to me for a minute! I'm in contact with Spike!"

Celestia's eyes widened and calmly said, "What? You're in contact with Spike? Are you pulling my leg sister? How would you have contact with him?"

Luna sighed and walked over to her jewelry box and as she looked through it, she asked Celestia, "Do you remember those emerald necklaces I got from my first mate before I returned home? Those emeralds weren't emeralds, they were green idrningite. I gave one to Spike."

Celestia's scowl was slowly turning into a grin as Luna explained herself, "Idrningite, as in the same ore that our crystal balls are made of?"

Luna nodded, "The very same sister. If you really want to talk to Spike, I'll let you, but don't yell at me or him if you don't like what he has to say." before finally finding the idrningite necklace and handing it to her sister.

Celestia looked at the idrningite, seeing her sad reflection staring back at her. Telling her what she knew a part of her wanted, which was to let Spike enjoy his freedom out in the world. To let him fully enjoy himself, despite the worry it caused her. To not have to bear the weight of his crown.

Luna raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you going to contact him or not?"

Celestia sighed, "Sister, I can forgive you helping him, and even though I don't like to admit it, it is because a part of me would have liked to do the same."

"I sense there's a but though," Luna remarked.

"Yes, and it harkens back to something our father once said."

Luna chuckled lightly, "Father's advice was always very cryptic. What did he say?"

"That everyone has two lives. The life they wish they had, and the life they actually have. If I could, I'd try my hardest to let Spike have a more fun life, while still helping him become king. Yet such a thing is not possible sister. To bare the weight of the crown is no easy responsibility, despite what the general public thinks. It is not a world of just luxury. To make decisions every day that affect the lives of millions of people across the kingdom and the wider world. To know when to be benevolent and when to be harsh. To know who to trust and who not to trust," she said with an icy tone, yet pain filled eyes. Something Luna wasn't given even a second to absorb before a collar was suddenly placed around her neck by one of the royal guards.

"Sister," Luna cried in complete shock and pain as she fell to the ground from the sudden blockage of her magic.

"I'm sorry sister," Celestia apologized, genuinely meaning it. "I know that your heart was in the right place when you did what you did. That it wasn't some bid to get rid of Spike so you would be closer to claiming the throne or anything like that," she said as she knelt down and forced Luna to look her in the eyes.

"And that is the problem, you thought with your heart once again. Just like you did when you ran off and forsook your responsibilities. And that is something that can't be allowed."

"Sister," Luna wheezed out, feeling so incredibly weak from being cut off from her magic.

"Save your energy sister," Celestia commented. "You're going to be locked up here in your room until I get my son back. After all, I can't have you interfering in the efforts of bringing my son home," were her last words to Luna as she left the room with the idrningite necklace in hand.

Next Chapter: The Island of the Undead Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 16 Minutes