The arch in front of Luna led to one of the many balconies of Canterlot; this door in particular, led to one of the main gantries were often enough, Celestia would greet her subjects. Five steps and she would be out, and the scrutiny of the crowd, who, in rowdy baying were chanting her name, would become a reality. Just five steps… and yet Luna hesitated. At the moment, nopony, not even her sister, could see her; she had the chance to steel herself.

She found her situation conflicted, debating exactly how to address the crowd; she knew for a fact that what she did next could either propel her forwards, or forever hold her back. She weighed failure and success, consequence and repercussions; all in the span of a minute or so. She recalled the talk with her sister, who so coldly denied her simple request for equality, and wondered what the truth behind Celestia’s reluctance could be. Nightmare Moon seemed to be Celestia’s wild card, something she could always use to trump whatever Luna brought to the table; of course, Luna knew herself better than her sister did, and she was sure that Nightmare Moon would never again return.

Luna’s plan began to solidify. The rumor seemed to be a spur of luck for her, something unexpected that ended up in her favor for once; here, she had Canterlot in her hooves, and whoever controlled Canterlot, controlled Equestria. She would lie-fuel the fire-but not send the protesters into a riot; she liked her sister and wouldn’t want a fate such as that to befall her. She would use the crowd to propose a challenge of some sort, a way so that everypony who dwelled in Canterlot could see with their own eyes her capability to rule. A smile crept across her features then as resolution flooded in; she’d prove her sister wrong, and it started now.

Taking a deep breath, Luna crossed the remaining length of the marble flooring and stepped into the light. Celestia took note of her arrival and turned, staring deep into her sisters eyes. Though on the outside, Celestia seemed stoic and queenly, her eyes, which softened with emotion so that Luna may understand the situation, reviled the truth.

Don’t mess up.

Luna caught her gaze and nodded in confirmation.

I won’t.

As Celestia brushed past her to stand further back on the gantry, Luna walked to the railing and raised her hooves, tapping into her royal voice to silence the crowd.

“I, Luna, Raiser of the Moon, and Sister of Celestia, greet you!”

A cheer rose up, and then the protesters fell silent; they were waiting on her to speak. Clearing her throat, Luna continued, lowering her voice now that she was the center of attention.

“I request one of you to step forwards and explain to me what all of this is about.” To emphasise what ‘this’ was, Luna propped herself on the railing and spread her fore-hooves, including the whole crowd.

For a moment or two, an electric mumble broke out in the audience, and necks began to turn; names were shouted, but in the end, only one stallion stepped forwards. Looking up at the elevated Princess, he began to speak.

“I, Brawny Bolder of the Upper Canterlot Sector, am willing to tell you the story. I met a pony, one of your royal guards, who had overheard the argument between the two of you while making his rotation through the garden.” Before Brawny could continue, however, another pony stepped up; a satin red colored unicorn with vibrant violet eyes and a determined stare.

“But I heard different! A gardener of yours, whose name I know not, told me that he had overheard you defending your rights to raise the moon—” Yet a second time, a ponies sentence was cut off as another stepped up; a pegasus mare with an apprehensive stutter in her voice.

“Wasn’t it a Nobel? My brother had told me that a gentlecolt, one whom he had met in Ponyville’s tavern, had overheard that Celestia was vying for Totalitarianism!”

The crowd began to murmur, talking in low voices as the validity of the current situation seemed less believable; Luna saw this, and quickly intervened.

“Enough!” Luna shouted, and the mumbling died down. “The three of you are right, as my sister and I did have an argument; this in the least, is truthful. I think the matter is over what we were arguing about in particular.”

Luna could feel her sisters mounting apprehension without even having to look behind her; she held herself a little higher.

“What we can all agree upon, however, is that the argument seemed to have been over the rights of power, yes?” Luna piped.

The crowd began to nod, mingling their actions with the occasional shout of confirmation.

“You have all heard that my sister is after stripping my rights, or that she wants to establish Totalitarianism like the Quaggan Republic; that she wants me to be put away. I tell you that isn’t exactly a lie—”

“What is this heresy?!” Celestia intervened, her tempered voice carrying over the charged crowd. Stepping up to look venomously at her sister, she said, a little quieter. “Luna, why must you lie?”

Instead of answering her question, however, Luna turned again to confront her audience, who had, in the span of seconds, regained some of its hostility on hearing the interjection.

“No, Celestia is not attempting to establish Totalitarianism, I know and love her; we’ve talked, and this is not one of her evils. However, she had indeed threatened to strip me of my power, she is afraid that I would be a usurper; a threat.”

A booing rose from the audience, and Celestia recoiled a bit, shocked at the level of hostility.

“Again, I repeat my defense in front of you all!” She turned to look at Celestia. “Celestia, sister! I am not seeking for total control; I’m seeking an equal amount of ruling power, the amount I used to have before I was banished. Will you not give it to me?” Luna’s tone fringed on begging.

Clenching her jaw and growling something under her breath, Celestia turned to address the protesters.

“My subjects, I will not give Luna power!” The crowd began to roar, throwing insults and ashamed looks at their once venerable ruler. “But…” her voice was drowned out by the outburst.

“BUT!” she hollered ferociously, and the protesters froze; surprised more than anything at Celestia’s volume.

Even Luna found herself jumping in surprise.

“But I have my reasons! You’ve all known me since the day you were born, you knew me before my sister, Luna, returned from her prison on the moon to again wreak terror! I plead to you all to understand my predicament and invest in my decision; I never said that I wanted to strip her of her power! I respect her role in raising the moon, but am unsure about her current mental state! Nightmare Moon still runs strong in her, and I would die before allowing an unstable pony to rule beside me!” The crowd was dying down as they considered the other side, and Luna knew she had to act quickly.

“Do not be convinced so easily, least you are senseless souls! Had she said that while we had argued, this rumor would have never spread!” The crowd still didn’t seem swayed, choosing instead to stay on the fence and actually consider the two sisters sides. “Who is she to tell you that I am still unstable? I know I am not! Think about it! At any time I could have snapped! At any time I could have broken down and become ‘Her’. For those of you who know of my arrival every Nightmare Night of the year, you can vouch for my sanity; my friendly antics! I am one of you, as we are all great beings on an equal playing field; why should I not be as my sisters equal? Where is your compassion, my subjects? Do you find me unfit to rule?”

At first it was a ripple, and then it became a wave as the momentum increased. The crowd began to shout: “Give Luna equal power!”

“Do you hear that, Celestia?” Luna said, turning to her sister.

There was no threat present, as the audience’s zeal eliminated any concern of the sister’s conversing being overheard.

“I hear it, Luna, and are you proud? You have embarrassed me in front of my subjects.” Celestia said, hurt emanating from her voice.

Luna had to call upon every ounce of will to stop herself from embracing her sister and saying sorry; maybe she had been a little too… no, no she hadn’t.

“This would have never happened if you’d just listened to me, Celestia. Your time ruling as the sole monarch has done a toll on your morels.” Luna accused, leveling her gaze with her sister.

“But it has not, Luna. It is you who has changed. Must I now allow you to rule beside me, even if my gut tells me that it is the wrong choice? I will still fight, you know; if it means protecting my subjects from your demons.”

“Don’t fight, be honorable; you had your chance and you lost. However, I am not your enemy and I will not send the protesters into a riot. I’m going to make a proposal, one that you’d be wise to accept; lest you be embarrassed a second time in front of them.” Luna explained, allowing a bit of dominating superiority to enter her voice.

“You are cruel.” Celestia hissed, not trying to hide her disgust. “Equestria will be torn apart.”

“I don’t think so; I will show you how merciful I can be.” Luna said, turning to again address the protesters, who had broken out into banter.

“I propose a challenge to prove both to you and my sister-who still seems to doubt my capability- that I am fit to rule.” The crowd fell to a hush as the moon goddess again took to the podium. “My proposal is a fair one, as I will not force myself into a co-ruler position with my sister so apprehensive. In a week, in the morning, I will have a skirmish; my guards against hers. Call it a live chess game, if you please. The blades will be tipped and dulled; I do not plan on any fatalities. The purpose behind my proposal is to show that I can command troops as great as my sister can. What say you to that, ponies of Canterlot?”

“Hear, hear!” the crowd shouted, excitement fueling on their cry.

“I thought so,” Luna said more to herself, than anypony in particular.

In an emphasized move, Luna turned to Celestia; the look she gave her told the distraught solar princess everything.

Don’t mess up.

Celestia clenched her jaw and nodded.

I won’t.

Still gazing at her sister, Luna again spoke; her voice rising above the excitement. “Celestia, do you accept this proposal?”

“Yes.”

“Yes what, say it to the crowd.” Luna requested, turning again to look out over the gathering.

“Yes! I, Princess Celestia of Canterlot, raiser of the sun, accept my sister’s proposal! The battle will be a true spectacle!”

The rejoicing rose to unprecedented heights as the drama finally concluded itself; and at the preempt excitement of the coming game. The crowd’s happy shouting rattled deep in Luna’s chest, making her heart speed up and a genuine smile spread across her features; she’d done it.

Indeed, it seemed as though finally, she had a shot at again ruling proudly at her sister’s side; in time, she’d prove to Celestia how fit she was to rule!