NoPony:FIM 20120725
Terl (RMS)
Booster staggered down the hallway, bouncing off walls and pillars without noticing, stumbling over the prone figures of the royal Guards who lay around unconcious in various twisted poses of agony. As he pushed himself closer towards the source of the increasing pain, reflections of flashes of magic beyond magic shattered crystal chandeliers, melting candles, wilting flowers. Suddenly, he stopped dead, immovable, then started to vibrate up and down in the air, his head extending forwards, his legs stretching out, his mane and tail standing straight out as flickers and arcs of lightning crawled over the copper hair. A few moments later, he fell to the ground with a heavy Whumph as the effect left him, rolling over a few times with the impact, which was just enough to bring him direct view through the gap in the main doors of Canterlot Castles Grand Hall.
Within the Grand Hall, floating easily in mid air, immense auras of magical energy surround each and both, were the Princesses Celestia and Luna, the main difference being Luna looked in worse shape than Celestia, and Celestia was surrounded by a floating ring of magical items, The Elements Of Harmony. As Booster struggled to keep his eyes open through the extreme fatigue he felt, Luna shook her head angrily. "I WILL HAVE THE LITTLE PONIES LOVE ME, LOVE MY GLORIOUS NIGHT. I WILL RULE WHAT IS RIGHFULLY MINE." she thundered in the Royal Voice. Celestia gently shook her head, "No my dear sister, you would only bring discord and chaos, and until you change your ways, you shall be banished as a warning to all others, as the Mare In The Moon."
Booster opened his eyes wide, banishment? and started to open his muzzle, only to have it wrenched apart in agony as the call of the power of the Elements, causing the loss of the Harmony of Luna and Celestia, forced its iron shod hoof right down his throat, to his heart, ripping it apart into ever more seperated, unrecoverable fragments. As he was slowly allowed to fall unconcious from the immaterial pain, his tear filled eyes caught the last sight of Princess Luna fading from Equestrias surface, reappearing on the Moon. As his eyes closed, and his hearing faded, the tinkling sound of the Elements falling to the floor, followed by a gentle thud, and a deep sigh accompanied him into blackness. "Luna"
Booster slowly struggled awake, his body shivering from the pain that was only slowly fading from his nerves, and blearely opened his eyes. Still in sight was Princess Celestia, by now on her hooves, her back to him, moving slowly as she bent down to pick up each Element with her teeth, too exhausted to use her magic, no matter how small. Looking down at his hooves, Booster slowly brought them towards him, then rolled enough to slowly and very shakily climb onto all fours. Still staggering, he slowly turned away from the place behind him, the place where dreams die, and forced himself down the hall, through the doors at the far end, and into the bowels of the Castle. As he finally vanished from sight, Celestia gently placed the last Element, Magic, on the throne, a tear gently landing on the large ruby on its front. Gazing sadly at the tear, Celestia slowly lowered her graceful neck down once more, and lightly kissed the ruby. "Goodby, Luna, Booster. May your hearts bring you home."
Iron Hide, the Captain of the Royal guard, slowly wheeled himself into the Great Hall, and waited respectfully to the behind right of Celestia. A few moments later, Celestia pirouetted, her mane and tail flowing like a waterfall of rainbow smoke, gazing down with a sad smile at one of her most loyal subjects. "I apologise for keeping you waiting Captain, what is your report?" Iron Hide gazes at Celestia for a long moment, then bows his head deeply. "A guard never has to wait for the Bearer Of The Sun, a Captain even less so. There are two dozen guards in the infirmary, mostly from this area, with shock and minor injuries. However, there is a squad of four unicorn guards from the dungeon entrance who have been admitted with chipped horns, broken legs, contusions, and what one would think was burn marks from lightning. One guard was still smouldering when he was taken in for treatment, but the healers say the armour handled most of the effects." Iron Hide pauses, and rubs his eyes with a leg. "Frankly Princess, they look like they had a run in with a dragon, and there have been reports of something seen running away from here at the height of the confusion."
Celestia lowered her head to Iron Hide in thanks. "I am most sorry to hear of the injuries and I will be along to the infirmary shortly to help." She lifted her head just enough to gaze past Iron Hide, into the hall beyond, to a small patch on the ground where a tear slowly dried and faded away. "As for there being anypony else here at the time, you can stand your guard down, and rest." she turned her head, and looked with deep sadness at the Elements. "There was nopony else, nopony at all."
(Music to listen to. Aint No Planes, Evergreen Nights, Lisa Lougheed, The Raccoons.)
(RIP Blue. A Thousand Years Is But A Yesterday.)
