“I would, as well as the others, request your return to Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle.” The royal voice of Luna rang into a dark Canterlot Castle hallway as the four alicorns of Equestria moved away from the bright meeting room, whose light spilled into the dark corridor.
Twilight, gave a scowl and was not pleased. As they all knew she wanted, needed, to help. To help end Tirek. To find a much-needed solution to the fact that Discord betrayed them. She ruffled her new wings in irritation as Cadance gave her a small knowing look as they continued further down the hall. Luna closely after them, and Celestia, lost in her thoughts, lagged behind.
“I can help, if I gath-”
“Twilight.” Cadance interrupted softly. “We know you want to help. But, right now, there isn’t much you can do. We will discuss a solution and come back to you with it. We can not risk using the elements nor put you and your friends in danger during this time. Because if we fall, well, then you are our last hope.”
Twilight, as much as she wished she could, could not deny that logic and her ears fell with a deep sigh.
Celestia, of course, was barely paying attention to the conversation as her mind wander to one of the more dark thoughts in her mind. They have appeared before, but as always she pushed them down. But their increasing frequency of dark thoughts was worrying her.
The Light.
Celestia turned her head to watch the light pouring out of the meeting room as it reminded her of the sun she controlled. The sun she could easily use, just point it in a certain direction, a certain point in the sky, a few math equations, trigger a solar flare at Tirek in the throne room…Gone.
Fire.
Ash.
Her eyes, unnoticed by others with a smile blink changed to something much worse. A fiery demon inside that was crawling to escape its mental prison. Celestia allowed the simple yet…scarring solution to fester for a moment before shoving it far down into the deepest reaches of her mind.
“Celestia?” Her sister’s voice echoed to her. “Are you alright, Sister?”
Celestia turned once again to see the three other alicorns looking back at her in confusion farther down the corridor. Now Twilight’s horn was lit to provide some light further down the hallway.
“Sorry, girls.” She gave a weak smile. “I was lost in thought.”