>"This is a Holy castle!"
>The rules were set clearly on the wall on pen and paper.
>And there stands the princess of the night, watching the paper be hun up on the stone wall.
>She looks up at it with displeasure. She wears a frown and clenches her fists.
>"Is something wrong, Luna?" Celestia asks with a blank expression.
>Luna stares at her. "It's just that... why is there a rule that there must be less lewdness in this castle?" She asks sheepishly at first before getting stern in her tone.
>"Well..." Celestia starts off. "I have been getting complaints that there is far too much of it around here."
>"What do you mean too much? That's the whole point of the castle!"
>Luna looks around at the decorations of all of the lewd stuff, all of the vases shaped like female bodies, all of the dirty words lining the rims od the fabric of the curtains.
>This place has always been this way. It's been the culture of this place for thousands of years.
>"I'm not saying to expel the lewdness entirely." Celestia points out. "It's just that there has been so much of it that it's gotten people to question what we really stand for nowadays." She claps her hands and gestures for the guards to start taking the decorations down to storage.
>"Why should that matter?" Asks Luna.
>"We're just taking a break from it." Adds Celestia. "There's no need to worry. All you have to do is non-lewd stuff when you're in the castle and you'll be fine."
>"But I'm still in the middle of-"
>"No buts. We have to add some variety into the mix."
>She just continues to look at her, knowing she won't be able to get any kinda of crowds to like anything she does since it'll just get extremely boring.
>Luna had desensitized herself to the lewd a long time ago.
>It was something she knew how to do for so long nearly effortlessly because it never meant anything to her.
>It was something she could rule, a drug that no matter how much she bathed in would not affect her or get her high.
>She couldn't just turn back to anything else just yet until she knew what she was doing. She lacked a solid plan for however long it's been.
>"This doesn't have to be a Holy castle." Protests Luna. "We should be able to do whatever we want in here. There's really no rules to be made in an environment like this."
>"But there is no rule against lewd, Luna. We're just trying to see if we can try something different."
>The younger sister pouts and returns to her palace room.
>Sits on the bed and thinking about what so many people have been saying.
>"Maybe there should be less lewd." They say. "Maybe we should add some variety."
>She does like the idea, to be honest. Luna could use a huuuuuge break from doing lewd things in the castle.
>A holy castle honestly sounds like a genuinely desirable idea to her.
>But the problem is... where to go with it?
>She looks out the window to the other side of the courtyard where her sister's room is.
>The window just so happens to be open.
>Luna peers in and sees her sister undressing, something that could be extremely lewd to some people.
>Celestia doesn't seem to notice, letting her dress and gowns drop to the floor.
>Luna stares at her as she questions whether or not Celestia meant what she said.
>She's a fan of these new rules, but she doesn't want to jump into following them so blindly without a plan first.
>That probably doesn't make sense, but she'll just go ahead anyway with it.
>She wraps an extra layer of clothes around herself and steps out of her room.
>Decides to go watch the birds flying around or something, maybe skip rocks down by the pond.
>Who fucking knows? It's not lewd.
>And Luna is honestly enjoying herself more, to be honest. But no one seems to care about her anymore.
>She thinks back to all of the times when she would do whatever she want.
>Someone told her not to jump, she'd leap. Someone told her not to speak, she'd sing.
>There wasn't any ill will engrained into what she was doing, though it was full of massive spite.
>She just wanted to do whatever she wanted, if that really related to anything that actually happened.
>"Luna, wake up!"
~
>She shoots up in her bed.
>Head still spinning. "Wha..."
>It takes her a minute to process everything that happened.
>She looks outside to see the sun setting. Takes a deep breath.
>"Have you slept well, sister?" Celestia asks, entering the room.
>"I suppose." Luna rubs her eyes. "I just had the weirdest dream."
>"Was it?"
>"Our rooms were on the opposite sides of the courtyard or something. And you were putting up a plaque that said that no lewd was allowed in the castle. I... I think. It's a little bit hazy now."
>Celestia begins to giggle.
>"What's so funny?" Asks Luna.
>"Oh nothing. The guards and I were just discussing the castle traditions and etiquette."
>Luna blinks. "You were."
>She looks over to the nearby mirror to notice how messy her hair currently is.
>Slept all day, just as usual.
>"You must have heard it." Celestia chuckles. "We were talking about how we should probably not do as many lewd things in here as often. We just came back from a meeting where that was the central topic."
>Confused Luna is confused.
>...
>Princess Luna still can't believe how funny it is when she overhears conversations in the real world transferring over to her dreams.
>She of all people here should know about this, but she keeps on forgetting about it because of all the duties she usually does around the place.
>It's quite distracting to her.
>She gets into bed and goes to sleep the following morning after a completely uneventful night.
>Every single night is uneventful for Luna. She has to keep watch over the whole place with a few of the night guards while everyone else sleeps.
>Anyone who would have tried any funny business would have already gone to bed hours before... except for the crooks in town outside the area of palaces.
>Luna falls asleep to the light of the sunrise illuminating the ceiling. She feels so grateful for how comfortable her bed is after feeling the chilling night air on herself all night long.
>Goes and hangs out in the dream world throughout the day, meanwhile, Celestia speaks with the other people of the castle.
>"Alright, so I wanna make this really clear." She starts off as she struts past the guards who are standing in line. "We have to discipline ourselves here. No more lewd until we find balance in this place, okay?"
>The guards nod, and Celestia turns towards the other people of the castle.
>The cooks and whoever else does stuff in the place that's somehow important and has a daily routine.
>"We are to keep this place neat and tidy as promised. The townspeople are depending on us to set a better example for them, so let's give them one."
>Celestia then goes outside the go see the townspeople.
>Everyone focuses on their tasks, keeping everything up to date and then proceeding to handle their administrative duties.
>Mostly governance type of stuff.
>Politics, economy... that stuff.
>All that boring stuff that really gets overlooked by people who are looking for fun or excitement.
>Meanwhile, Celestia goes (in) to town and spreads the good word of cleanliness and chastity to the people of Canterlot.
>There, the villages of people bow down to her and thank her for her presence, all dirty and musty from the labor they do all day and all week and all month and all year and all decade and pretty much their entire lives.
>Celestia does not see the commoners as much of worthy, but only in her head.
>She retrains her views and swallows her pride with a big smile, welcoming them to her magical carriage she uses to fly to the castle from time to time.
>Care about them as much as she can pretend to, keeping them loyal and hard working. Keeping them in her favor.
>Keeping them willing to fight and die for the royalty if so much as a small exterior force invades Equestria and they must fight.
>However, the last military conflict occurred years ago.
>In fact, over two maybe three decades ago.
>The place is enjoying a very peaceful era, but the warriors still need to be occupied (and inadequately educated) so no... revolts... happen.
>Charity services from the local churches have recently been set into place.
>It's mainly to keep the populations of the villages under control mentally so they feel like they are closer to heaven or whatever when they behave.
>This reflects in their polite clapping when Celestia enters the town square after seeing a few outer villages.
>She gives a few speeches, just something that sounds nice and benevolent to make people say "wow that's deep".
>She gives props to every social class and group of people, even though there's pretty much only one social class over here that works all day around here.
>She gives props to the people who help her the most first, the ones she depends on the most, then works her way down her list of priorities.
>Instilling a mentality of purity and desire for holiness into all of them along the way.
>There's really nothing specifically to quote, just imagine and other BS speech a politician or someone gives to get people on their good side.
>Celestia is an expert at these; it has always worked in her favor.
>She leaves the town square and takes the scenic route in her carriage, keeping the wheels on the ground for now.
>Basically checks up on how beautiful the landscape looks to outsiders who might be looking over with super-powered binoculars or google maps or something.
>Gotta look extra appealing to solidify the legitimacy of your regime. At least when it comes to visual things like this.
>Keep the face of the regime nice and pretty.
>Keep the bad stuff on the back burner until it can be cooked into stuff worthy of being put into the spotlight next to the face.
>It's really not hard as long as one knows what they're doing.
>Celestia yawns. "Boy, I sure am exhausted." She stretches her arms after doing nothing physically active all day. "It's getting late too. Twas a long day, yes?" She turns to the cavalry next to her.
>"Indeed." The armored man responds in a crystal clear voice that sounds like a video game hero character.
>The carriage is directed back onto one of the main paths and soon heads back to the castle.
>Luna completely misses Celestia's re-entry into the castle. She snoozes comfortably in her bed as the applause downstairs sounds. Dinner is soon being served as the sun begins to set, and Luna wakes up to the sound of footsteps approaching her door.
>"Sister? Are you awake?" Celestia calls in.
>Luna rubs her eyes and answers through the door. "Yes." She shakes her head as her thoughts come back to her. "What time is it?"
>"Supper, as usual. Would you like to come down and eat?"
>"I would. Give me a couple of minutes and I'll be right down."
>...
>Luna appears before the guests at the castle within five minutes. Wearing layers and layers of gowns.
>She's greeted by everyone, and keeps her artificial smile on to give the impression that she doesn't want to sleep for at least another hour or two.
>The table is set with delicious dinner food, with roast beef, steaks, mashed potatoes and... waffles with syrup for Luna.
>She'll have dinner less than 12 hours from now.
>"So in case you missed any of the updates today..." Celestia turns to her sister. "We are establishing a more pristine environment in this castle. The main focus is going to be purity and grace. This will help us strengthen our bonds and core values."
>Luna tries to follow along, but tries harder to look like she is actually following along.
>"With that said, we are going to be covering the murals in the front room." Celestia reveals. "Not the whole murals, just the part where there is nudity."
>Chatter sprouts at the dinner table.
>"Oh..." Luna thinks back to the times she designed and put up a number of those murals.
>"The whole castle will be completely transformed and redecorated as according to the new ordinance we are putting in place."
>The people at the table clap.
>Luna claps along as well, but not so enthusiastically. She does want to go along with this, but feels like it's going to limit her to an extent.
~
>She finished her breakfast before everyone else finished their dinner.
>Went back up to her room and prepared herself for the night.
>As she goes back up, Luna finds a a little pamphlet at the bottom of her door. And she opens it to discover a little scroll.
>[Behold the new leaf we turn] Celestia's handwriting reads. [As we have eyes to guide us all on the right path to spiritual freedom.]
>Maybe she's been staying up for a little too long.
>Luna tries her best to agree with the words she reads on the paper, but finds herself feeling a swelling sensation of displeasure as she continues to read on. There's something about everyone "sticking up for one another" and "making it known to all others when someone steps out of line" for the "sake of rehabilitating one another".
>She thinks back to the main purpose of this.
>To control the lewd things that happen in the castle.
>She goes over to Celestia's room and knocks on the door.
>"Just a minute, I'm not decent." She calls out.
>Luna means to ask her what she means by this, since she just saw her walk into the room in her nightgown. But then remembers that those things can be seen as lewd as well according to what this new ordinance seems to be about.
>Celestia opens her room door wearing so much that she might as well be wearing an eskimo outfit. "You came at the right time, sister. I just finished listening to everyone's prayers until the next hour."
>"Sister, are you sure you want to do this?" Luna asks.
>"Trust me, Luna. Once you get the hang of it, it'll be like you don't have to put in any effort at all."
>Celestia smiles and then closes the door even though the conversation pretty much only started. Luna is confused yet again.
>"I... still have questions..."
>"I'm still a bit busy, I'll talk to you before you get to bed, I promise."
>The door is closed, and Celestia goes back to apparently listening to the townspeople's prayers like she said she was done doing for now.
>It's obvious how easily she can sense Luna's disagreement.
>Luna decides to strengthen her argument overnight and use it for when Celestia promises to talk once again in the morning.
>In the mean time, she has the castle to herself once again. And a very weak desire to do something different than the things she... usually does.
>The night air outside is cold, and it only gets even colder as the hours go on. But Luna has the warmth of the castle to protect her from the elements. Even though immortal beings such as her have such a high tolerance to such feelings.
>She wanders the hallways as usual, but doesn't find herself passing by the things she is used to.
>The paintings she usually sees on the wall have been taken down and replaced with inspirational quotes, mostly religious ones. Mostly having to do with strength and restraint and the preservation of holiness.
>How it's supposed to be her duty.
>Everything was fun until all of this stuff started up for Luna. And now she has to promise not to do anything lewd in this castle for the sake of... what was it again? Quality?
>This place has a looooooong history of being almost nothing but lewd. So many nights when Luna would walk around the corridors completely naked with the guards eyeing her up and down even though they're seen her like that a million and one times in the past.
>How the summer nights were bearable because of this, the darn heat.
>When the princesses would throw horseshoes at sticks in the ground together whenever they were all awake at the same time. How they'd always argue over if it was only Luna's fault or not. The arguments themselves sort of became less serious and more of playful trend or inside joke. A meme, if you will.
>It's a good thing this isn't a summer night. In fact, Luna is glad she has another reason to put on more layers of clothing. Just feel that draft coming in from the... northeast, is it?
>Maybe one of the doors to the tower was left open.
>Luna heads up a few stairs in the beginning of her boring night to see what the guards are doing up there.
>When she makes it to the top of the multiple flights of stairs, she sees them standing at their posts. They're quietly conversing, laughing a little.
>"Lovely evening, your majesty." One of the turns around and snaps himself into stance before the other follows.
>Luna smiles at him. "Lovely evening indeed." She waves her hand. "At ease, it's quite all right."
>He slouches his back once again, and both guards look back out to the dark fields at the same spot. They begin scanning the grass below, as though they are closely searching for something. Luna raises an eyebrow.
>"Is something the matter?" She asks.
>"Nothing at all, your majesty. We're just playing eye spy to pass the time." The other guard answers.
>"Oh." Luna doesn't even need to look back at the stairs to know that she doesn't want to go back down them. "Mind if I... join?"
>It's not like she was going to do anything else tonight anyway. What, all the lewd things she had planned? Pfffft, forget that, this is a Christian castle!
>Family friendly PG clean.
>"We'd be honored, your majesty."
>With that, Luna joins the two guards in their game of iSpy, or eye spy or aye spie or however the h*ck it's pronounced.
>"It's somewhat shaped like a triangle." One of the guards repeats.
>Luna looks closely at the grounds below, first examining the trees and gets ready to guess the leaves. But those aren't triangles, silly!
>"A triangle or rectangle." He continues. "Or a trapezoid, or a parallelogram or a rhombus."
>"What about a kite?" Asks Luna.
>He thinks to himself for a split second. "It's possible."
>Luna chuckles a little in response to this. "Well, if it is one object, then it either is or it isn't."
>"Aha, but it is not one object, your majesty." The guard clarifies with a grin that can be barely seen in the dark of the night.
>Luna nods and looks back down at the ground with her sharp vision. The other guard starts to make guesses.
>"Is it... the leaves on the trees?"
>"Nope."
>"The branches?"
>"Nope."
>"Jackal! It's a Jackal!"
>The guard who knows the answer smiles and nods his head ad Luna silently interprets to herself what he could have meant. She waits until all of the other answers she could have possibly used to fit the description are used up and shot down.
>She knows the answer.
>"The individual grass blades." Luna concludes with absolute confidence.
>"That's it!"
>Wow!
>All of the above is how pretty much the entire first night of no lewd goes.
>As well as the second night, and the third night, and the fourth, and the fifth , and the sixth...
>It's pretty much Luna picking up random, dull conversation with the guards as she wanders to different parts of the castle and does anything she can to pass the time in a family friendly pg clean manner.
>That along with reading passages form the holy book out loud to the others.
>They do it for "therapy", or something.
>It's really hard to pinpoint a name to it, but Luna and the guards do it more and more often as the weeks of chastity and the encouragement/implementation of chastity go on.
>Basically spending the entire night each night acting like a cult. Luna finds it very boring, and not even worth mentioning, and she starts to see how displeased the guards are becoming with this turn of events as well.
>They start to look... desiring for some more excitement in the night.
>Sitting around singing campfire songs and tales of the holy ancestors can only go so far when you're used to dong other things. Luna begins to want other things as well, but the absence of the murals on the walls reminds her of the truth behind things nowadays.
>Things are required to stay boring here in real life in order to keep the mandate of heaven close. So the guards can stay pure, and Luna must not lead them into temptation. This was one of the stories she told about and one of the scriptures the choirs would sing about in the morning right as Luna was going to bed a at sunrise.
>The princesses have led the guards and the townspeople down a dark path lately with their recent lewdness, but as normal human beings, they have simply made a mistake. But as literal goddesses, they must take charge on behalf of everyone else and fix the flaw.
>Celestia and Luna are in charge of becoming modest and reluctant to show their bodies to everyone like they used to.
>No more "revealing gowns" that place impure thoughts into the minds of the innocent.
>No more speaking words of "underworldly origin".
>Cleanliness is the example the princesses should set, as all of the people look up to them. And they must show that they are not to, intentionally or not, tempt the holy guards with their bodies, and not to do the same to the hard working people in and around Canterlot.
>The path to chastity and holiness is the way, and Luna plays a very significant role in that. It is not told her her right away, at least not entirely. But little bits and pieces of this information are either implied or used as conclusions or explained in many many more words.
>And they soon come together as a brand new mosaic of the new testament, the one that Luna has to take the responsibility to enforce as she musters up restraint form the underworldly urges.
>Lewdness is A SIN. And the princesses must solidify this mosaic and the message it tells of through their majesty and guidance. It will be hard for them, considering all of the lewd things they have partook in during the past years. But they have the strength and the power to bring order and hope to this land.
>Canterlot is now under a holy regime, now that the outside barbarians that used to invade have now been vanquished and kept out for good.
>They tried to instill their ways unto the people of Canterlot, the people around Canterlot, and even unto the warriors that fought them. But the holy warriors were victorious, and the last battle they had to fight was many decades ago.
>Now, as they lie dying on their bed, of old age, the people of Canterlot must preserve what they fought for (even thought the warriors themselves don't give a h*ck what the people do and just don't want to become slaves to the outer barbarians).
>BUT THE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE NEED TO GIVE THIS A DEEPER MEANING BECAUSE MR. CHURCHMAN NEEDS MORE $$$$$.
>Sell that merch from your perch, high up atop the steeple of the god church. Speak down, tell all people to not to let the creeping demons lurch at them, and search for the truth. The way.
>The merchandise sells nicely, regardless of tag and price. Twice has the word of the goddesses spread light to the no longer doomed souls.
>But Luna sees the looks in the guards' eyes whenever she walks by them at their posts. They... thirst for someth-
>NO.
>This is a chaste castle!
>The actions of the impure barbarians will not spill out into here again. The purity of these holy, sacred grounds will be preserved, just as Celestia says every h*ckin day.
>Now it's the weekend of the holy holidays, or the holydays, as Celestia calls them. Very important weekend for celebrating what makes Canterlot great and chaste.
>Luna is just waking up in her room, and Celestia enters but of course not after knocking.
>"Oh hello, sister." Luna looks up.
>"Hello. I would like to ask you something."
>"Yes?" Luna stands up."
>"Would you be so kind to set the tables for the great breakfast tomorrow morning? It's the most efficient way to set things up and it really is nice to have someone help out who doesn't mind being up working all night long." Celestia looks down the hallways as she hears a couple of people talking. "Oh, and could you set up all of the decorations as well?"
>Luna nods. "Of course." She thinks about all of the reminders about how much she needs to follow these new codes.
>Celestia smiles. "Perfect. I am very grateful for your assistance, Luna. We will make this holyday season the best one there has ever been. The festival will be a pivotal point for out republic and we shall rejoice."
>Luna nods in a mask of agreement as Celestia leaves the room and gently closes the door behind herself.
>Luna goes back to waking herself up, by getting back into bed and sleeping for 10 more minutes until she has the energy to function like a normal human being.
>She generally holds her breath for as long as she can in bed.
>This helps her increase her heart-rate and gets her blood pumping without having to use energy to move around.
>It's a pretty useful thing to do. Life hacks are a thing that the princesses have learned fairly easily after having lived for so long and discovered the secrets of getting things done more effectively.
>They really must be destined to save the populations from sin.
>Luna turns off all of the lights in her room to change her clothes. This is something that the codes strongly require.
>Hears the others walking by in the hallway as she's doing so, as usual. They usually do this around the time she wakes up. Luna hopes that her light seeping through the bottom of the door doesn't bother them that much.
>What she's noticed is that the footsteps get slower as they pass by her door whenever they were walking around at the same time they could see her light turn off.
>It's a little strange, perhaps they are trying to be quieter so she can sleep a little more. Luna did tell everyone about the times she would get back into bed for a little while so she could wake up all the way in the evening.
>Whatever it is they imagined made the grin and look in every direction but her eyes, but Luna never minded that.
>She leaves her quarters to walk down the hall, just as all of the day-guards are retiring to their dormitories to relax and take slumber as the night-guards wake up around this time.
>Such a strange but efficient schedule this place has. Luna doesn't mind since it coincides with her nocturnal way of life.
>Thinks back to the time she tried moonbathing.
>Celestia would always sunbathe and get herself really tan at one point, until her power caused her to become pale again for reasons still unknown.
>Luna wanted to be tan too, but the moonlight just didn't have what it takes to tan someone's skin. No matter how much Luna tried to pretend that ti worked, she knew she was just kidding herself.
>She sometimes wishes that she hasn't been around for thousands of years so she could lack the knowledge that drags her unwillingly back into reality than most people that are alive. But she doesn't have to die and lose all of her memories, so she has that going for her.
>Luna begins with the decorations as the food says in the refrigerators to be completely prepared when everyone wakes up.
>Then again, she does realize that she needs to complete their cooking by the time early morning rolls around.
>Luna had checked in the freezers and all to find that a lot of the meals haven't been thawed yet. But they were prepared before being re-frozen.
>It's for freshness, so Luna understands through the importance of the holydays.
>She won't really have to cook anyway, she just needs to pretty much re-heat a lot of the things, which takes little to no work at all whatsoever.
>The first half of the night is extremely boring, but it's at least a little entertaining to talk to the chefs and all of those people in the kitchen of the castle as they help Luna prepare the meals.
>The princess goes back and forth between the kitchen, the dining halls and a bunch of other rooms bouncing back and forth between decorations and preparing meals with the workers.
>And absolutely nothing lewd happens, which is the way it's supposed to be.
>Everyone, including the holy princess goddesses are doing their part to celebrate the days of holiness. To be closer to heaven in the skies above, to turn away from evil and sin, and to be happy about it and form celebrations to solidify and strengthen their goodness. [Amen]
>The decorations are all set up in the main halls first, through ladders and hard work and coordination between good spirited people.
>All under the supervision of Luna, who helps out as well and uses her powers to facilitate the process in any way she can. It's more efficient this way.
>All of the light pink and dark blue decor, drapes, you name it, are hun atop the highest corners of the halls. The holy scriptures laid out on the same walls, accenting the design of the drapes with the majestic glory and good word of the heavens above.
>Stained glass window fracturing the moonlight that enters, conflates with the candle light in the halls. The cathedral style ceiling making the echoes traveling through the holy castle last even longer with every word spoken. And every word spoken is a clean word free of sin. Swearing is not allowed, there is no room for echoing swears in this holy place.
>Chairs are set up in the hall of speaking, and absolutely nothing lewd is even remotely thought of.
>It's nothing but wholesome, hard work in here as the night gradually but surely runs out. Luna's powers are the biggest help to get everything done more efficiently than anything the great republic and church has ever seen before. Only paralleled by Celestia doing her duties during the day.
>The feasts are in due time brought out of the fridges and freezers, set up in their corresponding ovens, stoves, microwaves, anything goes. Anything that can heat them up.
>Many people will be attending the holy feast.
>So the people of the castle are required by holy law to dedicate themselves to serving the world of the living so they can get props by heaven above (or maybe the princesses too, that works in whatever religion this is supposed to be) and become figuratively immortal.
>The guards are happily working alongside their princess of the night with all of the enthusiasm they can muster. They love being around her, because she has the kind of charisma that lifts their spirits.
>They work with such a high morale, and they are immune to sin as long as they are in the good company of their princesse's... voice.
>Her motivating voice that guides them to the end of the work time.
>And absolutely nothing lewd happens in the night.
>...
>The sun slowly rises in the east.
>It's finally time.
>The guards, the chefs, the castle workers, everyone alike, all under the guidance of the princess have worked al long and hard night but in a completely platonic way.
>They return to their rooms as Luna finally approaches Celestia's bedroom door to deliver the good news of task completion.
>Everyone has done their part, and Luna is pleased. Celestia will be pleased, the gods and goddesses in the sky will be pleased once they notice what a good job has been done, and heaven itself will be full of happiness and peace on over-earth.
>Luna gently knocks on Celestia's door as the light from the rising sun penetrates through the sister's curtains.
>Celestia opens her eyes to gentle rays of sunshine, light that beckons her to arise from her slumber and answer the call of her sister who bears good work.
>"Yes?" Celestia turns her head with a soft giggle. "Is it time to get up already?" She asks with excited enthusiasm.
>She wants nothing more than the day to begin, it enriches her mind and her soul.
>"Yes. We have completed all of the tasks for the night." Luna responds. "It is all done, and the castle awaits you as the time of festivals and ceremonies begins." Luna points out.
>Glee fills Celestia as she rises out of her bed and onto her feet into her slippers. "That is wonderful to hear! I am looking forward to the holiest of times beginning as we enter this pivotal moment in our legacy."
>She feels like dancing around the room, but that would be very non-princessy of her. She sighs and walks over to her dresser as she searches for day clothes to put on today.
>"Is there anything else you would like for me to complete before I retire to my sleep?" Luna asks.
>"Nothing further comes to mind, dear sister." Celestia responds. "I will take everything form here. You have done well tonight and I will reward you with a surprise after you wake back up, as you would have done for me."
>Luna nods. "Thank you, dear sister."
>"Any time, dear sister."
>A minute later, Luna is back in her room. She closes and locks the door before closing all of the blinds and curtains to keep any light from getting into the room.
>Just like Celestia would have, she double checks to make sure it is completely pitch black inside of the room. Then she disrobes in the dark and slips into her nightgown as she grows more tired. The desire to sleep takes her, and she quickly falls asleep soon after.
~
>Celestia walks downstairs and gasps in joy to find that all of the meals have been placed on the table, perfectly ready for the guests who are all about to start arriving att he castle.
>She looks around the hallways and smiles at all of the decorations that reflect her style, Luna's style and the style fo the guards' armor with each room she walks through.
>She's taken away by the toll that all of the hard work has taken, and she feels especially proud of Luna for pulling through and resisting any and all of the past.
>Luna must be showing some kind of great restraint these days to be this productive once more.
>With this, Celestia begins to wait on her throne for all of the guests to arrive into the newly refurbished castle and all of the non-lewdness it has embraced practically overnight.
>She wants the guests to get the message through their head that this is something that's going to stay. That the castle has turned away from an possible evil that is sin and wants to promote what it truly stands for.
>And will never turn to the ways of the outer barbarians.
>She watches the guests come to the front of the castle first one by one, then two by two and so on.
>Now they arrive in groups of ten, even bringing food of their own to help out with their own contributions.
>She stares up at the ceiling with a tear almost reaching her eyes. Beyond happy that these subjects have taken up the highest form of loyalty to her. How much they must love her, as much as she loves them.
>The guards welcome the people in groups. It just so happens that they prepared food of their own as well, as long as it fit the criteria of the royal feasts.
>The chairs of the great round table are filled, Celestia knows that it's time to get up from her throne and make an appearance in her newly crafted holy robes.
>They drag on the carpet behind her, heavy as can be if it weren't for the supernatural strength of the goddess princess.
>Holy music starts playing as Celestia makes her entrance. The people of Canterlot and it's surrounding towns are thrilled to see their leader appear before them. She smiles and waves her her subjects, the kindest smile across her face that tells them that they are safe from the past mistake.
>The smile that can be only accompanied by good hands that wave to them. Celestia gestures for them to join her and the guards.
>The guards, having endured the most restraint over the years after being around the princesses and how they used to be the most often, are relieves to feel such cleanliness taking over the atmosphere of the castle.
>It's like everything fell into place for the first time in all of eternity. They are freeing themselves of what they had to deal with before. They know the path to holiness now, and that path is chastity.
>All of them know that Celestia and Luna's guidance is the main thing that will get them there. Without it, they would be lost of a world of the unspeakable.
>Filled with words that cannot be uttered in this castle. Filled with actions that cannot be done in this castle.
>The beautiful music enhances the smiles on the guards' fact, not as a war tune or a fanfare to a march, but a melody of peace and prosperity they now bask in.
>The castle has come clean, and all of the people within it are strong and on the path to holiness.
>Luna peacefully rests in her bed, hearing the music as she sleeps. giving herself wonderful dreams as the day goes on. Celestia living out wonderful dreams as the day goes on.
>The solar ceremony begins.
>Everyone participating gets into their costumes over the many clothes they were already wearing and prepares to carry on the long lasting tradition that defines what they stand for.
>The verses of the sermons are performed.
>Words of the holy times now being heroically sung into the sky of the day. Voices come together in choirs, reciting the very thing that makes them strong together.
>Taken away from the paths of darkness, and singing in the light.
>The guards would join in if they had the voices for it. But they feel the connection so strongly that they might aw well.
>Townspeople sit down for the feast as the singling and parade take place nearby. They all talk to one another, strong in their personal bonds.
>They meet new people, new neighbors. People who stand by their side under the great holy regime that watches over them. Under the same caring shepherds.
>...
>Many months of religious celebration pass.
>Luna's been bored.
>Been extremely bored of her boring life.
>Speaking less.
>Only doing her duties like she is expected to do.
>Speaks only in short laconic verses.
>...
>And so a new age begins.
>The weather gets warmer.
>Luna is getting used to working this much.
>How long has it been?
>A year?
>Really long time to hold oneself back.
>The guards must be absolutely swollen between their legs by now.
>Encouraged to show restraint even in their own privacy.
>A menacing feat for them.
>But Luna digresses.
>Their training is at least ten times as torturous.
>She tells them so in very few words.
>But it's obvious hoe they don't believe her.
>Her advice holds the same weight as the religious verses to them.
>Worthy of a smile.
>And a nod of false agreement.
>Luna continues her duties.
>Helping out around the castle.
>The clean, chaste castle.
>Full of people with clean, chaste masks on.
>Keeping the castle the way it is.
>Hide the struggle and move forward.
>Next life will be better if everything is done right now.
>Keep the mask on.
>No outside forces have made any attempts at the walls of Canterlot.
>Not the gates, not the cliff-sides, not the shores...
>Not a single ill willed man outside of the holy territory dares to make an attempt.
>The barbarians fear the holy.
>The fear the worthy.
>Luna's eyes gaze upon the mountains at night.
>From atop the highest tower.
>Scouting distant fires.
>Listening for war drums that never sound.
>It's the silence of fear that fills the air instead.
>Submission.
>The unjust, the guilty barbarians cower before the might of the holy empire.
>Luna finds herself grinning whenever this crosses her mind.
>It motivates her to keep her mask on.
>For her mask smiles at the same thing she smiles at.
>...
>Daylight.
>Luna rests in her bed.
>Celestia has risen early today to check up on the military camps.
>She rides her carriage around the borders of the empire.
>Finding countless salutes and bows as her majesty enters their presence.
>Proud of what she and Luna have transformed the empire into.
>Smiling when she remembers the absence of a persistent crime rate.
>The absence of mobs or riots.
>No more disorder.
>The soldiers are learning to show restraint.
>She knows how much they have been suffering.
>She felt it.
>Understood how to look into the mind of another.
>Something Luna has yet to learn herself.
>But she knows how strong her loyal troops are becoming.
>Holding spears and shields high.
>The wind whipping against their ice cold helmets.
>They see their leader and meet their knees with the ground.
>This power will become unstoppable.
>A power that happens to border the group of camps with one too many campfires.
>They are indeed minding their own business.
>They told the Canterlotian envoy this.
>Several months back.
>But failed to put out the fire that was growing against them.
>The fire that is about to be spearheaded by the sun goddess.
>It grew large.
>Large enough to engulf the whole camp.
>Engulf it with iron.
>Iron spearheads.
>Celestia writes her decree moments after seeing the camps.
>She knows what goes on there.
>Unholy rituals.
>Screaming for cleansing.
>A barbarian horde turning the other way for far too long.
>...
>The day of a great battle begins.
>Luna sensed something throughout the whole day during her slumber.
>She knew it was going to happen again.
>Ambition was going to overcome reason.
>The rumbling of the marching ranks said it all.
>Preparation was underway.
>Still echoing through the stone halls after Luna falls awake.
>She knew it was going to start in the morning before the note was slipped under her door.
>Which barbarian tribe to the north is it this time?
>Ah, the Yak-Yakamanni, of course.
>The instructions to prepare the barracks for deployment are followed with Luna's full obedience.
>The troops getting all the sleep they need.
>The guards of the night helping their goddess princess pave the way.
>The way for Justice and Chastity to come reigning down on the unworthy.
>Barbarian blood shall soak the dirt.
>Luna can smell it happening already.
>Eager as her mask smells it for her.
>...
>Hours pass and the gates are ready to open rapidly.
>Luna hangs around some of the guards as they oversee the slaves.
>Listening the distant but many rattling sounds of chains.
>Chains, creaking wood, and grunts of effort.
>The work will pay off.
>Luna says this through a nod to the prefect by her side.
>He nods back, putting in effort of his own to keep his eyes from falling below Luna's face.
>In fear of what could happen if he were to sin.
>They speak to one another.
>Using only clean language, no bad words.
>Knowing that the day has already begun; midnight has long since come and gone.
>Hours draw closer to sunrise.
>The final hours of those brave barbarians who will defend their heretical ways.
>The army will wake up just before light fills the sky.
>They're already ready.
>More rested, advanced in technology, training in combat.
>In a sense, they have already won the battle itself.
>"In a sense, the battle itself has already been won." Luna speaks her thoughts.
>"Indeed." The prefect answers. "Our holy discipline is indomitable."
>"They stand not a chance."
>Luna proudly pats the prefect on the shoulder.
>Feeling the tension radiating through his thick armor.
>She knows full well what kind of tension.
>She doesn't need to read minds to see his brow furrow.
>To hear his breath hitch and hear the knees of his armor quietly clang together.
>Holding back is what the Canterlotians do best.
>Hold back and push forward.
>She wants to say something to the prefect.
>Something that will encourage him.
>NO NOT IN THAT WAY.
>Encourage him to keep his restraint on.
>To keep it, to keep it on.
>Tighten the strings of the mask.
>Don't let it fall off whenever you're congratulated be her majesty.
>"You have done such a stellar job, Revelinus."
>"Thank you, your majesty."
>The horns sound as the army is finished preparing.
>The slightest glow in the sky beckons.
>It's time.
>War drums fill the castle's surroundings.
>The collective sound of the feet of the soldiers hitting the ground at their bedsides wakes Celestia up.
>She changes her clothes in the dark.
>The soldiers are already in formation by the time she emerges from her quarters in royal garb.
>Armor is brought to her.
>The priests, senators and advisors bid her good luck.
>She stands before her brave men.
>The morning light reflecting off of her armor more as it fades into the sky.
>Everyone stands outside and keeps their gaze at the mountains.
>The Yak-Yakamanni sleep in their beds still.
>A night of unholy drinking and partying and fornication has weakened them.
>They are against the favor of the gods.
>Luna anxiously drifts off to sleep as the army deploys in the hundreds.
>Division after division, legion after legion.
>Thousands of marching footsteps make the ground shake.
>It keeps Luna from staying asleep.
>She knows she's going to hear the war cries soon.
>Followed by the cries of pain from the doomed.
>Battlecry of the unholy, met by the iron of the pure.
>Luna yawns, calling for her personal servants to come and read her a bedtime story to drown out the bloodcurdling screams.
>He comes right away... right as Luna is changing her clothes in the dark.
>Luna thinks to herself.
>She locked the door, right?
>This is when Luna realized that she indeed did lock the door.
>The door handle turns and turns but doesn't unlock.
>Luna makes herself decent.
>Then turns the lights on.
>"O-oh... one moment, please."
>A moment later.
>The door is unlocked.
>Guard sheepishly walks in and bows.
>Luna greets him and noticed the book in his hand.
>"I admire your gesture to help me sleep, and while I do not require this at the moment, you may go ahead and read if you must."
>"It is my honor, your majesty." The guard responds with the impression that this may be a loyalty test.
>The book is plopped onto the bed.
>It immediately becomes obvious why he's enthusiastic about reading it anyway aside loyalty.
>[Tales of Holiness, volume 7]
>Of course.
>The book is cracked open.
>Her majesty under her own sheets ALONE WITH THE GUARD ONLY AT THE BEDSIDE.
>He reads.
>She listens, grinning like a child as she envisions the scenery.
>The morning goes on.
>Luna is already tired, but the guard is just waking up.
>He makes his way to the era of the Ponic Wars.
>The time in the Empire's lifespan telling the tale of a war that happened around 300 to 400 years ago.
>Equestria's rivals, the Changlinginians, swore absolute revenge on the empire after they lost their islands to them.
>Meanwhile, Celestia rides into battle against the Yak-Yakamanni as Luna listens to the story of the past.
>...
>The ground shakes.
>Hearts beat faster, (less than) half of them about to spill blood.
>The rest will triumph.
>Celestia approaches the enemy.
>In the past, across the sand.
>In the present, across the grass.
>The ornate armor of the Canterlotians becomes apparent.
>It is the last true light the barbarians will see aside the sun.
>The sun that will take them down.
>They panic and haphazardly prepare their weapons.
>Caught off guard.
>"What happened next?" Asks Luna as she shuffles around in the sheets.
>"Celestia and the rest of the troops had to rally quickly, for the Changelings had entered Equestria from the frozen north by surprise."
>... (Into what he's talking about...)
>Chrysalis remembers Starlight Glimmer's face.
>It makes her fanged teeth grit whenever she sees anything that reminds her.
>She holds her spear high as the Yaks on the other side of the river taunt them.
>Her massive legions dwarfing the amount of the Yaks about 5 to 1.
>They know how impossible it is for one person to swim across.
>So do the changelings.
>Trees are cut down by battle axe.
>Rafts are made.
>Rafts strong enough to keep elephants afloat.
>The Yakmen watch in horror.
>They know they need to run.
>Or else they will meet nothing but doom.
>Hundreds of changeling warriors on a raft.
>Eerily floating across.
>Yakmen scattering like flies.
>Catching a few eager arrows in the back or the back of the head that couldn't be held back.
>The first of the blood is being spilt.
>It will be nothing compared to what the Equestrians will have to offer.
>On the other side of the river, the changelings march, and march, and march.
>They knew the mountains would be there.
>They march still.
>Through the impossible lands.
>Through the cold biting their faces.
>Biting their fingers.
>Biting their toes.
>The stray Yak scout biting the snow before biting a blade after making a wrong turn.
>The armies of Chrysalis biting the challenge as they remember Starlight.
>Wanting to destroy everything about everyone she loves.
>They venture forth.
>Green land is soon to be seen.
>An equestrian scout flees with word to deliver.
>Chrysalis is already prepared.
>She wickedly grins as she awaits.
>Wickedly waves her hands at her troops the next day when a small Canterlotian force is on the patrol for them.
>Underestimation is the downfall of the Canterlotians.
>The Canterlotians defend their side of Equestria, staying close together in their traditional formation.
>Expecting to win like they always do.
>Suddenly attacked on both flanks.
>They scream in terror, looking both ways with their weapons confused as to where to point first.
>Their shields useless.
>Attempting to push out their normal methods and formation.
>Attacking with the least experienced fighters first.
>They will need all the luck they can get.
>But even these naïve warriors with no knowledge of the horrors of war yet feel the intimidation.
>Then they feel the crushing weight of the elephants' feet.
>Flattening them inside their armor.
>Flattening the armor.
>chrysalis orders a charge.
>Cavalry persist, cutting through the first wave without breaking a sweat.
>The more experienced Canterlotian fighters in the back were supposed to be further away.
>Until they were ready to fight a tired enemy.
>All ranks, all classes of the Canterlotians are facing the brunt of the changelings at once.
>No tradition works here.
>Chrysalis is not here to test them.
>She is here to take everything from them.
>Her spite will know no bounds.
>The most experienced of the Canterlotians ranks fall victim to fear, some dropping their weapons.
>Tripping over them and slashing their own feet as they try to run, trying to leave their honor behind to escape doom.
>But doom catches them.
>They catch iron everywhere in their bodies.
>Limbs go flying.
>Eyes sometimes permanently shut, sometimes permanently open.
>However it happens when the lights leave them.
>...
>Lives end.
>Families are broken.
>Chrysalis doesn't even allow for anyone to come and clean up the mess she made.
>Sends her ranks unto anyone who dares.
>Mercy is for those who don't have a grudge.
>Canterlot shakes upon hearing the news.
>They were supposed to win.
>What happened?
>They're getting ready to hear back from many of the towns for rallying purposes when they barely hear back from half of them.
>Town after town is falling.
>Surrendering their loyalty.
>Surrendering it to the queen.
>Celestia and Luna are immediately notified.
>They remember the heretical ways the Changelings live.
>What they do over there.
>How they swore to never let them into the Canterlotian territory.
>How they built up defenses wherever needed.
>And they never thought to guard the mountains.
>No one was supposed to be able to march through there.
>Now their men lie dead in the countryside.
>It's not long before they send the biggest army they can to confront Chrysalis.
>The soldiers shake in their boots, kissing their families goodbye.
>Beyond ready to carry out their duty.
>For holiness.
>For the greater good.
>...
>The Battle of Canntae is on the way.
>The Canterlotians know full well that this could be their last hope.
>Chrysalis meets them in formation.
>She positions her troops to outflank them.
>Before the Canterlotians can adequately react, Chrysalis sends her cavalry on without warning.
>She's gotten too confident to hold herself back.
>But her surrounding the Canterlotians pay off hand-in-hand with her being so quick to act.
>It is a shameful moment for Canterlot.
>Their entire force is defeated in what feels like one clean sweep.
>Surrounding towns are falling, their military is drained dry.
>Morale is at an all time low.
>This is the reason why Celestia's hair turns orange.
>She stands up from her throne with tightly clenched fists.
>Filthy barbarians, fowl creatures, have taken hold of their lands.
>...
>Chrysalis parades her changeling troops up and down the lands.
>Prompting the towns to surrender.
>Telling them they are not truly loyal.
>Trying to persuade them.
>With promises of impure favors.
>The most loyal, only the holiest resist.
>They stay true to their roots.
>What they stand for.
>They do not stray from the way.
>They remain good spirited, hard working citizens of the republic.
>Values wholesome.
>Their arms and legs strong with might.
>Hearts strong with pride.
>Faith in themselves.
>Faith in Celestia and Luna.
>Stay true to the way of chastity and cleanliness, for that way is destined to prevail in the end.
>Celestia has had enough.
>No longer will she accept anything that looks like a potential threat to the republic.
>She's past her last straw.
>They went through the trouble to break through the northern mountains.
>To spread their impurity.
>To spread their incestuous, underworldly ways.
>Of impure rituals of the flesh.
>Impure rituals of the body.
>Creating dirty, lost souls.
>The very existence of this brings a tear of agonizing rage to Celestia's eye.
>Her hair catches ablaze as she calls forth to any remaining citizen of the heavens above.
>The defenders of the goddesses and the word of the goddesses.
>Thou shalt not sin.
>Thou shalt cleanse the world of the sinners.
>And bring forth peace, prosperity and chastity to all who obediently follow.
>To rid the earth of these changelings and their unholy breeding rituals.
>Only the holy can put a stop to them.
>Celestia gears un in her armor, grabs her large sword.
>Sets her gaze upon the Changelinginian capitol across the sea.
>Fire in that gaze.
>Fire in her heart.
>Everlasting fury within the deepest corners of her soul.
>She gathers her troops and sets sail for the heart of the enemy's dominion.
>They are doomed.
~
>Celestia and the holy warriors of the light land upon the beach.
>Met with a large force of Changelinginian factions.
>They spread their ranks out to intimidate.
>The sun princess is not fazed.
>The sun goddess lets out a thundering war cry with her sword raised in the open air.
>No more shall the impure rule these lands.
>No more shall the unholy corrupt the innocent.
>Goddess has arrived.
>The holy cavalry charge with impermeable bravery.
>Turning the land holy with every hoof fall.
>Covering ground as they claim it each step of the way.
>This land will be freed and made holy.
>The first wave of Changelinginians are not afraid until they meet the points if the lances and swords face to face.
>Iron swiped by their faces, uprooting their teeth and slicing their eyes as the sword tips run across their skin.
>Opening the skin to let the blood come gushing out.
>Rid the unworthy of their lives.
>Take all of the blood away from their darkened hearts.
>Lances pierce through ribcages with cracking, ripping and tearing sounds.
>Lungs shredded, lips part to choke out unholy blood.
>Those who fall to the ground are trampled to a pulp by hooves.
>Celestia lets out another war cry as she herself charges.
>Her holy sword of the light catching fire.
>Shining at the enemy with a bright cross.
>Blinding them.
>The first elephant is let loose.
>Princess Celestia charges straight at it, leaping off of the ground and ramming her sword into its forehead.
>The tough skin breaks with a leathery rip.
>The elephant wails in agony before the sound of the sword penetrating the bone frightens in upon its death.
>The elephant topples over an a rushed panic, high pitched blared overtaking it's sturdiness.
>It lands on a few of the Changelinginians.
>Crushing their bones and smashing their souls.
>Sending them to the depths of the underworld where they always belonged.
>Crimson blood saturates itself into the sand.
>Arrows are fired.
>Swords against armor, spears against helmets...
>The struggle of men and monsters.
>Anguished screams of the dying.
>Silence of the dead.
>Celestia cries out in rage as she watches one holy warrior fall to an axe to the ribs.
>His face terrified, tears filling his eyes before the roll up and become lifeless.
>He suffered dying a noble death.
>>Celestia stomps over to the Changelinginian who slew him and raises her sword.
>The barbarian swipes his axe but fails to pierce Celestia's thick armor.
>She bears the sword down upon his head form her height.
>His neck made into an accordion of flesh, his skull split in two.
>Upper lip separated from itself from the blade.
>His blood spills onto his comrade.
>The other Changelinginian stares up at the wrathful goddess and grows wary of what towers before him.
>He backs away into his friends who push him forward before fending off against a holy warrior.
>Celestia raises her sword and strikes, misses, but strikes again.
>Attempting to dice the pig of a man apart.
>She gets his leg.
>He falls over with only one foot to stand on.
>Blood shoots out of his thigh, his scream rips through the air.
>Celestia's blade rips through his chest armor and pulverizes his ribs.
>Pulverizes his heart.
>Even his eyes bleed.
>Celestia stomps on him, swiping her sword at another barbarian.
>They back away, one soling himself.
>Disgusted at their animal-like nature, Celestia advances.
>Continuing as she was.
>...
>Many paces away, the archers of the holy army move their rank forward.
>Guarded on the side by slingers and javelin throwers.
>They see the approaching elephant, doing what they can to kill it before it reaches them.
>Move out of the way on either side as the Changelinginian atop the elephant hurdles arrows of his own at them.
>One archer takes an arrow in his eye.
>His head is thrown back from the blow, the back of his hair raised in a mound that fractures as the arrow goes all the way through.
>His other eye leaks with a single tear before he drops to the ground lifeless.
>His soul is sent to heaven.
>Having fought well for the republic.
>...
>The scorching hot sun bakes the sand below.
>Boils the blood on it.
>Screams echo, echo, and echo still.
>Iron clangs against iron.
>Blood and guts are sent flying with limbs and even severed heads.
>The numbers of the barbarian horde deplete.
>At the cost of another holy warrior every minute or so.
>Every holy warrior that has fallen is one too much.
>At the filthy hands of a barbarian.
>At the filthy bottom of an elephant's foot.
>Their decorated armor soiled by such impurity.
>But their blood was not spilt in vain.
>The Changelinginians fall back after losing their morale, their dignity and their commander.
>Crying out for their queen to come back from Canterlot and come save them.
>They don't get a queen.
>They get a goddess.
>Looming over them with fire in her eyes as bright as the sun itself.
>Fire shooting off of her sword that spreads to them.
>Celestia uses all her strength to hack the surrendering barbarians apart.
>These foul degenerates do not deserve to be imprisoned.
>They chose to live by the shaft, so they die by the flaming sword.
>Celestia gloriously cleanses the land of their life.
>Turning the sand red.
>Chasing after all enemies who run.
>Her brave, noble warriors proudly by her side as they cheer.
>The blade of her sword catching fire even more.
>Slips through flesh more easily.
>Cooking the Changelinginians like a hunted prey as she hacks away at them.
>They beg on their knees.
>The very thing Celestia want to be the last thing they do.
>They will not get away with wasting the great lives of the chaste.
>They sent her holy warriors to heaven.
>Not it's her turn to send their wicked souls to hell.
>And Celestia delivers again and again and again.
>Making them cry for their queen, cry for their families, cry for their life, cry for their slain brethren.
>They are silenced, their blood oozing out of charred wounds.
>Out of charred open ends of severed limbs.
>The light they never deserved leaving the eyes of their seared heads.
>Some of them had their hair catch ablaze.
>Some of them catch fire while still alive.
>Falling to their knees to pray for the pain to end after the flames weaken them.
>Cleansing their filth from the world.
>No barbarian is spared.
>Celestia's holy forces wipe out wave after wave of Changelinginians.
>With mighty, undying morale.
>The capitol is nearby.
>Celestia is not even tired, neither are her warriors.
>A siege is had as Canterlot hears the news.
>The towns that had turned coat revive their loyalty with great apology.
>Now knowing the way.
>Now having seen the light.
>They shortly send reinforcements across the sea as the siege intensifies.
>Chrysalis's army, now exhausted from marching around waiting for Canterlot to be persuaded into surrender, first tries to siege Canterlot.
>But all of the hard work from the benevolent, strong and heaven bound citizens have made the walls too strong to penetrate.
>Chrysalis's own city walls are nothing compared to these.
>And it shows in how they fail to hold up against Celestia's quickly made siege weapons.
>The holy warriors used the resources of the lands better than the changelings ever thought to.
>They never worked on building up a strong wall... they were too busy in their hive.
>Breeding and participating in unholy rituals.
>Obsessed with eachother's flesh, never working.
>The goddesses never favored them as a result.
>And their downfall is imminent.
>Their remaining military is a weak collection of excess soldiery.
>Vulnerable from lack of training.
>They cannot even put the fire on their walls out.
>The cleansing flames spread to the hives, to the houses, to the buildings of the Changelinginian capitol.
>Everyone inside, women children, either escape into their postponed doom or die within the vicinity of their own homes.
>Their foul stench ridden beds are taken into the flames.
>Apologetic screams can be heard as their flesh they used to play with feels the might of the holy sun goddess's wrath.
>The citizens of canterlot will sleep in their warm, comfortable, CLEAN beds tonight.
>Chrysalis retreats to defend her homeland.
>The Canterlotians are hyperfocused now.
>Celestia breaks through the crumbling gate.
>She scours the city blocks with her troops by her side.
>No prisoners.
>The iron blades need to take just a little more blood before Celestia can rest easy herself tonight.
>The old and the sickly beg for forgiveness.
>Celestia will leave it up to the heavens for that.
>They will be judged by the sky itself before being sent eternally down.
>Forever burning in the fire that the sun goddess started on them, into them, with the sharp inferno of her holy sword of the light.
>The city is reduced to ashes when Chrysalis returns.
>The queen's forces are depleted by the Canterlotian reinforcements, fighting until their last breath.
>The queen is taken captive, forced to watch her royal young be executed before her very eyes.
>She is the last changeling on earth to die.
>And now...
>The rival of Canterlot is no more.
>Changelingo delenda est has been fulfilled after so many years.
>The city is no more.
>Their queen is no more.
>Celestia returns to Canterlot, weary and exhausted.
>She kneels and prays in thanks to the heavens for helping her show the true believers the way.
>The impure have paid.
>Thy princessdom come.
>Thy will be done.
>Rising into the sky forever and ever.
>Amen.
~
>And the battles against the Yak-Yakmanni echo the past.
>Celestia hears the same agonizing cries.
>The same iron against iron.
>Sword to shield.
>Once brave men falling back on their heels.
>Falling back in ranks.
>The Canterlotians have taken this tribe by surprise.
>Just a successful campaign.
>Much like a casual sport nowadays.
~
>Luna lies in bed as her servant reads her the story.
>Listening to the distant cries of the nearby dying as sound effects.
>Celestia pretty much re-enacting the sounds of the battle for her.
>"And then aaaaaaallll the Changelinginians died. The end." The servant closes the book.
>Luna cozily drifts off to sleep right before lunch.
>...
>She wakes up to the sound of the army returning.
>How on earth they manage to march so far and back in a day is unbelievable.
>How they manage to still be heard from there is unbelievable.
>It's probably just magic or something.
>She gets up and changes her clothes in the dark.
>Celestia has already retired to bed.
>Luna greets the victorious warriors as they have their massive feast.
>They are tired and have been growing restless but too exhausted to do anything major.
>They start singing the holy hymns as Luna enters.
>She's so proud of them.
>Sits at the head of the table with them and has the battle described to her.
>They go into... a lot... of detail.
>Luna enjoys hearing them talk about how strong and brave they were on the battlefield.
>She herself is quite accustomed to the spirit of fighting.
>As is her older sister.
>Luna gets really interested in the soldiers telling their stories.
>Even letting them call her "Luna" instead of "your majesty".
>Scooting closer.
>Getting personally close with a wistful grin.
>They're starting to get eager.
>Something about Luna likes that.
>She likes it because she returns the same feelings.
>And they don't even know it.
>But... they /could/.
>Luna passes up the impure thoughts that almost make it to her mind.
>Next thing she knows, she's getting more things done.
>Working hard and helping the soldiers build a stone monument to their victory.
>It's going to be a giant cross made out of obelisks.
>The first one is stood up.
>Luna's face struggles not to blush.
>She needs to put some arms on this so it doesn't look lie this.
>They still need to be shaped.
>Everyone else is looking at her, watching intently.
>They see here furiously race  to the workshop.
>Wishing she just talked to the soldiers instead of help with the obelisks.
>At least those would just be suggestive words.
>Not physical objects towering over everyone.
>Luna distracts herself with the history of these things.
>How this tradition started.
>The soldiers would return victorious from the battlefield.
>Every time, they would still have an extra spark of energy left after the fighting.
>First they would eat out of sheer hunger.
>They were absolutely famished, those who survived combat after all.
>A large feast would be held in memoriam of the fallen holy warriors.
>The armored men of the clean sword whose souls have made it into the heavens above.
>...
>Great, now this arm is looking like a long cylinder with a rounded end.
>Luna shakes her head and stops distracting herself from distracting herself.
>The feast food gave the soldiers energy, their un-spilt blood still pumping from the rush of warfare they got.
>The urges finding the way to the surface if they did not keep themselves occupied immediately.
>Most like what Luna just did... or at least meant to do, considering the nature of these obelisks.
>Maybe it's also some sort of display of masculinity?
>Luna's more than okay with tha-
>She stops herself and continues sculpting the figure.
>The soldiers watching her work with ferocity on it.
>Can't help but think a couple of things themselves for a brief, fleeting moment before they shake it away.(edited)
>Victory almost defeats them.
>Makes them heat up in their armor, but they join their princess in the SCULPTING, nothing else they would join her in.
>This is a clean activity.
>Family friendly PG clean.
>With Luna grunting aggressively as she gets the shape to take form.
>Her hands are shaking, her knees following suit.
>Sweat on her brow, she finished the first arm... immediately wants to get the second one over with before she overheats.
>Well, she does feel like she will after all.
>Just focus, Luna.
>And focus she does, alongside her good, hardworking and loyal soldiers who just won a battle in the name of holiness.
>Contributing to the castle.
>Grueling hours pass.
>Grueling hours of back breaking work.
>Back breaking work is necessary.
>It's finally finished and assembled.
>Luna feels a wave of relief wash over her as the long monolith now has a pair of arms to make it a little less...
>Well...
>A little more holy.
>Definitely more appropriate.
>The absence of anything holy in and of itself would be inappropriate.
>Whatever, it's all said and done.
>Mostly done; not many words were said.
>Mostly thought instead.
>...
>But now it's been a day or two.
>Luna gets up at night to find that the cross looks beautiful in the moonlight.
>It watches over the castle with it's glory.
>A symbol of what the inhabitants of the castle stand for.
>Doubling as a reminder.
>Happy as can be, Luna goes for a midnight stroll as there's nothing to do tonight.
>The soldiers are now entirely exhausted from everything and sleep soundly.
>Like how they used to before they became soldiers, before they became men.
>The night breeze is getting warmer each night.
>It's usually too hot for Luna to bear during the day.
>But luckily, she's asleep inside of her cooled private room.
>And it feels just about the same as she walks around and smiles around.
>Strolling through the gardens.
>Hearing a distant noise and going into the woods.
>The summer air is rather warm during the night.
>Luna watches the trees go by as she passes them.
>Her hair blowing in the wind, reflecting the moonlight that perfectly accents it.
>She wonders where the empire will go to after the present.
>Into the future... but where?
>She already forgot why she came in here.
>It must have escaped her when she was taken away by the enchanting feel of the forest.
>Nature is a good substitute for impure rituals.
>Just go outside and breathe the air.
>Experience the world.
>Really takes you away from what you were previously thinking about.
>Maybe listen to some music all the while.
>Luna would love to hear some trumpets or other instruments playing as she's here.
>But all she hears is a reminder of why she came here to begin with.
>That sound that lured her over.
>A twig snapping.
>Luna realizes that she'd would have been more comfortable with her armor and sword with her.
>She's expected to take them with her anyway because of the code.
>But she decided to go on a peaceful midnight stroll instead.
>In her 5 layers of nightgowns she's expected to wear.
>It's not a problem inside of the cool castle.
>But it's warmer out here, though the armor would have been more sweltering.
>It should be fine, however.
>The empire has faced no internal threats for ages.
>It's been so peaceful.
>Maybe it's not much of a sacrifice to walk around without armor or weapons.
>...
>Was that a hissing noise?
>Luna soon figures out that there must be a snake nearby.
>She perks up and looks around, going back to wishing she had her sword.
>"It'ssssssss okay."
>"Who goes there?"
>"I am no one of any significancsssssse... I am jusssst a snake in the forest."
>Luna frowns at the snake, remembering the story about the snake in the garden of Eden.
>That was certainly more than just a story, but fact, right?
>"I come in peace, princessssssss..." The snake slithers into view. "I sssssimply want to talk, is all."
>"And what is it you wish to speak to me about?" Luna raises an eyebrow.
>"I've been dissssscriminated against by the code you know." Responds the snake.
>Luna stares at the snake questionably.
>Piecing together what he's talking about.
>"You mean the code of chastity?"
>"Yessssssss."
>"What about it, mister snake?"
>"Pleasssssse... I am female."
>Oh.
>"Oh, well I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding." Luna's expression grows softer.
>"It'sssss okay. I'm used to being misunderstood. The story about my kind hasssss been told for yearssss."
>"Do you believe the entire story of untrue nature?" Asks Luna, not yet ready to (completely) question her own values.
>"I am alwaysssss thought to be evil." says the snake. "It'sssss not my fault."
>Luna looks around for more snakes.
>Both the princess and the snake are alone.
>"So does everyone think you're evil?"
>"It's goesssss deeper than that."
>"Deeper how?"
>Luna takes a step forward towards the snake.
>The snake humbly backs away.
>"All is well. I have no intent of causing you harm." Luna conveys, knowing that would change if she were threatened in any way.
>She still doesn't have any weapons.
>The snake sighs.
>"Pleasssse understand that what I'm about to tell you isssss going to sound like.... heresssssy."
>The word strikes a subtle wrath into Luna's heart.
>She hesitates before asking the snake to continue.
>Could this be a trick?
>Luna doesn't feel like she's being hypnotized.
>The doubts in her head have already been present -- and she squashed them too.
>There's no way there's a correlation.
>Luna chose at her own will to walk out of the castle and enter the forest.
>She was the one who was bored with nothing else to do except read religious texts.
>The castle is in no danger in the presence of this snake.
>"Your code is ssssssstrict." The snake begins. "It keepsssss you from being happy."
>Luna processes this in her thoughts.
>"It is strict for a reason." She replies. "And what does this part have to do with you?"
>"I am attacked becaussssse of the code." Explains the snake. "And my happinessss is ssssuffering because of it."
>The snake's tone grows a little more confident.
>She stick out and wiggles her tongue a little.
>"I'm assssking you to tell the soldiery to leave me alone, Princessssss."
>Luna tilts her head.
>"They approach me becaussssse I am a snake." The snake lowers her head. "They liCHrally try to stab me and hack me with their swords."
>Now the snake slithers closer.
>The shorter proximity helps Luna be able to identify the femininity in the snake's low tone.
>"Princesss, all I ask of you isssss... please reform the code. I cannot ssssssurvive for long."
>"Reform the code?!"
>"It'sssssss a huge leap... I kno-"
>"How could you utter such words? If you truly care then you'd understand that the code has...." Luna trails off.
>"Has what?" Asks the snake.
>"It's... entirely valid and needs not to be questioned." Luna finishes.
>"But what about me?"
>"I apologize, but the code is perfect and needs no reforming. The stories in the code have been told for generations, and no one in the empire is going to let go of it. Especially not in this golden age."
>"It'ssssss golden for you... but not for me."
>"I implore, miste- missus snake. You must find an alternative. Everyone is already happy the way things are."
>"Are you?" Are you really?"
>Luna squints suspiciously.
>"Thisssssss is not a trick. If you truly are happy, then you question nothing, isssss that correct?"
>"Absolutely." Luna's hand almost reaches for an imaginary sword before it remembers that the real sword is back in the bedroom.
>"Well, are you TRULY happy or not?"
>Luna pauses for a couple of seconds in great question.
>"It brings me happiness that I am well aware of the favor from heaven that comes from a life of cleanliness and hard work." Luna responds.
>"How are you going to go to heaven if you're immortal?"
>"Ascension."
>"Are you not already ascended?"
>"Well... it's hard to tell."
>"Tell me, were you always so chaste and clean?"
>Luna suddenly perks up again, instantly building up walls of revisionist history in her head.
>"We were always pure!" she insists in a suddenly harsh voice. "We've only recently reinforced the code for the sake of transparency!"
>There were never any times when she walked completely bare down the hallway, that was never a thing.
>When the changelings fell, they were far different than Canterlot.
>Canterlot was clean at the time when Chrysalis marched up and down the peninsula.
>There was nothing beyond the walls of Canterlot that could empathize with changeling values.
>Nothing impure that the changelings thought they could use to bribe those on the inside.
>There were no traitors that needed to be killed because of THAT. They were only scared.
>Luna sternly shakes her head at the snake.
>She denies and denies and denies her words.
>"We are a proud and chaste people! You will never seduce us into unholy ways!"
>She thinks about reaching for a sword again, but once again remembers that there is nothing there to grab or swing around.
>She realizes she needs to consider bringing protection with her every time she wanders about.
>Despite the fact that the empire has been at peace for as long as she can recall within her recent memory.
>The snake continues to beg to be treated equally, at least allegedly.
>However, begins to hold less confidence in her own words when Luna seems completely unwilling to comply.
>"It'sssss not your fault." The snake continues. "You hold strong to your beliefs because it is the way you have thought for ssssso long. And you have been around for many centuries, as an immortal being and watching friendsssss come and go. Watching them be born and die... your logic being the consssstant-"
>"Enough!" Luna slams her foot onto the ground in front of the snake.
>She grits her teeth and glares down at the reptile, feeling not an ounce of fear.
>"We will not be swayed into your-" She starts off then pauses as the snake starts slithering towards her.
>"I know what you want, princesssss. Do not worry, I come peacefully."
>Luna stands before the snake as it slithers onto her leg.
>She feels a fleeting urge to kick it off of her, but decides not to do so.
>She's already strong enough as she is, and it would be nearly impossible for the snake to do any real damage to her.
>All the while, it appears as though this snake is looking to persuade her into damaging herself more than the snake intends to do any kind of damage to the princess.
>And Luna's mind is even stronger than her body, just as she's sure the snake pointed out after she stopped listening to the verbal propaganda.
>Thew snake doesn't speak anymore, however.
>Feeling as though all she needs to do is show her point through action.
>She makes her way up Luna's leg on the outside of her nightgowns.
>Luna's upper lip twitches as she watches the snake get closer to her upper body.
>"Whatever it is you're doing... it is of no use. You have no power in the face of the might of the empire which I embody with my presence of you."
>"We can ssssskip past the strange way you speak to me, princesssss..." The snake climbs higher up on a beyond unamused Luna. "You know exactly what it is I'm doing. And you know it meansssssss no harm to you. Because you haven't attacked me."
>"You-"
>"I can feel how sweltering hot you are under that needless amount of nightgowns. What have the scriptures done to you?"
>Luna clenches her fist behind her back.
>Ready to strike at a moment's notice. Ready to do anything that doesn't require a sword to defend herself with.
>"I'm cold-blooded, your majesty. Allow me to ease up your discomfort under there."
>"Snake..."
>"It's okay. You haven't attacked me and you won't have to. I will only make you feel goo-"
>The snake's sentence is interrupted by the firm grasp of Luna's hand.
>Makes a few choking sounds before Luna chucks it across a clearing in the trees.
>With that, Luna runs back to the castle to retrieve her armaments that should have already been present.
>...
>It's not very long before Luna returns in her full ornate attire of iron.
>The chest plate glimmering in the faint moonlight and the sword pushing back bushes and branches with soft nudges.
>Her eyes wildly dart around for the snake, looking to punish her for what she tried to do.
>Nothing of interest is to be seen.
>Anywhere.
>Luna growls to herself, unsatisfied beyond belief in a way different than last time.
>Wait, no, this is the only way she's ever been unsatisfied as far as she can recall.
>She stomps around. Then stomps around some more.
>Her deep blue hair whips around with each frantic turn of her head.
>No snakes to tread (or worse) on.
>That thing slithered onto her and she didn't do anything about it!
>On top of that, that thing got into her head.
>Trying to alter her holy beliefs into something crude and unholy to the point of anything unacceptable.
>Now rage replaces the questioning nature that was starting to plague Luna's thoughts.
>She gets angrier, and angrier still.
>With one swipe of her sword, she makes a small tree fall to the shrubbery below.
>Birds start flying off into the distance.
>But Luna is far from finished with this.
>The guards who hadn't noticed Luna go to and from the forest a couple of times now wonder what those noises are.
>They hear something going on in the woods not far from their guard post.
>It sounds like one of the villagers got up considerably early to chop some trees down.
>The wood chopping noises continue.
>They take a long time to stop, probably an hour.
>The guards stare.
>Gazing straight into the dark wilderness as the sounds continue until the outer rim of the sky starts to glow.
>The noises cease and the guards wait.
>They momentarily watch their princess Luna emerge from the distant trees.
>It's hard to see if they don't look hard enough.
>Definitely impossible to notice if they weren't looking for her majesty.
>They salute; she approaches them.
>Immediately, they notice that she is in her full battle attire.
>This prompts them to believe that something had happened while they were on guard, and they missed it.
>And that they didn't fulfill their responsibility as guards, while Luna had to take care of the situation herself.
>"Your majesty!" They each address her.
>Already sweating bullets.
>"At ease." Luna raises a free hand. "We have a task for you."
>The guards stay perked up.
>"What is it you wish for us to do?"
>Luna tranquilly nods at them then gestures towards the trees in the dark.
>"Gather all of the manpower you can." She orders. "For there is lumber to transport."
>...
>Celestia awakens from her sleep a little bit later this morning.
>A little bit worn out from energy recently, but it's normal for that to happen from time to time.
>She sees the day guards quickly gathering around the town square in the middle of the royal sector of Canterlot.
>She promptly closes the shutters of her window to make it completely pitch black in her room and gets into her regular royal garb.
>She exits her room and hears the parade music get louder.
>Curiously turning corners to find more and more smiling faces.
>Where did they all come from? Did another victory occur?
>Enters the open space where the parade is apparently taking place.
>Celestia is pleased to hear the music of the religious hymns, but still wants to know why they are being played.
>She's met with various bows and cheers by the townspeople when she approaches them.
>Celestia doesn’t know at first what she’s coming across.
>She approaches it in the spare as everyone bows to her walking up to it.
>It looks like a giant wooden boot.
>She turns around wth a confused expression before addressing her subject what this is all about.
>”Your majesty!” One of the head guards blares. “The princess of the night has blessed us with the materials necessary to build this!”
>Celestia looks at the giant wooden object again, then looks back at the kneeling and bowing guards.
>”Is this a boot?” She inquires.
>”Absolutely!” One of the armored swordsmen replies. “We built this ourselves as you rose the sun for us!” He explains. “It is the symbol or our willingness to go forth down the path of holiness.”
>”Thank you very much.” Celestia gratify them before questioning the motives behind the structure. “So for what purpose did you construct this?”
>”Oh, your majesty! Your holy sister went on a vision quest last night! She bravely trudged deep into the woods alone with no armor or sword. In search for a source of sin she sensed from her tower.”
>”Oh?” Celestia wishes she could have asked Luna about this before she went to bed.
>”Indeed!” The man continues as he proudly strides up to the giant boot. “And in those woods, she encountered a serpent!”
>”A serpent?”
>”Yes. A giant serpent that was about as tall as she was when it stood all the way up. It slithered behind her and make attempts to convert her to the path of sin!”
>Celestia gasps. “How have I not heard of this? She looks back to where Luna’s resting quarters is. “Is she alright?”
>”She is more than alright! She was victorious!”
>”Victorious? Without any weapons against a giant serpent?”
>”Aye! She gave us her account of this happening just before sunrise, your majesty! Princess Luna in all her glory was not afraid, and she took on the serpent with her bare hands!”
>Celestia giggles lightly. “Well, that does sound like her.”
>”Your holy sister wrung the serpent’s neck, your highness. She strangles the lies straight out of its mouth, being careful not to get bitten by the serpent’s fangs!”
>Celestia looks up at the wooden boot once more. She then looks back down at the group of men who allegedly built it before she woke up.
>The parade music starts up again but less energetically so it can almost serve as some sort of background music to the conversation.
>”And so, her highness lifted and threw the snake against a tree, then briefly went back to her quarters to retrieve the tool she needed to adequately slay the beat like a proper Canterlotian.”
>”Of course, of course.” Celestia reminds herself in her head that Canterlotians do not kill like savage barbarians. They kill like orderly holy instruments of heaven.
>”The princess of the night returned to where she left the serpent writhing in pain but the serpent disappeared.”
>Celestia’s eyes grow wide and her heart races. “The serpent is still on the loose!”
>”Aye, which is why your sister came up with an ingenious plan.”
>”Does it have to do with the boot?”
>”Absolutely, your majesty!” The swordsman fills in. “We worked all morning long so far building it, as a trap for the serpent. Take a look inside and you’ll see what we mean.”
>”I suppose this explains why the boot is so big.” Celestia comments. “Since there serpent was of gargantuan proportions.”
>She’s politely prompted to take a closer look inside of the boot. Upon doing this, Celestia notices that the boot is hollow, with spikes on the edges of the ankle area pointing inward and down in the inside.
>”The serpent will not be able to escape once trapped inside.” Another one of the workers proclaims in a confident tone. “Princess Luna will be waiting for it on the inside with her armor and sword at the ready.”
>”I can only imagine what she could do to the serpent with her weapons on hand.” Another worker mentions to a soldier next to him.
>All of the soldiers continue to talk to Celestia about how their discipline helped them construct the boot in under two hours, how they will never even consider listening to whatever it was the serpent told Luna.
>About how they will lead chaste lives.
>The day goes by with them adding some more finishing touches to it.
>Celestia fails to notice the iron sole the massive boot has to it; the grass conceals it.
>She listens to them singing the songs of the past and religious hymns of the holy book as they manually drag the boot out into the woods with ropes by sundown.
>She’s extremely confused and proud at the same time. Never a reason to complain about her brave men working this hard and showing just how much they love the light of heaven above.
>They continue to sing and drag the boot as Celestia smiles down upon them.
>Today was a surprisingly good day.
>To celebrate, Celestia puts an ice cube in her wine before taking a sip.
>”We did not even require our sword!” Luna’s voice catches her attention.
>Celestia turns around to find Luna walking alongside a couple of the exhausted guards and telling them the story that apparently spread around Canterlot just less than a full day before.
>”Sister?” Celestia addresses her.
>Luna grins cheerfully. “Sister!”
>She approaches her and tells her the exact same story about the serpent but with a few differing details.
>Now the serpent was over 50 feet long and had fangs the size of a man’s forearm. It had glowing red eyes and moved ever so silently which is why no one ever heard it.
>”The vile beast did everything it could to convert us to the ways of the barbarians. We wouldn’t be surprised if the beast was under the direct control of the barbarians when we approached it.” Luna tells her sister.
>Celestia’s already tired for the day (after doing close to nothing). So she’s not in the kind of mood of questioning Luna’s embellished story and simply agrees with her dear sister before saying she needs to head off to bed.
>The sun princess heads of to bed still with residue of confusion buzzing around in her thoughts. Meanwhile, the moon princess is preparing for a great hunt, on which she will embark alone because B R A V E R Y .
>The sky turns dark, and Luna sings and skips into the trees under the full weight of her armor and all.
>The location of the boot will be revealed in due time.
>…
>The air is still, but some trees still shake.
>They are being leaned on, and kicked, and toyed with as Luna dances with them in glee. Feeling excitement about slaying this beat.
>More importantly, telling everyone about how she slew it with her mighty sword of holiness.
>Well, time to kill this fr*cken snake!
>Luna knows that she found the spot form the last time she encountered the slippery slimy reptile. She remembers these stumps where she fell a few trees with her sword. It will be practice for when she does the same to the snake like it is a thick and solid tree trunk.
>Thinking about how the snake is completely made up on muscle instead of wood, so the blade going through it would meet softness yet have some difficulty.
>She knows the creature’s muscles will tense as she kills it.
>Luna imagines what the snake would feel like in her hand, if-
>NO!
>Bad snakey thoughts.
>Luna knows the snake must be nearby when it’s sending her thoughts like this. She knows it must be destroyed soon.
>She waits at her designated spot in the woods before hearing that familiar hissing.
>”Princessssssss…” The snake greets her in a surprisingly kind voice. “Let’sssss talk.”
>Luna keeps her eyes open but sees nothing.
>This happened a lot more suddenly than the last time, but she was also more prepared this time for however this chain of events will play out. The snake does not stand a chance against the cold, sharp blade of her holy sword. The one forged in the heavens themselves.
>”I am not mad. For I underssssssstand your frusssssstration.”
>”There is no more room for talking, as you can see.” Luna steps into a patch of light to reveal the fact that she’s donning her ornate war armor. “The wrath of heaven shall reign down upon you as foretold in the prophecy of good and evil. You must be destroyed. Serpentis delinda est!” The princess feels relieved to feel the handle of her sword in her hand.
>”Please, princessssss. I know your frustration goes deeper than that…”
>”You shall find that our blade will go deeper than anything you can imagine, overgrown maggot!”
>The snake continues to hiss and taunt. “Another phallic sssssymbol, hmmm? Looksssss like I was right about where your frustration lies.”
>”LIES!”
>”It lies within your desiresssssssss.”
>”You lie whenever you speak when you live. But you will lie forever after I take your life.”
>”You lie to yourssssself, princesssss.” The snake continues in a sultry tone, now emerging from the bushes into plain view. “But I will always forgive and undersssssstand.”
>Luna doesn’t move, appearing to be frozen in fear to the snake.
>Now feeling a false sense of security, the snake advances. Looking to do all sort of things to Luna despite there being far too much armor in the way.
>It emerges into the moonlight, where its scars and bruises from last night can be seen. This only proves to Luna that this is indeed the same snake. Could have been a different snake saying the same thing as far as Luna knows. Nature is full of tricks.
>But Luna brought a better trick.
>She swipes her sword, but not at the snake.
>The blade slices into the trunk of a tree, but not before going clean through a rope.
>The tension in the rope is broken, and the snake looks up towards the sky and watches something block its view of the moon above.
>In just an instant, the massive iron-soled boot slams onto the snake, hard enough to make all of the black n’ yellow smiley faces in every timeline toss and turn in their sleep.
>”Ack!” Cries the snake before gargling and choking under the weight of the iron. “I’m not a fan of stampedes! Pls no step!”
>But it’s too late.
>”Thou shalt not tread on us!” Luna recites the 12th commandment as she stands exactly in the center of the opening in the trees. “For we can tread on thee with twelve-fold the force! Begone ideological bias!”
>”Mind ur feeeeeeeeeeeet!” The snake coughs out its dying words.
>Okay, enough of the dumb jokes.
>Luna walks away victorious with her revisionist history ideas intact.
~