The last solstice

Chapter 14: Breaking the ice


Her first coherent thought was about Tartaros. Celestia believed she ended up there. She could even feel the heat. The snow white alicorn slowly opened her eyes, then she recognized a silhouette standing beside her bed. Her vision was still a bit blurry, but the figure looked familiar. Her face distorted in pain as she tried to move. She felt like the entire right side of her body was on fire. The pony reached out, removed the sheet from her chest and disappeared.

Celestia could not decide whether this was some weird dream or reality. Soon, the pony came back with the sheet and put it back on her. Only then the Princess realized it was cold and wet. She winced a little, when the icy sheet touched her, and she heard an odd hissing sound. Soon a cloud of steam began to fill the room and the burning feeling subsided a little. Celestia let out a sigh of relief and locked her purple eyes on her mysterious caretaker.

“Luna?” she asks.

Her voice is weak and barely audible.

“No, Princess.” a deep, masculine voice replies softly. “It’s Nocturnal Mirage. Your personal Guard.”

It takes a few seconds for Celestia to comprehend what the stallion just said. She wants to shout, but she’s too powerless.

“What… what are you doing here?” she asks quietly.

“Returning the favor.” Mirage states objectionably. “Now rest. You have some kind of fever, Princess.”

“No… you shouldn’t be in here…leave me be…” Celestia stutters.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Princess.” the royal blue stallion refuses and hands over another wet sheet to the alicorn and demurely turns his head away.

The sun goddess grabs it and puts it to her right cheek. A jarring noise fills the room when it touches her scars.

“Do you want me to call for your sister, Princess?”

“No!” Celestia exclaims and a sudden panic overwhelms her. She sits up in her bed, still holding the sheet on her cheek. Her mind is sober and sharp, the haze seems to have vanished. “No! She can’t see me like this! Nopony can! It’s already a disaster that you’re here!”

“Princess…” Mirage begins.

He could never use the term “your Highness” or “your Majesty”. Not to somepony who was responsible for the disappearance of the Crystal Empire. Not to somepony he was taught to hate for many-many years. Old habits die hard.

“I really think your family should know about your condition. I’m sure they can help you a lot better than I can.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said?” Celestia’s voice peals, like thunder all of a sudden. “I will not put them through this! Nopony can help me! Don’t you ever think about letting them know what you’ve seen here, do you understand?! I’m still the Princess of this kingdom, and as your Princess, I forbid you to let my sister or anypony else know about this!”

Mirage is speechless because of Celestia’s reaction and the solar alicorn continues.

“Do you even have any idea about what you’re doing? You’ve violated the sanctity of my place! You have violated my privacy! Twice!!! All I asked in the beginning was to respect my privacy! I don’t know how you managed to get through an enchanted door, but I don’t really care! All I want is to live out my days in solitude! This is what I’ve chosen! This is for the best!”

“Princess I…”

“Silence!” the sun goddess calls out sternly and hops out of the bed, but she almost falls over.

Mirage makes a move to help her, but she recoils because of Celestia’s intense glare.

“Don’t you dare!” she hisses, but her shaky legs barely keep her weight.

The stallion takes a step back, with perplexity and angst written all over his features. He’s beginning to wonder if he’s made the right decision. The white alicorn approaches him menacingly. She walks on three legs, for she still holds the wet sheet on the scarred side of her face.

“Who do you think you are? You come in here, against my direct orders, thinking you can change everything?! The past doesn’t change… THE PAST DOESN’T CHANGE!!!” Celestia shouts and drops the sheet so her scars are visible again.

Mirage decides to stand his ground this time. He doesn’t let the Princess of the Sun intimidate him once more. He endures Celestia’s glare, he proudly returns the look. The air around them coruscates with tension as they stare each other down in the sudden silence.

“What’s the matter little pony?” the solar goddess taunts. “Why don’t you run, like last time?”

“I’ve been running for far too long now, Princess. Not anymore.” Mirage answers calmly and resolutely.

“Don’t you know how I am?!”

“I do know. You’re the Princess of the Sun, the ruler of Equestria.”

“Cut the formalities!!! Look at me if you dare! What do you see?!” Celestia yells vigorously.

“I see…” Mirage begins, but realizes the white alicorn in front of him is just looking for the trigger word.

It has become her powerful obsession over the years.

“SAY IT! SAY THE TRUTH!!! YOU SEE A MONSTER!!!” Celestia shouts and while a grimace of wrath distorts her features, a sparkly teardrop appears in the corner of her eyes.

The royal blue stallion knows what he says next is very important; probably his life depends on it. He also knows he has to tell the truth as Celestia requested. It wouldn't be wise to test the alicorn’s acute senses. Mirage looks at her once more. The Princess foams with rage, her mane and tail swirls in the colors of a lightning storm and she’s only a few inches away from him. Then he remembers what he thought of the sun goddess when he found her unconsciously on the floor hours before.

“Wrong. I see a mare named Celestia. I see… a pony.”

Celestia freezes by this unexpected answer. Her eyes widen and that made flame which was flickering in them disappears.

“What did you say?” she gasps.

She’s shocked by hearing her own name again after such a long time. She cannot believe it. The storm in her mane and tail calms down, both billows gently, glowing in orange, blue and pink colors, like summer sunrise.

“I’m sorry if I caused any trouble for you, Princess. I only wanted to help. I won’t be bothering you again…”Mirage says gently and trots out of the room, but turns back from the door. “Just know… you are not alone.”