The Rise of Nightmare Moon [with MadamLestrange]

[Carl]

"I don't really know for sure, but the tree itself represents the opposite of what Discord does... perhaps, if we try, we can pull its magical energies from it and use them against him. Or maybe we can awaken them... something. I just know that we have tried everything we can think of to try... except this." Without hesitating any longer, Celestia swiveled on her hooves and began to trot towards the exit, prepared for the short flight back to the Tree of Harmony. As she moved, she began to theorize, "Have you ever wondered about those bizarre stones attached to the tree, sister? Perhaps it has something to do with them... maybe they are elements from which the tree draws its power? Or it could be any number of other things for that matter..."

Here she trailed off, stopping as she cut a glance over her shoulder and awaited Princess Luna.

[InsaneSeagull]

Luna nodded. She found the fact that neither of them knew exactly what to do troubling, but she didn't want to upset her sister even more. They were both worried anyway.

"You might be right about the tree. But how can we harness those... elements? They are attached to the tree! Do you think our magic is strong enough for something like this? And what if Discord discovers our plans?"

She wondered if they have any chance of winning this battle.

[Carl]

Realizing that now wasn't the time for being insecure, Celestia took on her leader-posture, outstretching her wings and holding her head high. She set her jaw with determination and looked at her sister with a serious, yet wise, expression. It wasn't like she knew for sure what she was doing, or anything, but she did know they had to try. So, she just started making guesses and presenting them as if they must be true. "Sister," she began, "do we not represent harmony ourselves? Is that not why the Tree of Harmony bears our cutie marks? When we approach the tree with good intentions, the elements will come to us naturally; we shall harness their power by harnessing our own magic, Luna. Discord cannot be allowed to continue letting chaos reign supreme. We are the only ones who can stop him--and that is why this will work."

[InsaneSeagull]

Luna was always frightened when her sister outstretches her wings like that. That reminded her that her sister always had higher position than her, and even though she understood that and loved her, that annoyed her a bit.

But she knew it wasn't time to think of that. As hard as it was for her to admit it, Celestia was right. It was time for action.

"All right," she said after listening to her sister's reasons. She wasn't glad to approve such a dangerous plan, but she had to agree. "Let's go to the Tree of Harmony."

[Carl]

The elder sister sighed inwardly with relief when her sister agreed to give it a shot. Without further hesitation, she pushed open the doors to the balcony and leaped up onto the rails, wings spread, remaining still a moment as she glanced to see that Luna was following her before taking off in flight. Her wings beat rhythmically as if of their own accord, carrying her swiftly, yet gracefully through the chaotic skies of pink clouds and brown rain; past the upside down trees and the mutated woodland animals until at last, she was moving in for a landing before the Tree of Harmony. For a few brief seconds, she hovered before the tree, finally landing and stepping tentatively closer.

Celestia glanced back over her shoulder as she gently placed her horn against the tree and began to concentrate on extracting its hidden powers, her horn glowing softly while the princess waited for her sister to join her.