//------------------------------// // Chapter one - The prophecy. // Story: Once in a lifetime // by Echolocation //------------------------------// Celestia sipped her tea thoughtfully while gazing to the setting sun. Such a long and adventurous day for the ponies of Equestria, and yet, once again they had made it though. Thanks to Twilight and her friends, her kingdom was safe once more from the evil lord of chaos. She called for a servant to take away her empty cup and started to walk down the halls to the Royal chambers for some well-earned rest. As Celestia snuggled under the silk covers, she started dreaming about cute little creatures with fluffy butterfly wings and three eyes. A small smile appeared on her face as she descended into a deeper sleep. In another part of the castle Luna jolted awake. She wiped the sleep from her eyes as she tried to forget the nightmare that wouldn't be banished. Huge carnivorous mouths filled with rows of pointy teeth, spitting poison at her fellow ponies... Luna shivered at the thought. She checked the time and went out over the balcony to watch over the night, shifting the stars into place to make beautiful creations that were spread across the night sky. However, there were maybe two dozen stars that simply refused to move. Was she losing control of her power? Uncontrolled dreams and stubborn stars, maybe she was. With a sigh, Luna padded out from her royal chambers to prepare for the Luna court. She was sure there would be a lot of questions tonight. ------ Luna sent the last noble off for the night and sank into the fluffy pillows that donned her throne. A servant scurried up to her with a slice of moon pie, specially decorated with the constellations of tonight's sky. She encased the plate with her magic before exiting the throne room and heading to the Royal chambers, where she would lower the moon and wake up her sister. Luna took another bite out of the rich moon pie before looking up at the stars. They were still in their proper place, except for the two dozen or so that simply refused her power. They had formed a constellation all by themselves. It looked nothing like an animal or pony, but a point with eight lines of stars trailing into a solar-system like shape. Needless to say the anomaly deeply unsettled her. It meant that somepony on Equs was controlling those stars, some pony, with probably millions of years experience in magic. She had to tell her sister. ------ Celestia cuddled a cute blue creature with a big pink flower on it's head and long ostrich legs as it's babies pranced around her, playing with each other. A pack of large bird-like creatures flew over head and graciously landed on the nearest hill as the sun started to set and three moons were brought out. This was paradise. Suddenly, the sky opened up, and she heard her sister's voice call in an urgent tone: "Celly, please wake up!" Celestia sighed to herself as she was pulled out of the dream world my Lulu's magic. Celestia hoped this was good, as her mental clock said wasn't time for her raise the sun. "Luuuunnaaa... This better be good, I was having the best of dreams tonight." "Thou shalt see what we have discovered while thou was sleeping all that cake off." Celestia scowled at Luna's accusation, but dragged herself out of bed anyway. She slipped on her Royal regalia and trotted out of the chambers and into the hallway. Luna continued while they were walking; "you see sister, while we were moving the stars about tonight, I couldn't seem to grab ahold of them in the night sky. And so, passing this off as a casual power slip, I continued with the Luna court. "When we came back to our balcony however, the two dozen stars had formed a constellation that pony kind had never seen before." The sisters went up to Luna's balcony and gazed up at the night sky. Luna pointed her hoof at the out of place constellation. "You see sister, the stars have moved, not on their own, but by another magic user!" Celestia hmmm'd for a moment before speaking. "Luna we must make an important decision. We can either take it as a prophecy to be interpreted, sent from mother Faust herself, or a piece of slow chaos magic from discord sent to confuse us." Luna thought for a bit. "Maybe we should not leave this decision entirely to ourselves." "What do you mean?" "Maybe the bearers of the elements of harmony can help us with our troubles." Celestia looked at Luna. "Surly not sister, can you imagine the burden which will be placed upon them?" Luna looked back with an equal stare. "Surly you can imagine the way you students face will light up when she hears about the news?" Celestia's eyes widened and she looked down. "That was so underhanded Luna." Luna nodded, though she looked down shamefully. "I did what had to be done to get your mind working." Celestia poked her head outside of the door and alerted a Royal Guard to her needs. She brought out six scrolls and began writing on them till her request was met. There was a knock at the door and Luna opened it with her magic, and revealed a Pegasus mare with two carrier bags strapped to her sides. A Royal guard followed. "Your highnesses, your request for a mailmare has been met." Celestia dismissed him with a nod and proceeded to turn to the mailmare. "Please send these six copies to the bearers of the elements of harmony." Celestia said as she slipped six scrolls into the saddle bags. The mare just nodded and took off their balcony, toward ponyville. "Let us hope that Twilight does not take this the wrong way." "Indeed sister, indeed." And for a rare moment, there was nothing but peace in the world.