//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Return of the Sun And The Moon // by keithsterling //------------------------------// It’s been nine years since Princess Celestia and Princess Luna disappeared from Equestria, leaving Celestia’s royal foals to rule the Land of Equestria. Now two years to the day that Princess Alysia the granddaughter of Celestia closed the case of a strange energy reading in the Grand Royal Palace, it happened again. Floating above the beds in two unoccupied and sealed bed chambers was a 6 foot long spectrum colored oblong energy bubble. Soon there’s a loud pop from the bubble and two bodies dropped onto the mattress in each room. The first body is a goddess gorgeous white with hint of pink 6ft 5in anthro looking alicorn mare with a messy golden blond mane and tail. Her perfect figure was attired in a lemon lime colored nightgown with a slit that started from below her prefect hips running down her thigh revealing the orange stylized sun on her leg and ended just above the ankles of her fairly large white with hint of pink bare feet. The second body is a heavenly looking dark blue 6ft 3in anthro looking alicorn mare with a messy charcoal black mane and tail. Her elegant figure was attired in a vanilla colored nightgown with a slit that started from below her hips and runs down her thigh revealing a white crescent moon on a dark background, and ending just above the ankles of her dark blue big bare feet. Slowly the two Alicorns’ open their eyes and let out a real good yawn, which is followed by a wonderful stretch to loosen up their stiff muscles. The two Alicorns both thought this was the best rest they had in centuries. As they roll out of bed, they padded barefooted over to their private bathroom to get ready for the day. Soon billows of steam come from the bathroom as the two mares take a warm morning shower. A white with hint of pink five fingered hand with thick hoof-like fingernails grab onto the door frame of the bathroom. From the door, exits a goddess gorgeous white with hint of pink Alicorn mare. She had a large white body towel wrapped securely around her perfect figure, leaving her shoulders bare. “Sweet me! What happened to my body?” Celestia exclaims looking at her new form of a two-legged pony in a full-length standing mirror in her bed chamber. Soon a very loud shriek echoes throughout the palace hallways as a heavenly looking dark blue Alicorn mare bursts into Celestia’s bed chamber. Like her, she had a large white body towel wrapped semi-secured around her elegant figure, leaving her shoulder bare. “Sister! You too?” Luna inquired puzzled as she looked at her sister’s new form standing in front of her. “What is going on Tia? Why are we two-legged ponies and not four-legged ponies?” Luna exclaimed lifting her arms up allowing the semi-secure towel to drop to the floor, causing Celestia to blush. “LUNA! Do you mind wrapping that towel once again around you, Please?” Celestia exclaims as Luna wrapped the towel more securely around her body as she scratched her head with her hand. “Why, Tia?” Luna inquires “For some reason being 'Au naturel' is wrong for us. But anyway, go back to your room and get dress and come back to my room, so we can both figure out what is going on around here.” Celestia explains as Luna turns and heads back to her room to get dressed. A few minute later, Luna returns to Celestia’s bed chamber wearing a well-made ivory colored slightly below the knee length dress. On her bare feet were silver ankle-strapped wedged sandals along with her princess’s regalia. She was carrying a stainless steel band that would fit on her forearm if she knew how to get it on there. Looking at the same stainless steel band was Celestia. She was wearing a well-made lime green colored slightly below the knee length dress. On her bare feet were gold raffia platform sandals along with her princess’s regalia. “Tia, what is this thing?” Luna inquires as Celestia looks at the band in Luna’s hand. “It looks like a piece of armor called a Vambrace, I have one too. It’s worn on the forearm, but this metal doesn’t look strong enough to protect the user from anything.” Celestia comments as she touches a glowing light on the vambrace with her hand. Celestia suddenly winces as a micro needle pokes her palm and gets a sample of her blood. “New user detected. Running DNA sequence for new user. Affirmative, new user DNA program. Programming completed. New user holds Minicomputer Vambrace or MCV above one of your forearms to active system.” The computer voice in vambrace said as Celestia picks up the MCV and holds it above her forearm. A moment later it locks itself on her forearm with all the systems working. After watching how her own sister activated the Minicomputer Vambrace, Luna follows the same sequence and before long the MCV was on her forearm. As the two sisters have a discussion about their next move they are seen by two earth ponies anthros on the video surveillance system members of the Royal Palace security force. They are wearing steel blue colored light combat body armor and helmets armed with heavy pulse pistols and stun batons. They make their way to the older part of the royal living area to investigate the intruders. As the security guards set foot in the older part of the palace hallway, the door to an unoccupied and sealed bed chamber opens. From the bed chamber door, steps Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Their eyes meet the eyes of the security guards. The guards glaze with shock upon seeing these two mares exiting the room. When Luna steps back, her heel bumps a stone pedestal with a ceramic vase on it. In slow motion the vase falls and shatters into pieces. The panicked security guards open fire on the two mares, but all their shots miss their targets. “Luna, run! Let’s get out of here! Something tells me we don’t want to get hit by what they are shooting at us!” Celestia screams as the two sisters run as fast as they can. The guards report over the radio to the rest of the Royal Palace security forces of the contact with the unknown intruders coming their way. Both Celestia and Luna easily dodge the incoming energy weapon fire from the guards behind them as they run headlong down the hallways. Before long, they enter a large open area of the palace with even more security personnel armed with heavy pulse pistols and pulse shotguns behind makeshift barricades. They skid to a stop and turn on their heels, as these guards open fire. Forcing them to run back the other way as these security guards try to pin them down with heavy weapon fire. Soon police sirens echo through the streets of Canterlot as the Canterlot Military Police Department patrol vehicles speed to the incident at the Palace followed closely by a CMP Hostage Rescue team vehicle with its full complements of personnel armed and ready to go. Meanwhile back at the palace, the hearts of the two Princesses’ beat at a rapid pace as they are hold-up in a small side room with a window looking out covered with heavy curtains. As their hearts slowly return to their normal pace Luna presses her back against the wall so she can look through the crack in the door and watch what’s going on outside the room. At the same time Celestia crawls her way over to the curtained window and opens it a tiny bit just enough to see that this escape route is cut-off to them. They see more ponies wearing dark blue combat body armor and helmet armed with pulse submachine guns taking cover behind their patrol cars. “Luna, we can’t get out this way more ponies have arrived and cut off our escape route.” Celestia comments as she stretches her legs out and sits down on the floor with her back against the wall. “Same here, we are trapped, sister these new ponies look like trained warriors.” Luna explains as she stretches her legs out and sits down on the floor next to her sister. “Celestia, why did those ponies that look like palace guards attack us, surely they know we are the ruling princesses of Equestria and should have not attacked us.” Luna comments as she watches Celestia play with the device on her forearm trying to figure out how it works. “I wish I knew?” Celestia answers “Sister, why are you messing with that device on your forearm. it does nothing.” Luna sounding annoyed as Celestia continues to play with the Minicomputer vambrace. “Luna, did you not notice that every pony here is wearing one of these devices on their forearm, so it must do something.” Celestia commented as she continues playing with the MCV. “Celestia! I was too busy trying to stay alive by running to notice what every pony was wearing on their arm.” Luna vexed as Celestia keeps playing with the MCV. Back in the palace foyer, a bewitching beautiful 5ft 5in dark gray bat pony mare with a black braided mane and tail leans against a column in the area. She is wearing a navy blue colored coverall and an armor vest around her waist with a utility belt and holster with a custom pulse pistol in it. On her head, between her ears, was a dark blue beret with the letters CMP stenciled in white on it. This bat pony mare was CMP Negotiator Jord Goodspeak, she’s part of the CMP Crisis Negotiation Unit based in Canterlot attached to the Hostage Rescue team. ‘How long will this take? Come on just let me do my job and get every pony home alive.’ Jord thought since being called to the incident by the commander of the Hostage rescue team. She has been sitting idle waiting to be given the green light to begin the negotiation with the two mares hold-up in the nearby room of the palace. *************************************** “Huh?” Jord exclaims as her vid-phone rings on her customized MCV for her job as a crisis negotiator. She fixes an ear piece into her ear before answering her vid-phone. Soon the face of a white unicorn mare appears on the screen. “Hello, unicorn, my name is CMP negotiator Jord Goodspeak. I am here to get you out of this incident before any more ponies and you get hurt.” Jord explains sounding friendly as the mare on the screen relaxes after being told she was going to get her out of trouble that she got both her and her sister in. “By the way Miss Goodspeak, I am an alicorn and not a unicorn.” The alicorn explains as Jord’s breathe catches in her throat. “I see Alicorn, so who am I talking to? If I know who I am talking to it will go much easier for both of us.” Jord inquires friendly as she gestures in hand signs toward the commander of the Hostage rescue team informing him. She’s on the line with the mare in the room. “I am surprised you don’t know who I am. I’ve been around for thousands of years.” The alicorn explain as Jord blinks with surprise. She gestures with hand signs that she believes the mare is an escaped psychiatric patient from one of Canterlot’s psychiatric hospitals. “You don’t look that old, Miss Alicorn. But still who I am talking to?” Jord inquiry friendly as the Alicorn chuckles. “My name is Princess Celestia Silverlight.” she says as Jord stands quickly up and looks like she’s about to fall over from the shock. She gestures telling the commander that she’s very sure that they are dealing with an escaped psychiatric patient and whatever they do, don’t order the assault on the room or it might get very messy. With the current situation now fully realized the commander of the Hostage rescue team pulls back the CMP assault team fearing that the psychiatric patient might snap and turn this into a blood bath. A few hours later a white sport hover car pulls up outside the Grand Royal Palace. From the driver side of the vehicle exits a 5ft 12in enchanting light pink, full grown, unicorn mare anthro with a light purple braided mane and tail. She was attired in a mint green short-sleeve faux wrap dress. On her head, behind her horn, was a black tiara. Around her neck was a necklace with a half moon symbol on it. On her light pink bare feet were black heeled sandals. This Unicorn mare was Princess Wave Runner Silverlight the wife of the Grand Prince of the Moon Somnus Silverlight and the ruling monarch. He was away fighting in the Crystal War. From the passenger side of the vehicle exits 5ft 10in very lovely looking, lavender colored, teenage unicorn mare anthro with a sky blue mane and tail. She was attired in a harvest gold colored short-sleeve fit and flare dress. On her head behind her horn, was the sun Princess’s original gold tiara that belongs to her Grandmother Princess Celestia Silverlight. Around her neck was a necklace with the sun and half moon symbol on it. On her lavender colored bare feet were black flat sandals. This teenage unicorn mare was Princess Alysia Ara Silverlight the oldest daughter of the Grand Prince of the Moon Somnus Silverlight. The two royal family members were away for the evening attending a dinner party at the stable of her husband’s family the noble Silverlight unicorn family, when they were told of the breach at the Grand Royal Palace by two of the most likely escaped psychiatric patients. One of the patients claimed to be Princess Wave Runner’s mother-in-law and Princess Alysia’s grandmother Princess Celestia Silverlight. “Good evening, your highnesses. You didn’t have to come to the scene, I would have sent a written report to the palace of the incident for you to read.” The commander of the Hostage Rescue team said politely as he bows to Princess Wave Runner and Princess Alysia as they approach the Hostage rescue team vehicle. “Its fine commander. How many has it been since the last incident?” Princess Wave Runner said diplomatically but troubled as she checks the calendar on her MCV a few times. “Since now, it averages about 5 incidents a month. I am sorry to say, your highness, you have done more to help your ponies. but still it happens a little too often for my teams liking.” The Commander comments as Princess Wave Runner’s face is a study of desolation. “Commander, please don’t say something like that to my mother.” Princess Alysia annoyed as her mother walked off to clear her head and try to think clearer. A moment later, she return to side of her daughter. “It’s ok, dear, no harm done, but the commander is right. These incidents are coming way to frequent this Crystal war has pushed a lot of our ponies to their wits end and a lot of them are looking back toward your Grandmother and your Great Aunt’s rule. Nothing of them are against your Father and his sisters rule, they just want some stable harmony in their life like it was under the rule of your Grandmother. When they disappeared, it left a hole in the heart of every pony in Equestria that could never be filled.” Princess Wave Runner comment running her finger down the edge of Alysia’s tiara, happy her daughter is wearing her Grandmother’s Original gold tiara with pride. “You, wearing your Grandmother’s original gold tiara, shows many ponies that harmony will return to Equestria one day, It might not be in their lifetime. but hope is all they have to hold on to.” Princess Wave Runner said knowing as she embraces her daughter as the last best hope for harmony to return to Equestria. As the princesses and the commander continue to talk to each other outside the palace, CMP Negotiator Jord Goodspeak continues the negotiations with Princess Celestia Silverlight and her sister to get them to surrender to the Canterlot Military Police Department. An hour later, Jord gives the all clear signal to the Hostage Rescue Team that the Alicorns will surrender. A moment later, from the room, the two Alicorns exit. Both are handcuffed and lead to a waiting prison van to return them to one of the psychiatric hospitals in Canterlot. Princess Luna protests her innocence very loudly as they load her into the van. As a doleful looking but elegant Princess Celestia follows right behind her sister, her Pegasus wings hang limp on her back as they walk her towards the van. ‘Huh?’ Princess Alysia thought as she watches the white with hint of pink Alicorn mare being loaded into the back of the prison van when the light purple eyes of the incurably sad Alicorn meet with the glance of the sea green eyes of Alysia. Something deep within her heart told her that this mare was not pretending to be an Alicorn, she was a real Alicorn. “What’s going on sister?” Luna inquires as Celestia sits across from her sister on a small steel bench in the back of the van. “I don’t know, sister.” Celestia answers Luna very confused. As the doors on the back of the van have not closed behind them. “Officer! What’s going on?” Celestia inquiries to CMP Peacekeeper holding the handles of the door waiting to be closed. “The young Princess told the commander of the Hostage Rescue team that she wants the two Alicorns to remain here at the Palace, she believes you two are real Alicorns and not some modified pony.” The CMP Peacekeeper explains a bit confused as Luna and Celestia look at each other perplex with the idea of a modified pony. “Officer? What is a modified pony?” Luna inquires as the CMP peacekeeper looks totally confused with what she asked him. “A modified pony is ponies of any breed that undergo an operation to add something to their physical appearance. Of late many ponies have added a pair of wings or a unicorn horn. Some of them have added both to their physical appearance and the most disturbed to get modified to believe themselves Alicorns. More to the point, Princess Celestia Silverlight or Princess Luna Silverlight, the two legendary Princesses of Equestria.” The CMP Peacekeeper explains as he closes the rear doors on the van after being called to a quick meeting with the rest of the Canterlot Military police department personnel. “Sister, why would any pony want to pretend to be us?” Luna inquiries “I wish I knew sister, but this time that we woke-up in is very strange indeed. Let’s hope that the young Princess does believe we are real Alicorns.” Celestia explains as Luna noticed tears form in Celestia’s eyes as she’s wondering about her foals. “Sister, you don’t want to know about this time from the young princess, you want straight answers about your foals.” Luna comments as Celestia shook her head and started to cry. “If this is our Equestria what happened to my beloved foals?” Celestia inquires through her tears worried that her foals are dead or have been killed because she disappeared.